JAMES Salalila successfully defended his Burn Out Competition title and took home the championship trophy while Russel Hocog and Team Exotic’s 2007 Toyota Rumion ruled the Best of Show category at this year’s Car Show Finale of the Island Summer Auto Fest.
This year’s other Car Show winners included Peter Tenorio in the 4×4 category; Joey Pangelinan, trucks category; Jeffrey Reman, four-door category; and Mark Caacbay, two-door category.
Organized by the Northern Marianas Technical Institute, the Burn Out competition was held from 3 p.m. to nearly 5 p.m. in the rear parking lot of the Joeten Kiyu Public Library. At the nearby Marianas Business Plaza, the Island Summer Auto Fest hosted a car show with dozens of vehicles competing in various categories.
For Salalila, the key to victory was in his “blood.”
“It’s in our family bloodline to run against cars,” said Salalila who added that his father encouraged his interest in vehicles.
Salalila’s modified Toyota Hilux bagged the top honors. He said he swapped its stock engine for a Nissan KA24DE engine, which he removed from a Nissan Frontier.
“I really enjoy working with cars and running against them and testing them out,” he said. “It’s liberating to see something you worked on run.”
With his Burn Out competition victory, he received the 2023 trophy, $250 in cash, a gift certificate to Pacific Auto, a gift certificate to Napa Auto Parts, and an automatic slot to defend his title in next year’s competition.
A modified truck at the recently concluded Island Summer Auto Fest.
Dozens of cars were present at the car show finale of the Island Summer Auto Fest.
The Island Summer Auto Fest took place at the Marianas Business Plaza on Saturday, Sept. 9.
James Salalila and his modified Toyota Hilux.
A locally inspired ride at the Island Summer Auto Fest.
One of the competitors in the Burn Out Competition hosted by NMTech.
Russel Hocog stands by Team Exotic’s award-winning 2007 Toyota Rumion.
