Rain Cuts Auto Club’s August Points Meet Short

The Big Island Auto Club’s August Points Meet ended early Sunday after rain created unsafe track conditions for drivers at the Hilo Drag Strip.

This was the first event held by the club since the June Points Meet on June 22. July’s events were cancelled because a shortage of VHT, a track compound that is sprayed on the race track to give drivers a safe surface to race on.

An additional $2,000 in cash and prizes was up for the grabs this month, but because of the early end to the races, the prize money was split up between the semifinalists of the Mega Bracket and Junior Dragsters divisions.

In the Mega Bracket division, Na`alehu resident Richard Souza and a trio of Hilo drivers, Jerry Andrade, Kaike Deponte, and Kiah Taroma, agreed to split up the unspecified amount of prize money assigned.

Hilo residents Nicole Miprano and Kaimi Francis were among the four semifinalists in the Junior Dragsters division. Joining them were Mountain View drivers Daesha and Dione Tobara.

Aiea’s Brandon Murakami was the fastest driver on the track. His Chevy Cavalier reached 183 miles per hour in 7.5 seconds.

The BIAC’s next event is the Labor Day Drags, slated for Aug. 31 and Sep. 1 at the Hilo Drag Strip.

***Note: Results were submitted by track announcer Russ Roberts. His on-air race reports can be heard on KBIG, KAPA, Native FM, and ESPN Radio***