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Final Rumble approaching

This weekend will see the last of this year's Rumble on the Runway series at Port McNeill Airport.
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Eric Shields of Parksville performs a burnout prior to a heat race at the most recent Rumble on the Runway

PORT McNEILL—The North Island Timing Association wraps up its 2012 summer season this weekend with two days of drag racing on the eighth-mile runway course at Port McNeill Airport.

The fifth Rumble on the Runway series event kicks off Saturday with qualifying at 10 a.m. and continues with eliminations beginning at 1 p.m.

Sunday is the Vancouver Island Bracket finals, and local organizer Maureen "Mo" Anderson said 57 drivers were registered as of last weekend, when several local drivers showed off their cars in the OrcaFest Show-n-Shine at Gus's Bar and Grill.

"If we get up to 64 drivers, the prize purse will be $3,000," said Anderson.

The Bracket Finals also kick off at 10 a.m. Sunday with time-ins, and elimination racing kicks off at 1 p.m. Full concession is available, along with event T-shirts and pit passes.

 

Walton second in Alberni

Just one-thousandth of a second separated Port McNeill driver Trevor Walton from his first Sportsman-class drag victory by the time the dust settled on the final of last weekend's Thunder in the Valley races in Port Alberni.

Walton, whose brother Tim is a regular challenger in pro-class racing, piloted his 1983 Mustang to his first finals appearance, and appeared to beat his rival in the final heat. But Walton "broke out" — exceeded his dial-in time — by .001 of a second over the quarter-mile straightaway, and took the loss.

Walton timed in a 14.18 seconds for the quarter-mile, and hit the finish line in 14.179 — despite letting up at the end.

"It was hard to say anybody lost that race," Walton said. "It still feels like a win."

 

Stock cars return

Dirt-track action is also on tap on the North Island this weekend, with the Triport Motor Sports Club resuming its 2012 points season with a 7 p.m. show Saturday at Triport Speedway in Port Hardy.

Following on the heels of his narrow victory in the annual Dirt Bowl earlier this month, Port Hardy's Glen Day will try to hold or extend his season points lead over up-and-coming challenger Brock Shore, former track champion and teammate Daniel Hovey, and veteran rival Paul Weeks.

Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for youths 13-17, and $2 for children and seniors. Full concession is available, along with a children's play area for youngsters.