Burnout contests, drag races, car limbo and more: Peace Auto Fest to return for eighth year

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Auto enthusiasts in the Peace are looking to rev up their engines throughout the Labour Day long weekend.

The eighth Peace Auto Fest starts on Friday, and FSJ Car Culture club’s Facebook page administrator and president of the Peace Region Motorsports Association (PRMA), Ryan Mucci, joined Moose FM’s Bernard Conner-Suen to speak about it. Moose FM is owned by Moose Media, which is the parent company of Energeticcity.ca.

Mucci said the FSJ Car Culture club has around 1,700 members on Facebook, something he said was “pretty incredible.”

“Considering the size of the community we live in, it’s been growing like crazy,” said Mucci. “When I started with the club eight years ago, I think we had maybe 200 members.

“It’s just been growing and growing and growing every year.”

The event will bring together all the auto hobbyist clubs in the region, including the PRMA, Fort St. John Truck Enthusiasts, Fort St. John Classic Cruisers and more.

With every year, Mucci says the club likes to bring in “something new” for participants and attendees. This year, Saturday’s burnout competition will have prize money for the winner based on the amount collected through entry fees.

Burnouts are an event where a driver spins their tires to create smoke and noise, with some burnout affairs being determined by audience reaction.

“Maybe it’ll end up paying for a new set of tires that you’ve just destroyed while doing a burnout for everybody,” said Mucci.

The festivities kick off on the evening of Friday August 29th at Northern Lights Raceway in Fort St. John. Street legal drag racing will take centre stage, with tech inspections starting at 6 p.m.

Mucci said as long as any car can pass a tech inspection and the driver brings a helmet, anyone can enter drag racing for a $40 fee. He described it to Connor-Suen as “one of the more relaxed versions of drag racing that there is.”

“It just needs to be safe like it would be for the street,” said Mucci. “No leaking fluids, nothing dragging on the ground. All the body panels on [and] you can’t show up without your doors, and don’t wear open toe shoes.”

Saturday, August 30th will feature a show and shine, car limbo and the burnout competition starting at 10 a.m.  On Sunday, the PRMA will feature autocross races at the Taylor chain-up area, starting at 9 a.m.

Costs are $20 for the burnout competition, $40 for drag races, $60 for the autocross and free entry for the car show and car limbo, although a $10 minimum donation is suggested for the former.

There will also be a $10 penalty for those who miss the autocross driver’s meeting.

Attendance for the events is free of charge.

“There’s something for everyone,” said Mucci.

More details are available on the FSJ Car Culture’s Facebook page.