‘97 Honda Civic DX rocks Island Summer Auto-Fest

Mark Caacbay’s modified ‘97 Honda Civic stole the show as he won three categories: Best of Show, Best Brand Award from Joeten Motors, and topped the two-door category in the 2022 Island Summer Auto-Fest. (LEIGH GASES)

Good things come in threes as 27-year-old car enthusiast Mark Caacbay won three categories in his third Island Summer Auto-Fest competition at the Marianas Business Plaza last Saturday.

His ‘97 Honda Civic DX won the Best in Show Award, the Best Brand Award from Joeten Motors, and first place in the two-door category.

His car drew crowds of auto enthusiasts, as they looked on and appreciated Caacbay’s build—with his car sporting the only transparent hood in the competition, along with his many one-of-a-kind modifications.

He told Saipan Tribune that he has been building modified cars for a “long time” and about his win, he said “I worked hard for it. I got some really rare parts—really hard to get. But at the same time, I’m humble, I worked everything on my own, one by one, with my own hands. It’s unbelievable.”

The competition categories include two-door, four-door, trucks, 4×4, cafe bike, cruiser bike, VIP style, classics, scooter/moped, sound off, and burnout.

The two-door competition’s second place winner was Henry Xiong’s 2017 Nissan and third place was Richard Angeles’ 2012 Nissan.

The Best Brand Award from Triple J was Christopher Meyers’ Hyundai Genesis and the Best Brand Award from Atkins Kroll went to David Lizama’s Toyota Tacoma.

The four-door contest’s first place winner was Casey Huliganga’s 2018 Honda Civic, which was second place in the 2021 show. Second place was the 2018 Mazda 3 of Rich Ramos and Kloney Virrey, and the 1998 Honda Civic of Jerome M. Ortiguerra took third place.

In the 4×4 category, Jesse Jack Salas’ 2008 Jeep Wrangler won first place, Robert Cruz’s 2018 Toyota Tacoma was second, and David Lizama’s 2019 Toyota Tacoma was third.

The truck category first place winner was Roman Reyes’ 1991 Toyota, Gino Dela Cruz’s 1973 Datsun 620 took second place, and Jordan N. Basa’s 1992 Toyota Hilux placed third.

J.T. Ada’s 2008 Scion XB was first place in the VIP style category, while Manny Ada’s 2002 Lexus GS300 was second, and Christopher Q. Meyers’ 2021 Genesis G80 was third.

Justine Zapanta’s 2010 Toyota 4Runnner sounded off its way to first place in the sound off contest, Jhun Echaure’s 2017 Hyundai Tucson was second place, and Gerard Indalecio’s 2008 Scion XB was third place.

In the cruise bike category, Juan Pocaigue’s 1997 Harley Davidson won first place, Mark Borja’s 2007 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe won second place, and Nathaniel Torres’ 2020 Harley Davidson was third place.

In the scooter category, JT Ada’s 2004 Honda Ruckus won first place, while Russell Hocog’s 2018 Honda Grom came in second.

Mark Louie Oria’s 2016 Motoguzzi U7 Special was the only competitor, and winner in the cafe bike category.

Winner of the first burn-out competition hosted by NMTech was James Salalila.