PORT HADLOCK — In honor of the Hadlock Days Lawn Mower Race’s national ranking, Lloyd Crouse is giving the track a makeover.
The race, which has been operating for six years, went national in 2009, becoming part of the American Racing Mower Association — or ARMA — circuit.
This year, ARMA has elevated the status of the Port Hadlock event to “point” status, making it part of a nationwide series of races that lead up to a national championship race.
The Hadlock Days races will be held Saturday and Sunday on a 560-foot track that Crouse built and which he is now renovating in anticipation of the pumped-up event.
He has expanded the size of the pit area and re-graded the track with a 14-degree bank on one side to make the race a bit ore exciting.
He also is adding wheelchair ramps leading to the grandstands.
The lawn mower races take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Crouse is expecting about 150 racers from as far as Maryland to participate in the races which he said “are pretty competitive.”
Last year’s event drew about 2,500 people.
While Crouse can’t estimate how many hours he has spent on the track, he couldn’t have accomplished the renovations without help from local contractors.
He was able to shore up the pit area with rock donated after the construction of the new QFC Service Station in Port Hadlock.
Crouse said that contractors Mark Stewart and Earl Woodley, Duke Shold and Bernt Ericsen donated time and equipment to prepare the track.
Volnnteers are still needed to run the event and can write wolfsden@olypen.com for information or just show up and offer to help.
For information and directions, go to www.hadlockdays.com.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.
bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
