PORT ANGELES — Start your engines.
The North Olympic Peninsula’s first sprint boat racetrack cleared its final regulatory hurdle Wednesday evening, allowing A2Z Enterprises to hold the sport’s finals Sept. 17.
The Port Angeles Planning Commission voted unanimously to give the group of investors, which is building the 4-acre track near William R. Fairchild International Airport, a permit to hold events on the property.
The decision was met by applause from the approximately 40 people who came to show their support. No one spoke against the sprint boat track at the Planning Commission meeting.
Dan Morrison, the track’s main proponent — who has spent 2.5 years trying to make it a reality — appeared relieved and elated by the decision.
“It feels good. It feels good to know that we’re going to happen,” Morrison said.
Sprint boat racing involves small, two-person speedboats powered by water-jet propulsion racing one at a time around a winding watercourse.
Morrison, an avid sprint boat racer, said construction of the track has been under way since October at 2917 W. Edgewood Drive. It’s expected to be finished in July.
That would leave A2Z Enterprises — made up of Morrison, Dan Zozosky, Jerry Payne, all of Port Angeles, and Scott Ackerman of Colfax — two months to prepare to host finals.
Morrison, who is also the U.S. Sprint Boat Association vice president, said he expects to be ready.
“It’s going to leave a good impression and leave everyone wanting more,” he said.
The sport is still relatively new in the United States, and races are mostly limited to Oregon and Washington state.
But Morrison said he expects a large turnout at the races, with 3,000 to 5,000 people attending the finals race.
He added that the sport is growing “in a huge way” and is attracting national television coverage.
Morrison compared the noise level to the monster-truck events held during the Clallam County Fair.
Morrison said there will be two races a year, unless he can organize an international event.
Sprint boat racing is not the only extreme sport the group has in mind.
Morrison said he is working with W.E. Rock of California to host rock crawling on the property.
In that event, four-wheel-drive vehicles climb an artificial hill up to 30 feet in height. That could be held on the property as early as next year, Morrison said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
