On Saturday, March 9, five race automobile drivers were honored at the eleventh Annual Elma Auto Racing Hall of Fame Induction Program and Dinner held at the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds in Elma. Rick Graves, Tom Sweatman, Martin Hinderlie, Don “Slim” Erickson, and Bob Beerbower have been Inducted into the Hall of Fame. Rick Graves Graves began racing inside the semi-changed magnificence in Elma throughout the 1974 season. He was impressed with completing second-to-d destiny Elma Hall of Famer Rich Leighty in the annual championship. Graves accompanied that performance with a fourth place in overall factors in 1975.
Graves received more than one race over the next ten years until he suffered a major accident in 1985. After recovering under scientific supervision for about eight months, Graves lowered back to the track to preserve racing and, later in his profession, gained the mid-season title. Graves retired from racing in the early 90s to pay attention to raising his two daughters. Tom Sweatman Sweatman began racing in 1981, a year after graduating from excessive school, and he’s been at it ever since.
Racing interest stocks, Sweatman gained his first Elma championship in 1989. Sweatman has raced in more than one lesson on dust and asphalt surfaces. He won an exquisite late-model music championship at Spanaway Speedway and ran many seasons with the NASCAR Northwest Tour, totaling six victories in his time there. In 1999, he won three races on the Northwest Tour and finished second in factors. Sweatman also located 5th in 1994 and fourth in 1998 inside the NASCAR collection. Sweatman also earned a race win in NASCAR’s Southwest Tour in 1999 in the Winter Heat Event held in Tuscon, Arizona, beating destiny NASCAR Cup Series champions Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch within the method. Sweatman returns to Grays Harbor Raceway to compete with the changed elegance and has gained three instant championships from 2016 to 18.
Don “Slim” Erickson Erickson was involved at Grays Harbor Speedway for years, beginning by using supporting buddies Brian Sutherby and Donny Fry with their dash automobiles. He ultimately helped in music training and operations before being offered a position with the track in 2008. Erickson has helped to maintain the clay song surface at Elma for over a decade. Bob Beerbower Former Grays Harbor County Fair Board member Bob Beerbower, who served in that function for ten years, balanced speedway and horse racing activities at some stage in his tenure
. After his time with the fair board, Beerbower served as Grays Harbor County Commissioner for thirteen years. While serving as county commissioner, Beerbower had a fortuitous assembly with late-race promoter Fred Brownfield. The assembly led to Brownfield promoting the “World of Outlaws” dash car collection at the Elma song in 1996 and 1997, earlier than Brownfield Promotions took over track operations in 1998. Beerbower performed a crucial position in raceway facility renovations, supporting persuade other county commissioners that the website hosting the dash collection and bringing about improvements to the raceway could gain the community. In 2003, work commenced on renovating Grays Harbor Raceway, consisting of a new scoring tower, further concessions, permanent grandstands, and new music lighting fixtures, to name a few. Beerbower and Brownfield’s vision for the track also covered making the song larger, with a brand new crash wall and fencing around much of the direction. The renovations were completed in 2004, giving Grays Harbor one of the top dirt tune centers on the West Coast.
Martin Hinderlie Hinderlie became a grasp of many racing trades, competing in two–, 3, and 4-wheel races on dirt, pavement, and rancid-avenue guides all through his time as a motive force. Hinderlie competed in dust motorbike races on the old Kingdome and received occasions at the Tacoma Dome against competition across the western United States. Next, he transferred from motorcycles and Odysseys to four-wheeled machines, where he dabbled in demolition derbies and persistent events at tracks in Shelton, Rainier, Spanaway, Yakima, and Elma. In 1984, Hinderlie made the flow to hobby stocks and consistently competed at the Grays Harbor song, winning Rookie of the Year and the song championship in his first season. A few years later, Hinderlie competed in pro stock occasions and raced past due fashions on the NASCAR Northwest Tour. On Saturday, March 9, five race vehicle drivers were honored at the 11th Annual Elma Auto Racing Hall of Fame Induction Program and Dinner held at the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds in Elma.
Rick Graves, Tom Sweatman, Martin Hinderlie, Don “Slim” Erickson, and Bob Beerbower have been Inducted into the Hall of Fame. Rick Graves Graves began racing within the semi-changed class in Elma at some stage in the 1974 season. He was impressed by completing 2nd to Destiny Elma Hall of Famer Rich Leighty in the seasonal championship. Graves followed that overall performance with a fourth location in common points in 1975. Graves received a couple of races over the following ten years till he suffered a first-rate coincidence in 1985. After convalescing under scientific supervision for about eight months, Graves returned to the track to hold racing and gained the mid-season identity later in his profession. Graves retired from racing in the early ’90s to focus on elevating his daughters. Tom Sweatman Sweatman commenced running in 1981, a year after graduating from college, and he’s been at it ever in view of that.
Racing interest shares, Sweatman won his first Elma championship in 1989. Sweatman has raced in several training sessions on dust and asphalt surfaces. He gained an excellent due version tune championship at Spanaway Speedway and ran many seasons with the NASCAR Northwest Tour, totaling six victories in his time there. In 1999, he won three races on the Northwest Tour and scored second in points. Sweatman also placed 5th in 1994 and fourth in 1998 in the NASCAR series. Sweatman additionally earned a race win in NASCAR’s Southwest Tour in 1999 in the Winter Heat Event held in Tuscon, Arizona, beating future NASCAR Cup Series champions Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch. Sweatman lowers back to Grays Harbor Raceway to compete within the modified elegance and has received three direct championships from 2016-18. Don “Slim” Erickson Erickson was concerned at Grays Harbor Speedway for years, starting by assisting buddies Brian Sutherby and Donny Fry with their sprint motors. Ultimately, he helped in song preparation and operations earlier than being presented with a function with the tune in 2008. Erickson has helped to hold the clay track floor at Elma for over a decade.
Bob Beerbower Former Grays Harbor County Fair Board member Bob Beerbower served in that role for ten years, balanced speedway and horse racing occasions for the duration of his tenure. After his time with the truthful board, Beerbower served as Grays Harbor County Commissioner for thirteen years. While serving as county commissioner, Beerbower had a fortuitous meeting with late-race promoter Fred Brownfield. The meeting caused Brownfield to promote the “World of Outlaws” dash automobile collection at the Elma tune in 1996 and 1997 before Brownfield Promotions took over music operations in 1998. In addition, beer-bower played a vital role in raceway facility renovations, supporting and persuading different county commissioners that the website hosting the sprint series and bringing about raceway improvements might benefit the community. In 2003, work began on renovating Grays Harbor Raceway, consisting of a brand new scoring tower, additional concessions, permanent grandstands, and new tune lighting, to name a few. Beerbower and Brownfield’s imagination and prescience for the song were additionally covered, making the track larger with a new crash wall and fencing around the entirety of the route.
The renovations were finished in 2004, giving Grays Harbor one of the pinnacle dirt-tune facilities on the West Coast. Martin Hinderlie Hinderlie was a master of many racing trades, competing in two-, three- —, and 4-wheel races on dust, pavement, and stale-street courses throughout his time as a driver. Hinderlie competed in dirt bike races at the vintage Kingdome and won occasions at the Tacoma Dome against competitors throughout the western United States. He transferred from bikes and Odysseys to four-wheeled machines, where he dabbled in demolition derbies and stayed power events at tracks in Shelton, Rainier, Spanaway, Yakima, and Elma. In 1984, Hinderlie made the flow to interest stocks and confirmed consistency competing at the Grays Harbor tune, triumphing Rookie of the Year and the tune championship in his first season. A few years later, Hinderlie competed in seasoned stock activities and raced past due fashions on the NASCAR Northwest Tour.
