Race Day is Fast-Approaching at the Empire Hill Climb in Leelanau County – 9 & 10 News – 9&10 News
A racing tradition in Leelanau County returns this weekend. It’s a fast-paced but short-lived race, known as the Empire Hill Climb. It originally dates back to the 1960’s until 1980 – and was brought back to life in 2014 as a big event for this small community.
Paul Skinner describes it as “very much an end of season party.” He says, “The crowds get a little bigger every ye…….
A racing tradition in Leelanau County returns this weekend. It’s a fast-paced but short-lived race, known as the Empire Hill Climb. It originally dates back to the 1960’s until 1980 – and was brought back to life in 2014 as a big event for this small community.
Paul Skinner describes it as “very much an end of season party.” He says, “The crowds get a little bigger every year. And the competitors, likewise.”
The Empire Hill Climb is a one-at-a-time, race against the clock. Up a paved road, on a hill, with eight twists and turns. Skinner says, “They set off individually and they’re timed to 1/100th of a second. And they’re split into four categories and that’s designated whether they’re aspirated, turbo, all-wheel drive.”
A track short of roughly half-a-mile, just a few hundred yards. The fastest finisher ever did it in less than 18.5 seconds. Skinner says, “He had to be doing in excess of 120 mph on that hill at some point. And if you know the road that’s mind-boggling.”
Skinner is with the Empire Chamber and also has 25 years of motorsports experience in the U.K. He says he was thrilled to help bring this race back to town eight years ago. “How many other villages in northern Michigan or the Midwest can you go where they close down the main street and they run cars up a hill? You know, it’s special,” he says. “Anybody that knows Empire knows it’s kind of quirky and unique and this just fits right in there.”
Craig Olvey works at Dave’s Garage in Empire and decided to stop sitting on the sidelines. “I started racing in my 20’s… then it turned from a hobby into a career,” he says. “It’s definitely a rush, it’s exhilarating… I’ve been watching it for a few years and every year I say ‘hey I wanna do that.’ This year we’re doing it.”
Skinner says there will be all sorts of fast cars for spectators to enjoy. “You got everything from… we’ve got Porsche 911, Porsche 944’s, you’ve got the favorites of the Corvettes and the Mustangs…. Right the way down to Acura’s to Mini’s, to BMW’s. All manner of different types of cars. We had a couple of chaps in the past who drifted up the hill so we decided to make it a class of its own.”
For Olvey, “Half of the excitement is building up to the event itself and trying to produce a car to be competitive.”
The other half the excitement starts Saturday morning. It’s open to spectators, for free, in downtown Empire, or anyone willing to make a short hike to a spot overlooking the race course. Skinner says, “If you want to get up really close to the cars and talk to the drivers, or people with the team, they’re always here and they’re always happy to talk about their cars.”
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