Though they were once among the most popular forms of racing in the SCCA, hillclimb events have been on the decline. The construction of newer permanent road courses, lack of suitable sites, and increased road traffic has made holding these events a challenging task. Even so, many dedicated enthusiasts are working hard to keep the hillclimbs alive.

In the hamlet of Empire, Michigan, one such group has revived a formerly popular hillclimb. From 1964 to 1981, Empire hosted hillclimb events that drew competitors from all over the state. Austin Healey’s, Jaguar E-Type’s, AMC Gremlin’s, Formula Ford’s, and even Ferrari’s would make the eight turn ½ mile run up Storm Hill.

Though the hillclimb proved to be a popular event, it was eventually stopped due to concerns over liability costs. Thirty years passed before two friends who were local rally fans began talking about how cool it would be bring the event back. When they went to the Empire Chamber of Commerce to pitch the idea, they found out the president was a former rally co-driver. He was ecstatic about bringing the hillclimb back and knew exactly how to get the community behind the effort.

The event returned for the first time in 2014, and each year more and more competitors have turned out to relive Empire’s glory days. The cars have been just as eclectic as they used to be; Merkur’s, GT500’s, Datsun’s and a plethora of other machinery has filled the grid. In 2015, a Modified Circle Track car won the event overall. The town, event sponsors, and participants have all been very happy to see this event make a comeback.

For 2016, the Empire Hillclimb Revival has become an SCCA sanctioned event, the only one in the entire Great Lakes Division. To learn more about the Empire Hillclimb Revival, register for the event, and read the supplemental regulations, visit their website.