Empire Hill Climb

Empire Hill Climb This page is dedicated to preservation & rebirth of this Leelanau Automotive Classic.

Check out the Rules at https://dk1xgl0d43mu1.cloudfront.net/user_files/scca/downloads/000/019/854/2017_TT_HC_Rules.pdf?1488483974

🏁 DRIVER FEATURE - RYAN KRISTOFF Ryan Kristoff is bringing his 1986 Honda CRX back to Empire, competing in Class 2 & Vin...
08/31/2026

🏁 DRIVER FEATURE - RYAN KRISTOFF

Ryan Kristoff is bringing his 1986 Honda CRX back to Empire, competing in Class 2 & Vintage.

Ryan grew up watching his dad race a Triumph Spitfire, then got behind the wheel himself in 2013 and never looked back. His experience includes GLTC, SCCA, drift and rally school, Radicals, and more.

By day, he’s a Chassis Controls Engineer for Bosch Engineering. On the weekends? In his words, he likes to “drive slow Hondas fast.”

His favorite part of EHC? The atmosphere and the fans, especially seeing everyone lining the hill on the drive back down.

Sponsors: Eibach, Inc. Welcome to the Wonder Shop Radium Engineering®️ ACUiTY Instruments

Follow:

🏁 EHC SPONSOR — BRAID WHEELS USAWe’re excited to welcome BRAID Wheels USA and Team ILLUMINATA Motorsport back to the Emp...
08/31/2026

🏁 EHC SPONSOR — BRAID WHEELS USA

We’re excited to welcome BRAID Wheels USA and Team ILLUMINATA Motorsport back to the Empire Hill Climb as a 2026 AWD Sponsor!

They always bring a great display, some seriously cool hardware, and plenty to check out in the paddock.

Give them a follow and be sure to stop by their display on race day!

🏁 September 19 | Empire, MI

08/31/2026

A little Empire Hill Climb ASMR. ☕️

The coffee tastes better in an Empire mug.

2026 event T-shirts and mugs are available now - grab some merch, rep the hill, and support grassroots motorsports. LINK IN BIO

🏁 September 19, 2026
📍 Empire, Michigan

🏁 DRIVER FEATURE - SCOTT DRABIK📍 Traverse City, MI🏎️ 1937 Chevy Legends Coupe🏁 Class 1Scott Drabik is pulling double dut...
08/28/2026

🏁 DRIVER FEATURE - SCOTT DRABIK

📍 Traverse City, MI
🏎️ 1937 Chevy Legends Coupe
🏁 Class 1

Scott Drabik is pulling double duty at Empire this year. Along with competing in Class 1 behind the wheel of his 1937 Chevy Legends Coupe, Scott serves as Empire Hill Climb’s Marketing & Promotions Co-Chair.

Scott brings experience from dirt track racing, autocross, karting, and hill climbs, but it’s the community around Empire that keeps him coming back.

“The race has such a great community feel about it, and it’s close to home!”

When he’s not racing, working on cars, or helping spread the word about Empire, Scott stays busy training dogs and farming.

Proudly supported by Cherry Classic Cars and Tall Cotton Stockdogs

We’re still looking for volunteers for the 2026 Empire Hill Climb!Come spend the day on the hill and be part of one of M...
08/27/2026

We’re still looking for volunteers for the 2026 Empire Hill Climb!

Come spend the day on the hill and be part of one of Michigan’s longest-running grassroots motorsport events.

Volunteers get:

* An official event T-shirt
* Some of the best seats on the hill
* A chance to win $50
* A fun job and a front-row view of the action
* A big BBQ and a few beers with the crew 🍻

Most importantly, you’re helping keep a grassroots motorsport tradition that started in 1964 going strong.

Want in? Volunteer sign-up is at the link in our bio.

🏁 DRIVER PROFILE: MIKE WHITEMike White returns to Empire for his third run up the hill in his 1976 MK1 Volkswagen Sciroc...
08/23/2026

🏁 DRIVER PROFILE: MIKE WHITE

Mike White returns to Empire for his third run up the hill in his 1976 MK1 Volkswagen Scirocco.

Mike has been coming to Empire since 2014 and also runs the Waumandee Hill Climb in Wisconsin, along with track sprints, HPDE, and autocross.

The MK1 has some history of its own. Before coming to the U.S., it competed in Germany in GLP Berg hill climbs. 🏁

Mike also serves as co-marketing & promotions chair for the Empire Hill Climb.

Thanks to:
🐸 FreePBX.org
☎️ Asterisk.org

Follow: Mike

📸 EHC Feature: Meet Our Official Photographer, Nate BronkemaWe’re excited to welcome Nate Bronkema of N.B. Media as the ...
08/22/2026

📸 EHC Feature: Meet Our Official Photographer, Nate Bronkema

We’re excited to welcome Nate Bronkema of N.B. Media as the official photographer for this year’s Empire Hill Climb!

Nate will be out on the hill capturing the cars, drivers, fans, and everything that makes race day in Empire special.

After the event, drivers will have the opportunity to purchase professional photos of their runs, along with other great shots from throughout the event.

We’re excited to have Nate back behind the lens this year!

📸 Nate Bronkema
N.B. Media Nate Bronkema Media
DM for 25 event pic set details - he captured your car.

Drivers, when you see Nate pointing a camera your way, make it look good. 🏁

🏁 DRIVER PROFILE: JOSH REMMETTERCommerce Township’s Josh Remmetter returns to Empire for his fourth run up the hill in h...
08/20/2026

🏁 DRIVER PROFILE: JOSH REMMETTER

Commerce Township’s Josh Remmetter returns to Empire for his fourth run up the hill in his 2005 Mini Cooper S, competing in Class 2.

Josh brings experience from rallycross, Solo, hill climbs, and rally co-driving. His favorite part of Empire? The fans lining the hill who turn a small-town hill climb into one seriously fun weekend.

And that MINI has some history of its own: about 275,000 miles and still racing uphill. 🤘

Follow Josh:
📸
🏁 OH-MI Motorsports

🏁 FEATURED DRIVER: AUSTIN SKIBOWSKI📍 Traverse City, MI🚗 2012 Volkswagen Golf R🏆 Class 3Austin made his competitive racin...
08/18/2026

🏁 FEATURED DRIVER: AUSTIN SKIBOWSKI

📍 Traverse City, MI
🚗 2012 Volkswagen Golf R
🏆 Class 3

Austin made his competitive racing debut at the 2025 Empire Hill Climb and is back for another run up Wilco.

Favorite part of EHC: Seeing the spectators!

Sponsors: M22 Detailing | M22 Motorsports
Follow: Austin Skibowski

See Austin take on the hill September 19th!

If you’re still thinking of competing, there are still a few grid spots (and there’s always a little attrition). Upon re...
08/17/2026

If you’re still thinking of competing, there are still a few grid spots (and there’s always a little attrition). Upon registering you will be out on a waitlist, but you will not be charged until your confirmed!

Address

Empire, MI
49630

Telephone

(231) 620-1829

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