The
Course
Just under 1/2 a mile. Eight turns. One fun time on Wilco Road.
Learn
The Hill.
The course starts near the Village of Empire and runs up Wilco Road toward the bluff, only a short distance from Lake Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes.
The current course is approximately half of a mile long with eight turns. It is short enough that every fraction of a second matters, but technical enough that finding those fractions is never simple.
Start with the course overview below, then ride the hill from the driver's seat.
Start at the bottom.
Stop the clock at the top.
Ride
The Hill.
A map shows the shape of the course. The in-car view shows what Empire actually feels like. Ride with Mikko Kataja in the VHTRacing Toyota Starlet during his 2016 overall-winning, course-record run.
One Run.
No Wasted Time.
Stage
Line up near the Village of Empire, prepare the car and focus on the run ahead.
Climb
Eight turns come quickly. On a course this compact, every input and every transition matters.
Finish
Cross the timing line at the summit. The clock stops, the run is recorded, and the next attempt begins with finding where more time is hiding.
Watch It
From The Hill.
Empire is unusual because the terrain itself creates a natural spectator area. Fans can climb the hillside and watch the cars work their way through Wilco Road below.
The result is an old-school hill climb atmosphere that puts the road, the cars and the crowd in the same place.
The Empire Hill Climb is free to attend. Come to Empire, see the cars up close, then head to the hillside to watch the competition.
Admission is free. If you'd like to help support the event, scan the Venmo QR code to make a donation.
Eight Turns.
One Hill.
One Clock.
The cars keep changing. The challenge remains the same.