Empire Hill Climb

2026 Results

Official results from the 2026 Empire Hill Climb on Wilco Road in Empire, Michigan. Thank you to our competitors, volunteers, officials, community and sponsors for another great year on the Hill.

Our Home on the Hill

Thank You, Empire Michigan!

A very special thank you to the Village of Empire and the residents of Empire for welcoming the Hill Climb into their community year after year.

Closing Wilco Road and bringing an event like this into the heart of a small community requires cooperation, patience and support. Without the Village and the people who call Empire home, the Empire Hill Climb simply would not happen.

The Heart of the Event

A Huge Round of Applause for Our Volunteers

The Empire Hill Climb runs because people show up and make it happen. From course workers and registration to grid, timing, communications, event support, safety and cleanup, our volunteers are the backbone of race weekend.

To every person who gave their time, worked a station, helped a competitor, moved equipment, directed traffic, handled communications or stepped in wherever something needed to be done: thank you.

This event belongs to the people who make it possible. We could not put on the Empire Hill Climb without you.

Support the Hill Climb

Free to Attend.

Not Free to Put On.

Scan or click the QR code to donate directly through Venmo. Every contribution helps us keep the Empire Hill Climb running strong for years to come.

Support the Hill Climb

Signage & Design

Special thanks to Pro Image Design for supporting the signage and design needs of the 2026 Empire Hill Climb.

Celebrating Our Competitors

2026 Award Sponsors

Special thanks to Bonobo Winery and Northern Latitudes Distillery for supporting the 2026 Empire Hill Climb awards.

Wilco Road · Empire, Michigan

Official 2026 Results

Official Timing Sponsor

Timing & Results by Furrin Group

Special thanks to Furrin Group for handling timing and results for the 2026 Empire Hill Climb.

Special thanks to Curt Rosenstengel, Treasurer of Furrin Group, for his work supporting timing and results throughout the event.

Visit Furrin Group

2026 Fastest Time of Day

♛

KING OF THE HILL

Brian Blaine

#63 · 1985 Mazda RX7 · Class 3

19.720

Seconds · Fastest Time of Day

CLASS 1 - 'NA 2.0 litre and under, FI up to 1.0 litre'

Total Entries: 8

	Class	Car	Driver	Vehicle	Color	Run 1	Run 2	Run 3	Run 4	Run 5	Run 6	Total	Diff.
1T	CLASS 1	124	Mark Jarvis	1994 Saturn SL2	Green/White	24.240	23.660	23.333	24.246	23.766	44.969	23.333	[-]0.765
2T	CLASS 1	111	Holden Palmer	2001 Mazda Miata	Silver	25.796	25.477	25.119	24.724	24.098	24.195	24.098	+0.765
3T	CLASS 1	799	Michael White	1976 Volkswagen Scirocco	Lime Green	27.054	25.615	24.763	25.620	24.684	24.147	24.147	+0.049
4	CLASS 1	3	Rob Carman	1971 Ford Escort MK1	White	29.112	25.844	25.283	25.232	24.813	24.811	24.811	+0.664
5	CLASS 1	18	Scott Drabik	1937 Chevrolet legends coupe	White/Blue	28.466	26.658	25.596	25.966	25.131	25.437	25.131	+0.320
6	CLASS 1	16	Evren Ward	2001 Ford Focus	Red/White/Blue	25.886	25.551	25.486	25.444	25.147	25.541	25.147	+0.016
7	CLASS 1	5	Benjamin Curtis	2016 Mazda MX5	Black	28.539	28.244	27.238	27.215	26.687	26.274	26.274	+1.127
8	CLASS 1	130	Garrett Fisk	1993 KBS MK7	White	DNF	NO TIME	NO TIME	NO TIME	NO TIME	NO TIME	DNF	+26.274

CLASS 2 - 'NA 2.1 - 3.9 litre, FI 1.1 - 1.9 litre'

Total Entries: 11

	Class	Car	Driver	Vehicle	Color	Run 1	Run 2	Run 3	Run 4	Run 5	Run 6	Total	Diff.
1T	CLASS 2	531	Evan Weider	1995 Honda Civic	Teal	DNF	22.612	21.447	21.393	20.910	NO TIME	20.910	[-]0.268
2T	CLASS 2	46	Ryan Kristoff	1987 Honda CRX	Red/White	22.131	21.480	21.273	21.446	21.288	21.178	21.178	+0.268
3T	CLASS 2	6	Scott Wolforth	1988 Pontiac Fiero	Yellow	23.041	22.496	22.467	21.920	21.941	21.607	21.607	+0.429
4	CLASS 2	937	Josh Remmetter	2005 Mini Cooper S	Red	22.445	21.979	22.221	22.396	22.263	22.443	21.979	+0.372
5	CLASS 2	367	Garrett Snyder	1997 BMW Z3 2.8	Red	23.873	22.944	23.823	22.638	22.254	22.242	22.242	+0.263
6	CLASS 2	20	Adam Finkbeiner	2013 Scion Frs	Blue	24.992	23.712	23.289	23.798	22.659	22.506	22.506	+0.264
7	CLASS 2	17	Clint Allis	1983 Porsche 944	Red	26.069	25.672	26.019	25.927	25.017	25.698	25.017	+2.511
8	CLASS 2	75	Ian Wenzel	2000 Subaru Impreza	Red	26.164	25.995	26.058	26.941	25.791	27.633	25.791	+0.774
9	CLASS 2	48	Dan Kress	2006 Mini Cooper S	Yellow	29.274	28.910	27.015	26.809	26.515	27.763	26.515	+0.724
10	CLASS 2	43	Drake Kress	1985 Ford Mustang	Red	31.261	29.615	28.777	28.825	27.579	27.491	27.491	+0.976
11	CLASS 2	7	Kathryn Dawkins	2003 VW Golf	Black	28.115	31.938	29.216	33.152	29.699	28.440	28.115	+0.624

CLASS 3 - 'NA 4.0 litre and over, FI 2.0 litre and over'

Total Entries: 14

	Class	Car	Driver	Vehicle	Color	Run 1	Run 2	Run 3	Run 4	Run 5	Run 6	Total	Diff.
1T	CLASS 3	63	Brian Blaine	1985 Mazda RX7	Red	20.675	19.789	20.086	19.823	19.889	19.720	19.720	[-]0.360
2T	CLASS 3	461	Keith Hagen	2001 Subaru impreza	Blue/Orange	20.602	20.598	20.560	20.176	20.126	20.080	20.080	+0.360
3T	CLASS 3	562	Andrew Bayley	2000 BMW 553i	Red/Yellow	22.250	21.407	21.464	21.201	21.018	20.804	20.804	+0.724
4	CLASS 3	40	John Owens	1998 GMC C1500 Sierra	Orange	25.424	24.078	23.391	22.269	21.549	21.324	21.324	+0.520
5	CLASS 3	14	Devon Tyler	2010 BMW 135i	Purple	22.263	21.747	21.832	21.431	21.384	144.540	21.384	+0.060
6	CLASS 3	710	Kevin Westendorf	2011 Ford Fiesta Proto	White	23.148	23.817	23.604	21.827	21.907	21.482	21.482	+0.098
7	CLASS 3	26	Austin Skibowski	2012 Volkswagen Golf R	Red	22.739	22.406	22.572	21.568	21.693	21.496	21.496	+0.014
8	CLASS 3	35	Ben Dozeman	2004 Mazda RX8	Red	21.675	21.565	22.656	NO TIME	NO TIME	NO TIME	21.565	+0.069
9	CLASS 3	19	Scott Hollingsworth	2003 Honda s2000	Silver	25.036	24.171	23.830	22.432	23.051	22.127	22.127	+0.562
10	CLASS 3	231	Craig Olvey	2005 Acura RSX Type S	Blue	22.983	23.439	23.125	23.486	22.943	22.570	22.570	+0.443
11	CLASS 3	44	Tim Bart	2019 Subaru WRX	Silver	24.872	22.697	DNF	NO TIME	NO TIME	NO TIME	22.697	+0.127
12	CLASS 3	135	Jon Boldt	2004 Mazda RX8	Red	NO TIME	NO TIME	NO TIME	23.692	23.533	NO TIME	23.533	+0.836
13	CLASS 3	38	Brad Palmer	2005 Ford FR500C	White	26.523	27.011	25.971	25.088	24.750	23.914	23.914	+0.381
14	CLASS 3	15	Bobby Sherman	1995 Nissan 240sx	Brown	25.148	24.489	NO TIME	NO TIME	NO TIME	NO TIME	24.489	+0.575

VINTAGE - 'Vintage (>30 years old production)'

Total Entries: 7

	Class	Car	Driver	Vehicle	Color	Run 1	Run 2	Run 3	Run 4	Run 5	Run 6	Total	Diff.
1T	VINTAGE	9	Anthony Grace	1970 Chevrolet Camaro	Grey	22.911	21.357	20.887	20.733	20.891	20.457	20.457	[-]0.606
2T	VINTAGE	789	Darko Stojanovski	1977 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II	White	23.657	22.669	54.527	21.680	21.063	21.084	21.063	+0.606
3T	VINTAGE	555	Colin McCleery	1985 Ford XR8	White	23.443	23.465	23.380	24.545	24.454	23.553	23.380	+2.317
4	VINTAGE	10	Mary McCall	1986 Porsche 944 turbo	Black	25.363	24.381	25.104	23.943	23.487	24.189	23.487	+0.107
5	VINTAGE	4	A. J. Otto	1986 Pontiac Firebird	Black	28.363	26.673	25.478	26.470	26.570	26.169	25.478	+1.991
6	VINTAGE	830	Adam Pickworth	1968 Volkswagen Beetle	White	29.760	29.416	29.209	29.371	29.149	29.464	29.149	+3.671
7	VINTAGE	8	Scott Lankton	1963 Morgan + 4	Silver	31.150	31.263	30.244	30.302	30.517	30.441	30.244	+1.095

DRIFT - 'Drift Class'

Total Entries: 2

	Class	Car	Driver	Vehicle	Color	Run 1	Run 2	Run 3	Run 4	Run 5	Run 6	Total	Diff.
1T	DRIFT	13	Adam Buchanan	2003 Nissan 350z	Black	25.137	24.159	31.643	40.759	NO TIME	NO TIME	24.159	[-]5.046
2	DRIFT	28	Griffon Maleski	1995 Ford Mustang Gt	Blue	33.783	29.588	29.205	30.700	NO TIME	NO TIME	29.205	+5.046

Fastest to Finish

2026 Overall Standings

Overall finishing order compiled from each competitor's best official time across all 2026 classes.

OVERALL FINISHING RESULTS

Total Entries: 42

Overall	Class	Car	Driver	Vehicle	Color	Total
1	CLASS 3	63	Brian Blaine	1985 Mazda RX7	Red	19.720
2	CLASS 3	461	Keith Hagen	2001 Subaru impreza	Blue/Orange	20.080
3	VINTAGE	9	Anthony Grace	1970 Chevrolet Camaro	Grey	20.457
4	CLASS 3	562	Andrew Bayley	2000 BMW 553i	Red/Yellow	20.804
5	CLASS 2	531	Evan Weider	1995 Honda Civic	Teal	20.910
6	VINTAGE	789	Darko Stojanovski	1977 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II	White	21.063
7	CLASS 2	46	Ryan Kristoff	1987 Honda CRX	Red/White	21.178
8	CLASS 3	40	John Owens	1998 GMC C1500 Sierra	Orange	21.324
9	CLASS 3	14	Devon Tyler	2010 BMW 135i	Purple	21.384
10	CLASS 3	710	Kevin Westendorf	2011 Ford Fiesta Proto	White	21.482
11	CLASS 3	26	Austin Skibowski	2012 Volkswagen Golf R	Red	21.496
12	CLASS 3	35	Ben Dozeman	2004 Mazda RX8	Red	21.565
13	CLASS 2	6	Scott Wolforth	1988 Pontiac Fiero	Yellow	21.607
14	CLASS 2	937	Josh Remmetter	2005 Mini Cooper S	Red	21.979
15	CLASS 3	19	Scott Hollingsworth	2003 Honda s2000	Silver	22.127
16	CLASS 2	367	Garrett Snyder	1997 BMW Z3 2.8	Red	22.242
17	CLASS 2	20	Adam Finkbeiner	2013 Scion Frs	Blue	22.506
18	CLASS 3	231	Craig Olvey	2005 Acura RSX Type S	Blue	22.570
19	CLASS 3	44	Tim Bart	2019 Subaru WRX	Silver	22.697
20	CLASS 1	124	Mark Jarvis	1994 Saturn SL2	Green/White	23.333
21	VINTAGE	555	Colin McCleery	1985 Ford XR8	White	23.380
22	VINTAGE	10	Mary McCall	1986 Porsche 944 turbo	Black	23.487
23	CLASS 3	135	Jon Boldt	2004 Mazda RX8	Red	23.533
24	CLASS 3	38	Brad Palmer	2005 Ford FR500C	White	23.914
25	CLASS 1	111	Holden Palmer	2001 Mazda Miata	Silver	24.098
26	CLASS 1	799	Michael White	1976 Volkswagen Scirocco	Lime Green	24.147
27	DRIFT	13	Adam Buchanan	2003 Nissan 350z	Black	24.159
28	CLASS 3	15	Bobby Sherman	1995 Nissan 240sx	Brown	24.489
29	CLASS 1	3	Rob Carman	1971 Ford Escort MK1	White	24.811
30	CLASS 2	17	Clint Allis	1983 Porsche 944	Red	25.017
31	CLASS 1	18	Scott Drabik	1937 Chevrolet legends coupe	White/Blue	25.131
32	CLASS 1	16	Evren Ward	2001 Ford Focus	Red/White/Blue	25.147
33	VINTAGE	4	A. J. Otto	1986 Pontiac Firebird	Black	25.478
34	CLASS 2	75	Ian Wenzel	2000 Subaru Impreza	Red	25.791
35	CLASS 1	5	Benjamin Curtis	2016 Mazda MX5	Black	26.274
36	CLASS 2	48	Dan Kress	2006 Mini Cooper S	Yellow	26.515
37	CLASS 2	43	Drake Kress	1985 Ford Mustang	Red	27.491
38	CLASS 2	7	Kathryn Dawkins	2003 VW Golf	Black	28.115
39	VINTAGE	830	Adam Pickworth	1968 Volkswagen Beetle	White	29.149
40	DRIFT	28	Griffon Maleski	1995 Ford Mustang Gt	Blue	29.205
41	VINTAGE	8	Scott Lankton	1963 Morgan + 4	Silver	30.244
42	CLASS 1	130	Garrett Fisk	1993 KBS MK7	White	DNF

Official Event Photographer

Nate Bonkema · NB Media

A special thank you to Nate Bonkema of NB Media, Official Event Photographer for the 2026 Empire Hill Climb, for capturing the action, competitors and atmosphere of race weekend.

Photo sets from the event are available to view and purchase online.

View & Purchase Event Photos

The People Behind the Hill Climb

Special Thanks

The Empire Hill Climb takes a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes. Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2026 event possible.

Event Sanction

Detroit Region SCCA

The 2026 Empire Hill Climb was sanctioned by the Detroit Region SCCA. Special thanks to the officials who helped make the event possible.

Chief Steward: Doug Mitchell

Registrar: Mary Shiloff

Paddock Chief: Jeremy Anderson

Visit Detroit Region SCCA

With Our Thanks

Empire Hill Climb Committee

Chairman: Paul Skinner

Chair of the Volunteer Committee: David Stone

Trackside Infrastructure Chair: Richard Jensen

Marketing & Promotions Co-Chair: Scott Drabik

Marketing & Promotions Co-Chair: Michael White

Media Chair: Rory Carroll

Technical Advisory Co-Chair: Grant Hoxie

Technical Advisory Co-Chair: Ryan Thompson

Community Partner

Special Thanks to the Empire Chamber of Commerce

Thank you to the Empire Chamber of Commerce for its continued support of the Empire Hill Climb and for helping connect the event with the businesses and community that make Empire such a special place.

Visit the Empire Chamber of Commerce

Thank You for Supporting the Hill Climb

Additional 2026 Sponsors

The Empire Hill Climb would not be possible without the businesses and organizations that support our competitors, volunteers and the Empire community.

2026 Results

Thank You, Empire Michigan!