Empire Hillclimb in MICHIGAN!!!

How I missed this last year I have no idea, but NASA RallySport have resurrected the Empire Hillcimb in Empire Michigan at the bottom of the Leelanau peninsular.

I only found out about it while up at the Sno*Drift rally this weekend. It was run last September, and will be moving to late May for this year. They are using Facebook to disseminate information, the page is here.

Asking around up at the Rally people thought you needed a full rally spec cage, but thankfully that’s not the case, instead you need a more basic cage like this:

In addition to that you also need SFI or FIA approved fire suit, 5+ point harness and Head and Neck brace, normal stuff. Entry last year was $175 which seems reasonable.

The course is only about 1,000’, but it looks fast and people look to have gotten 3 practice and 6 timed runs for a total of 9 runs in the 25-30 second range, entries are limited to 50 so there should be plenty of runs.

Here’s some vids I found on YouTube:
Check the first 1:10 of this vid, then jump to 7:55. The middle bit is going slowly down the hill and back to the paddock in town.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqE18ZEEw1U
Why you need safety gear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrOWa-GZp3o
More
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmWokUK0rAk
In a dirt late model modified!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXQkpPVmL-M
This sounds great, Cosworth 190 Merc. Turn up the volume
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=580OCTYkldE

I think I’ve got the wife talked into going up to watch this year. Then let’s see if I can cage the Saab and scrounge up a HANS for 2016 

opps, forgot the cage pi.

I don't see cage material / diameter specs though. I guess a standard bolt in road race cage will be sufficient.

I did a hillclimb in the northeast a few years ago that did not require cages in some of the slower classes. Hopefully that will be the case here so I can compete.

Gearheadotaku wrote: I did a hillclimb in the northeast a few years ago that did not require cages in some of the slower classes. Hopefully that will be the case here so I can compete.

It doesn't look like it, the pic I posted was of the minimum roll cage required. I've contacted them regarding diameters, materials, bolt in Vs weld in, foot plates etc. I know SCCA Sanctioned hillclimbs (PHA etc) have slower classes, but NASA seems to be taking a more conservative stance. Also see that even the Relentless Rally team stuck it in a tree, so maybe its understandable. Time to break out the welder or call TRF.

Pretty sure that is the FIA diagrams, you might as well do the FIA specs for a variety of reasons.

I really wanted to like this when I first heard about it, but the barrier of entry got higher and higher, until basically the only guys who could show up had full prepped race/rally cars.

It's a short course, and the concept is neat, I just don't see it ever being what it once was given liability and basically FIA compliant requirements.

Screw it, the interior in the Accord smells like old Honda.

Now I need a welder, chop saw, and tube bender.

Michigan has hills?

In reply to Knurled:

There are some pretty big ones up north

OK, who's going, I have a couple of car options, very, very interested

Does not look like anyone hits thrid gear at all in thier runs.

At $175 for 9 30 second runs with the required safety equipment I will likely never do it. It is cool that there is the option though.

Not the time of year when I'm in Michigan, but I'd like to be. They need this one to be successful and safe so they can move north and open up Brockway Mountain as a hillclimb. I'd drive for that one.

aussiesmg wrote: OK, who's going, I have a couple of car options, very, very interested

This year I think I have the spousal unit interested in a weekend up north so I can spectate. Doesn't take much to get our family up North though.

Next year I can see building a cage with what I already have on hand. The HANS issue is a bigger ($$) hurdle to overcome. We will see. This is top of my wish list for 2016.

ckosacranoid wrote: Does not look like anyone hits thrid gear at all in thier runs.

It also looked to be wet with slick leaf litter. Last weekend in May should be dry and much faster.

EvanB wrote: At $175 for 9 30 second runs with the required safety equipment I will likely never do it. It is cool that there is the option though.

5 mins is more seat time than many autocrosses with far higher speeds. Did you see the Subie go into the trees, I can see the need for safety equip. What do Pennsylvania and New England hillclimbs cost to enter?

mazdeuce wrote: Not the time of year when I'm in Michigan, but I'd like to be. They need this one to be successful and safe so they can move north and open up Brockway Mountain as a hillclimb. I'd drive for that one.

Deuce, where are you actualy from in Michigan? I know you grew up here and visit the UP every summer, but that's it?

Brockway was used as a stage on LSPR for many years, not sure if it still is. But there is a precedent there so it should be possible to run as a hillclimb. Can't you get your triple awesome wife to find a job back here in Michigan so she can fund your life of leisure up here with a real car culture?

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Brockway was used as a stage on LSPR for many years, not sure if it still is. But there is a precedent there so it should be possible to run as a hillclimb.

Brockway hasn't been used in LSPR for the past 3+ years unfortunately.

It is an awesome road though, and my friends whom I've gone to LSPR with have gone out of our way to go drive it.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

I grew up outside Grand Rapids and went to school at Michigan Tech. I distinctly remember watching LSPR cars roll by from my dorm room window my freshman year.
There is a limited oil industry in Michigan, and Mrs. Deuce and I have talked about it, but the pay is significantly less and the opportunities aren't the same.
We're looking at a reasonably early retirement to the UP with a stage rally car in the garage, so I'm not too bummed.

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

ckosacranoid wrote: Does not look like anyone hits thrid gear at all in thier runs.

It also looked to be wet with slick leaf litter. Last weekend in May should be dry and much faster.

EvanB wrote: At $175 for 9 30 second runs with the required safety equipment I will likely never do it. It is cool that there is the option though.

5 mins is more seat time than many autocrosses with far higher speeds. Did you see the Subie go into the trees, I can see the need for safety equip. What do Pennsylvania and New England hillclimbs cost to enter?

New England is around $160. Our longest hill is more than 3 minutes - we usually get 6 runs.

ckosacranoid wrote: Does not look like anyone hits thrid gear at all in thier runs.

Just went back and checked. The MR2 was getting 3rd near the finish in the later runs. THe Merc Cossie was in 3rd before the first corner. The Rally WRX was in 3rd after the first corner. Not sure on the dirt car, but I have no idea of their trans or gearing.

Here's another one who gets into 3rd after spinning and restarting in an open lite Subaru rally car. Note how much the gear lever moves around. I think they need stiffer motor and trans mounts!

xflowgolf wrote:

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Brockway was used as a stage on LSPR for many years, not sure if it still is. But there is a precedent there so it should be possible to run as a hillclimb.

Brockway hasn't been used in LSPR for the past 3+ years unfortunately. It is an awesome road though, and my friends whom I've gone to LSPR with have gone out of our way to go drive it.

Yup it has been awhile since they have used Brockway. I managed to go my first time to what I think was the last LSPR that they did race on it about 4 or 5 years ago.

Someone was talking to Travis Pastrana in the pits and they asked him what he thought of going down Brockway. He said he knew when he was probably going to get air because there would be a cluster of photographers around waiting to shoot something exciting happening! LOL

I've never been to LSPR, but I have driven Brockway, what an amazing road.

Total non sequitur, but how about a Michigan rally championship comprising:
Sno and Drift regional rallys
Empire Hillclimb
MAgnum Opus
Add a Brockway hillclimb in August
LSPR Regional
Different sanctioning bodies, but other championships do that. You'd have Jan, May, June, August and November, a nice spread. All we need to do is persuade Paul to become title sponsor and we're all set :) Oh, other than I don't have a rally ca, time, money or a spousal unit approval

Adrian_Thompson wrote: 5 mins is more seat time than many autocrosses with far higher speeds.

Where we rallycross, 5 mins is at least half as much seat time as we can expect.

Knurled wrote:

Adrian_Thompson wrote: 5 mins is more seat time than many autocrosses with far higher speeds.

Where we rallycross, 5 mins is at least half as much seat time as we can expect.

For $40 with relatively high speeds.

In reply to ckosacranoid:

Speeds at the top of the hill were around 80mph for the faster guys and that was when it was very slick. The modified car was probably closer to 90.