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If you’ve been reading our coverage of the upcoming Empire Hill Climb this Saturday, or our stories on Pikes Peak, you may have wondered what it takes to participate in a hillclimb.

We’re here to explain the ins and outs of prepping yourself and a car for a hillclimb.

For the uninitiated, a hillclimb is one of the oldest forms of motorsport. Traditionally, a hillclimb is a race where drivers compete against the clock for the fastest individual time on an uphill course. The first recorded hillclimb was held near Nice, France, in 1897, while the first event held in the U.S. was the Eagle Rock Hill Climb in 1901 in New Jersey. Many events have come and gone over the past century. Check out this story for a deeper dive into hillclimb history.

Since the Empire Hill Climb Revival is a Sports Car Club of America-sanctioned event, this guide will specifically cover SCCA’s hillclimb rules. Many of the hillclimb events held in the U.S. are SCCA-sanctioned, so it’s worth understanding their basic safety and prep requirements if you plan to participate. It’s also worth noting that even SCCA-sanctioned hillclimbs may have event-specific rules, so researching the event(s) you plan to race at is always a good policy.

The following is a summary of SCCA’s hillclimb rulebook, including licensing requirements, driver safety gear, vehicle eligibility and vehicle safety prep. You can download a PDF of SCCA’s hillclimb rules here.

To participate in an SCCA hillclimb event, you’re going to need one of the following licenses or permits:

If you’re a minor (drivers age 15-17), you’ll have to contact an event official and submit some paperwork (see the rulebook for details). Also, to participate in any SCCA event, you’ll need to purchase a weekend membership if you’re not already a member.

Most competitive hillclimbs will require a full complement of fire-resistant clothing. That means you’ll need a driver suit, gloves, shoes, socks and underwear. Head socks are required for folks with facial hair. Your driver suit must also meet the right standards (see rulebook) and your gear shouldn’t have any tears or holes. Remember, this stuff is meant to keep fire off you should one break out.

You’ll also need a helmet. SCCA events will accept buckets that are Snell-, SFI- or FIA-rated. Just make sure yours isn’t out of date. SCCA does not require the use of head or neck restraints for hillclimbs, such as a HANS device, but they are highly recommended.

Almost anything with four wheels and an engine can run at a hillclimb if it meets the minimum safety standards. If you look on the entry list for Empire, you’ll see road-racing cars, rally machines, circle track racers, drift cars and even Real Time Racing’s class-winning Acura TLX-GT from Pikes Peak.

Your car will need at least an SCCA Time Trials logbook or a logbook from an accepted racing organization. If you can’t get a tech inspection and logbook before the event, a tech inspector can look over the car and issue one on-site. Small footnote: If your car already has a logbook, it must meet the safety standards for whatever form of racing it's logbooked for.

Vehicle classes for hillclimbs often vary from event to event, so there really isn’t a universal class rule set you can prep your car to. The Empire Hill Climb will have five competition classes for 2018: Class 1 (naturally aspirated 2.0 liters or less, forced induction up to 1.0 liter), Class 2 (NA 2.1-3.9 liters, FI 1.1-1.9 liters), Class 3 (NA 4.0 liters and up, FI 2.0 liters and up), Vintage (trophies only, not for prizes, may dual-enter in appropriate class) and an Exhibition class.

At a minimum, all vehicles participating in SCCA hillclimb events must have a roll bar or cage, racing harness, window net and a fire extinguisher. SCCA has specific guidelines in the rulebook for the roll bar or cage. The basic requirement is a four-point cage consisting of a roll hoop, two support bars extending to the rear of the vehicle and a diagonal bar to brace the roll hoop.

A few important points on the cage:

The minimum spec for fire safety is for a 2-pound dry chemical extinguisher mounted on a metal quick-release bracket. Full fire suppression systems that meet the rules for SCCA road racing are permitted.

For belts, you’ll need a five-, six- or seven-point harness that meets SFI or FIA specifications. Expired SFI and FIA harnesses can be used for hillclimbs but must be in good condition. Enclosed cars will also need a window net on the driver’s side or arm restraints. If you’re running an open-top car, arm restraints are required. SCCA recommends the use of a fixed-back racing seat but does not require it.

If hillclimbs sound like they’re for you, there are some great organizations hosting events all over the country. The Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association hosts a series of events around the Keystone State. The New England Hillclimb Association also holds a race series in Vermont. If you’re in the South, check out the Chasing the Dragon hillclimb in North Carolina.

In 2011, one of the oldest motorsports events in America was revived when Climb to the Clouds was held on Mount Washington in New Hampshire. The course is over 7 miles long and is now held every three years. Finally, there’s the world-famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, where Romain Dumas smashed the overall record in the Volkswagen I.D. R earlier this year.

If you're unable get a car together but still want to be part of the action, all these organizations would love to have you as a volunteer. See you on the hill!