Take a seat and buckle in for a road filled with twists and turns, like life itself. Meet Crystal Hoegg, a racer at the Weatherly Hillclimb, a beloved motorsport tradition in the small town of Weatherly since 1960.

“I fell in love with it from the get-go, and it's always been my favorite event,” she said.

It's also where she fell in love with fellow racer, Matt. Rivals on the road, but partners in life. The couple even celebrated the start of their marriage on the start line.

“It was the most logical decision for us to have our wedding here, where we met, because of how much this event plays into our lives. And it was great because we didn't have to try and fit our wedding around our race schedule, so all of our friends from the race could attend. Because for us, they are just as important as our actual family is,” said Crystal and Matt Hoegg.

Every June and September, the Weatherly Hillclimb draws drivers and spectators from all over the country. The event entails racing up the mile-long Hill Street and competing for best time while navigating tricky turns, including a jump known for taking cars airborne and "the wall,” which some can barely clear.

“You can be on a shoe-string budget to do this. We have cars that look like they just came out of their backyards, people who spend thousands of dollars on their cars, or those who build their cars from the ground up,” Crystal explained.

Crystal has been climbing the ranks – and roads – for twenty years. Her love of the sport developed before she could even get behind the wheel. “From a young age, I was here. I was four-months-old when I started coming to the events with my parents. And as I grew up, it was always something I wanted to do,” she added.

It’s a similar story for her husband Matt, a Weatherly native.

“I would walk or ride my bike over as a kid, probably used to get yelled at a couple times for doing wheelies through the parking lot and down in the pits. But I’ve always had a passion for cars and fell in love with hill climbing. It was always something to look forward to every two weekends a year when a bunch of cool, fast cars and nice people came to town. And I didn't have to go far or pay anything to see it,” he said.

The Weatherly Hillclimb is a family affair for the Hoegg's. Crystal's grandfather races. Her late grandmother was involved, too. Her mom, dad, daughter, aunt, and uncle also take part.

“So we can start a whole new generation of people to help keep it going,” she smiled.

It's an important mission, since the Weatherly Hillclimb almost disappeared in the early 2000s due to rising costs. Crystal's family was instrumental in keep it alive. Soon after, The Weatherly Hillclimb Association was born, maintaining the thriving experience you see today thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers, including two you've already met, who drive the event in more ways than one.

“In addition to being a driver, I’m also a tech inspector and could be found working a corner at certain events. There's almost nothing I wouldn't volunteer to help with. If somebody needs something, just ask,” Matt said.

“I am the secretary slash registration. I also help coordinate workers. So, I wear many hats at this event,” Crystal laughed.

Part of a large network of hill climb events, all sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America, participants say this one stands out among the rest. “I’ve been to all those events and there's not one that has the community, the beauty, that Weatherly has,” Crystal explained.

“To me, it's almost everything,” Matt added.

A winding road that's led to love, friendship, and family.