Dave’s Garage owners, Olvey family ready to race or repair

Photo l-r: Caden, Trent and Craig Olvey, Empire Hill Climb racers.

By Ross Boissoneau

Sun contributor

Cars have been a passion for Craig Olvey for as long as he can remember. The owner of Dave’s Garage in Empire can’t exactly say when his love affair with automobiles began, but it was early on. “Growing up, I always had a fascination with cars,” he  says. “I lived down the street in Cincinnati from a Porsche dealer. I grew up working at a carwash.”

He can point to when he first moved beyond mere interest and dabbling into what would become his life’s work. Craig saved his money to buy a hot car, but his police officer dad had other ideas, and passed him down the family car. So young Craig spent the money on a high-end stereo for the car instead. His dad then one-upped him again, trading that car for a Dodge Omni, with one little problem: It didn’t have a motor. “He said, ‘Here, fix this.’ So I did my first engine at 17.”

Olvey earned his degree in business and started working at a dealership in his hometown. He worked there for nine years before moving north, where he again began working at a dealership in Traverse City.

That changed when he was approached by another car enthusiast. “Dave Karczewski walked into my office,” says Olvey. Karczewski founded Dave’s Garage in 1994 and was looking to move on, and in 2014 Olvey and and his business partner Jamie LaFerriere purchased it. They purchased Taghon’s Garage in 2019. Today Olvey is the sole owner of Dave’s Garage Empire.

And it appears he’s passed his passion on to his sons. He and his older son Caden will be participating in the Empire Hill Climb Sept. 13. “He’s in the auto program at Northwoods University in Midland. He started working on (their) race car at 14,” says Craig.

Like father, like son: Craig says Caden’s experience with cars and with racing simulators has given him an edge. “He’s better than me,” Craig admits. This is the second year they will be part of the race.

The event features various types of racing vehicles, including homebuilt racers, vintage racers, and drift cars. There are five classes: NA 2.0 liter and less, FI up to 1.0 liter; NA 2.1–3.9 liter, FI 1.1–1.9 liter; NA 4.0 liter and up, FI 2.0 and up; Vintage (for trophies only, not prizes, though they may dual-enter in the appropriate class); Drift, with a prize awarded by a judge appointed by the Empire Hill Climb; and Exhibition, which does not qualify for prizes.

Craig says the race draws all kinds of cars and people from all over. “It’s grass-roots motor sports. There’s a wide variety of vehicles – production cars to kit cars. There was a Rolls Royce with a Viper engine, a retired stock car, an open-wheel Morgan in the vintage class,” he says. And while those from distant locales arrive with their vehicles on trailers, “I drive there and drive home.”

He says the event is an opportunity for auto enthusiasts to mingle and see not only the timed races up the hill but get to know the drivers and their vehicles. “Downtown turns into a service paddock,” he says. “It’s open to the public.

“The environment in Empire is so laid-back,” he continues. Good thing. “There are 45 loud obnoxious crazy vehicles downtown.”

Among those on hand will be Craig’s younger son Trent, who appears to be continuing the family tradition. This summer, the 14-year-old he worked his first job: at Dave’s Garage, naturally. Craig said he told him he didn’t have to work, he could just be a kid, but Trent opted to join in the fun at Dave’s Garage. “We could all ride to work in the same car, create some special moments,” Craig says, though he notes that wasn’t an everyday occurrence.

He says business at Dave’s Garage continues to grow as both locals and visitors need car repairs. That’s accentuated following busy weekends such as Labor Day, when those who aren’t familiar with the area suddenly find themselves in situations their cars weren’t prepared for, and they need immediate attention to get back home. “Pierce Stocking makes vehicles articulate in a way they don’t normally do. Or people rely on GPS and end up on a dirt road.”

When that happens, the crew at Dave’s Garage is there to help. “We’re happy to help.”