WATCH: After years away, this legendary Kelowna race will return this weekend

After nearly a three-year absence, the 63rd Leavitt Machinery Knox Mountain Hill Climb will be back this May long weekend.

The event is a race against the clock, where cars take on the 3.5 km route in intervals from the bottom of Knox Mountain to the top.

Chief Organizer Bryan Fulton told Kelowna10 it’s one of the marquee races in North America.

“It’s a historic event in Canada. It’s a historic event in car racing. Next to the Pikes Peak [International Hill Climb in Colorado], it's probably one of the most famous hill climbs in the world," he said. "it’s important for us to keep it going as part of history."

The event is expected to feature drivers from B.C., Alberta, and the northwest United States, but has had competitors from as far as Australia, all eager to challenge the climb and the clock.

“They’re aware of the times. It’s a difficult hill to run and they want to see how they do against some of the best that have raced in hill climb,” he said. “They look at those kinds of names and they say, 'gee. I wonder how I do compared to those racers? I wonder how my car does compared to those cars."

Fulton said the city and event organizers work in tandem to help get the track ready and restore it to normal use once things are done.

“We make sure the road is in good condition for racing, and we help the city with some of those maintenance things and they’re very good in helping us," he said.

The event is scheduled to take place May 21 and 22. A portion of the proceeds raised will go to support JoeAnna’s House.

To accommodate the race, Knox Mountain Drive will be closed for setup on Thursday, starting at noon.

The park will remain open to visitors until the event begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday. However, the main parking area will be closed from Friday, May 20, through to Monday, May 23.

The Poplar Point Drive parking area will be closed from 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 19 until noon on Monday, May 23, the city said.

The Knox Mountain Disc Golf Course will also close to the public on Thursday as campers arrive.

Organizers anticipate the park will be accessible to visitors by about 3 p.m. on Monday, May 23, though event teardown may still be ongoing in the park.