The Automobile Club of New Jersey sponsored races by different classes of automobiles beginning in November of 1901. The races began at the bottom of Eagle Rock Avenue and Main Street in West Orange. The course continued up Eagle Rock Ave. and finished at the top of Eagle Rock. It became an annual event and races were held each November on Thanksgiving from 1902 to 1905. The steep grade up Eagle Rock Avenue proved to be a great challenge for the early automobiles. By 1906 public opposition had grown and town officials determined it to be to dangerous and it was discontinued. An attempt was made in 1910 to resume the races but it failed to gain support. Anniversary races were held in 1951,1956, and 1976 but were more ceremonial then competitive.

In the early days of automobiles such hill climbing events became quickly popular. The Eagle Rock Hill Climb in 1901 was the first ever in New Jersey. Of notable distinction is that in the first Eagle Rock Hill Climb Charles E. Duryea of Springfield, MA participated. He manufactured the first gasoline automobile in the United States in 1892. His son M. J. Duryea returned in 1951 to participate in the 50th anniversary of the discontinued event.