The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is the nation’s only vintage street race and the largest vintage race event. It spans 10 days and includes two race weekends, car shows, parties, parades and motorsport events.
Our original mission, established in 1983, was “To stage a world-class vintage automotive race to raise funds to provide residential care, treatment and support for individuals with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities in western Pennsylvania.” 42 years later, we are still on track.
Though our first race was in 1983, our organization actually started the year prior. Art McGovern and Mary Beth Gmitter envisioned the city streets winding through Schenley Park as a perfect venue for vintage auto racing. Told that the City of Pittsburgh’s approval hinged on the assurance that any money raised would go to charity, they first approached Myron Cope of WTAE-TV Sports fame – also an autism awareness advocate. Meetings with the city’s parks people followed, and then-Mayor Richard Caliguiri gave his enthusiastic approval. The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Association, consisting of volunteers, was created, and net proceeds would be donated to charity. In April 1983, during a meeting in vintage racer Alan Patterson’s Shadyside garage, the planning began for the first Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, scheduled for Labor Day 1983.
An incredible amount of work ensued thanks to the volunteers from the Sports Car Club of America and the Vintage Sports Car Club of America. Some 75 entrants raced on what would become known as one of the most challenging vintage courses in the country. Five races, along with a parade of patrons, were scheduled, and the plan was put in motion.
We would be lying if we said that the first year went off without a hitch. The complications of a temporary track in the middle of one of Pittsburgh’s most popular public parks reared their heads almost immediately. Huge fence gaps and the labyrinth of infield trails left the course open to penetration from above and below. Recreational joggers were running with the cars zooming around the track. Our volunteer security struggled to overcome these logistical challenges. Nonetheless, the event was a success.
The experience only fueled our imaginations and motivations, and in 1984 the expansion began. We added an invitational car show and the Sunday tailgate known as Patron Parking. By 1985, our spectator count grew to 40,000 and included participants and fans from all over North America as well as Europe. The genesis of Race Week, in 1987, was ushered in with our first Kick-Off Rallye the preceding Sunday. Our volunteer army grew by leaps and bounds and by 1989 we reached 1,000 volunteers – many of whom still volunteer to this day. Race Week spectator draw has consistently grown throughout the years and is now estimated at close to a quarter-million.
With the added size came added attention – from Pittsburgh and beyond. In 1996, Buick signed on as our first Presenting Sponsor. They also brought new models and concept cars to the event and helped legitimize our stature within the auto industry. Modern race cars from the Indy 500, Le Mans, and elsewhere have blasted down the Boulevard of the Allies and snaked between Serpentine’s stone walls. Ferrari, Marque of the Year in 1993, showed up with museum-piece cars and actually put them on the track – in the rain. In 1994, Marque of the Year one-upmanship began as each attempted to better the proceeding’s donations and spectacle. The gauntlet, first thrown down by Porsche, has been eagerly picked up by BMW, Mustang, MINI and others since then. In 2018 BMW set the Marque record with $126,500 raised only to be surpassed the next year by Ford Mustang & Shelby with $132,500!
Shop ‘n Save took over the Presenting Sponsorship from 2001 through 2013 that oversaw many events being added to occupy 10 straight days of motorsport events. Sponsorship started to really grow after that and has led to a larger show and increased our charity donations.
In 2004 the second weekend of racing was added at Pittsburgh International Race Complex and it has developed into a self-supportive historic racing event for newer historic bug-bore cars that are too fast for the city streets of Schenley Park. Now, with two weekends the PVGP has something for every racing fan.
A black-tie gala was started in 1997 and has established itself as a staple of the Pittsburgh summer social scene while becoming one of our biggest fundraisers. Our Tune-Up party was created in 2006 and has grown into a tremendous event that has since moved to the SouthSide Works.
The Greater Pittsburgh Automobile Dealers Foundation took the wheel as our presenting sponsor in 2014 and the partnership has driven our greatest growth and success through 2022. A Countryside Tour was started and filled Thursday, the last remaining Race Week open day. In 2017 a Jet Center Party was added, elevating our event to the top tier of worldwide automotive events. In 2018 we hosted the BMW Oktoberfest and in 2019 the national car clubs for Shelby and Alfa Romeo held their conventions at the PVGP. We are pleased that they chose to celebrate with us.
In 2023 we celebrated our 41st event and we look forward to the next 40 years!
All the while, we’ve held true to our charity mission –to produce a world-class vintage automotive event to raise funds to help provide residential care, treatment and support for autistic and intellectually/developmentally disabled individuals in the Pittsburgh region. It has been 40 years since a cadre of car nuts met in Alan Patterson’s Shadyside garage, and each year brings its challenges.
Our volunteers remain the heart of the organization and the event, with over 1,000 dedicated individuals working year-round to stage this incredible event. Much credit also goes to our sponsors, racers and participants who share their cars to make our event possible.
Start Your Engines!
Dan DelBianco
Executive Director
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Association