Contact:
Daniel DelBianco, Executive Director delbianco@pvgp.org cell 412 559-3500
Susan Gera, Media media@pvgp.org cell 724 396-9372
PITTSBURGH VINTAGE GRAND PRIX TO CELEBRATE ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY
Pittsburgh, PA. – (June 21, 2017) The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, one of the nation’s premier races for cars of yesteryear, will celebrate its 35th anniversary when the 10-day event drops the green flag July 7 and the checkered flag July 16.
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is presented by the Greater Pittsburgh Automobile Dealers Foundation.
“Sometimes I shake my head in disbelief when I look at how this great event has developed over the past 35 years,” said Dan DelBianco, executive director of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. “In 1983, it was a single-day race in Schenley Park. Now, it spans 10 days, six venues and two Western Pennsylvania counties. It is an impressive lineup of car shows and motorsport events sandwiched between two incredible weekends of racing. It’s amazing.”
Because the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix has become so expansive, here are some dates, details and descriptions to help manage the calendar.
- Camaro is the Marque Car of the Year. The Grand Prix’s 35th anniversary coincides with the 50th anniversary of this iconic muscle car. Both new and vintage Camaros will be present at all events, and they can be watched racing at Pittsburgh International Race Complex on PVGP Historics weekend, July 7-9.
- Camaro No. 1, the first of the magnificent muscle cars ever produced by Chevrolet, will be on display the weekend of July 15-16.
- Blacktie & Tailpipes Gala – Friday, July 7, 7-11 p.m. – Pittsburgh Field Club in Fox Chapel – The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix will host its annual blacktie party for its charities. This formal event is a must for any auto enthusiast. Andrew Stockey returns as the emcee and Billy Hartung will supply musical entertainment. Tickets are $250.
- PVGP Historics – July 7-9,9 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Pittsburgh International Race Complex – The 14th annual Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Historic Race Weekend presents a variety of vintage (pre-1960) and historic (after-1960) racing, along with related activities in Beaver Falls. Visitors can watch the races and take a spin on the Wilson Karting track. Proceeds benefit its charities. Tickets are $15 per day or $25 for the weekend; kids under 12 are free.
- Invitational Car Show on Walnut Street – Monday, July 10, 5-9 p.m. – Held on Shadyside’s charming Walnut Street, visitors can view rare, classic and exotic cars. The show provides a sample of the incredible exhibition coming that weekend at Schenley Park. The show cars arrive invitation-only, but the show is open to the public, free of charge.
- Waterfront Car Cruise – July 11 – 4-9 p.m. – Waterfront Shopping Center in Homestead – More than 500 cars will be on display. A donation of $5 is requested for Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix charities.
- Downtown Parade & Car Display – July 12, 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Downtown Pittsburgh – Sponsored by Piatt Sotheby’s, 100 show cars will gather at Station Square at 9 a.m. and thunder into downtown at 10:30 a.m. on their way to car displays at the U.S. Steel Tower, PPG Place and Market Square.
- Tune-Up @ Atria’s – Wednesday, July 12, 6-9 p.m. – Atria’s Restaurant, 103 Federal St. – The party will spill out of Atria’s PNC Park and onto the sidewalk and street. Race cars, show cars and antique cars will be displayed on Federal Street from PNC Park across the Roberto Clemente Bridge. Tickets are $40, which includes two drinks and a coupon worth $20 off your next visit to Atria’s. Bridge parking is available to visitors purchasing at least two tickets.
- Passport to Elegance Jet Center Party – Thursday, July 13, 6:30-11 p.m. – Voyager Jet Center at Allegheny County Airport – This exciting new event is a great way to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. Guests can mingle among rare and exotic vintage cars and airplanes, dine on international culinary delights, sample cocktails at an open bar, enjoy a live concert by Beatlemania Now,and have a chance to win Delta Airline tickets or a Richard Branson titanium Bulova watch. The party will be held in the 18,000-square-foot hangar at the Voyager Jet Center. $375 per person includes food and drink.
- Forbes Avenue of Speed Parade and Car Show – Friday, July 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m. – Forbes Avenue – The Grand Prix returns to nearby Squirrel Hill as racers thunder through the streets and display their race cars on Forbes Avenue between Shady and Murray avenues. The car show is free to the public.
- Schenley Park Car Shows and Race Qualifying; International Car Shows & British Car Day – Saturday, July 15, 9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. Classic, antique, and exotic vehicles, including British, American, German, Asian and Italian cars will be on display on the golf course. Special Saturday displays include the Italian Cortile and British Car Day. Weekend displays include for Camaro Marque and Cars ‘n’ Coffee. Visitors can watch 150 vintage racers compete on the track all day to quality for Sunday’s featured races. Admission is free for spectators or $35 to put your car in the show. The Vintage Race practice and qualifying heats run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Visitors can get a lap of the track at noon in the Vintage Lap Experience.
- Schenley Park Race Day – Sunday, July 16 – 9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. – The 10-day Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix closes with a full day of races and car shows. Warm-up and practice laps are held from 8:15-10:15 a.m. Opening ceremonies begin at 11:15 m. Parade by Camaro Marque and Patron Parkers are held noon-5 p.m. Vintage races will be held from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., while the International Car Show returns to the golf course.
To obtain tickets to any of the events, visit pvgp.org or contact the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix at 412.559.3500 or delbianco@pvgp.org.
About the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Association stages the country’s largest vintage race event and the only one run on city streets. Since 1983 the PVGP has raised over $4.75 million for the Autism Society of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Valley School.
