Motul Panther Hollow Hillclimb Debuts at 2025 PVGP with Thrilling Success

The inaugural Motul Panther Hollow Hillclimb delivered a weekend of high-speed excitement at the 2025 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, as drivers charged up the twisting hillside course carved through the Schenley Park golf course. Running simultaneously with the PVGP’s new 2-mile UPMC road course on the opposite side of the park, the Hillclimb was an ambitious and thrilling addition to the Grand Prix.

Left to right: Mark Aubele, 2012 Wolf GB08, Small Bore: Vaughn Glace, 2024 Radical SR3 XXR – with the Hillclimb volunteers and Matthew Haskins, 2000 Honda S2000.

The event’s successful debut was made possible thanks to the vision and leadership of Chief Hillclimb Steward Jim Locke. As the driving force behind the concept, Jim oversaw every detail—from planning and logistics to safety and operations—bringing a brand-new race format to life under a tight timeline. His decades of motorsport experience and ability to assemble an expert team ensured a safe, smooth, and spectacular event.

The fastest run of the weekend came from Mark Aubele in his 2012 Wolf GB08, clocking in at 52.884 seconds. His wife Michelle was equally impressive, placing fifth overall in her 2012 BMW 135i.

Aubele’s competition with Vaughn Glace was one of the weekend’s highlights. “It was the best battle I’ve had in a long time,” Mark said. “Vaughn really pushed me and made it exciting. Most hillclimbs last two hours—not two days—so this was a new experience and an amazing event. Thank you to all the volunteers.” Glace, racing his 2024 Radical SR3 XXR, impressed by steadily improving his time through the tight, stone-walled course. Though his car had less horsepower than Aubele’s, he made up ground with precision driving.

Engineering Students Blaze the Hill in Formula Cars
For the first time in PVGP history, university engineering teams from Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, and West Virginia University competed in formula cars they built from the ground up. The action was intense, and some of the fastest times on the hill were laid down by these student drivers.

Celia Bayer from the University of Pittsburgh team turned heads by finishing just 0.557 seconds behind overall winner Aubele. Panther Racing and the Pitt team took home top honors in the PVGP-style “Backyard Brawl,” keeping the bragging rights in Pittsburgh.

Their participation was made possible with support from the Pittsburgh Shootout, and the students relished every moment—sharing camaraderie in the paddock and soaking up the unique motorsport atmosphere that defines the PVGP with the shadow of Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning.

Drift, Drama & Vintage Spirit
One of the most unforgettable sights of the weekend was professional drifter Dirk Stratton powering his Chevrolet Corvette C6 sideways up the hill, thrilling the crowd with tire smoke and full-throttle style.

In keeping with the spirit of the PVGP, a special “King of the Hill” trophy was awarded—not to the fastest car, but to the vintage vehicle that best embodied the Grand Prix’s vintage character. Motul Lubricants and Caliente Pizza & Draft House teamed up to present the honor to Wilbur Strickland for his beautifully prepared 1960 Porsche 356 Coupe.

2025 PVGP Motul Hillclimb Class Winners

• Unlimited: Mark Aubele (Irwin, PA) – 2012 Wolf GB08 – 52.884 sec
• SAE: Celia Bayer (University of Pittsburgh SAE Team) – 53.441 sec
• Small Bore: Vaughn Glace (Pittsburgh, PA) – 2024 Radical SR3 XXR – 54.020 sec
• Historic: Joey Bojalad (Sewickley, PA) – Elva Mk 7 – 63.827 sec
• Large Bore: Daniel Dennehy (Pittsburgh, PA) – 2012 Honda Fit – 65.675 sec

Looking Ahead
With the Panther Hollow Bridge closure expected to continue into 2026, the Hillclimb may return next year. Now with a full year of experience under its belt, the PVGP team is ready to build on this year’s success and continue improving the Hillclimb for both drivers and fans. Thanks to all the competitors for a safe and exciting event.

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