Opening Ceremonies & Special Guests
Saturday, July 19, 2025
The PVGP Parade and Opening Ceremony runs from 9:20 until 10:00 AM of Race Weekend in Schenley Park.
Saturday Opening Ceremony Schedule
9:30 AM – Grand Marshal, Honorary Race Director, Charity Ambassadors and Dignitaries
9:45 AM – Welcome by Ted Sohier, Remarks by PVGP Officials, City of Pittsburgh
9:50 AM – Presentation of Color Guard and National Anthem
10:00 AM – Ladies & Gentlemen….start your engines for the Hillclimb!
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is especially thankful to all of the individuals who have graced our event with their presence. From Indy 500 winners to famous authors.
GRAND MARSHALS
1990 Bob Bondurant – Racer and Instructor
1991 William Christopher – Actor, Father Mulcahy on M*A*S*H
1992 Myron Cope – PVGP Founder, Sportscaster and author
1993 Larry Shinoda – Corvette Designer
1994 Elliott Forbes Robinson – Racing Champion
1995 Myron Cope – PVGP Founder, Announcer and author
1996 Bill Steinbach – KDKA Radio Host
1997 Faith Gallo – Pittsburgh Director of CitiParks
1998 Tom Murphy – Mayor of Pittsburgh
2000 Jim Roddey – Allegheny County Chief Executive
2001 Alan Patterson – PVGP Founder and Racer
2002 Gary Triffo – Shop ‘n Save Chief Executive
2003 Burt Levy – World’s Fastest Novelist
2004 Myron Cope – PVGP Founder, Sportscaster and author
2005 Guy Costa – Pittsburgh Public Works Director
2006 Bibiana Boerio – Managing Director of Jaguar/London
2007 Mike Connolly – PVGP President and 25 Year Volunteer
2008 Luke Ravenstahl – Mayor, City of Pittsburgh
2011 Regis Champ – CEO, Allegheny Valley School and PVGP Founder
2013 Dan Torisky – President of Autism Society and PVGP Founder
2015 Dwight Knowlton – Artist and Author
2016 Anatoly Arutunoff – Racer, Author and Bonvivant
2018 Jim Burke – Artist and Author
2019 Chuck Cantwell – GT350 Project Engineer
2021 Kate Gundlach – Race Engineer
2022 Ray Shaffer – Porsche Market Development Manager & Heritage Gallery Curator
2023 Luigi Chinetti Jr. – Racer and NART Founder
2024 Bill Warner – Founder of Amelia Island Concours
2025 Ramsey Potts – Broad Arrow Auctions
2004 Honorary Race Director Myron Cope with Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O’Connor
HONORARY RACE DIRECTORS
1991 Jim Crawford – Racing Champion
1992 Sam Posey – Racing Champion
1993 Phil Hill – 1961 Formula One World Champion
1994 Brock Yates – Editor Car & Driver Magazine
1995 Tom Murphy – Mayor of Pittsburgh
1996 Tony Dron – Pro Touring Driver at LeMans and Journalist
1997 Lyn St. James – Racing Champion 24 Hours of Daytona, and Sebring
1998 Burt Levy – Author of “The Last Open Road”
1999 Bobby Rahal – 1986 Indy 500 Winner, 3-Time Indy Car Champion, Race Team owner
2003 Gene Ricciardi – President Pittsburgh City Council
2005 Hau Tai Tang – 2005 Mustang Designer and CMU Graduate
2006 Larry Crane – Editor, Auto Aficionado Magazine
2007 Bobby Rahal –1986 Indy 500 Winner, 3-Time Indy Car Champion, Race Team owner
2008 Walt & Louise Ann Pietrowicz – Vintage Racing Photojournalists
2009 Oscar Davis – Car Collector
2010 Donna Mae Mims – First Woman Champion 1963 SCCA
2011 John “Jake” Jacobson – Former Race Director
2012 Wayne Carini – Host of “Chasing Classic Cars”
2015 J.C. Argetsinger – International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen
2016 Alan Patterson – Founder and first PVGP Race Director
2018 Bill Auberlen – BMW, Sports Car Racer, 2-Time Grand Am GT Champion
2021 Al Unser Jr. – 2-time Indy 500 winner
2022 Roy Sjöberg – “Father Viper” and Viper Chief Engineer
2023 Daniel Panoz – Racer and Car Designer
2024 David Hobbs – GT40 Racer and Announcer (was not able to attend in person)
2025 Corey O’Connor – Allegheny County Controller
Wayne Carini served as our Honorary Race Director in 2012 and raced at Schenley Park.
SPECIAL GUESTS
1986 Chip Robinson – IMSA Racer and 1987 Winner- 24 Hours of Le Mans
1991 General Jerry Ralph Curry – US Army Major General & NHTSA
1992 Jim Crawford – Formula One, Cart and Indy 500 Racer
1992 Rene’ Dreyfus – Vintage Driver Emeritus
1993 Zora Duntov – Corvette Marque Ambassador
1994 David E. Davis – Auto Magazine Journalist
1997 Dave McLellan – Corvette Chief Engineer
1998 Donna Mae Mimms – Driver Emeritus
2000 Denise McCluggage – Motorsports Journalist
2005 Steve Earle – Racer & Monterey Historics Founder
2005 Dianne Craig – Ford Mustang Marque Grand Marshal
2007 Jeff Gordon – 4 Time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion
2007 Dutch Mandel – AutoWeek Editor
2007 Roger Kingdom – 1988 2-Time Olympic Gold Medalist
2007 Rachel Brooks – Miss Pennsylvania 2007
2008 Elizabeth Cope – Daughter of Myron Cope
2008 Jeff Hartings – Pittsburgh Steelers
2009 Don Brown Family – Honorary Starters in Memory of Don Brown
2009 Dick Vermeil – NFL coach
2009 Burton Morris – Artist
2011 Chris Higbee – Lead Singer of the Poverty Neck Hillbillies
2012 B. E. Taylor – Recording Artist
2012 Burt Levy – Motorsports Author
2013 Elizabeth Dwyer – Pittsburgh Regional Manager Ford & Lincoln
2014 Sydney Hutchko – American Idol Contestant, Recording Artist
2014 William Peduto – Mayor, City of Pittsburgh
2015 Billy Price – Recording Artist
2017 Logan Lawson – Owner of the first Camaro #1
2017 Erik Buell – Founder Buell Motorcycle Company
2023 Burt Levy – Motorsports Author – Honorary Starter
2024 Jim Boffo – Honorary Starter
2024 Todd Cook – Poster Artist, Kip Wasenko, Luigi Chinetti and Danny Panoz
2025 Massimiliano Trantini – President and CEO of Lotus Americas
4-Time NASCAR Champion Jeff Gordon with PVGP Charity Ambassadors at Waterfront in 2007.