If driving your classic sports car is your main passion, we invite you to join us for the Countryside Tour. It is hosted by the Greater Pittsburgh MG Club, with help from the Western PA Triumph Association. Participation is limited to sports & GT cars produced in 1983 and earlier*
Bud Osbourne conceived the Countryside Tour in 2012 as part of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. Bud has handed over the reins to Derek Kuntz and Marla Taylor-Kuntz. Bud will still be involved, of course – thank you for all that you do, Bud.
The tour departs from the Ramada Inn in the lovely and historic town of Ligonier and follows a delightful collection of scenic, twisting, lightly traveled back roads through Pennsylvania’s beautiful Laurel Highlands. Be advised that this is a DRIVING tour and not for the faint of heart. We cover many miles, and it’s all back roads at a brisk pace!
2024 PVGP Countryside Tour
Schedule – Thursday, July 17
Registration at Ligonier Ramada Inn: 8:00 AM
First Group Starts: 9:00 AM
Lunch at Jamison Farm: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
An alternate tour is available from Jamison Farm afterward
Optional Afternoon Tour
We’ve included an optional afternoon segment for the tour. This segment will feature well-shaded but gloriously twisting, plunging Pennsylvania back roads. We may also include stops at some local points of interest, both historical and recreational, before winding our way back to our “headquarters”, the Ramada Inn of Ligonier, for poolside cocktails and refreshments before heading out for dinner. Again, due to the distance from Pittsburgh, plus the special events planned for the night before the tour, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you book a room at the inn for Wednesday night.
REGISTRATION OPENS IN 2025
Registration is $85.00 and includes both morning and afternoon tour segments, as well as lunch and refreshments for two people at Jamison Farm. Extra lunches are $35 each. Room reservations are up to the individual participants, and you MUST CALL the Ramada Inn of Ligonier (724-238-9545) and mention PVGP Countryside Tour to reserve your room.
If you have any questions, please contact
Derek Kuntz
Marla Taylor-Kuntz
Lunch at Jamison Farm
On Tour Day, traveling in groups of three or four cars only to enhance both safety and the driving experience, we will work up a good thirst and an appetite, which will be slaked during our visit to Jamison Farm, on another country road near Crabtree, PA. Owners John and Sukey Jamison are still raising lamb and serving meals onsite, and they are excited to be our luncheon hosts this year. John is also a British car enthusiast and has been a Countryside Tour participant for many years.
A very talented cook, Sukey Jamison has created a line of hand-prepared lamb dishes, including a Lamb Stew created in collaboration with the late, great Jean-Louis Palladin and Sukey’s award-winning Lamb Pie.
Ramada Inn
The Ramada Inn of Ligonier will be our host hotel and starting point. A block of 20 rooms has been blocked for participants. Mention the PVGP Countryside Tour, when you call for reservations. This is always great fun, sitting around the bar or poolside and relaxing before getting a good night’s rest at the Inn and avoiding the hassle of having to get up in the pre-dawn hours and do the “forced march” out to Ligonier for the 9 A.M. start of the Tour (if it’s going to be hot, we may start much earlier, to beat the heat). Call the Ramada (724-238-9545) and reserve your room for Wednesday night (many of us also stay there on Thursday night rather than drive back to Pittsburgh after a long, hot day on the road).
After one of our Countryside Tours, one of the participants was heard to remark: “This is sort of like driving the Tail of the Dragon, only a lot longer and more fun.” We would have to add: “And a lot less crowded!” Whatever you do, please don’t delay in registering, as we are limited to roughly 50 cars and those “slots” get filled pretty quickly.
*In the case of air-cooled Porsche 911s, Alfa Romeo Spiders and a few others, cars newer than 1983 are accepted because they are a continuation of the original design.