Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Geared Up to Celebrate its 40th Year
PITTSBURGH, PA (July 9, 2022) The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is preparing to celebrate its 40th year on July 15 through 24. The event remains the country’s largest vintage race event and the only one run through city streets and one of Pittsburgh’s largest festivals.
Begun in 1983, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is entering its 40th year and features two weekends of racing. The first weekend is the Historics at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. The second weekend features vintage racing on a 2.33-mile road course through the streets of Schenley Park in front of 100,000 fans and 3,000 show cars on the Bob O’Connor Golf Course. Between the race weekends there are numerous car shows, parties, rallies, and parades.
Porsche Marque
Porsche is the honored Marque and we’re anticipating a display of 400 Porsches on the Schenley Park Golf Course on the July 23-24 weekend. Porsches will be seen on the track as well. The Historics at Pittsburgh International Race Complex will showcase Porsches from the 70s and 80s up to modern Porsche GT3 Cup cars. The Pitt Race purpose-built track is 40 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. The road course in Schenley Park is a different story. The challenging stone walled track is limited to sports cars from the 40s, 50s and 60s. Porsche is best represented by the classic 356, and vintage 914 and 911 models.
40th PVGP
The first PVGP was first run as a single-day race in 1983, so 2022 marks our 40th year. The longest-running vintage race event in the country. The PVGP is offering laps of the track each weekend and LiveStreaming the Schenley Park races along with interviews of founders and key individuals throughout the last 40 years.
Grand Marshal: Ray Shaffer
Porsche’s Ray Shaffer is coming home to serve as our Grand Marshal. Ray was born and raised in the South Hills area of Pittsburgh. Ray traces the roots of his career in the auto industry to a chance meeting he had with the late Coca-Cola Porsche racer, and Sebring 12 hour-winner, Bob Akin at the 1986 PVGP. Ray began his career at Brumos Porsche in Jacksonville, Florida and became the General Manager. Ray joined Porsche and is currently the Market Development Manager at Porsche Classic in Atlanta.
Poster Artist: Burton Morris
Another special guest coming back home is internationally recognized Pop Artist, Burton Morris. Best known for his bold and graphic depictions of American icons, he created the 2022 PVGP poster that features a Porsche 911 in the familiar red, white and blue Brumos livery. Burton was born and raised in Pittsburgh and earned his fine arts degree at CMU in 1986. Burton attended the first PVGP in 1983 when he was a sophomore. He vividly recalls with wonderment attending the first two year’s races.
Honorary Race Director: Roy “Father Viper” Sjoberg
The first Chief Engineer of Viper in 1989, who inspired Chrysler to shake a fire breathing 10 cylinder Viper out of a 4-cylinder K-Car company is this year’s Honorary Race Director, Roy Sjoberg. He was recruited from General Motors in 1985 after 25 years at GM and being the right hand to Zora Arkus-Duntov, who gave Roy the name “Father Viper”. Roy Sjoberg is a notable keynote speaker on engineering, technical and team building and motivational subjects. He has been a consultant to the U.S. Air Force and ARPA on lean product design and team concepts.
Blacktie & Tailpipes Gala
The formal affair that kicks off the PVGP is moving to the Grand Concourse Restaurant for the first time. This Friday night party on July 15 features a car show at Station Square. Sponsor Bobby Rahal is auctioning a trip to the 2023 Indy 500 to raise funds for our charities. (the event is now sold out)
The Passport to Elegance Party
Our hangar party lands at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport and will take guests through the growth and innovation of the past 100 years while immersing them in the beauty and evolution of our automotive and aviation heritage. This festive party features scrumptious passed hors devours, strolling food stations and top-shelf open bars. The evening will also include live big band music, silent and live auctions.
Schenley Park Race Weekend
The highlight of the Grand Prix is the July 23/24 weekend in Schenley Park. 3,000 show cars parked on the golf course along with sponsor tents and 100,000 weekend spectators watching the nation’s only wheel to wheel vintage street race. British legends like MG, Triumph and Jaguar racing against the German racers of Porsche and BMW.
Charity
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix was built on and continues to support charity. Since 1983 over $6 million has been donated to Autism-Pittsburgh and Merakey Allegheny Valley School. Both organizations supply volunteers to assist 1,000 PVGP volunteers to drive this event.
There is something at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix for anyone who has a fondness for things that go “vroom.” The following schedule contains more information and links to register. See the Photo Galleries and learn how to get involved as a volunteer. Learn more about the PVGP organization and history.
2022 PITTSBURGH VINTAGE GRAND PRIX RACE WEEK SCHEDULE
Kick-Off Rallye at Dual Devils Garage
Sunday, July 10, 11 am – 4 pm
Blacktie & Tailpipes Gala at the Grand Concourse Restaurant
Friday, July 15, 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm
PVGP Historics at Pittsburgh International Race Complex
July 15-17 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Walnut Street Invitational Car Show in Shadyside
Monday, July 18, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
PVGP Car Show at the Waterfront
Tuesday, July 19, 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Downtown Car Display
Wednesday, July 20, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Tune-Up Party at the SouthSide Works
Wednesday, July 20, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Countryside Tour – Featuring British Sports Cars
Thursday, July 21, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Passport to Elegance Party at Pittsburgh-Bulter Regional Airport
Thursday, July 21, 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Forbes Avenue of Speed Parade & Reception
Friday, July 22, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Race Weekend in Schenley Park
July 23/24 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
3,000 vehicles of all makes and years combine to create our International Car Show at the Bob O’Connor Golf Course. Spectators browse the car show, sponsor displays and tents while watching the vintage racers roar through the stone-walled, twisting streets of Schenley Park.
CONTACTS:
Dan DelBianco (412) 559-3500 delbianco@pvgp.org
Bernie Martin (412) 996-5700 bernardtmartin@pvgp.org
Susan Gera (724) 396-9372 media@pvgp.org
About the PVGP
Begun in 1983, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is entering its 40-year and features two weekends of racing action. The first weekend is the PVGP Historics at Pitt Race. The second weekend is racing on a 2.33-mile road course set on the streets of Schenley Park, a city park adjacent to the Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh campuses. Between the race weekends there are car shows, parties, car shows road rallies, and more. PVGP is a volunteer-run event with 1,200 volunteers. The PVGP is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization with a charity mission and has raised $6 million for the Autism-Pittsburgh and Merakey Allegheny Valley School for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism.
