February 2, 2025 – The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix returns to race the city streets the weekend of July 19-20 with two exciting new twists. The Panther Hollow Bridge, part of our traditional race track in Schenley Park, is currently closed for repairs. Therefore, a new circuit, the Schenley Oval, will debut with racing action on a thrilling new course! The PVGP is also introducing a new Hillclimb event on the same weekend. Starting at Phipps Conservatory, this intense 1-mile hillclimb charges up past the crowds on the Bob O’Connor Golf Course to the checkered flag at the top of the hill. This will allow the PVGP to bring in some exciting cars that have not participated in the wheel-to-wheel races.
“We are rerouting the vintage street race onto Overlook Drive and forming a new Hillclimb event to continue the racing action to the golf course,” exclaimed PVGP Competition Director Joe Teplitz. He is enthusiastic about the changes, saying, “This represents a major enhancement to our Schenley Park offering…for both spectators and drivers. We’ve always considered how to incorporate the Schenley Oval into our course, and this does it. The uphill sweeping esses with Oakland and the City of Pittsburgh in the background will be spectacular!”
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix was a finalist in last year’s International Historic Motoring Awards. Now, we are poised to introduce a new excitement factor that features two races simultaneously. This year promises to be the best yet!
This promises to be an incredible year with great racing on a smoother, fun new circuit with exciting new turns you won’t want to miss!
SCHENLEY OVAL
This exciting new 2.1-mile racecourse follows our legendary route along the Boulevard of the Allies, tackling the iconic hay bale chicane, veering left just before the Panther Hollow Bridge. From there, racers snake up Overlook Drive, glide past the ice rink and Schenley Oval, and descend onto Greenfield Road. Two quick lefts send them back onto the Boulevard for another high-speed lap.
Packed with technical turns and racing challenges, this dynamic circuit stays true to our tradition of vintage road racing through the heart of a city park.
Racers will paddock up on Prospect Drive, and the grid will form on Hobart, as always. The start/finish line will shift to the highest section of the hill on Overlook Drive. We anticipate the same number of turns and 20 corner stations. The PVGP will have spectator area inside the oval with details released soon.
The traditional track in Schenley Park was always one of the most demanding circuits in vintage racing. This new Schenley Oval offers a new challenge and includes a smoother racing surface!
Our incredible PVGP Volunteers and our Competition Committee are working on details for all aspects of the race, including spectator areas, safety features and track access. Stay tuned as more details are released.
More Details on the Schenley Oval
Registration is Open
Schenley Oval registration is now open on Motorsport Reg. See our Racer Entry Page for details.
PANTHER HOLLOW HILLCLIMB
For the first time ever, the PVGP is introducing a Hillclimb in Schenley Park. Starting near Phipps Conservatory and the Schenley Park Visitors Center, this intense 1-mile hillclimb charges up the historic, stone-walled Circuit Drive, winding through the park to the Bob O’Connor Golf Course and thousands of fans will cheer them on to the finish line at the Neill Log House.
If you are unfamiliar with Hillclimbs, you will be pleased to hear that they are still vintage racing. The cars will accelerate through the park at the same speeds as our past races. The Goodwood Hillclimb is regarded as one of the best vintage automotive events in the world, and we plan to host a similar event.
The exciting cars that will run include Hillclimb cars, historic one-offs, and vintage racers. We also plan exhibition runs for vehicles that have never participated in the park. We are eager to bring some ground-pounding muscle cars, Historic Stock Cars and others into the park to amaze our audience.
The hillclimb offers drivers an opportunity to compete with cars considered too valuable or inappropriate for wheel-to-wheel competition. In a hillclimb, cars run one at a time against the clock.
The cars will be paddocked by Phipps Conservatory and the Visitors Center along Schenley Drive for a unique fan experience. More details on Panther Hollow Hillclimb
There will be 4 groups of cars:
- Unlimited: Race-qualified cars over 3.0 liters, driven by race-qualified drivers
- Large Bore: Race-qualified cars from 2.0 liters to 3.0 liters, driven by race-qualified drivers
- Small Bore: Race-qualified cars under 2.0 liters, driven by race-qualified drivers
- Historic: Cars with historic significance (1940s and older).
Applications Now Being Accepted
Hillclimb applications are now being accepted on Motorsport Reg. The field is limited in size and the PVGP will reveal the accepted entries on April 28, 2025. See our Racer Entry Page for details.
About the PVGP
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix stands as the nation’s only vintage street race and ranks among the most significant vintage racing events in the world. Spanning 10 action-packed days, it features two thrilling race weekends alongside car shows, parties, parades, and motorsport events. Since its founding in 1983, the PVGP has been driven by its mission: ‘To stage a world-class vintage automotive race to raise funds to provide residential care, treatment, and support for individuals with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities in western Pennsylvania.’
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is honored to be a finalist for the prestigious International Historic Motoring Awards’ Motorsport Event of 2024. Sharing this recognition with some of the most iconic events in the industry—including the Goodwood Revival, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Velocity Invitational, and the Silverstone Festival highlights the PVGP’s growing global impact and enduring legacy. Details
