Checkered Flag Winners

Starting in 2009, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Association began awarding embroidered checkered flags to recognize the extraordinary efforts of its volunteers and partners. These are the same flags we award to the winners of our races. The first flag was awarded posthumously to honor our Chief Starter, Don “Downtown” Brown in 2009. Don was one of our original volunteers and the man who waved the checkered flag at the PVGP finish line for 26 years! Since then, we have presented the flag for 139 winners listed below. The list continues to grow each year because the PVGP has 1,200 volunteers and supporters who give an incredible amount of time and effort each year. Congratulations, you are all winners!

Our 2023 PVGP Checkered Flag Winners (left to right starting on top row): Joe Baird, Colt Dalmaso, Tim Gilkey, Paula Hawthorne, Dwight Heron, Linda Lips, Caitlin Murin, Will Stewart and Nicole Tripp. Not shown: Dave Ley, Kenny Giehll, and Lou Nudi.

2023

Joe Baird – Walnut Street Car Show Committee
Colt Dalmaso – Grid & Set-Up
Kenny Giehll
– Clubhouse/Logistics
Tim Gilkey
– Asian Car Show Captain
Paula Hawthorne
– Race Operations & Steward
Dwight Heron – Board Member & Cars N Coffee
Dave Ley – Sponsor, Host  and Car Show Supporter
Linda Lips
– Flagging & Communications
Caitlin Murin – Racer Registration and Set-Up
Lou Nudi – Patron Parking Committee
Will Stewart – Clubhouse/Logistics
Nicole Tripp – Merchandise Team and Clubhouse

2022

CR Bennett – Photographer
Guy Costa – Board Member and former Public Works Director
Chris Davis – Rolls Royce Club
Louis DePaul – Board member and sponsor
Sarah & Chris Edinger – Clubhouse and Volunteer Committee
Hope Feldman – Patron Parking
Marsha Green – Volunteer photographer
Albert Heiles – Volkswagen Club
John & Lisa Malobicky – Porsche Club – Marque of the Year
Dick McCandless – Patron Parking
Jason Moka – Cortile and Bentley sponsor
Terry & Marianna Orr – Countryside Tour
Scott Rupert – Race volunteer and license plate coordinator
Gary Scott – Main Street Sound
Dexter Stoltz – Retiring Chairman – Western PA Triumph Association
Brenda Tenison – Blacktie Gala Chair
Judson Weissert – Race Operations
Karen Wilson – Course Set-Up

2021

Jim Kinest – Corvette Marque of the Year Captain, Operating Committee
Janel  Capezutto – Patron Parking and Vintage Rides Coordinator
Carole Ann Capezutto – Patron Parking and Vintage Rides Coordinator
Ray Sandherr – Intern
Patrick Martin – Vintage Motorbikes
Derek Kuntz – Countryside Tour
Marla Taylor – Countryside Tour
Jan McCoy – Car Show Gate Volunteer and Racer
Jason Kaplan – Race Volunteer
Greg Farrar – Race Volunteer and Race Course Construction
Jeff Hutzelman – Timing & Scoring
Andy Schor – Cortile and Jet Center Volunteer
Terri Hohmann – Glass Art Artist
Pete Szymanski – Kick-Off Rallye and Clubhouse Volunteer
Tom Rohrich – Cadillac Sponsor and Board of Directors
John Ross – Race Registrar, Competition Committee

2019

Kip Andreas – Race Volunteer
Debbie Seville – Race Registration Volunteer
Gary Gentile 
– Race volunteer
Joe Weaver – 
Car Show Volunteer
The Ford Family
–Car Show Volunteers
The Mathias Family
– Car Show Volunteers
Gary Sciulli 
– City of Pittsburgh Public Works
George Libby 
– Corner Worker
Dave DelBianco
– Donation Station Volunteer
Jason Uhler 
– Mustang/Shelby Marque of the Year Chairperson
Jim Neville 
– Alfa Romeo Club and Cortile Della Corsa Chairman
Wayne Long 
–Alfa Romeo Club and Cortile 
Strongstown B&K 
– Partner/Track Construction
Mayor Bill Peduto – Mayor of Pittsburgh

2018

Corky Bennett – HAM Radio Captain, Operating Committee
Mike Csonka 
– Flagstaff Hill Parking
Jim & Kelly Gezo –
Volunteers, Operating Committee
Clare & Wayne Kaufmann
– Race volunteers since 1985
Bob McKeown – Car Collector and PVGP Car Show Participant
Brad Meyer – Clubhouse
Allan Rubin – Race volunteer since 2006
Lenny Santora – Corner worker and volunteer since 1991
Reid Smith
– Donation Stations Captain, Operating Committee and sponsor
Andrew Stockey – Emcee for Blacktie Gala and unofficial PVGP ambassador
Manfred Woodall
– Media and Website Team Volunteer
Allegheny Chapter BMW Club – 2018 Marque of the Year Club
Bobby Rahal Auto Group – Sponsor and BMW Marque of the Year Dealership

2017

Dotti Bechtol – Treasurer/Board of Directors, Operating Committee & Racer
John Bechtol
– Competition Director, Operating Committee
Bob Borgo
– Race Director, Executive Committee, Operating Committee
Heidi Buckley – Patron Parking
James Dolan 
– Racer and Board of Directors
Greg Farrell – Walnut Street Car Show Chair, Operating Committee
Susan Gera – Media and Jet Center Co-Chair
Chris Granche – Assistant Race Director, Operating Committee
Karen Hanchett – Chief of Motorcycle Security
Dan Holmes 
– Creative Director
Barry Kaplan 
– Chief Safety Steward
Walt Mantenkosky
 – Chief Course Marshal
Brian Urban – Assistant Race Director, Operating Committee
Ken Wojnar
– Car Show Volunteer, Operating Committee
Pittsburgh International Race Complex
 –  Sponsor and Partner

2016

Ramona Corey – VIP Pavilion Captain, Operating Committee
Stan Geier – Board of Directors and Sponsor
Don Johnson – Jaguar Club and Race-side Volunteer
Ken Murin – Competition Committee and Race Volunteer
Amy Rocini – Merakey AVS/Merchandise Volunteers
Ed Rice – Porsche Club representative, Operating Committee and sponsor
Gigi Saladna – Board of Directors and Black-Tie Gala Committee
Tom Schweitzer – Outgoing President British Car Day, Car Club Committee
Steve Struebing – Race-side Volunteer, Operating Committee
Steve Weber – On-Site Media and Operating Committee
Danny Yanda – Competition Committee and former Board member

2015

Don Baker – Timing & Scoring and Operating Committee
Ray Christner – Transportation Captain and Operating Committee
George Jacoby – Outgoing Chairman – PVGP Board of Directors
Cliff Laschon – Cars N Coffee Captain and Operating Committee
Bud & Cindy Osbourne – Countryside Tour Captains, Operating Committee
Bill Permar – Allegheny Chapter BMW Club, Controller and Operating Committee
John Putzier – Presenting Sponsor GPADF
Bill Seaman – Race Course Construction and Media
Michael Schindel – Competition Committee and Racer
Meghan Speer – Asian Car Show Captain and Operating Committee
Bill Stoler – Race Photographer
Les Walter – Timing & Scoring and Operating Committee
Eric Zagrocki–Allegheny Chapter BMW Club and Operating Committee

2014

Dean & Meredith Croucher – Chief Race Stewards
Cathy Dernorsek
 – PVGP Executive Committee, Operating Committee
Ron George – American Car Show Captain, Operating Committee
Tait Hilbert – Chief of Grid
Matt Little – Official PVGP Photographer, Operating Committee
Paul Miller – Car Show Committee and Registration, Operating Committee
Mark Morrow – American Car Show Captain, Operating Committee
Mark Sheldon – European Car Show Captain, Operating Committee
Ted Sohier – PVGP Executive Committee and Race Announcer

2013

Ray & Kristine Dembowski – Corner Workers
Rocky Farrar & Family – Race Course Set-Up and Tear Down
John Gloninger – PVGP Executive Committee and Patron Parking Captain
Bill Haus – PVGP Executive Committee and Historics Race Director
Deborah Liotus – Executive Committee and  Treasurer
Vince Longo Jr. & Christopher Longo – MINI Track Rides
Bernie Martin – Italian Cortile and Social Media Director
Tip Paul – Vintage Motorbike Show Captain
Don Privett – Vendor Village Captain and Waterfront Car Cruise Captain
Joe & Vicki Ropar – Flagger/Corner Worker Captains
Richard Spring – Downtown Car Show Captain, Operating Committee
Dan Taylor – PVGP Board of Directors and Sponsor
Jake Zoller – RR Donnelley Printing Partner

2012

Jeff Duxbury – Schenley Park Golf Course Superintendent
Jerry & Barb Longstreth – Merchandise, Car Show Committee and Marque of the Year
Paul & Sue MacIntyre – PVGP Executive Committee, Merchandise and Kick-Off Rallye
Ron Mahoney – 2012 Poster Artist
Bob Speer – Executive Committee, Operating Committee and Showside Director

2011

Regis Champ – AVS Chairman and PVGP Board of Directors
Mark Hanson – Porsche Club Marque of the Year
Donna McDonough – PVGP Executive Committee and Chief Registrar
Chris Sandvig – PVGP Executive Committee and Race Program Editor
Maggie Schmotzer – PVGP Board of Directors and Blacktie Chair

2010

Jim Burke – 2010 Poster Artist and contributing artist for 20 years
Dave & Pam Finney – Thunder Run Motorcycle Captains
Rich Haeflein – SHOP n’ SAVE Presenting Sponsor

2009

Don Brown – Executive Committee and Chief Starter (in memory)
Mike Connolly – Race Director, Board Member and President of Executive Committee
John Kerr – PVGP Executive Committee and Logistics for all Events
Dan Torisky – Founder, Board of Directors and Operating Committee