I’ve been a volunteer for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix for close to 15 years. As such, I’m a little surprised how few Pittsburghers know about this event, or the draw it creates both nationally and internationally. Often, it seems those outside our city know more than those inside.
Started in 1983, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix raises money for the Autism Society of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Valley School. It has slowly grown from a 1-day set of races to a 10-day festival at various locations in southwestern PA and second in size only to the Regatta.
Some fun/unknown facts about the Grand Prix:
1) It is the longest continually-running vintage motorsports event in the country
2) It is the nation’s only vintage motorsports event run entirely on city streets
3) Nearly every event – including Race Weekend – is free to the public
4) Our volunteer family numbers close to 1,200 throughout Race Week
5) Until 2003, we were all-volunteer. To this day, only one position is paid – our Executive Director
6) Contestants from all over the US and Canada, as well as Europe and Japan, come for the chance to race the same way racers did in the 1930s andd 40s – on public roads.
Comments
2 responses to “The Fastest Trip Around Schenley Park You’ll Ever Have!!!”
I went to this a few times when I was a kid. It was awesome, all these great automobiles flying around the park.
More info on this really cool, fun event can be found at their web site.
[…] Saturday, July 15 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, All Day Saturday and Sunday, Schenley Park Chris dropped the dime on this the other day, so go read that because it’s chock full o’ information about what a great thing this is and how it works as a fund-raiser for an excellent cause. I will throw in that I used to go to this when I was a kid and my dad was a fanatic for weird old cars. Now he’s a fanatic for living in Florida on a canal and looking at the manatees. I think this is just something that happens as you age and I kinda look forward to it in a way. […]