Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix

The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix's mission is to produce a world-class vintage racing event in order to raise funds to help provide residential care, treatment and support for developmentally disabled individuals in the Pittsburgh region. Because of the generous support and contributions from our sponsors, and the dedication of our volunteers, we have been able to donate $2.75 million to two wonderful charities: the Autism Society of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Valley School. Our mission -- To maintain a world-class racing event that is free to the public to give all money to our two charities. It has been a quarter century since a cadre of car nuts met in a Shadyside garage, and each year brings its challenges. But, with the undying dedication of the volunteers and the enthusiasm of our racers, car show participants, sponsors, and spectators, and encouragement from our charities, we continue to grow and remain the nation's largest vintage sports car racing event....and the only one run on city streets.

Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Schenley Park Race Groups The first race event was the brainchild of Art McGovern and Mary Beth Gmitter who, in 1982, met with Myron Cope of WTAE TV, Dan Torisky of The Autism Society of Pittsburgh and Rege Champ of Allegheny Valley School. Following the meeting, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Association was founded and designated a nonprofit organization incorporated for the express purpose of sponsoring the race. Others involved in this brainchild were racer Dick Scott, SCCA Board of Directors Member Tony Phelps, and Alcoa Marketing Manager Dick Jevon. They, along with many other volunteers to follow, set out to run the first vintage race in Schenley Park, made available for the event by Pittsburgh Mayor Richard Caliguiri. Group 1: Pre-World War II (Pre-1941) Frequently called "Pre-War," this classincludes classic sports and racing carsof the era that ran at the 24-hour LeMans in France andBrooklands in England. Typical examples include Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Ford Sprinters,Maserati, Mercedes, BMW, and Fraser-Nash. Group 2: Post-War Sports Cars Under 1 Litre & Preservation Cars manufactured after 1944. Featuring classic small-bore racing cars such as Turner, Morgan, Cooper, Osca, Bandini, Fiat, Abarth and Saab. Group 3: Sports Racers and Formula Cars Sports racers are specially-prepared race cars based upon production sports cars, modified to participate as dedicated racers. Formula Juniors are small, open-wheel race cars built largely from production car parts. Included in Group 3 are marques such as Lola, Cooper, Lotus, Stanguellini, and Elva. Group 4: Under 2 Litre and Preservation (Pre-1960) Car built between 1944 and 1959. Included in this group are cars built from 1944 to 1960. Some examples are Alfa Romeo, MG, Porsche, Triumph, Morgan, and AC. Group 5: Over 2 Litre (Pre 1960) This group features fast and exciting European models such as Jaguar, Aston Martin, Allard, Austin-Healey, and Porsche 356. Group 6: Small Bore thru '65, Modified and H-Production Small-bore modified and H-Production through the mid-1960s. This group includes cars from early to mid-60s era. Although this is not an actual VSCCA class, cars include late-model Austin-Healey, Alfa Romeo, MG, Jaguar, Triumph, Mini Cooper, Saab, and Lotus. Group 7: High Performance Small-bore modified through the 1960s. Similar to Group 6, this group includes the fastest cars allowable. This race allows for high performance tires, creating an exciting and level field of competition.

Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Historic Races at Pitt Race Complex A bellicose big-bore battalion of 1960's and 70's legends will roar through the Pitt Race Complex in Beaver. This historic race cars are just a bit too "new", too fast and /or too powerful to run the track at Schenley Park so we spend a weekend on PittRace's track just NorthWest of Pittsburgh getting bringing our oil temperature up for the week of activity to follow