PVGP is Gearing up for the 42nd Motorsport Festival

Pittsburgh, July 19, 2024—What began as a single-day race in Schenley Park in 1983 has become a full-fledged Motorsport Festival packed with 12 events and two race weekends. It all starts this weekend with the Kick-Off Rallye on Sunday, followed by the Walnut Street Car Show on Monday and then continues through August 4.

Features

MINI is our Marque of the Year. The giant-slaying legend that punches above its weight class is also the darling of auto enthusiasts worldwide. You will see these fun British icons on the track, in car shows, and almost everywhere you turn. MINI of Pittsburgh is supplying four new MINIs to serve as our Pace Car and Track Cars, supported by Vince Longo and his crew.

Historics at Pitt Race – July 26-28

The Ford GT40 Reunion has chosen the PVGP and its Historic Races to celebrate their 60th Anniversary with races and a car show. Come see dozens of these high-performance endurance racing legends from the sixties. Be sure to catch the GT40 Race on Sunday afternoon, July 28.

The Historic Stock Car Racing Association is bringing stock cars that ran in one of the major NASCAR series, with Generation 4 Cup cars built for the 1992-2007 seasons as the most popular class. The roar of Historic NASCAR will echo through the western Pennsylvania countryside.

Schenley Park July 3-4

During the ‘Vintage’ weekend, we will host 20 distinct car shows supported by more than 50 car clubs. The show is sponsored by Caliente Pizza, which also sponsors and races a 1964 Triumph Spitfire with us.

Ragtime Racers and Vintage Indy will set up the ‘Exhibitions of Speed’ Paddock on Schenley Drive in front of Phipps Conservatory during the Garden Party at Phipps and the Evening of Speed events on Thursday and Friday and then on the weekend when they compete on the track. You can even ride in a 1920s Brass-Era Ragtime Racer as a co-pilot for an entire race session on the weekend.

Ragtime Racers is a race exhibition group for 1920 and earlier race cars that provides a traveling show across the country showcasing these fantastic machines in a historical setting. These significant race cars from the brass era deserve to be seen at speed, as they were meant to be. This group allows spectators to experience these cars at race tracks, tours and shows, giving them a taste of what it was like during the “Heroic Age” of auto racing.

Vintage Indy™, established in 2017, is dedicated to the history and preservation of Indianapolis cars to ensure these icons survive for future generations. Featuring a fan-friendly paddock that spans up to 70 years of Indy car history and design.

In keeping with the small theme, we’re shining a spotlight on Microcars as Jeff Lane shares his collection from the Lane Motor Museum, joined by American Bantam, which is from nearby Butler, Pennsylvania.

Many of the displays in Schenley Park will feature the “mini” theme: The American Car Show will spotlight Bantam and Nash Metropolitan, and BMW will feature Isettas; the Italian Cortile will feature ‘Autovetture Piccole’ and the Asian Car Show will feature Japanese Kei Vehicles and a blend of anime and automotive culture.

Special Guests

We have some special guests joining us.  Grand Marshal Bill Warner, founder of the famed Amelia Island Concours, will appear at the new ‘Evening of Speed’ Driver Parade and VIP Reception on Friday, August 2, and then for the Race Weekend in Schenley Park.

Famed GM Designer and Corvette racer Kiprian Wasenko will be here for Race Weekend in Schenley Park. Kip is best known for “making Cadillacs cool again.”

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. leads Vintage Indy into Pittsburgh and onto the track at Schenley. “Little Al” was here in 2021, and we look forward to his return.

We will pay tribute to local racing legend Jim Boffo as our Honorary Starter. Chris Zappa is restoring his 1967 Mini in anticipation of racing in Schenley Park.

Famed GT40 racer and broadcaster David Hobbs was scheduled to appear, but a family medical situation will keep him back in Elkhart Lake, WI. He will make a video appearance, and we are proud to bestow him with the Honorary Race Director checkered flag.

Race Week

In between our two exciting race weekends, we host parties, parades and car shows starting with the Black Tie & Tailpipes Gala at PPG Wintergarden on Friday, July 26, the Waterfront Car Cruise on Monday, July 29, and a western-style Stampede & Roundup in Sewickley at Rosa’s Cantina on Tuesday, July 30. On Wednesday, July 31, there are two events: the Downtown Car Display at Market Square and PPG Place in the morning and the Tune-Up Car Showcase at the SouthSide Works that night, just three miles upriver.

The festivities in Schenley Park will begin two days earlier with a new event at Phipps Conservatory. The PVGP has planted the seeds for the first Grand Prix Garden Party there on Thursday, August 1, with an auto-themed party within the spectacular Phipps Botanical Gardens.

On Friday, Aug. 2, our vintage racers parade past Phipps and down to the Frick Fine Arts Building at Schenley Plaza for a Driver & VIP Reception the public can purchase tickets to join the racers inside or enjoy the festivities in Schenley Plaza.

Charity

Our desire to help our community is reflected in the $6.7 million we have donated to our charity partners at Autism Pittsburgh and Merakey Allegheny Valley School, and we are motivated to break the $7 million mark this year.

Volunteer Driven

This event wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our hardworking volunteers and the unwavering support of our sponsors and partners. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the City of Pittsburgh, with whom we have proudly partnered for 42 years to stage this automotive extravaganza. Last but certainly not least, we sincerely thank the fans who cheer us on and help spread the word about the vibrant automotive culture we have right here in Pittsburgh.

2024 PVGP Event Calendar

Kick-Off Rallye Sunday, July 21 Details

Walnut Street Invitational Car Show Monday, July 22 Details

Blacktie & Tailpipes Gala at PPG Wintergarden Friday, July 26 Details

Historics at Pitt Race with the GT40 60th Reunion July 26-28 Details

Waterfront Car Cruise Monday, July 29 Details

Sewickley Stampede & Roundup Tuesday, July 30 Details

Downtown Pittsburgh Car Display Wednesday, July 31 Details

Tune-Up at SouthSide Works Wednesday, July 31 Details

Countryside Tour Thursday, August 1 Details

Grand Prix Garden Party at Phipps Thursday, August 1 Details

Driver & VIP Reception at Frick Fine Arts Friday, August 2 Details

Race Weekend & International Car Show at Schenley Park August 3-4 Details