Ten days of vintage racing action, love and lore kicks off Friday, July 15, as the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix gets the green flag beginning its 40th year celebration. Begun in 1983, the 10-day event which runs through July 24 remains the country’s largest vintage race event, the only one currently run through city streets and one of Eastern Pennsylvania’s largest festivals.

The PVGP is bookended by two weekends of racing: The first is the Historics at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. The second features vintage racing on a 2.33-mile road course through the streets of Schenley Park in front of 100,000 fans and 3,000 show cars on the Bob O’Connor Golf Course.

Between the two race weekends? A full slate of car shows, parties, rallies, and parades.

Porsche is the Honored Marque this year and organizers are anticipating a display of 400 Porsches on the Schenley Park Golf Course over the July 23-24 weekend. Porsches will be seen on the track as well: The Historics at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, a purpose-built race track located 40 miles northwest of the city, will showcase Porsches from the 1970s and 1980s up to modern Porsche GT3 Cup cars. The following weekend’s challenging stone-walled Schenley Park street course event is limited to sports cars from the ’40s, ’50s and ‘60s; Porsche will be well-represented by classic 356 and early 911 models.

Ray Shaffer, Market Development Manager at Porsche Classic in Atlanta, will be coming home to serve as the event Grand Marshal. Born and raised in the South Hills area of Pittsburgh, Shaffer traces the roots of his career in the auto industry to a chance meeting he had with the late Coca-Cola Porsche racer, and Sebring 12 hour-winner, Bob Akin at the 1986 PVGP. Ray began his career at Brumos Porsche in Jacksonville, Florida, and later became its General Manager.

Another special guest coming back home is internationally recognized Pop Artist, Burton Morris. Best known for his bold and graphic depictions of American icons, he created the 2022 PVGP poster that features a Porsche 911 in the familiar red, white and blue Brumos livery. Morris was born and raised in Pittsburgh and earned his fine arts degree at CMU in 1986. He attended the first PVGP in 1983 when he was a sophomore, and vividly recalls attending the first two year’s races.

The then-Chrysler Chief Engineer who in 1989 inspired Chrysler to shake a fire-breathing 10-cylinder Viper out of a 4-cylinder K-Car is this year’s PVGP Honorary Race Director: Roy Sjoberg was recruited from General Motors in 1985 after 25 years at GM and being the right hand to Zora Arkus-Duntov, who gave Roy the name “Father Viper”. Sjoberg is a notable keynote speaker on engineering, technical and team building and motivational subjects, and has been a consultant to the U.S. Air Force and ARPA on lean product design and team concepts.

The formal Black Tie & Tailpipes Gala that kicks off the PVGP is moving to the Grand Concourse Restaurant for the first time. The Friday night July 15 party, already completely sold out, will feature a companion car show at Station Square. Sponsor Bobby Rahal is auctioning a trip to the 2023 Indy 500 to raise funds for our charities.

The  Passport to Elegance hangar party lands at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport on July 21 and will take guests through the growth and innovation of the past 100 years while immersing them in the beauty and evolution of our automotive and aviation heritage. This festive party features scrumptious passed hors devours, strolling food stations and top-shelf open bars. The evening will also include live big band music, silent and live auctions.

Photo: Bill Stoler

The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix was built on and continues to support charity. Since 1983, more than $6 million has been donated to Autism-Pittsburgh and Merakey Allegheny Valley School. Both organizations supply volunteers to assist as more than 1,000 are needed to drive this event.

2022 PITTSBURGH VINTAGE GRAND PRIX RACE WEEK SCHEDULE

• Blacktie & Tailpipes Gala | Grand Concourse Restaurant | Friday, July 15 | 6:30 – 11:00 p.m.
• PVGP Historic | Pittsburgh International Race Complex | Fri.-Sun. July 15-17 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Walnut Street Invitational Car Show | Shadyside | Mon., July 18 | 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
• PVGP Car Show | Waterfront | Tues., July 19 | 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.
• Downtown Car Display | Wed., July 20 | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Tune-Up Party | SouthSide Works | Wed., July 20 | 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
• Countryside Tour featuring British sports sars | Thurs., July 21 | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Passport to Elegance Party | Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport | Thurs., July 21 | 6:00 – 11:00 p.m.
• Forbes Avenue of Speed Parade & Reception | Fri., July 22 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• Race Weekend | Schenley Park | Sat.-Sun., July 23-24 | 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

More than 3,000 vehicles of all makes and years will combine to create the International Car Show at the Bob O’Connor Golf Course. Spectators browse the car show, sponsor displays and tents while watching the vintage racers roar through the stone-walled, twisting streets of Schenley Park.

For more information, click HERE.