The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix-One of a kind Organization

The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix has been my favorite car event for as long as I can remember, and in many ways I feel like I grew up with it. Every summer our family would make the drive into the city, pack some chairs and snacks, and spend the day surrounded by the sound of engines echoing through Schenley Park. Those weekends shaped my love for cars, but they also shaped how I think about community, generosity, and what an event can mean for a city.

At its core the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is a two week motorsport festival that culminates in a one of a kind vintage race run right on the city streets of Schenley Park. It is the nation’s only vintage street race and one of the largest vintage racing events in the country, with more than 100 vintage racers and thousands of show cars spread across the golf course and park roads. It is also the biggest car show of the year in Pittsburgh, featuring more than 3,000 vintage and modern cars with sections organized by country and by auto brand, so you can wander from British classics to German performance to American muscle all in one afternoon. There is nothing quite like standing on a hillside, looking over rows of both new and old cars while racers thread between trees and stone walls on public roads that most days just carry commuters.

In the last six years the event has become even more personal for me because I have been participating by entering my own cars in the show. Instead of just walking past the rows of vehicles, I get to park my car on the golf course, clean it up, talk with other enthusiasts, and talk about cars and how great of an event it is. Having participated and been attending the two week festival of speed that this is, i can say that it is one of the most special events and organizations in all of Pittsburgh and this side of the country.

What makes the event truly special is that it is not just about cars, it is about a mission. Since 1983 the Grand Prix has existed to stage a world class automotive event that raises funds to provide care, treatment and support for individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities in western Pennsylvania. Over the years the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix has donated millions of dollars to local charities that serve these families. Growing up I first went for the cars, but as I got older I realized that every roar of an engine and every ticket sold was actually helping real people in my region. That blend of passion, place and purpose is what makes the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix a one of a kind event.