Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix set to celebrate things that go vroom

Each Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix chooses a particular automobile as its Marque of the Year and showcases it throughout the event’s 10-day run.

The 2023 Marque is the Italian luxury sports car Ferrari and the theme is “Rosso Corsa,” Ferrari’s signature red racing color.

Other vehicles are designated for the Spotlight this year, including the Shelby performance brand and the custom Panoz sports car line.

While some might see the Spotlight as a lesser honor, there’s comeuppance in the official Grand Prix Race poster, according to Aaron Shelby, Carroll Shelby International board member and grandson of its namesake founder.

“My grandfather would’ve appreciated the official Grand Prix race poster, which features a 289 Shelby Cobra poised to lap a Ferrari on the track once again,” he said.

It’s all in the spirit of fun for the event that promotes and celebrates motorsports with the nation’s largest vintage automobile street race, car shows, parties, parades, a road trip and other related events.

Now in its 41st year, the Vintage Grand Prix kicks off with Historics at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, with vintage vehicles racing the 2.8-mile track in Lawrence County from Thursday through Sunday.

It culminates with Schenley Park Race Day on July 23, when a field of 150 mostly European sports cars from the 1950s and ’60s will navigate a 2.3-mile circuit of city streets.

With 22 turns, 11 elevation changes, curbs, telephone poles and manhole covers, the course is considered among the most challenging in the world.

That race is complemented with a car show at the park’s Bob O”Connor Golf Course, featuring about 3,000 vehicles, vendors and a food court.

“It is still one of the most unique events around, and it’s a lot more than just the Schenley Park race weekend — although that is our signature event and that’s what we’re known for,” said Executive Director Dan DelBianco.

Charitable focus

What people might not know, he added, is that the Vintage Grand Prix also is a charitable undertaking.

The event raises funds to help provide residential care, treatment and support for individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities in Western Pennsylvania. Since 1983, it has donated more than $6 million to Autism Pittsburgh and Merakey Allegheny Valley School.

This year’s grand marshal is Luigi Chinetti Jr., who has driven North American Racing Team Ferraris at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring and who has been involved in the Ferrari design process. His father was also a racer and launched the first network of Ferrari dealerships in the United States.

The Marque and Spotlight cars are chosen in recognition of support from car enthusiasts who attend the event, DelBianco said.

“Whether there’s an active car club that will show up to support it is a big part of it,” he said. “Other times, we’ll pick a car because we know 400 or 500 people are going to show up with their own cars.

“The focus used to be more on what races with us, but now participation is a big part of how the Marque is chosen.”

Ferraris have always been a highlight of the Vintage Grand Prix car shows, he said, although spectators won’t find Ferraris on the track nowadays.

That wasn’t the case in 1993, the last time Ferrari was the Marque of the Year. That year, some museum-worthy Ferraris actually took to the track and raced in the rain.

“For Ferraris to be of the age where they could race with us, they are of such value now that they’re in museums or garages,” DelBianco said.

About 200,000 visitors are expected during the course of the event, he noted.

To accommodate its worldwide appeal and for those who can’t attend, the car shows and races also will be livestreamed on YouTube and Vivo.

A complete schedule of events is available at pvgp.org.