PVGP-2012

Reminder: Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is next weekend.

Not exactly grassroots (but my personal race car is).

This is a "double-weekend" event that goes from July 13 through July 22 (and actually, there's an informal kick-off rally on July 8).

The first weekend of racing is held at PIRC (formerly BeaveRun) and the second weekend occurs in Shenley Park (in Pittsburgh).

It's an amazing vintage race scene (especially the second week, where they actually close down the main city park and have real car races in it). In between the weekends there are car shows, cruises and dinner-events.

More Info: http://www.pvgp.org/

We'll be there for 10 days with #909 Spridget.

In Car Vid-2011 at Shenley

aeronca65t wrote: In Car Vid-2011 at Shenley

Seems funny seeing the Panther Hollow bridge and the Phipps Conservatory from that perspective. Haven't been back there in years. My aunt used to live ~1/2 mile from there and we always took that route to get there.

Maybe next year I will have to schedule a visit to my brother to coincide with the PVGP so we can go watch.

A quick mix-video from the first weekend of PVGP at PittRace Complex (formerly BeaveRun).
Sprite held together nicely so we'll be at Schenley park for the second of weekend of the PVGP (but today we're swapping a motor in a friend's MGB.....he just drove back to NJ to get a spare).

PVGP 2012-Video-Pitt Race weekend

We will be there for the second weekend.

Missed this weekend's activities, but hope to make it down to Schenly for something!

That's one event I really wanted to see this year but Mom's in the hospital and I had to work early Sunday evening.

Looks like a blast.

I was up at the track in Beaver on Saturday with the new girlfriend. She's never been to a racing event before even though she lives 10 minutes from the track. I showed her the autocrossing, carting and vintage racing and she loved it all. Then we found a Caldwell formula Vee for sale and spoke to the owner about it. His ears perked up when I mentioned that I had owned a Beach solo Vee in the past. He insisted the girlfriend climb into his car to check it out. She loved it. Walking away, she asks me when I'm going to buy another racecar because this all looks like so much fun. I told her that I'd do that right after our wedding. :-) Of course I'm taking her to Shenley Park this coming weekend

Any tips for spectating at Shenley this weekend? Me, my two boys and maybe my wife will be there Friday evening, Sat and Sunday. Any advice will be welcome. Thanks

You're going to want to find some shade. The area by the start/finish line has some and you're close to the paddock area where you can get up close and personal with the cars and drivers. The golf course area has some shady spots too, notably by turns 13 and 18 which are close to all the car shows. Turn 18 is my favorite spot. It's the stone walled hairpin where the cars really slow down and some good passing occurs.

If you're able, walk around and watch from as many vantage points as you can. The park is beautiful and there is so many things to see and do besides the racing. I highly suggest walking around the paddock area. You can literally walk right up to the cars and talk to the drivers and crews. Some will let you sit in the cars. The photo opportunities are amazing.

Bring a cooler and a blanket. Rain ponchos are a good idea if the forecast calls for rain. There are lots of food venders but you can hit Subway before the event if you're on a tight budget.

You'll have a great time.

jimbob,

Thanks, it sounds a lot like being at Mid Ohio without beeing in the middle of no where.

Jim's advice is good.

Click Here for a map of Schenley (you can zoom it bigger if needed).

And if you'd like to see the course from my perspective, ~HERE~ is an in-car video from last year (it starts at Start/Finish).

Today my pal brought back the spare MGB engine from NJ in his Suburban (14 hours round trip). We found a local race shop who let us use his lift and spare bay (www.trplace.us ......great guy!)

Anyway, we got the "old" engine (just rebuilt!) out and put in the spare. A little tricky due to the overdrive gearbox, but we still managed to do the swap in a few hours (without putting a scratch on the MGB either). See below:

I also got to meet some of the engineering students from U-Pitt. They were testing their Formula SAE car at the PittRace autocross course. I'm the SAE mentor for the engineering students at my college, so it was fun chatting with them.

Schenley Park races start today.

I saw Wayne Carini last night. Honestly, I did not know who he was but he is apparently a TV host. He brought a nice car; a Jaguar-Tojiero (sp?).

Burt Levy is also here. I think he is selling his books.

Also, my old pal (and super-MG nut), retired TV weatherman (from Good Morning America) Storm Field. Storm's dad was TV weatherman Frank Field.

Below, Carini's car (thnx B. Stoler)and then my car (#909) in the street cruise....where we drove our race cars on the city streets about 2 miles and got a police-motorcycle escort to Orr's Jewelry store in Squirrel Hill district. When we got there they served up beer and fancy food. After 1.5 hours, the cops escorted us home in our unmuffled race cars. As we drove through the city, Linda sat on a crate holding onto the roll bar, waving at the crowds (sort of like the Queen in a parade but with 6000 rpm shifts).

My pal Dave Smith (1275 Bugeye) stood with me observing the scene and said "Where else do people do stuff like this?!.....God, I love this country!"

aeronca65t wrote: Burt Levy is also here. I think he is selling his books.

I don't often LOL, but I LOL'd.

Video courtesy of PVGP FB page

Forbes Avenue of Speed

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/24130827

also: Maps and Directions

http://www.pvgp.org/pvgp-events/maps-directions/

All my photos and videos (including in-car racing shots from my Spridget plus walking around the race car show) from Shenley Park event are HERE

Sample photos from the street cruise to Squirrel Hill (a 2 mile drive in race cars on public city streets......with police escort), plus race and paddock photos below: