In 1989 we first attended the PVGP and have been frequent visitors ever since. It has certainly grown in the nearly thirty years since our first

Transcription

1 In 1989 we first attended the PVGP and have been frequent visitors ever since. It has certainly grown in the nearly thirty years since our first visit, but it never ceases to impress. Among this year s honorees were local artist Jim Burke, Grand Marshall, and Bill Auberlen, Honorary Race Director. Burke has sketched the PVGP since its inception. This year a book of his sketches was complied to spotlight his extensive talent and love for everything PVGP. Bill Auberlen is synonymous with the Roundel having started 400 races for BMW, winning more than 150. He entertained race goers with exhibition laps in a Z4 GTLM.

2 On Friday evening racers travel from the paddock to Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh s Squirrel Hill neighborhood complete with police escort. While drivers and guests attend a private reception at Orr s Jewelers, the public have the opportunity to get up close to the same cars they will see race that weekend. It is heartening to see people of all ages gaze in wonder at these magnificent machines, providing a great opportunity to introduce a new generation of fans to our sport.

3 Then early on Saturday morning racing begins with the Pre-War, Preservation and Under One Liter group. Guehl s car exemplifies not only that group, but also the origins of American racing. It s a product of a by-gone era when racecars were built from what was at hand, safety equipment didn t exist and where bragging rights at the local dirt track held sway. An amalgamation of likely cast off Ford parts, this car is a true time machine. Note the arrow pointing to a washer welded onto the shift lever. This was so a cord, hook or some such item could be fastened holding the shift lever in second. Early Ford transmissions were infamous for popping out of gear, especially when worn.

4 We thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent talking to Peter McCarthy about his car. He definitely has fun vintage racing! His Sprite sports a front clip built by Ashley. They are a UK company who has been making body panels for these cars for years. When asked why the wide whites, McCarthy responded that he coded his tire sidewalls like they did in F1. According to him white is the slowest compound. He may have been joking us, as our Grandson used to say. Under hood the radiator shrouding is made of folded sheet metal of unknown origin pop riveted together. The cold air system has been fashioned from a Folger s coffee can

5 In the 50s, Canadian racers came up with the Canada Class. They were specials with production car mechanicals and minimal bodywork. An upper cost limit was in place along with various displacements depending on engine type. One of the more successful cars was this one built by Vic A. Yachuck. For two years, he would rule the class, taking consecutive championships. After the car lost its competitiveness and the class fell from grace, the car passed through a number of owners until the advent of vintage racing. Since then, this car has raced across the country including appearances in multiple PVGPs and at Monterey. It has a BMC A engine with Morris Minor IFS and rear axle. The frame and bodywork are as constructed in 1958.

6 The Maserati Tipo 151 was the last hurrah for the marque s racing program. They had a short career in the early 60 s. Their introduction coincided with the move to mid-engined racers and the ascendancy of Ford as an endurance sports car player. If we have the story right, Schwimer s car is a tribute built on Quattroporte mechanicals. The body work recreates the later Tipo 151 coachwork as designed by Piero Drogo. Its one of those cars that grabs a photographer s attention through the view finder. The shape, colors and all combine to make it memorable. Schwimer is a frequent PVGP competitor and we never tire of watching this car assault the Schenley Park course.

7 Ragonetti s Alfa Special has an unknown history. It is thought to have been built in the late 50s/early 60 s. Underpinnings look to be 1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta including IFS and a straight rear axle. The frame and body are custom pieces built by some long ago racer. Today a newer 1750 Alfa engine and disc brakes update the car. Its fresh off an eight-month restoration. We should look to see it at more vintage racing events.

8 Fifty years ago, BMW sprang the 2002 on the world. Since then much has been written about the car and its importance to BMW and the enthusiast. In its honor the PVGP named BMW this year s featured marque. As part of the celebration, there was a BMW 2002 only race. Here are a number of those that competed. Can t claim they are all there, but this should give you some indication of the rabid enthusiasm the car has, and continues to generate.

9 Each turn at Schenley Park has its own personality, but our favorite continues to be Turn 4, the Haybale Chicane. Cars accelerate up the hill just after Start/Finish and race down towards the Panther Hollow Bridge. Along the way, the road squiggles about a bit. The chicane helps keep the red mist in check as cars attain what is probably the highest speeds on the course. Not everyone is exactly clean past the haybales and corner workers continually rebuild the obstacle while cars thunder through. Certainly not a spot for the meek!

10 The PVGP is a ten day long celebration of the automobile with two races and multiple events. We cover only one weekend of the festivities and are hard pressed to do that. While racing is going on, right next door there is a large and very eclectic car show. German marques encamp on one end of the show field, to the other are the Brits and motorcycles. Across the street the Americans and Italians share space. Scattered about amongst them other nations are represented. There is something to hold the attention of even the most casual car gal or guy. For the fervent, it s sensory overload.

11 Talk about grabbing your attention, the color alone on this Rolls was worthy of note. The Phantom II holds the distinction of being the last RR built before WWII. Power came from a V-12 displacing 7+ liters. It included every feature then available on a car plus a few. Inside the car featured a print headliner unlike anything we had seen before.

12 American Motors were the last holdout endorsing economy and safety after the other auto companies shifted to performance to sell cars. But when they made the move, they did it in a big way. AMC enlisted the help of Hurst Performance in creating the Hurst SC/Rambler. The formula was familiar, put a big engine in a stripped down version of your smallest car. Their twist was to cloak it in eye-popping graphics. There was little doubt what this car s intentions were. But still it was an AMC. Often drivers of other hot cars learned to their peril, AMC meant business.

13 From a performance standpoint, this was the zenith of the GM product line in 1963, a Chevrolet Corvette Z06. It had all the right pieces from a fuel injected 327 CID V8, special brakes and HD suspension to an oversized fuel tank. If you look at the shot of the rear of the passenger compartment, you see the raised floor to accommodate the fuel tank, the plastic windows with vent holes and the roll bar. Unfortunately, compared to the Ford-powered Cobra, they were overweight and under-braked. Not an uncommon problem for an American car of that period.

14 Well we ll leave you for now. Hopefully you have gotten some feel for some of what the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix has to offer. Next year, the PVGP is scheduled for July 12-21, Make plans to attend, it is definitely worth your while.