Car Parade Leading Up To Annual Vintage Grand Prix At Schenley Park
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Dozens of vintage cars gathered on the Roberto Clemente Bridge Wednesday evening; 120 vehicles were expected to fill the bridge surface and 50 more were parked on Federal Street for a street party at Atria's.
It was the latest stop in a series of visits in the city, leading up to the Vintage Grand Prix this weekend in Schenley Park.
Point State Park is a tunnel to the past, as vintage vehicles lured visitors leading up to this weekend's Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. PPG Place was another midday stop for gleaming antiques, and proud owners who keep them running.
Then, of course, there was Market Square.
"We're trying to raise some awareness for what's happening this week at Schenley Park," said Grand Prix spokesman Dan Taylor. He said more than 100 classic cars have come to Pittsburgh for the event.
An Alfa Romeo serves notice that this year's theme is Italian cars. A black Ferrari and green Lamborghini punctuate the fact. Each is valued at $200,000 plus. But most of the cars do not require one to take out a second mortgage.
Tory Alonzo, of Mercer County, says he found his 1963 MG Midget car on Craigslist.
"The number one thing people tell me to do is not paint the car, which I plan on not doing," he said. "I love the patina on it. I love that it looks like it just was pulled out of a barn. So basically, I updated all the mechanicals. So basically, the car is almost brand new. And I did drive it here from Mercer. It was quite a sight going down I-79 with goggles and a flight jacket on."
Regardless of country, regardless of price, the owners and their cars share a common bond.
"People love them," Dan Taylor said. "If you think about what moved this country, it was really the automobile. And so there's that passion for it, there's been that passion forever. We want to try to preserve that for younger people to see."
Added bonus: Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix proceeds benefit the Autism Society of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Valley School.
For more information on the Vintage Grand Prix, visit: http://www.pvgp.org/
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