The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix (#PVGP) is is very excited that Ferrari and N.A.R.T. - North American Racing Team, will be honored as Marque of the Year at the 2023 motorsports festival. The two entities have a rich and fascinating history inextricably intertwined to Pennsylvania, and their association has led to some of the most memorable moments in the world of motorsports. 

Several Ferrari Clubs already have events planned to attend the PVGP Motorsports Festival Events:

• FCA Western Pa - The local club will be participating in all 10 days of motorsports events
• FCA Ohio - This group was really the impetus of not only making Ferrari the 2023 Proiettore Macchina for the Cortile Italian Show, but because of the huge pre turnout motivated the PVGP to select Ferrari as the Featured Marque for 2023.
• FCA Penn Jersey - There is a caravan coming form NY-NJ- Eastern PA
• FCA Mid Atlantic - We have been told there is a group heading this way and has coordinated with Barry Cross from Penn Jersey. 
• FCA Empire State - We have  been told that there is a group from New York and New England coming, but I don't have details yet.
• FCA Southeast - When I was at Hilton Head judging I was approached by several from this area that said they were planning a drive.

Ferrari Clubs are participating in the following  events:

Wednesday, July 19, 5-9 PM - Tune-Up @ SouthSide Works:  The SouthSide Works is Pittsburgh’s premier city lifestyle center. Uniquely positioned on the Monongahela riverfront and nestled in Pittsburgh’s historic and bustling Southside neighborhood on the site of the former J&L Steel Works. Hundreds of cars will gather for a fabulous car show including race cars, exotics, antiques and show cars for this exciting street festival in the streets surrounding SHOP 412 and the SouthSide Works Town Square. Cost is $50 per car and includes two drinks.

Thursday, July 20, 6:30-11 PM – Passport to Elegance Hanger Party: An exclusive Hangar Party at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport.  The party will be Ferrari themed as we anticipate a large contingent of Ferrari owners coming into town to celebrate the Marque of 2023. Get immersed in the evolution and examples of the rare and interesting automotive and air transportation throughout this period in a festive and lavish atmosphere featuring scrumptious passed hors devours, top notch strolling food stations and two top-shelf open bars. The evening will also include live music, silent and live auctions and other surprises you won’t want to miss. Cost $395 per person includes premium appetizers and open bar.

Friday, July 21, 6-9 PM– Ferrari Marque of the Year Dinner Reception at the Pittsburgh Golf Club. Please join Ferrari Club members, honored guests and Grand Prix dignitaries for a relaxing evening at the Historic Pittsburgh Golf Club. A strolling dinner and cash bar accompanied by some live entertainment while you enjoy the evening inside the clubhouse and a preview of the attractions at the Cortile. Car show participants for the evening will also get their dash card required for entrance for the weekend and receive expedited entry both Saturday and Sunday. $65 per person

Saturday & Sunday, July 22-23,  9AM-5PM - Cortile / Ferrari Marque of the Year Weekend -  The “Cortile della Corsa” is the Italian Car Show at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. It translates into the "Courtyard of Racing" , which is an appropriate name for our display of fine Italian macchina on the 18th hole of the Bob O’Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park.  As the 2023 Marque of the Year, Ferrari's have a special show area. Enjoy the entire weekend at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix overlooking the car shows on the Schenley Park Golf Course and the vintage races through the city streets.
$150 Entry includes:

• Weekend parking for your car in the Cortile on the golf course
• Cortile t-shirt, car decal, PVGP poster and PVGP color race program
• Lunch for two in the Pittsburgh Golf Club on Saturday, July 22
• Dashcard with a unique Bio of your car
• Lanyard Badges – Required for admission to the Clubhouse
• "Wine on 9" -  VIP Admission at the Westinghouse Pond at Turn 9 to watch the races
• Additional Saturday lunches can be purchased for $45 each

You can get more details about the individual events by clicking the links in the event name above.  If you would like to register for the events above please use the button link below.  To save time, be sure to set up your profile and book all of your registrations in one sitting.  Just add items to you cart and continue shopping.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh - Cranberry Twp, PA is the host hotel for Ferrari Clubs.  Located at the intersection of 1-79 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, close to Route 19, we’re an accessible choice for neighboring states or conferences.

​The Passport to Elegance Hanger Party is about 25 minutes North while Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in Schenley Park is about 25 minutes South.  You will enjoy returning to the welcoming indoor bar and restaurant after your day at #PVGP events

by Bernard Martin

Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix (PVGP) is proud to announce that Ferrari and N.A.R.T. - North American Racing Team, will be honored as Marque of the Year at the 2023 event. The two entities have a rich and fascinating history inextricably intertwined to  Pennsylvania, and their association has led to some of the most memorable moments in the world of motorsports.

Ferrari, one of the most iconic and successful brands in motorsports, has been a timeless symbol of speed, power, and passion. Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the company, began his career as a test driver for a small car company in Milan and later worked for Alfa Romeo as a racing driver and team manager. In 1929, he established the Scuderia Ferrari racing team to support and develop race driver talent, which quickly became one of the most successful teams in the sport.

After dissolving Scuderia Ferrari in 1937, Enzo Ferrari founded Auto Avio Costruzioni, which produced the first Ferrari-badged car in 1947. Ferrari quickly established itself as a dominant force in the world of racing, winning numerous races and championships in Formula One and other international motorsports events.

​Luigi Chinetti Sr. played a significant role in Ferrari's early success in America. He was appointed as the official importer of Ferrari cars to the United States in the late 1940s, and his passion for the brand and belief in the potential of American drivers and teams led him to establish the North American Racing Team (NART) in 1958.

Begun in 1983, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Motorsport Festival features two weekends of racing action. The first weekend is the PVGP Historics at Pitt Race on July 14-16 2023.

The second weekend, July 22-23, 2023, is racing on a 2.33-mile road course set on the streets of Schenley Park.  Between the race weekends there are car shows, parties, car shows road rallies, and more.

The PVGP is a volunteer driven 501 (c) (3) non- profit organization with a mission to provide residential care, treatment and support for people with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities. Since 1983, $6.4 million has been donated locally to Autism-Pittsburgh and Merakey Allegheny Valley School.

Each year the Cortile selects a marque or model to highlight for the annual event based upon factors such as historical significance, unique local interest, brand resurgence, etc.

The Macchina of Ferrari have been selected as our 2023 Proiettore Macchina! ​

This Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy was founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939 from the Alfa Romeo racing division as Auto Avio Costruzioni.  

Enzo was not initially interested in producing road cars when he formed Scuderia Ferrari in 1929, with headquarters in Modena. Scuderia Ferrari literally means "Ferrari Stable" and is usually used to mean "Team Ferrari." Ferrari bought, prepared, and fielded Alfa Romeo racing cars for gentleman drivers, functioning as the racing division of Alfa Romeo.

In 1933, Alfa Romeo withdrew its in-house racing team and Scuderia Ferrari took over as its works team: the Scuderia received Alfa's Grand Prix cars of the latest specifications and fielded many famous drivers such as Tazio Nuvolari and Achille Varzi. 

In 1938, Alfa Romeo again brought its racing operation in-house, forming Alfa Corse in Milan and hired Enzo Ferrari as manager of the new racing department; thereby disbanding the Scuderia Ferrari.  In September 1939, Ferrari left Alfa Romeo under the provision he would not use the Ferrari name in association with races or racing cars for at least four years.  

A few days later he founded Auto Avio Costruzioni, with headquarters in the facilities of the old Scuderia Ferrari.  The new company produced machine tools and aircraft accessories. In 1940, Ferrari produced a racing car – the Tipo 815, based on a Fiat platform. It was the first Ferrari car and debuted at the 1940 Mille Miglia, but due to World War II it saw little competition. In 1943, the Ferrari factory moved to Maranello, where it has remained ever since. The factory was bombed by the Allies and subsequently rebuilt including works for road car production.

The first Ferrari-badged car was the 1947 125 S, powered by a 1.5 L V12 engine; Enzo Ferrari reluctantly built and sold his automobiles to fund Scuderia Ferrari.  The Scuderia Ferrari name was resurrected to denote the factory racing cars and distinguish them from those fielded by customer teams.

Since the company's beginnings, Ferrari has been involved in motorsport, competing in a range of categories including Formula One and sports car racing. Scuderia Ferrari has participated in several classes of motorsport, though it is currently only officially involved in Formula One. It is the only team to have competed in the Formula One World Championship continuously since its inception in 1950.  

In 1949, Luigi Chinetti drove a 166 M to Ferrari's first win in motorsport at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ferrari went on to dominate the early years of the World Sportscar Championship which was created in 1953, winning the title seven out of its first nine years.

Chinetti had emigrated to the United States during World War II. He drove in 12 consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans races, taking three outright wins there and taking two more at the Spa 24 Hours race. Chinetti created the NART, the North American Racing Team, which successfully ran privateer Ferraris in sports car and Formula One races. For many years he was the exclusive American importer of Ferrari automobiles to the United States.
​

Both Clubs will be starting from the Harrisburg area at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 14.  Ferrari's are free to show up Friday morning, or stay at a local hotel Thursday night to split up the drive!  The Ferrari Club will be stopping for lunch along the way, with an optional stop at the Flight 93 Memorial, ending at a hotel near Pittsburgh's Shenley Park, where everything will be happening.

Ferrari Club members can enjoy the Cortile and 16 other Car Shows and Pre-race practice laps on Saturday and Vintage Racing on Sunday!

The Cortile Cup judging will be on Saturday, giving us a chance to show our cars and maybe win the Pietro Castiglioni Cortile Cup for the best Ferrari!  

Sunday is race day and  Ferrari Club members will be at the Cortile VIP area race side at Turn 9, the Westinghouse Pond, for a private wine tasting.

Wayne Long, Chief Judge and Founder of the Cortile Cup has announced that he has selected a new Judge for the 2015 Cortile Cup Competition.  Tom Frasca will be joining the judging team for the 2015 annual event at the Pittsburgh Golf Club on Saturday during the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.

Prior to his acceptance of taking on the role of "Guidice Anziano" (Senior Judge) at this years Cortile Cup Competition, Tom developed a very robust resume. From 1969 through 1974 was a member of the SCCA and competed in Open Wheel & Sports Racing. He worked with Ferrari in North America on their racing team until 1994 and then served on the Architectural Review Board for Southeast New York.  Design and engineering course through Tom's veins.  

In August of 2012 Tom created "Scuderia Ferrari Club of Denver" with the help of Gabriele Lalli, Piero Savazzi and Dr. Mauro Apicella of Ferrari GeS. This club had been in the workings since 2004 and is the only official sanctioned Ferrari F1 team club in North America.

We are very honored to welcome Tom as one of our elite group of judges for the Cortile Cup. He brings a wealth of automotive experience in design and engineering.  Be sure to stop by and pick his brain: He has some wonderful stories and is an encyclopedia of Italian Racing history that he quite literally lived through.