Full Speed Ahead: PVGP Volunteers Prepare for Big Changes in Schenley Park

Preparations are at full speed with just eight weeks until the July 19-20 Race Weekend in Schenley Park. This year presents a unique challenge: the closure of Panther Hollow Bridge, once the gateway to our iconic Schenley Park track.

While some events might cancel or postpone in the face of such obstacles, our incredible team of dedicated volunteers is rising to the occasion, turning adversity into opportunity.

Instead of scaling back, we’re introducing exciting changes:

• A new hillclimb on a one-mile section of the original track that runs up through the golf course, set to thrill 50,000 fans.
• A redesigned race circuit that climbs past the Schenley Ice Skating Rink to the Overlook at the Schenley Oval, forming a challenging new two-mile track.

‘I’m so proud of our volunteers — they’re the best in the business,” said Dan DelBianco, PVGP Executive Director. “It’s been a busy week with teams from our races and car shows meeting in the park, reworking track designs, planning logistics, and implementing safety features. In many ways, this is an even bigger challenge than we faced in 1983 when we launched the first race — because now, we’re building two tracks.’

More than 1,000 volunteers make this event possible, with many working months in advance to stage the nation’s largest motorsport festival and the only one run on city streets.

For most of these volunteers, charity is their driving motivation. Over $7 million has been raised for two local charities: Autism Pittsburgh and Merakey Allegheny Valley School.

DelBianco concluded, ‘I’m constantly amazed at what our volunteers achieve each year. With the added responsibility of constructing two tracks this year, we welcome anyone who is interested in joining our tremendous team. Don’t hesitate to contact Sarah Edinger at sarah@pvgp.org to get involved this year.