Ford Motor Co. founder Henry Ford once said, “Auto racing began five minutes after the second car was built.”
That philosophy is the foundation of a race exhibition group that will be in Pittsburgh Aug. 3-4 for the annual Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.
Formed in 2018 for race cars manufactured in 1920 and earlier, Ragtime Racers is a traveling show that stops at various events across the U.S.
“Our group allows spectators to experience the sights, sounds and smells of these cars at race tracks, tours and shows giving them a taste of what it was like during the ‘Heroic Age’ of auto racing,” said Brian Blain of central California, who is the organizer of the non-profit organization. “These race events give the cars a platform to be shown and seen at speeds that they were meant to be.”
Before they got back on the road, many had been housed in museums and private collections. Their value ranges from $100,000 to more than $1 million.
Bringing them to events such as the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is an opportunity to reminisce about the rich motorsports history of this time period, Blain said.
“Our goal is to spread our knowledge about these rare cars simply to keep them alive,” Blain said. “As long as we are around, these cars will be in motion, not sitting idle in a museum or in someone’s garage.”
Blain and his wife, Sandy, will be racing on the serpentine track near the Bob O’Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park.
Look for Sandy Blain in a 1920 Lexington. Her husband will be behind the wheel of a 1916 Romano Sturtevant Special that has a World War I aircraft engine.
Just like in all racing, there will be mechanics who specialize in these vehicles.
“It is fun and entertaining,” Brian Blain said. “We want people to experience what racing was like 100 years ago. Racing was a big thing 100 years ago. The automobile was fast — faster than a horse and buggy.”
This will be Ragtime Racers’ first time in Pittsburgh. They will be paddocked on Schenley Drive in front of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Oakland.
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They will be on the track for an exhibition race each morning and afternoon. These cars reach speeds of 100 miles per hour on large tracks but will most likely do 70 miles per hour on the Schenley Park track. Look for them at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 3 and 9:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. on Aug. 4.
Each session will be approximately 20 minutes for three to four laps of the entire circuit. Many cars require a riding mechanic or co-pilot to prime the oil pump or gas needed for the 100-year-old cars.
Guests can sit in the passenger seat with one of the Ragtime Racers and go for ride for a $1,000 charitable donation. Limited seats are available here.
Participants will need to be in the paddock one hour before the race session. These riders will wear and get to keep the white overalls, goggles, cashmere scarf, leatherette helmet and gauntlet gloves.
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix executive director Dan DelBianco saw the Ragtime Racers at an event in Chattanooga, Tenn., in 2023 and invited them to be part of the Pittsburgh event.
“They are fascinating to watch and the spectators love them,” DelBianco said. “The drivers dress in period garb from the 1920s. It is pretty cool to watch. This will be a new experience for Pittsburgh.”
Details: ragtimeracers.com
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.