New Brighton man named Honorary Starter for Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix

A New Brighton man will serve as Honorary Starter for the 2024 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.

Jim Boffo will ceremoniously drop the flag Aug. 4, to begin the popular Schenley Park race, an honor recognizing his many years of helping western Pennsylvanians get their start in vintage racing.

Boffo has assisted racing competitors prepare and maintain vintage sports cars of all sorts, including British lines like Mini Cooper, Jaguar, MG, TVR, Chevron and a rare AC Ace.

A Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix press release said, "He has been a constant presence in the PVGP paddock over the years, helping racers keep their cars on the track and improve their driving performance."

In 1960, Boffo opened Boffo Motors, an automotive business and repair shop in Pulaski Township, initially servicing mostly domestic cars and the occasional import. As import cars became more popular, with the arrival of MG, Austin-Healey, Jaguar and Fiat dealerships, so rose the demand for servicing, and Boffo Motors became one of the few shops in western Pennsylvania willing to repair foreign cars.

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"Boffo Motors continues to service classic British and Italian cars to this day under the leadership of Jim and his brother Gary," Michael Couch of the Mars Austin-Healey Club wrote in the PVGP press release.

Established in 1983, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix features 125 vintage car racers competing over city streets as up to 100,000 spectators watch. Qualifying and practice rounds are Aug. 3, with the racing competition beginning Aug. 4 in Schenley Park.

At 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 4, racers come out for 20-minute warm-up sessions in preparation for the featured afternoon races. At 11 a.m. begins the Opening Ceremonies with parade laps. The racing starts at noon.

There's also a Aug. 3-4 car show with 3,000 show cars, sponsor tents, vendors and a food court.

Full details at pvgp.org.

Pre-race festivities start July 26-28 at the 2.8-mile Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum.

Pittsburgh International Race Complex is the site of the PVGP Historics event, where since 2004, racers from all over the country have come for a competition between the legends of the '60s and early '70s, including Mustangs, Corvettes, Jaguars, BMWs, Porsches and Alfa Romeos.

Spectators at the Wampum track can see the cars and drivers in the paddock and view the races from several vantage points. On hand will be food and drink vendors including Helltown Brewing. For a donation to a local charity, guests can rent a kart and reach speeds up to 45 mph on the 0.82-mile karting track.

Full details of the Wampum event are at pvgp.org.