Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Vintage Grand Prix returns
More than 50 cars race around city in second annual Coatesville Invitational Vintage Grand Prix
The second annual Coatesville Invitational Vintage Grand Prix motored through the streets of the city with vintage cars and motorcycles Saturday. Unlike static car shows, these antiques performed in the way they were designed, motoring on a timed 2.2-mile course along Lincoln Highway to Eighth Street and Oak Street.
“Everyone is very positive. We’ve really gotten great help from the over 100 volunteers,” said Michael Trio, Coatesville city manager and one of the first organizers of the event. ”This year we brought in a professional event planner and we’ve been having meetings every Friday since last year. We’ve got the state police back again this year to help the city police, as well as local fire police and joining areas.”
Trio said the event was all about business development, bringing people to the city. City shopkeepers were given what he called ’sidewalk amnesty:’ they were allowed to sell items on the streets.
The Grand Prix featured more than 50 cars from 1930sera open-wheel race cars to original Mini Coopers and Austin Healy’s from the 1960s. The cars were grouped by engine displacement size with five grand prix timed driving sections and one touring group. A racecar paddock on Lincoln Highway between First and Third avenues allowed visitors to have a close-up view of the drivers and their cars.
“I love it,” said Robert Heinrich of West Bradford, who was racing his 1965 Harley Davidson. “We’ve had carburetor problems and had to drop out, but I’m sending in my money for next year.”
“Everyone is very positive. We’ve really gotten great help from the over 100 volunteers.” — Michael Trio, Coatesville city manager
“It’s great fun for the community,” said David George of Doe Run, who was driving his 1936 twincam four-cylinder opened-wheel Indy champ car, which he restored. “It’s a great race, but we’re being cautious,” George said. “We do 80-90 (miles per hour) on the straightaways and 30 around the curves. You’ve got to be careful; it’s a 5/10th race (half speed).”
Coatesville Police Chief Jack Laufer agreed. “The weather and crowds are great but the most important thing is safety, making sure it happens safely,” he said.
Laufer drove the course himself throughout the day to check that the road was safe and barricades in place.
George laughed when a reporter pointed out the Saint Christopher medal on his car’s dashboard. “He’s been on every one of my cars, Saint Chris, the patron saint of travelers.”
The Grand Prix was late starting Saturday morning after a late-night car crash sheared a pole at Virginia Avenue and Oak Street. Laufer said police had received reports of gunfire in the area at about 2 a.m. Around that time, the car crashed into the pole and the driver fled the scene. PECO was working on replacing the pole, which delayed the start of the Grand Prix.
The event was free for spectators. Proceeds from the sponsorships and vendor rents go to the event and benefit the city’s parks and recreation projects to help build and maintain recreational facilities for Coatesville families and their children.