Vintage Grand Prix marks 36 years of fundraising

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Now in its 36th year, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix continues to raise money to benefit children with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. This year’s charity event began on July 6 and will conclude Sunday, with the signature races of vintage cars in Schenley Park, Oakland.

One of the racers, John Guehl, 69, of Indiana Township, has been racing for 17 years. A semi-retired ophthalmologist at West Penn Hospital, Dr. Guehl said he comes back year after year because of the camaraderie.

“You get to meet and deal with nice people,” he said. “They’re generous with their time and their help; they’ll help you out if you’re having car troubles.”

Dr. Guehl used to assist with patron parking at the event with his family each year and would say to himself, “Gee, I’d like to do that,” as he watched the cars race by. “One year, I said to myself, ‘I’d either like to start [racing] or stop saying, Gee I’d like to do that,’” he recalled.

Since then, he has raced in three cars. The first was a Turner, a small British sports car. His next was an Elna Formula Junior car, which he still owns. Seven or eight years ago, he began driving a yellow 1939 Mercury Sprint car. He said it’s typically not used for this kind of racing, but because he likes the