“Rush” to Coatesville
In 2015, a gentleman by the name of Mike Trio watched “Rush,” the Ron Howard film about the rivalry between Formula One greats Niki Lauda and James Hunt. Not long thereafter, Mr. Trio, in his role as City Manager for the town of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, walked into the Coatesville workshop of Dick Miles, a machinist and dyed-in-the-wool motorhead. Miles’ shop is a throwback, and stepping into it is like stepping back in time some 60 or more years. Racing posters, old car and parts, vintage motorcycles and more clutter the space. Suddenly it’s the era of Bill Vukovich at Indianapolis, Juan Manuel Fangio at Monaco, and John Surtees at the Isle of Man.
Trio, by his own admission not a “car guy” but inspired by the movie, asked Miles a simple question: Did he think an open-wheel race could be run on the city streets of Coatesville, population 13,000? And with that, the Coatesville Grand Prix was born.
The first Coatesville Grand Prix took place last year, and, without intending a pun, it was a roaring success. Which is why on Saturday, September 23 of this year, CarShowSafari.com will be in Coatesville for the second annual running.
The Coatesville Grand Prix is not a wheel-to-wheel contest nor does it involve the exotic missiles of today’s Formula One. Under Miles’ wise counsel, the city established a timed event for vintage cars and motorcycles, released onto the course in ten-second intervals, fastest lap earning the trophy.
The result is a day that evokes memories of long-ago downtown street races in places like Watkins Glen and Bridgehampton. Haybales define the course and contribute to the vintage feel. Cars include such gems as a 1936 Bear Special Indy car, a 1923 Mercer Raceabout, even a 1927 Miller Schofield Sprint car owned by former NFL Head Coach Dick Vermeil.
The start/finish line for the 2.2-mile road course through the streets and neighborhoods of Coatesville is positioned on Business Route 30, utterly appropriate because the road is part of the historically significant Lincoln Highway. The Lincoln Highway was America’s first transcontinental highway and at one time the major route between Philadelphia and Lancaster and points west. In a nearby park a vendor area is set up where attendees can visit food trucks, a beer garden, and family friendly activities. The race car paddock is open to all spectators prior to the start of competition. And new this year is an on-track group for vintage, non-race cars from 1900 to 1965, participating in touring laps mid-day.
The other on-track classes are 1900 to 1940 open-wheel race cars, 1940 to 1965 4-cylinder normally aspirated vintage race cars, 1940 to 1965 6-cylinder normally aspirated vintage race cars, 1940 to 1965 8- and 12-cylinder normally aspirated vintage race cars, and 1940 to 1965 vintage motorcycles.
This is an invitational event for participants, and the deadline for submitting an application has passed. Upwards of 60 participating vehicles are expected, and for spectators the Coatesville Grand Prix is free to attend. The day begins at 8:30 AM with the local high school Color Guard and National Anthem, and at 9:00 AM the vintage cars and motorcycles line up at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and the Lincoln Highway. Fittingly, Dick Miles is the Course Marshal, but Ron Howard should be recognized, too, for having planted the seed with his movie.
Here at CarShowSafari.com we love car events of all types, but vintage race cars and motorcycles in their element are a special treat.
What:
The 2nd Annual Coatesville Grand Prix
When:
September 23, 2017, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Where:
3rd Avenue and Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, PA, 19320
Cost:
Free to the public
Images courtesy of Cindi Carevic