W3P QRV for 25th Annual PVGP

The Wireless Association of South Hills N3SH/WA3SH and the Steel City Amateur Radio Club W3KWH will join forces to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.

Members of both clubs will operate a Special Event Station from the Steel City ARC Clubhouse in Collier Township (~10 miles West of downtown Pittsburgh) on July 14th and 15th, using the call sign W3P.

Operation is planned from 1500 Z to 2200 Z each day, primarily on 20 and 40 meters, other bands as propagation and time permits.

This will co-incide with other Amateur Radio operators from the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland Counties, and many other hams from the surrounding areas providing vital safety communications for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix at the actual race track in Schenley Park, in the Oakland/Squirrel Hill neighborhoods of Pittsburgh.

Radio Hams have been volunteering their time and equipment all 25 years of the Grand Prix to provide this uncompensated service. All together, more than 250 radio hams from the area will be providing free service to the Grand Prix to help make it a success.

Amateur radio safety net communications will be on a 2 meter FM simplex frequency, with back-up on 440 MHz FM simplex.

The annual Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is the only race of Vintage sports cars that takes place on city streets, using the twists, turns, and hills of Schenley Park to complete it's 2.5 mile circuit.

The PVGP is a non-profit organiaztion. It's mission is "to produce a world-class vintage racing event in order to raise funds that help provide residential care, treatment and support for developmentally disabled individuals in the Pittsburgh region." The PVGP has raised over $2 million since 1983 towards it's primary charities, the Autism Society of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Valley School.

2007 is the PVGP Year of the Volunteer, and many Amateur Radio operators can be seen "in action" in the volunteer slide-show on their web site at: http://www.pvgp.org.

QSL W3P via N3ZNI. A color certificate will be available to all hams that contact W3P during the event.

Additional information is available from Bob McCloskey W3RJM, W3RJM@comcast.net