FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2024

City of Morgantown Welcomes the Great Race to Downtown

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Presented in cooperation with Visit Mountaineer Country and Main Street Morgantown, the City of Morgantown welcomes The Great Race to the streets of downtown Morgantown on Monday, June 24, 2024, from noon to 3:00 p.m. 

The Great Race, the world’s premiere old car rally, will bring over 120 of the world’s finest antique automobiles to town. This race is not a speed race, but rather a test of driver/navigator team challenges and skills.  

The event will take place over multiple days and includes stops in selected cities, like Morgantown, with a finish line, a presentation and car show for the public to enjoy. It is common for kids to climb into cars for a first-hand look. 

“When the Great Race pulls into a city it becomes an instant festival,” Great Race Director Jeff Stumb said. “Last year we had several overnight stops with more than 10,000 spectators on our way to having 250,000 people see the Great Race during the event.” 

In addition, the Dream Machine’s Car Club, a local car enthusiasts’ group, will also have around 60 vintage automobiles on display. The event will also feature Boy Scout Council who will be hosting a pine box derby competition, along one of the adjacent streets, and a variety of vintage clothing vendors offering retro finds will be available for purchase.  

“The City of Morgantown is excited to offer this opportunity not only for the public to learn more about the Great Race, classic cars, and racing, but also an opportunity for the race participants to learn more about our wonderful city and all it has to offer. This event is an opportunity for our residents to have a free, fun day out downtown during the summer for folks of all ages,” said City of Morgantown Special Projects Coordinator, Nikki Lauffer.

Street closures for this event will be similar to the city’s typical parade closure schedule. High Street will be closed from the intersection of Willey Street to Walnut Street, along with Fayette Street from the intersection of Chestnut Street to Spruce Street, and Forrest Avenue from the intersection of Chestnut Street to Spruce Street. Public traffic will also be diverted from Chestnut Street to Reid Street. 

These streets will be blocked off and restricted to only Great Race participant vehicles from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the day of the event to help reduce traffic congestion in those areas. Emergency personnel will still have access to these streets.

Metered parking along High Street will be unavailable to the public starting at 5 a.m. on June 24 in order for the racers to display their cars. The parking lot on Chestnut Street and Fayette Street will also be unavailable starting around 5 a.m. The community will be able to park in any of the available downtown garages. 

More details will be provided on the city’s social media platforms regarding closure time frames, specific street closures and event day activities as we get closer to the event.

For more information regarding the Great Race visit https://www.greatrace.com/ 

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