anyone else experience this problem?

that can't be right.

When you turn it on: is it before the platter is up to speed and stops as soon as it is speed stable?
Then "IF" you 'help' the platter: that is: start the platter spinning with your hand, just before turning on motor. Does it make noise then?

What do you mean by "This can't be right"?

Underdog...check out this thread: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1238953223&read&keyw&zzvpi=classic

Go to page 2 and read the entries from Nolitan. He mentions two issues when he got the Classic: 1) he needed to give the platter a push to help it get up to speed and 2) he heard a squeeky sound on start-up. I don't know if it's similar to what you are hearing but you may want to send him an email because I believe the fix was to get a new motor. Other threads have mentioned a "popping" sound from the motor when you first start it up. It sounds like there is a break-in period to the motor until it settles in. This may still not be what is causing your "grinding" sound but just a thought. Finally, have you tried calling VPI or your dealer and asked them about this?