West Virginia Racing Heritage Festival showcases state’s dirt track racing history at Pennsboro Speedway

PENNSBORO, W.Va (WDTV) – Racing enthusiasts around the state had the chance to see vintage race cars and motorcycles at the annual West Virginia Racing Heritage Festival Saturday.

The festival teaches attendants about West Virginia’s history in dirt track racing with both cars and motorcycles.

The festival was held at Pennsboro Speedway, which opened in 1887 and hosted some of the nation’s top racing talent on its tracks.

“We’ve got so many national champions here,” WV Racing Heritage Festival President Ashley Ness said. “This racetrack has seen all these national champions. We’ve had the best in the United States, including Australia and New Zealand, come here and race at Pennsboro Speedway. It’s time to get them all back again.”

Racing legends who come from the Mountain State attended the festival to speak about their experience on the tracks.

One panel included six women who competed in flat-track motorcycle racing at a time when it was mostly dominated by men.

“We have six of the lady flat-track racers that were pioneers in the 60s and 70s,” Ness said. “It’s so important to get this documented, and that’s what the Heritage Festival is all about, documenting the history of dirt track racing, whether it be motorcycles or race cars.”

Vintage cars and motorcycles also got back in action with a parade lap on the tracks of Pennsboro Speedway.

The festival began in 2015 and will continue next year on June 5.

Editor’s note: The video for this story will be added once it airs. Please check back for the updated video.