Raceway predecessor Applies for
Historic Status For raceway Sports Arena Site
If you
18 724.942.0940 to advertise |
West Allegheny
are a fan of the Imperial Raceway, it’s probably no surprise to you that much of Imperial’s amenities came from the Heidelberg Raceway and Sports Arena. What may surprise you is that the tiny Borough of Heidelberg has applied for historic status for the site. The application was denied once because it was submitted based on its history of racing. The borough researched the matter further and found that the raceway wasn’t just known for the excitement that later found itself at Imperial. The Heidelberg Raceway was the site of the final 1956 Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus under the big top, documented in national outlets like the New York Times and Life Magazine. It was a ½-mile racetrack that hosted four NASCAR races and where Richard Perry’s father, Lee Perry won his first NASCAR race. It was also home to countless boxing matches, soccer games, fairs and circuses. Now, Heidelberg Manager Joe Kauer wants Heidelberg Raceway and Sports Arena to be recognized for the history it’s provided the region since during its brief, 25-year lifespan. “We submitted for one of those roadside historical markers. The state kicked our application back saying we needed more than just four NASCAR races to declare it historical,” Kauer said. “They said, ‘What’s there of national historical significance,’ so we researched it, and it was the final act of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus under the tent.”