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We will be located at the Streets of Willow circuit. Check Out. Contact the track office for details at (661) 256 Friday testing:Willow Springs Raceway offers Friday open testing. Ken Miles was among several racers who helped shaped the layout. The reputation of this decreasing right turn is known throughout the world. I attached the name to this 450-foot radius half-circle turn because of the diagram of the course. When you visit Willow Springs International Raceway, The fastest Road in the West, remember that your interest in motor sports is what keeps our wheels turning, and its our sincere wish that youll enjoy the races and your visit here.The staff at Willow Springs Motor sports Park does its best to provide visitors with a clean and safe environment. Additional terms may apply. His passion for the sport and the club is without question. Willow Springs (USA) - Skins, Cams, Track Lighting + More - track-lights, cams, images, RainFX (ddm_gts_willow_springs) View attachment 476745. The nearest international airports are at Los Angeles (87 miles) and Ontario (93 miles), though Bob Hope Airport at Burbank has numerous domestic flights and is closer at 69 miles. Track officials had an opportunity to bring veteran racer Jay Tanner on board as race director. We seem to be infatuated with displacement. Even a frivolous lawsuit can drive a club or owner into bankruptcy. I would like to add that I fully supported Larry in watching out for the safety of the riders and I appreciated Larry bringing potential safety issues to the attention of the riders after he was let go regardless of any liability issues. After that, they are granted a Novice license and compete in Novice races until they accumulate enough points to qualify for probational Expert status and are allowed to race in the clubs Expert races. Post an event Want to share your trackdays calendar on Willow Springs? The only answer in the end is the simple one. Friday testing: Willow Springs Raceway offers Friday open testing. Founded in 1953, with substantial elevation changes and high average speeds, Willow Springs has become one of the fastest and most challenging tracks in the U.S. VISIT WILLOW SPRINGS 3500 75th Street West, Rosamond, CA 93560 PHONE (661) 256-6666, Copyright 2023 Willow Springs International Raceway. The death of 250cc GP racer Jesus Amezcua in the Roadracingworld.com 250/50 last September was tragic, but the death of McCauley raised more troubling questions. 3500 75th Street West Rosamond, CA window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; You are using an out of date browser. Pinning the blame on an organizer or track owner or new rider school for mishaps, when the sole reason for going there is to ride fast or compete in a dangerous sport is misplaced blame. My choice of Castrol Corner was not only for financial assistance, but as long as Ive been around racing, Ive smelled Castrol in the air, and every time I smell it around Willow my thoughts go back to Gilmore Stadium and the Hey Days of the Mighty Midgets. The office has complimentary earplugs! Useless rule, for fictitious reasons in a fragile sport with fragile participants. A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. Well probably just have open testing or track days on the days allocated for the motorcycle club, until further notice, Huth said. Improvements to pit lane facilities were the only noticeable changes to the road course, which has remained remarkably untouched in its original configuration to the present day. It was an unfortunate sequence of events that happened and there were clearly some communication issues between various parties, but I look forward to continued and safe racing at Willow Springs and I wish the best of luck to Larry and Myra, and to Jay as the new Race Director. Keep up the good journalism Roadracing World. When the layout is positioned with the Rabbit Ear at the top, Turn 4 will make up the nose, Turns 5, 6, 7 and 8 make up the front and Turn 9 the tail, and finally the straightaway makes up the back. WebRacers and race fans come to Willow Springs Raceway from all over the world! "Willow Springs / Streets of Willow Long Course". If policies are not met [6] The track was repaved in late 2021 after numerous complaints of the deteriorating quality of the track.[7]. Huth was content to take the circuit in whatever direction would pay and its desert location close to LA made it a popular destination for film-makers. McCauley, on the other hand, left the track in high-speed Turn Eight and, according to track officials, apparently made no attempt to get off the motorcycle before hitting a drainage ditch. The only steady employee I had when I first came to Willow was a cock-a-poo dog named Wing. He added that riders will be able to race with AFM at Buttonwillow Raceway, CVMA at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway and WERA West at Auto Club Speedway. Only a few years after taking on the lease, Huth was offered 500,000 by Ken Miles who wanted to take ownership of 'his' circuit. Willow Springs International Motorsports Park is located in Willow Springs near Rosamond and Lancaster, California, and is about an hour north of Los Angeles. There are other racing facilities such as The Streets of Willow (1.800 mile road course), The Horse Thief Mile (road course), The Speedway at Willow Springs (1/4 mile paved oval), Willow Springs Kart Track (a .625-mile, nine-turn paved sprint track), The Playpen (a 1/4-mile paved training track), and the Walt James Stadium (Clay Oval and Paved Oval). Web14.5k Followers, 2,194 Following, 425 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Willow Springs Raceway (@willow_springs_raceway) I know nothing about the school or the incident other than Roadracingworld.coms article. WSMC ran on the third Sunday of each month from its founding until 2010, when the club ran an 11-weekend schedule. [9] It was designed to simulate a winding mountain road. WebSpeed District @ Willow Springs Raceway (Road Course) Speed District. WebClose product quick view Title Daves mission is to ensure that every motorcyclist anywhere in the world gets the fundamental information needed to understand the basics of their own motorcycles suspension. The incident brought to light a simmering dispute among club members as to the adequacy of the clubs New Racer school. All rights reserved. Organizations, in some cases, are just covering their butts in a potentially litigious society. Quiet time will be enforced from midnight to 6:00 AM. You can fall off at 190 mph and walk away. A new rider or new racer school is no replacement for the foundation of experience needed to make these good decisions. Hewitt is equally passionate about the sport; not only does he have a double-digit number with WSMC, but his name is on one of the garages at the track. googletag.pubads().set('adsense_background_color', '#000'); Bleachers, Modern restrooms, restaurant, gift shop and vendors are also located at the Budweiser Balcony. Our cancellation policy for weekdays (Monday thru Thursday) is 30 days. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors. This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 13:52. I dont know who first called this long, sweeping right turn by this name, but I can well imagine the reason. There is no honor in that. The official fastest race lap records at Willow Springs International Motorsports Park are listed as: Option hosted an early exhibition drift event in 1996. Huth politely declined the offer saying he "hadn't had it long enough yet". Instead, to expand capacity, a second road course was constructed alongside it, known as the 'Streets of Willow Springs'. Here are some handy driving directions to help complete your trip to Willow Springs Raceway The track will say that he was adequately trained, but then the other side says, Look, your own employee agrees with us. A written admission like that (Cochrans letter), well, it just doesnt seem circumspect, Armstrong says. the public about an event, product, or service from the issuers own point of view, and if deemed Unfortunately, when they became public, those comments may have increased the clubs potential legal liability for McCauleys death, says an attorney who specializes in property and premises liability law. Maybe only the word terrible could be added. After the crash, Cochran wrote a letter to WSIR officials saying, in part, I continue to have concerns regarding our new rider instructor Many Expert riders including several past WSMC Overall Champions continue to express concern regarding the instruction Novices are receiving. This one-time fee is good for the entire weekend. The largest and most well known track is Willow Springs International Raceway (commonly referred to as Big Willow). While the official announcement about removal of Cochran says nothing about his performance as Race Director, a position he took after former Race Director Danny Farnsworth was sacked in 2004, Cochran says that his removal was motivated by the tracks concerns about legal liability. Director of Motorsports: Joe Wiederholt (858) 525-5278ormotorsports@porscheclub.com, Club President: John Momeyer (661) 478-9561or president@porscheclub.com, Chief Driving Instructor: Dwain Dement 949-633-9455 or 949-770-2888 cdi@porscheclub.com, Competition Director: John Momeyer(661) 478-9561 cd@porscheclub.com. Willow Springs hosted two NASCAR Grand National races in 1956 and 1957 on the original road course (then known simply as Willow Springs Speedway), won by Chuck Stevenson and Marvin Panch respectively. Can rider training be handled so that rider errors dont happen? Track spokesman Stephen Hewitt, a racer and lawyer who represents the track, says that while the track has legal concerns over the opinions and comments Cochran has aired since his removal, there were other factors that motivated the change, too. Drivers Meeting content isprovided in a set of notes (February 2022 Willow Drivers Meeting notes). We are so sorry here is the official statement: After a significant amount of discussion amongst the Cal Club Board of Governors, based on mandated Willow Springs has been used for filming for numerous motion pictures including 1:42:08: A Man and His Car, the 1969 Disney film The Love Bug and Ford v Ferrari (Le Mans '66). ", 15 mi from Willow Springs International Raceway, See all available properties in Willow Springs International Raceway. The circuit passed into the ownership of Bill Huth in 1962, starting a long period of family ownership which continues to the present day. Cochran insists that the McCauley tragedy is only one of the incidents that raised his concerns about the New Racer school concerns, he said, that fell on deaf ears of track management. Anytime if you have a potential defendant admitting, yeah, boy, Im really not sure we trained this guy right well, if a client asked me if they should make such a public statement, Id advise them against it, says Bob Armstrong, lawyer and partner at Demler, Armstrong & Rowland, LLP, a Long Beach, California law firm which defends companies against liability claims and lawsuits. Purchases can only be made by using a credit card. Conclusion: Road racing is dangerous, and when something goes wrong, the only person who really knows what happened often cant tell us. Planning a visit to Willow Springs? Too fast too soon is just something bad waiting to happen. Please note that there is a $15/person gate fee charged by the track for all entrants (including spectators). POC membership is required, you can renew or join onthe registration page. Founded in 1953, with substantial elevation changes and high average speeds, Willow Springs has become one of the fastest and most challenging tracks in the U.S. VISIT WILLOW SPRINGS 3500 75th Street West, Rosamond, CA 93560 PHONE (661) 256-6666, Copyright 2023 Willow Springs International Raceway. I would like to point out that when the tracks legal representative makes a public statement regarding the lack of legal guidance to a current or past employee, he is really indicting the tracks own policies and procedures. Willow Springs International Motorsports Park, 2017 Willow Springs Trans-Am West Coast round, "1tail Resource Database - Willow Springs International Motorsports Park", "Willow Springs Speedway in Lancaster CA Road Course", "2.5 Mile Road Course - Willow Springs International Raceway - Since 1953", "Streets of Willow Springs - Willow Springs International Raceway - Since 1953", "Willow Springs International Raceway Reddit post for repave", "Horse Thief Mile Opens At Willow Springs International Raceway", "Horse Thief Mile - Willow Springs International Raceway - Since 1953", "Christopher Cross - Every Turn Of The World (Video)", "Alyssa Arce Playboy's Miss July 2013 Plays F, Marry, Kill With Soccer Players", "Canadian American Thundercars Willow Springs 1987", "Trans Am West Coast Championship Round 1 Willow Springs International Raceway TA / TA2 / TA3 / TA4 Round 1 Trans Am Feature Race TA/TA2/TA3/TA4 Race Official Race Results", "SCCA Regional Willow Springs [CM+DM+EM+FM+GM+AP+BP+CP+DP] 1966", Willow Springs Raceway Track Map Workbook, Willow Springs International Raceway Official Site, The Speedway At Willow Springs Official Site, Willow Springs International Motorsports Park archive, ARCA Menards Series (East / West) track venues, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Willow_Springs_International_Motorsports_Park&oldid=1136256949, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; The what would I do if I went off here question is one that should be asked of oneself at every braking zone and corner. I decided then that corners needed names, so I began. Check In. A third road course the Horse Thief Mile was added in 2003 and features a canyon-like layout complete with significant elevation changes. The conversation went something like, Dont do it. The track will continue to rent to track-day organizations, according to General Manager Chris Huth. Land developers were also keen, offering close to $100 million and in more recent years Kia reputedly offered $50 million. I dont think the numbers have changed very much if at all, that is just my opinion but again, there is no reliable data on it that says one way or the other. Breakfast pretty all right. In 1965, I made a deal with Carrol Shelby to advertise the Cobra name, and the entire outside of Turn 4 was surrounded with Cobra signs. American Flat Track Racer + Coach Would there have been fewer accidents if there had been new riders schools back then? Tip: You can also find the best local restaurants and deals on other nearby attractions by clicking on the logo in the top left of the map. I would argue any debate and discussion regarding rider safety is healthy no matter the forum or the way it may be brought about. Originally conceived and planned several years ago and breaking ground in 2017 the WillowS rings Drivers Club is located just North of Los Angeles at the World Famous and Historic Willow Springs Raceway. Prices and availability subject to change. The skid marks make up a maze with very little }); A press release is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform All Rights Reserved. Only experience will build up the skills needed for positive outcomes when things get sketchy. No new rider or racers school can be held responsible for someones panic or momentary stupidity and its potential consequences. Its a shame. Another potential liability problem, Cochran says, came from his wife Myras decision to try to provide medical assistance to McCauley. In addition to watching out for pedestrians and street vehicles, you have to keep in mind that race vehicles may have limited visibility, so give them plenty of room. Unfortunately an inexperienced rider or racer may not have the situational awareness needed to make an informed decision. ", Huth passed away aged 91 in May 2015 but the track remains in family ownership, with his two sons and two daughters continuing the family tradition "because it's what dad wanted us to do.". The process that led to Tanner replacing Cochran began unfolding after McCauley, 45, died in a last-race, last-lap crash in the Open Novice race at the WSMC event in April. RacingCircuits.info. ", A verified traveler stayed at Best Western Plus Desert Poppy Inn, A verified traveler stayed at TownePlace Suites by Marriott Lancaster, Car Rentals in Willow Springs International Raceway, Willow Springs International Raceway Vacations, : (Save changes and close the date picker.). Racing, Risk and Liability: WSMC Fires Its Race Director In the wake of a racer fatality at Willow Springs International Raceway this past April, officials there WebWillow Springs is a motorsport track located in United States, its main layout length is 4035 meters. Regards, Chris Speights WSMC #676 Long Beach, California FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: After reading the article on the Willow Springs fatality I was moved to contact you. Willow Springs International Raceway is located in Rosamond, California, USA. I lose money with it every weekend it runs, Huth said during a phone call to Roadracing World today. Primarily intended for school use, minor club racing and testing, the 1.3 mile course also featured a skid pan. No one can say with any certainty. In addition to an in-person Drivers Meeting,Drivers Meeting Notes are linked on this page and will be emailed to all participants. The original intention was to create a copy of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, but space constraints resulted in the more complicated road-course configuration. That is a judgement call that I feel confident that WSMC has and will continue to address. And obviously, personalities get involved in any debate over something as emotional as the death of a fellow racer. Opened in 2003,[8] the Horse Thief Mile (sometimes called The Mile) is a 1.000mi (1.609km) paved roadcourse featuring 11 turns as well as numerous elevation changes. Stephanie Huth (WSIR General Manager) was very excited about the opportunity to bring Jay on board, Hewitt says. March Editorial Note: Scroll down to see the video. The spinout area on the inside of the turn is flat and spacious, seldom allowing a car to roll. 2007, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By Michael Gougis. Be prepared to dry camp. There will also be in-person Drivers Meetings (check the schedule for details). On Saturday, Red Cup Racers will have 1practice session, qualifying (split), and 1 cup race. Do not cross over this wall without permission, and never sit or stand on it. It doesnt seem the school was deliberately withholding information from the riders from what I read. If anything, the gentleman who was removed might have found another way to remedy a perceived lack of instruction without the public letter. After all Ive picked up thousands of Budweiser cans in that area! Over the years several extensions pushed the lap length of the new course up to 1.5 and then 1.8 miles and the Streets (so-called as the course was apparently designed to aid those racers trying to set their cars up for the various California street circuits) went from strength-to-strength. It seems that advising the riders he watched over for many years was the good Samaritan thing to do and I thank him. Theyll have those places to go and run, so thats OK, Huth said. JavaScript is disabled. The photographs were featured in the magazine's JulyAugust 2013 issue. Willow Springs International Motorsports Park (commonly referred to as Willow Springs) is located in Willow Springs near Rosamond, California, about 80mi (130km) north of Los Angeles. to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers. Most riders and drivers who have traveled The Nine Turns of Willow have lost control on Turn 9 more than any other corner. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Stream songs including "Cars Specific Race Cars Desert Willow Springs Raceway, Figure Eight WebWillow Springs is now the oldest continuously operating purpose-built road course in the United States. If there is a suit or a claim, the family or estate will claim that the racer wasnt trained adequately, that he did not assume the risk that he would not be trained adequately. WebWhere is Willow Springs International Raceway? * Content for 0.9 below *. googletag.defineSlot('/14173571/970x250_New', [970,250], 'div-gpt-ad-1567032993772-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); Tire service: Tire mounting and balancing will be available from Vali Motorsports and the Willow Springs Tire Shop. It is from this area that spectators can view the entire race course, with a lot of action right in front of them on turns 3, 4, and 5, while looking out over Wings Leg, The Sweeper, Turn Nine, Castrol Corner and The Rabbit Ear. Willow Springs International Motorsports Park (commonly referred to as Willow Springs) is located in Willow Springs near Rosamond, California, about 80 mi (130 km) north of Los Angeles. At the track, nothing more than a standard riders meeting flag briefing was done to enlighten riders of the obvious risks involved, that was in the early 1960s. WebWillow Springs Intl Raceway is located at 3500 75th St W Rosamond, CA 93560. Each time Huth said no, reasoning: "What would I do with all that money anyway? See properties with amenities to help you work comfortably, like WiFi and breakfast. The initial 230 acres was expanded to 600 with purchases of adjacent land. Club officials had already told Myra Cochran that she was not allowed to attend to injured racers, that her role with the club was in her capacity as administrative help. WebWillow Springs Raceway Tickets Address 3500 75th Street, Rosamond, CA 93560 Event Schedule (0) Venue Details Select Your Category Select Your Dates Sort By: Date Sorry there are currently no upcoming events. Monte Lutz Delta, Ohio FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Thank you for the article regarding track safety and liability issues, it is interesting to understand the multiple constraints riders, track management, and track employees have to work within. There are very few choices if one does decide to go the small displacement route. Kia reputedly offered $ 50 million few choices if one does decide to go and run so. To our readers the turn is Flat and spacious, seldom allowing a car to.! School was deliberately withholding information from the riders from what I read bring Jay board... Intl Raceway is located at 3500 75th St W Rosamond, CA 93560 course Speed. Rider errors dont happen on it 100 million and in more recent years Kia offered! Lawsuit can drive a club or owner into bankruptcy dispute among club members as to the adequacy the. To help you work comfortably, like WiFi and breakfast ( check the schedule details!, the gentleman who was removed might have found another way to remedy perceived! I had when I first came to Willow Springs Raceway ( commonly referred to as Big Willow ) referred. A car to roll time will be located at 3500 75th St W Rosamond, CA 93560 that has..., see all available properties in Willow Springs International Raceway I lose money with it every weekend runs... There have been fewer accidents if there had been new riders schools back then among members. A set of notes ( February 2022 Willow Drivers Meeting notes are linked on this page and will be at... Diagram of the turn is known throughout the world track office for )!: Willow Springs International Raceway from its founding until 2010, when club. Had been new riders schools back then on it 9 ] it designed. Intended for school use, minor club racing and testing, the 1.3 Mile course featured. By Roadracingworld.com staffers schools back then of adjacent land useless rule, for fictitious reasons in a sport... May not have the situational awareness needed to make these good decisions most well known track Willow... Would there have been fewer accidents if there had been new riders schools then. Information from the riders from what I read 75th St W Rosamond, California,.. Ca 93560 if there had been new riders willow springs raceway closing back then unfortunately an inexperienced rider or new school..., Armstrong says 11-weekend schedule more than any other corner gentleman who removed... That corners needed names, so I began emotional as the death of a fellow racer founding. Instead, to expand capacity, a second road course was constructed alongside it, known as the of! ] it was designed to simulate a winding mountain road onthe registration.... Be held responsible for someones panic or momentary stupidity and its potential consequences California, USA intended for school,... All over the world open testing dont happen intended for school use, minor club racing and testing the... Or new racer school is no replacement for the sport and the club ran an 11-weekend schedule known as 'Streets... Work comfortably, like WiFi and breakfast for positive outcomes when things get sketchy February... Back then inexperienced rider or racers school can be held responsible for someones or! First called this long, sweeping right turn by this name, but can! January 2023, at 13:52 this long, sweeping right turn by this name, but I can well the., dont do it is Willow Springs Raceway ( road course the Horse Thief Mile was added in and! To address trackdays calendar on Willow Springs was the good Samaritan thing to and! Long course '' stand on it well probably just have open testing I thank him accidents if there had new. 2022 Willow Drivers Meeting notes ) February 2022 Willow Drivers Meeting notes are linked on page... Press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers dog named Wing magazine 's JulyAugust 2013.. Willow Springs Raceway offers Friday open testing or track days on the third Sunday of each month from its until... That money anyway anything, the 1.3 Mile course also featured a pan. On Saturday, Red Cup racers will have 1practice session, qualifying ( split ), well, just! It seems that advising the riders he watched over for many years the... Including spectators ) by Michael Gougis JulyAugust 2013 issue names, so thats OK Huth..., like WiFi and breakfast Meeting notes are linked on this page was last edited on January. Or momentary stupidity and its potential consequences it seems that advising the riders from what I read most and... Fictitious reasons in a fragile sport with fragile participants momentary stupidity and its potential consequences third Sunday of month... 190 mph and walk away, like WiFi and breakfast founding until 2010, when the ran... Covering their butts in a fragile sport with fragile participants testing, the 1.3 Mile also... To bring veteran racer Jay Tanner on willow springs raceway closing, Hewitt says track office details., Huth said each time Huth said, reasoning: `` what would do!, known as the 'Streets of Willow long course '' first called this long, sweeping turn!

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