Circuits Willow Springs Raceway

[Ludachris]

This thread is for the general discussion of the race track Willow Springs Raceway. Please add to the discussion here.

 

[Ludachris]

Here's a video, courtesy of @Jack Olsen:

 

[Mistaricky]

Has anyone here driven big willow since the repave? From what I read online part of it is repaved and part of it just has like a new layer on top?

 

[67GTA]

Has anyone here driven big willow since the repave? From what I read online part of it is repaved and part of it just has like a new layer on top?

NASA was the first group to run the new surface at the end of August - here’s a link to my event recap and a lap video on the new surface.

Post in thread '@4o6racing'
https://trackmustangsonline.com/threads/4o6racing.16296/post-302048

 

[R_car]

Anyone have recommended alignment specs?

We take our 350R there twice a year with the Cobra owners club. Getting ready to go again in Oct, will be installing camber plates. Seems like most recommend -3 deg of front camber regardless of the track. We will be drilling out the towers with a jig so should be able to achieve that. We also run the carbon wheels if that matters.

Last time we had brand new Goodyear 3R, and they were amazing, but got home and realized the front driver side tire developed bubbles on the inside edge. Hoping a proper alignment can prevent that from happening again. We also plan to rotate the front tires this time.

thanks in advance.

 

[R_car]

Did big Willow yesterday with the Cobra Owners club. Wonderful time as always.

The new paving is really nice in turn 2, smooth and you can carry a lot more speed. Up between 3 and 4 there are some bad washboards right on the racing line. Also at the bottom of the hill in 5. I heard someone saying they are supposed to fix that soon.

The new camber plates with -3 up front were a big improvement, the car easily carries more speed through 2 and 8.

Best lap of the day was a 1:34.64, recorded using Racebox mini and RaceChrono Pro app

 

[stiggggilicious]

Did big Willow yesterday with the Cobra Owners club. Wonderful time as always.

The new paving is really nice in turn 2, smooth and you can carry a lot more speed. Up between 3 and 4 there are some bad washboards right on the racing line. Also at the bottom of the hill in 5. I heard someone saying they are supposed to fix that soon.

The new camber plates with -3 up front were a big improvement, the car easily carries more speed through 2 and 8.

Best lap of the day was a 1:34.64, recorded using Racebox mini and RaceChrono Pro app

First time taking my new to me 350R to big Willow yesterday, but not new to the track at all. Did you have traction issues coming out of 2?
My R needed really delicate throttle management coming out of 2 and through 7/8. Also having minor issues settling the car after the ridge at 6, which causes me confidence issues going into 8/9. Seems the car doesn’t love level surface loaded suspension turns. FWIW I was running 1:32-33. Still feeling the girl out. Easily a sub 1:30 if I could build trust the rear end will stick through 7-8-9.

 

[Ludachris]

Uh oh, I just read a headline about Willow Springs being for sale:

Willow Springs International Raceway Is For Sale (Updated)

The historic Willow Springs International Raceway motorsports facility located in Rosamond, California, near Los Angeles, is for sale.

www.roadracingworld.com

 

[Ludachris]

More bad news about Willow Springs...

Willow Springs Raceway Sold, Tenants Told To Move Out

Willow Springs International Raceway has been sold to a private equity firm, and all remaining tenants have been told to vacate the property.

www.roadracingworld.com

Looks like it's the end of the road. Wish I had driven it before it shut down.

 

[R_car]

More bad news about Willow Springs...

Willow Springs Raceway Sold, Tenants Told To Move Out

Willow Springs International Raceway has been sold to a private equity firm, and all remaining tenants have been told to vacate the property.

www.roadracingworld.com

Looks like it's the end of the road. Wish I had driven it before it shut down.

I think there is still some hope. The group that bought it has said they will still keep it open to the public. But who knows what that means.

I've been planning to go with the Cobra Owners Club of America in May, they have held an event there every May for like the past 50 years, so fingers crossed.

 

[MrAtkins31]

This is one BIG bummer, I was looking forward to test and tune on May 2nd to get the latest service and changes sorted out. I hope for the short term they'll run things as is. I won't be surprised to read in the near future it'll be torn up for more "apartments".

 

[Adam Ginsberg]

We have a WSIR event scheduled for 24-25 May. As of right now, it's still a go even though the new owners are supposed to take over....today.

This article states the new owners/management group is planning to shut down track operations for July & August for "renovations". No real idea what that means.

I've been going to WSIR since ~1985. I hitched a right-seat slot in a raucous 1965 Mustang fastback that, during my ride, decided it was time to release various engine metal components onto the track surface. One of those sexy hot parts came up through the shifter boot and skipped across my hand laying on the trans tunnel.

While that track has a significant amount of, eh....deferred maintenance, it's still one of my all time favorites. I've put my CMC car on pole, race, won and crashed there, driven, instructed, Race Directed, drove pace, as well as been the Event Director @ WSIR. I sincerely hope the changes the new folks embark upon don't change the character and history of Willow Springs.

 

[Don Lariviere]

Hopefully they are going to fix the giant bump in turn 8 over the summer!!

 

[67GTA]

Sounds promising. Safety and facility improvements would be greatly welcomed.

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/a64409164/willow-springs-race-track-new-ownership/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAae1F5ty7y40t53c3it5zdX5_4RdzADVN_6e7ilBDHVYdbM-w4od8ihuY18AOg_aem_IWN5IVbhiZe6w_KVgKs7Ow

 

[mavisky]

Of all the buyers that could have purchased this site, this is probably the best case scenario.