The circuit passed into the ownership of Bill Huth in 1962, starting a long period of family ownership which continues to the present day. Newcomers to WSMC must complete a classroom orientation on Saturday morning, get three (or sometimes more) practice sessions by themselves late Saturday morning and afternoon, and get to participate in practice starts on Saturday. No one can say with any certainty. Quiet time will be enforced from midnight to 6:00 AM. To drift out here means lots of problems once you leave the course. I have enjoyed racing with WSMC, I believe the race director, the school instructor and track management are all concerned with mine and others safety so I really see everyone as being in violent agreement. Vehicle tech inspection should, if possible,be performed at an official POC Tech Inspection Station before you get to the track to avoid check-in delays and last minute repairs. The initial 230 acres was expanded to 600 with purchases of adjacent land. Fast Lane Racing School. The film-maker's name? The track will continue to rent to track-day organizations, according to General Manager Chris Huth. For the record we did have one student who ran off TWICE there and I believe this person was not allowed back out (thankfully) after the second time. googletag.pubads().set('adsense_background_color', '#000'); 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. i have problem, not saving photos in photo mode (only this track), any solve ? The original track at the facility since the advent of the other courses known as 'Big Willow' is steeped in historical significance. Friday testing: Willow Springs Raceway offers Friday open testing. The track looks fantastic, I love the attention to detail however I have a problem. North from the administration office is the Hot Pit area. See properties that pledge to make all guests feel safe, welcome, and respected. Originally the circuit featured an oiled dirt surface, but by 1954 this had been paved over to create the permanent surface we know today. On the other hand, running a race club or track is a business operation fraught with liability under the best of circumstances. I would hate for subjects such as this to be neglected due to liability issues. 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. WebSpeed District @ Willow Springs Raceway (Road Course) Speed District. Deliveries, Lost and Found, Will-Call, Special Credentials and Passes are some of the things also handled at the Administration Office. Efforts by fans resulted in the State of California declaring Willow Springs International Raceway as a California Point of Historical Interest in 1996. Wed have new guys fall and just stand there at the site of the crash, Cochran says, and the crash truck guys would come up to them and say, Why are you standing in an impact zone? and the racer would say, Whats that? I decided that I had to do something, even if it was going to cost me my position. As an aside, in the lengthy discussion on the unofficial Willow Springs Motorcycle Club BBS about the crash, the New Racer school and the firing of Cochran, there are many criticisms of the New Racer school and not many racers rushing to its defense. 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. Track information and event schedules are available here. Additional terms may apply. As for my choice to spectate from, it would be from the outside of Turn 8, The Sweeper where the fast action is. All Rights Reserved. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Note that when you register you will be asked if you would like to receive text messages from POC. Most riders and drivers who have traveled The Nine Turns of Willow have lost control on Turn 9 more than any other corner. Please note that there is a $15/person gate fee charged by the track for all entrants (including spectators). 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. Simply put, no company wants to walk into a court of law to defend itself against a negligence claim and have to explain why its own employees are publicly questioning whether the company was, in essence, guilty of negligence. Fuel: Leaded and unleaded race fuel will be available at the track both days. 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. The road leading in this direction is intended for Competitors, Vendors, Race Officials and Emergency Vehicles. When a post is labeled with the words press release, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. 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. It doesnt seem the school was deliberately withholding information from the riders from what I read. Use of bicycles, skates, scooters and other non-motorized vehicles is allowed. There are very few choices if one does decide to go the small displacement route. We've teamed up with Motorsports Tickets to bring you the best deals for Formula One, MotoGP, Le Mans and more. Given that legal scenario, club officials may have felt the best way to limit their legal exposure was to distance themselves from Larry and Myra Cochran. Would there have been fewer accidents if there had been new riders schools back then? Before this I did track days at VIR, CMP, and Jennings with various organizations. Contact the track office for details at (661) 256 And it is clear that speaking candidly without thinking about our legal environment can cause problems that can affect an entire race organization. Friday testing:Willow Springs Raceway offers Friday open testing. Dont be Steve. I recall the club owner telling me that he was going to limit novice riders to under 450cc bikes. On Sunday, race groupswill have 1practice session, 1 qualifying session (split), and 1 cup race. Come join us for an exciting weekend at Willow Springs International Raceway. This situational awareness can prevent a serious (or worse) injury. Please note theEARLY BIRD PRICING OFFER ($50 discount)for this event expires two weeks prior to the eventat midnight. 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. Ken Miles was among several racers who helped shaped the layout. The encyclopedia of motor racing circuits, featuring accurate track maps, detailed histories and onboard videos. Keep up the good journalism Roadracing World. |. Separating the West and East Paddocks are the old Willow Springs Offices. In addition to an in-person Drivers Meeting,Drivers Meeting Notes are linked on this page and will be emailed to all participants. * Content for 0.9 below *. 11 00. Most competitors are willing to talk or to sign autographs, but remember to respect their workspace and privacy. The hotel is clean and well-kept, and the rooms are very comfortable. Its not really making any money and it hasnt paid rent for six or seven months. Besides the music overlay in the video being annoying. 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. Just yesterday at one of our Sportbike Track Time events at Road America I was teching a bike when I noticed nine little John Deere stickers on the windscreen side. Willow Springs International Raceway: Rosamond, Calif. September 6-10: Watkins Glen International: Watkins Glen, N.Y. September 22-24: World Wide Technology Raceway: Madison, Ill. McCauley had raced for a brief period with Willow Springs Motorcycle Club in 1993 and 1994, track officials say, before taking a 12-year hiatus. This video shows a few laps around the big track at Willow Springs International raceway. Or was he ignored and pushed to do so out of desperation? Willow Springs has been used for several TV shows including British BBC program Top Gear, several episodes of Wheeler Dealers and Jay Leno's Garage[10] and many more. To help eliminate danger, the top speed limit on all access roads in 20 mph and is strictly enforced. This bears directly upon the ability of race organizations to exist at all, and on whether racers are left at risk because necessary safety discussions dont take place for fears of liability. We seem to be infatuated with displacement. Take the Rosamond Blvd. Upon arrival, guests will first check-in with Willow Springs main entry, then proceed to check-in with XX. I reference the following portion of the story. Its not an option. Now there was some further conversation about the physics of a Sportbike once it leaves pavement but the point was made. On Hwy 14 head past Palmdale and Lancaster to Rosamond. See properties that include family essentials like in-room conveniences and activities for the kids. Then another from a Chinese consortium for $13 million. Like it or not, we live in a society of laws and lawyers, torts and trials. Absolutely not. Willow Springs (USA) - Skins, Cams, Track Lighting + More - track-lights, cams, images, RainFX (ddm_gts_willow_springs) View attachment 476745. How sweet that smell was! A third road course the Horse Thief Mile was added in 2003 and features a canyon-like layout complete with significant elevation changes. Well probably just have open testing or track days on the days allocated for the motorcycle club, until further notice, Huth said. 2012, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By John Ulrich Willow Springs International Raceway owner Bill Huth has closed down the tracks motorcycle race sanctioning body, Willow Springs Motorcycle Club, effective immediately. Despite a number of lucrative offers, Huth never sold out. 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