Willow Springs Worldwide Raceway’s first enhancements are full. The monitor’s new proprietor has renovated the Streets of Willow Springs street course and the kart monitor, laying down new asphalt on each to switch the outdated and cracked surfaces.
The renovations included including three new chicanes to the 1.8-mile street course, growing the number of configurations. The course not has the S-curve, with the pit entry and finish of the monitor receiving intensive upgrades. The S-curve is changed by two new curves within the skid pad space.
The upgrades additionally included new inner and exterior curbs, grading across the monitor perimeter, and new runoff areas across the circuit, which options the brand new off-white and inexperienced shade scheme.
The 0.625-mile kart monitor retains its earlier configuration, however the brand new asphalt was a much-needed enchancment. As you’ll be able to see, it was in horrible situation earlier than:
Sam Byrne, co-founder of CrossHarbor Capital Companions and consultant of the Willow Springs possession group, mentioned:
‘We’re excited to protect the historical past of Willow Springs whereas persevering with to make enhancements that set up it because the premier venue for motorsport fanatics of every kind.’
The following steps embrace including tire boundaries, Armco, and fencing to the circuits as the brand new proprietor continues to enhance security, which ought to be accomplished this fall. However that is simply the “first chapter in a brand new period for the historic Southern California facility,” in response to the corporate.
Again in April, with rumors swirling in regards to the monitor’s attainable demise after its sale, we talked to Byrne. He advised us he had “formidable plans,” which he did not element, however contains “off-track components” that’ll function membership lounges, high-end automobile storage, and extra.
It will nonetheless serve the general public, however that shall be one “vertical” out of three. It will additionally serve golf equipment, together with monitor days and newbie race leagues. The homeowners, a partnership between CrossHarbor Capital Companions and Singer Car Design, additionally wish to “arrange annual occasions, suppose Goodwood, and actually let our motorsport nerd shine right here.”
The enduring monitor, based in 1953 and situated about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, has been a staple of California automobile tradition for 72 years. It is altering, for the higher, however the brand new homeowners are dedicated to bettering the monitor and protecting the automobile fanatic tradition alive in Southern California.
