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 Contact the track office for details at (661) 256-6666 or [emailprotected] On Saturday, Red Cup Racers will have 1 practice session, qualifying (split), and 1 cup race. 6 // Sunday // Buttonwillow Raceway (13CW) And it is clear that speaking candidly without thinking about our legal environment can cause problems that can affect an entire race organization. [4], Willow Springs Raceway (commonly called Big Willow or sometimes The Big Track) is a 2.500mi (4.023km) paved road course consisting of 9 turns. The road leading in this direction is intended for Competitors, Vendors, Race Officials and Emergency Vehicles. The cost for this two day event is $245 plus the gate fee of about $10, and an additional fee of $15 if you need your car tech inspected at the track. The only answer in the end is the simple one. He mentions safety rules and race etiquette. Huth, who paid $116,000 for the facility, was initially not interested in road racing, however he purchased the lease to the track hoping to use the main straight for drag racing. WebSpeed District @ Willow Springs Raceway (Road Course) Speed District. As for the tracks concern over Cochrans public comments, Hewitt says, I really dont think Larry realizes the gravity of the statements he has made. It is legal counsels job to make them realize the potential gravity of certain types of statement before they are made, not afterwards. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. He replied no, thats how many times Ive gone off in the grass. His bike was a 2005 CBR600RR. |. Wings Leg is undoubtedly the fastest bend on the raceway. Modern restrooms are located in both the West Paddock and the East Paddock (turn nine paddock). to the WSIR main track entrance at 3500 75th Street West. See properties that include family essentials like in-room conveniences and activities for the kids. After lowering the outright lap record one year to 1m06.3s, Huth asked Nigel Mansell what it would take to break the minute mark. Its not fair to their families. You can easily spend a leisurely day seeing the sights and exploring what the area has to offer. And obviously, personalities get involved in any debate over something as emotional as the death of a fellow racer. Fast Lane Racing School. 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. 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. Instead, to expand capacity, a second road course was constructed alongside it, known as the 'Streets of Willow Springs'. January. 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 has been featured in numerous forms of media including movies, television, music videos and video games. How many riders or racers actually take the time to thoroughly examine the run-off areas? Furthermore, Hewitt says, Larry had the authority to manage the club and did not do so. Cochran is a longtime club manager and a longtime racer, a class Champion whose thundering Honda Ascot Single is a fixture on the track. Exiting the Balcony, the racers rush down the hill and make a left turn of 90 degrees around a natural mound and on towards Monroe Ridge. March Editorial Note: Scroll down to see the video. 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. Episode 2: Johnny Lewis Organizations, in some cases, are just covering their butts in a potentially litigious society. Unfortunately we may never know. Cochran insists that his letter was sent to selected club officials in confidence, and that it became public without his consent, although he later posted it on a computer bulletin board where WSMC racers discuss serious issues and argue over idiotic things just like every other racing BBS on the Internet. Obey the requests of track and/or race officials.After registering at the front gate, the first building on your right is the Administration Office. Dont be Steve. By Robin Mansur. Sportscars and motorcycles have been the mainstay of racing at Willow Springs over the years, with the California Sports Car Club organising its first open road races at the venue in 1954 and events continuing (eventually under SCCA auspices) into the 1980s. Maybe only the word terrible could be added. The official fastest race lap records at Willow Springs International Motorsports Park are listed as: Option hosted an early exhibition drift event in 1996. Take the Rosamond Boulevard exit and go west (left) approximately 6 miles on Rosamond Boulevard to the main track entrance. Its not that the racer doesnt assume the risk of racing, its that he does not assume the risk of not being properly trained. The spinout area on the inside of the turn is flat and spacious, seldom allowing a car to roll. 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. Prices and availability subject to change. }); A press release is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform We will use SpeedWaiver to confirm registration and handle signature of required waivers. 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 replaced Willow Springs Motorcycle Club Race Director Larry Cochran. WSMC ran on the third Sunday of each month from its founding until 2010, when the club ran an 11-weekend schedule. Sun, Dec 18 - Mon, Dec 19. raceschool.com High Performance Class @ Streets / Big Willow. Theres lots of action in the corner an not too far in the future, the area will be cleared and graded, providing one of the finer places to view the course from. It seems it would be the responsibility of legal counsel to advise track employees what to say and what not to say and also guide them in the usage of the Attorney Client Privilege statement that can be attached to written internal documents. [2] It is located 7.5 miles (12 km) west of Rosamond, [3] at an elevation of 2,523 feet (769 m). The conversation went something like, Dont do it. 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). 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. She argued that because she carries her own insurance, the club was protected, and that the states Good Samaritan law which essentially requires qualified medical personnel to help the injured in times of emergency required her to act. On the other hand, running a race club or track is a business operation fraught with liability under the best of circumstances. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; 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. Good luck to the Team for the remainder of the season. Most competitors are willing to talk or to sign autographs, but remember to respect their workspace and privacy. Smoking is strictly prohibited in the Pit Area at all times. googletag.pubads().set('adsense_background_color', '#000'); Before this I did track days at VIR, CMP, and Jennings with various organizations. "Willow Springs / Streets of Willow Medium Course". [1] Construction began in 1952, with the inaugural race held on November 23, 1953. 3/20/09 3:00 PM. Andretti completed a lap of the 2.500mi (4.023km) main track in 1 minute 6.050 seconds, for an average speed of 136 miles per hour (219km/h).[13]. Two main factors contribute to this longevity: firstly, the track is located out in the Mojave desert, so has not been encroached by pesky developments; secondly, the vast open spaces mean that there has always been an abundance of run off, so there has been no need to slow the course with silly chicanes. Willow Springs is one of those rarest of entities a track with a more than 60-year history which has retained its original layout with no alterations whatsoever. Next is Monroe Ridge or Turn 6. The track goes hot at 8:00 AM. I got my first license like that. Also the cleanliness of the place. Keep up the good journalism Roadracing World. Turn 8: Sometimes called, "The Sweeper," turn 8 is a high speed right hand corner. Do not cross over this wall without permission, and never sit or stand on it. 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. ", 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.". I personally encourage every rider to take the extra time to become familiar with every aspect of the track especially where they can and cannot go if something goes wrong. Stream songs including "Cars Specific Race Cars Desert Willow Springs Raceway, Figure Eight 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. On Tuesday, March 22, 1966, the first turn name was given to WSIR. CREDITS: Original AC version by: Tyrone Willow Springs International Raceway is a super-fast 2.5-mile / nine-turn road racing circuit, patterned after the great courses and road racing traditions of Europe, and is unchanged from its original 1953 configuration. Interested in Renting a Track at Willow Springs International Raceway? WebHampton Inn & Suites Lancaster. The cost is NOTincluded in your POC registration. First, no study has ever been done that links new race rider training to accident statistics at the track that I know of. The office has complimentary earplugs! The photographs were featured in the magazine's JulyAugust 2013 issue. Willow Springs International Raceway is located in Rosamond, California, USA. Did Chris McCauley have all the information made available to him? 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. He came back as a Novice in March 2006, ran four races with the club in all of 2006, took three months off, came back in March of 2007 and died from injuries suffered in the April 2007 race. Efforts by fans resulted in the State of California declaring Willow Springs International Raceway as a California Point of Historical Interest in 1996. Construction began in 1952, with the inaugural race held on November 23, 1953. Willow Springs (USA) - Skins, Cams, Track Lighting + More - track-lights, cams, images, RainFX (ddm_gts_willow_springs) View attachment 476745. "Willow Springs / Streets of Willow Long Course". googletag.cmd.push(function() { In my early days of racing, new riders schools did not exist. 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. HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News, North America Talent Cup: 2023 Season Cancelled, Harley-Davidson Introduces New 130-HP, Street-Legal Crate Engine, MotoAmerica: Drag Specialties Posts $67,000 In Contingency In KOTB, Pipe Dreams Podcast (And Video) Episode Two: AFT Racer Johnny Lewis, Video: Husqvarna Launches Norden 901 Expedition Adventure Tourer. With the thousands of dollars and many years the Monroe Shock Absorber Company has put into racing, I felt it only appropriate to name this cresting bend Monroe Ridge. This is all well and good until said riders find themselves in a situation that requires a split second decision such as when they have exited the racing surface at a high rate of speed and they are headed towards a hard object. The elevation changes and high average speeds make it a favorite of many road racing drivers. Speeding, off-road activity, spinning tires and other acts of this nature will be cause for anyone to be asked to leave the premises without a refund. Additionally, most riders are not starting out on small displacement machines anymore. Would there have been fewer accidents if there had been new riders schools back then? I asked why and he said that the new machines were simply too fast for novice riders. Speed is not the only facet of the main course, however; there's plenty of elevation change, which provides a challenge for racers and also is good news for spectators. Thanks to the persistence of racing fans, the former fact was recognised in March Editorial Note: Scroll down to see the video. Colin an instructor at Willow Springs Raceway. Hardly. At least, if asked to explain in court why their employee felt the New Racer school was inadequate, WSIR officials can say that they disagreed with Cochrans opinion so much that they fired him. Riders need to be willing to take the time needed to build solid skill sets prior to letting it all hang out. exit in Rosamond, and go west for approximately 6 miles on Rosamond Blvd. Thanks to the persistence of racing fans, the former fact was recognised in 1996 by the State of California, which recognised it as an Official Point of Historical Interest. 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. 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. Race your car on the big track of Willow Springs. After all Ive picked up thousands of Budweiser cans in that area! Questions and answers People have asked 4 questions about working at Willow Springs Raceway. McCauley was thrown over the fence surrounding the track. The skid marks make up a maze with very little asphalt not covered with rubber. Sadly experience isnt rolling out with them and seriously injured or dead isnt sexy or fun at all. Perhaps in the near future, someone will sponsor it. Separating the West and East Paddocks are the old Willow Springs Offices. * Content for 0.9 below *. Friday testing: Willow Springs Raceway offers Friday open testing. Holy sh-t I thought to myself, this guy needs a job in the turfgrass industry because hes seen enough of it! Were not going to shut it all down, said Chris Huth, just the motorcycle club. Reached by phone, WSMC General Manager Stephanie Huth said Were all blind-sided by this. Stephanie Huth told Roadracing World that WSMC workers Ashley Tanner and Megan Tannerher daughters and Bill Huths granddaughterswill be looking for work. googletag.pubads().set('adsense_background_color', '#000'); Dirt bikes, quads and other off-road type vehicles are permitted, but must keep to maintained roads on the property. We dont know. "A gorilla with bigger balls". That's not to suggest that there has been no development of the facility; in fact there has been tremendous change since the 1980s and the 600-acre complex now houses two additional road courses as well as dirt and paved ovals to cater for every conceivable motor sports discipline. 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. Tires, fuel, garages, racing services, race control, announcing, restaurant, gift shop and vendors are also located in the East Paddock.We also recommend parking at the paved parking available at the Budweiser Balcony to enjoy one of the best views in motor racing (included in the general admission) for an up-close look at the twisty bits of the track, as well as a breath-taking panorama of the beautiful Antelope Valley and the surrounding mountains. Sometimes when we riders know that a situation is going to end badly, we must make split-second choices to end it on our terms such as tuck the front or even eject prior to auguring in to a wall, armco barrier or tire wall. Constructed alongside it, known as the death of a fellow racer displacement anymore. Called, `` the Sweeper, '' turn 8 is a business operation fraught with under... See properties that include family essentials like in-room conveniences and activities for the remainder of the is! 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Race held on November 23, 1953 Streets of Willow Medium Course.! Springs Offices links new race rider training to accident statistics at the track,... Mon, Dec 18 - Mon, Dec 18 - Mon, 18...
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