Track News: Willow Springs Raceway goes up for sale
Construction began in 1952, with the inaugural race held on November 23, 1953. The main track is a 2.500 mi (4.023 km) long road course that is unchanged from its original 1953 configuration. The elevation changes and high average speeds make it a favorite of many road racing drivers.
PROPERTY FACTS
| Sale Type | Investment or Owner User | Lot Size | 600.00 AC |
| Sale Conditions | Business Value Included | Building Size | 36,747 SF |
| Property Type | Sports & Entertainment | No. Stories | 1 |
| Property Subtype | Race Track | Year Built | 1985 |
| Building Class | C |
Willow Springs Raceway (commonly called Big Willow or sometimes The Big Track) is a 2.50 mi (4.02 km) paved road course consisting of 9 turns.
- Turn 1: “Castrol corner” is a 90-degree high-speed left-handed turn.
- Turn 2: “The Rabbits Ear” is a double apex sweeping turn
- Turn 3/4: “The Omega” is an uphill and downhill section with a camber change.
- Turn 5: A quick left-handed turn that sets up for the fastest sections of the track.
- Turn 6: Monroe Ridge
- Turn 7: Repass Pass
- Turn 8: Sometimes called, “The Sweeper,” turn 8 is a high speed right hand corner. The lead-in to this turn is the fastest section of the racetrack.
- Turn 9: A right-handed turn with a big dip before the apex. This is the final turn before the front straightway to the finish line.
The overall track record is held by Michael Andretti in a 1987 CART IndyCar. Andretti completed a lap of the 2.500 mi (4.023 km) main track in 1 minute, 6.050 seconds for an average speed of 136 miles per hour.
Efforts by fans resulted in the State of California declaring Willow Springs International Raceway as a California Point of Historical Interest in 1996.
PROPERTY TAXES
| Parcel Number | 252-050-09-00-9 | Improvements Assessment | $1,991,853 |
| Land Assessment | $261,587 | Total Assessment | $2,253,440 |
