And now, some reader reaction: FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I read this article several times and the circumstances surrounding this riders death are not unfamiliar and are part of a growing trend. My point is this was a safety issue. Dont be Steve. Classrooms, Timing & Scoring, and VIP areas are above these buildings. Its not really making any money and it hasnt paid rent for six or seven months. Orange Cup Racers will have 1 practice session,qualifying (split), and 1cup race. Race your car on the big track of Willow Springs. I would argue any debate and discussion regarding rider safety is healthy no matter the forum or the way it may be brought about. 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. 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. There werent many customers for testing, tuning or racing, but Wings job was to chase the jackrabbits off the track when any customers did show. Tip: You can also find the best local restaurants and deals on other nearby attractions by clicking on the logo in the top left of the map. googletag.defineSlot('/14173571/970x250_New', [970,250], 'div-gpt-ad-1567032993772-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); Hewitt says the New Racer school is adequate, and further improvements are under consideration. Because of the busy nature of the Pits, a degree of caution must be used to ensure that everyone in the Pit Area is as safe as possible: Please use common sense and courtesy. If you cannot complete Tech Inspection prior to the event, Tech Inspection will be available at the track. Friday testing: Willow Springs Raceway offers Friday open testing. 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 In fact, Cochran says, had Myra not done anything, she would have exposed herself to potential liability. ", 15 mi from Willow Springs International Raceway, See all available properties in Willow Springs International Raceway. Over the years several extensions pushed the lap length of the new course up to 1.5 and then 1.8 miles and the Streets (so-called as the course was apparently designed to aid those racers trying to set their cars up for the various California street circuits) went from strength-to-strength. 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. Last Update: 9/10/21. Purchases can only be made by using a credit card. Regards, Keith Code Glendale, California. 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. Tanner has been involved with racing and with the Japanese manufacturers for years, and his industry connections were something the club sought, Hewitt says. Stream songs including "Cars Specific Race Cars Desert Willow Springs Raceway, Figure Eight googletag.cmd.push(function() { It seems that advising the riders he watched over for many years was the good Samaritan thing to do and I thank him. Primarily intended for school use, minor club racing and testing, the 1.3 mile course also featured a skid pan. 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. Its not fair to the riders who put their trust in the School wherever it may be. The cost is NOTincluded in your POC registration. 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. 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. Please note that there is a $15/person gate fee charged by the track for all entrants (including spectators). This left-hander also is just plain Turn 5, and as yet remains nameless. Registration will beavailable Saturday morning and Sunday morningat John Momeyer's trailer in the West Paddock. Insofar as the subject of race schools I attended Team Hammer at Daytona in October 2006. That holds true on even the safest track, driving a car with minimal power to the wheels. A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. And there obviously are unanswered questions. Motorcycle racing became ever more important and Willow Springs became an important venue for AMA racing in its earliest years. 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 The road leading in this direction is intended for Competitors, Vendors, Race Officials and Emergency Vehicles. Track information and event schedules are available here. By Robin Mansur. WebWillow Springs Intl Raceway is located at 3500 75th St W Rosamond, CA 93560. The skid marks make up a maze with very little Willow Springs is now the oldest continuously operating purpose-built road course in the United States. (Work moves me around too often). Well have to give it back to them. Huth said that the racetracks main source of income is now television commercial shoots. 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. We have started to see an increase of riders participating in off-road excisions, many times at very high speeds. 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. Hardly. Steve takes his car to Willow Springs Raceway. The argument will be that the racer signed the waivers of liability against the track and assumed the risk of racing, but that it was, in essence, predicated upon the assumption that he would be trained properly. A lot of lessons here, and I ran out of fingers trying to count all the things that were wrong with this. He mentions safety rules and race etiquette. 16 // Sunday // Willow Springs Raceway (Road Course) 28 // Friday // Buttonwillow Raceway (13CW) February. The Ultimate MotorSport Country Club Experience! Track days are never to be taken lightly. 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. Simply put: What will liability concerns do to the free, open discussion of rider safety and the ability to race in the first place in the future? No new rider or racers school can be held responsible for someones panic or momentary stupidity and its potential consequences. Perhaps in the near future, someone will sponsor it. Conclusion: Road racing is dangerous, and when something goes wrong, the only person who really knows what happened often cant tell us. Unfortunately an inexperienced rider or racer may not have the situational awareness needed to make an informed decision. PDS Technical Inspection Form Time Trial or Cup Racing Technical Inspection Form, 2022 GCR - Appendix D - Classification for GT CarsAppendix D Calculator, Link to other General Competition Rules and Appendix's, Porsche Owners Club @ Buttonwillow Raceway, Porsche Owners Club @ Streets of Willow Springs, February 2022 Willow Drivers Meeting notes, Willow Springs Schedule February 2022 (Garmin update), Time Trial or Cup Racing Technical Inspection Form, 2022 GCR - Appendix D - Classification for GT Cars. 2300 West Double Play Way, Lancaster, CA 93536. The main track is a 2.500 mi (4.023 km) long road course that is unc ", A verified traveler stayed at Best Western Plus Desert Poppy Inn, A verified traveler stayed at TownePlace Suites by Marriott Lancaster, Car Rentals in Willow Springs International Raceway, Willow Springs International Raceway Vacations, : (Save changes and close the date picker.). Each time Huth said no, reasoning: "What would I do with all that money anyway? Are motorcycles more dangerous than they were in the past? 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. Too fast too soon is just something bad waiting to happen. 1 Wednesday Buttonwillow Raceway (13CW) 10 Friday Weathertech Raceway (Laguna) 103 db. 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. On the other hand, running a race club or track is a business operation fraught with liability under the best of circumstances. Most sit in place with their engines revving, one car will move and immediately crash into the pit wall. The largest and most well known track is Willow Springs International Raceway (commonly referred to as Big Willow). 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. WebWillow Springs Stadium at Willow Springs International Raceway. WebHampton Inn & Suites Lancaster. The lead-in to this turn is the fastest section of the racetrack. I appreciate it's a hard time for a lot of people right now, including myself, I make all of my tracks in a team of just me! The cost is NOTincluded in your POC registration. Were there more incidents and injuries in those days than there are now? Youll find just what you need at Willow Springs. Willow Springs International Motor sports Park is a 600-acre complex of eight racetracks embracing nearly every conceivable motor sports discipline. The park is located about an hour north of Los Angeles, California near Lancaster. googletag.pubads().set('adsense_background_color', '#000'); Most riders and drivers who have traveled The Nine Turns of Willow have lost control on Turn 9 more than any other corner. 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. Upon arrival, guests will first check-in with Willow Springs main entry, then proceed to check-in with XX. For most of the 1970s it was exactly the same. January. 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. To drift out here means lots of problems once you leave the course. 11 Saturday Weathertech Raceway (Laguna) 103 db. You can easily spend a leisurely day seeing the sights and exploring what the area has to offer. While there are no grandstands, there are plenty of banks to watch the racing from and from most views you can almost the whole of the course. 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. [6] The track was repaved in late 2021 after numerous complaints of the deteriorating quality of the track.[7]. the public about an event, product, or service from the issuers own point of view, and if deemed }); A press release is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers. A little history of the area of new racer training and track riding might be something that could shed some light on the situation. |. On a broader scale, the disturbing question is about the implications for rider safety and on the other hand, the ability to run an inherently dangerous operation like racing in a litigious culture. Racing is safer than ever because people usually racers have yelled, screamed, threatened to boycott, and demanded safety improvements. CREDITS: Original AC version by: Tyrone }); A press release is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform Cup Racers and Time Trialparticipants must present your logbook at check-in, complete with an inspection stamp from an approved POC Tech Station. Contact. After topping Monroe Ridge, the racers go full throttle down a one thousand foot straight to a dog-legged 10-degree left turn. General admission to the road courses at Willow Springs always includes access to the Pit Area, and spectators are welcome there. While sitting in the office in January 1982, I looked up the hillside at Turn 4 and thought to myself that spectating from up there is just like watching from a balcony so The Balcony it was, from that day forward. Into the 1980s, the track was used by a number of Formula One teams for testing. Also the cleanliness of the place. WebMar 11, 2023 Location: Willow Springs International Raceway Streets of Willow - CCW (Saturday) April 29, 2023 Apr 29, 2023 Location: Willow Springs International Raceway Big Willow CW (Saturday) May 27, 2023 May 27, 2023 North from the Administration Office will take you to the Hot Pit area. Check In. * Content for 0.9 below *. WebWillow Springs lap times Willow Springs Willow Springs is a racing venue in United States with 238 lap times.This page represents the 3.9 kilometer (2.4 mile) configuration of this track. 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]. Originally the circuit featured an oiled dirt surface, but by 1954 this had been paved over to create the permanent surface we know today. After lowering the outright lap record one year to 1m06.3s, Huth asked Nigel Mansell what it would take to break the minute mark. WebWillow Springs International Raceway August 12 at 5:41 PM Drifting Balcony will be closed Aug 20,2022 8am-5pm 22 Share Willow Springs International Raceway August 12 at 5:13 PM 2WTD Saturday Aug 20, 8am -5pm Streets of willow 55 Willow Springs International Raceway August 12 at 5:02 PM Test and Tune Friday Aug 19,26, Sept 2,2022 @ 8am-5pm. McCauley, on the other hand, left the track in high-speed Turn Eight and, according to track officials, apparently made no attempt to get off the motorcycle before hitting a drainage ditch. POC membership is required, you can renew or join onthe registration page. Did Chris McCauley have all the information made available to him? Bleachers, Modern restrooms, restaurant, gift shop and vendors are also located at the Budweiser Balcony. googletag.pubads().set('adsense_background_color', '#000'); The what would I do if I went off here question is one that should be asked of oneself at every braking zone and corner. 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. We seem to be infatuated with displacement. My corner-by-corner guide to Willow Springs Raceway - YouTube The death of 250cc GP racer Jesus Amezcua in the Roadracingworld.com 250/50 last September was tragic, but the death of McCauley raised more troubling questions. Thanks to the persistence of racing fans, the former fact was recognised in Would there have been fewer accidents if there had been new riders schools back then? Dirt bikes, quads and other off-road type vehicles are permitted, but must keep to maintained roads on the property. Wings Leg is undoubtedly the fastest bend on the raceway. Open in LapTrophy App Upcoming events No event posted yet Organizer? Please keep this road clear. The track goes hot at 8:00 AM. Only experience will build up the skills needed for positive outcomes when things get sketchy. 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. Turn 1: "Castrol corner" is a 90-degree high-speed left-handed turn. Colin an instructor at Willow Springs Raceway. We will be located at the Streets of Willow circuit. In the film's plot, Willow Springs was transformed into "Jackrabbit Springs" Riverside and Laguna Seca also feature in the film, albeit as themselves! The change brought to light a dispute over WSMCs New Racer school and the difficulties of trying to discuss safety in public in a litigation-happy culture. Quiet time will be enforced from midnight to 6:00 AM. The track is in the 1985 Christopher Cross music video "Every Turn of the World"[11] as well as It's the Things You Do by Five, Willow Springs International Motorsports Park was the venue of a photoshoot session by Playboy for its Playmate pictorial and centerfold featuring Alyssa Arc as Miss July 2013. This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 13:52. Turn 9s not really too dangerous Its just embarrassing! WebWillow Springs Stadium at Willow Springs International Raceway. Copyright 2023: See properties that pledge to make all guests feel safe, welcome, and respected. He started WSMC in 1991 after kicking out AFM and now-defunct ARRA, which both ran on the 2.5-mile main road course at the racetrack located in the Mojave Desert of Southern California, near Edwards Air Force Base. Turn 2: "The Rabbits Ear" is a double apex sweeping turn. You must log in or register to reply here. More incidents and injuries in those days than there are now all available properties in Willow Springs main,... My position ever because people usually racers have yelled, screamed, threatened boycott! Injuries in those days than there are now // Sunday // Willow Springs International Raceway, all... To maintained roads on the situation press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers turn. Be brought about responsible for someones panic or momentary stupidity and its potential willow springs raceway closing. Than ever because people usually racers have yelled, screamed, threatened boycott. 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