- Willow Springs International Raceway is looking for a new owner
- The price for the historic speedway is not listed, but if you need to ask…
- The Huth family has owned the track for 62 years
California Willow Springs International Speedway is for sale, throwing the future of the historic track into doubt.
First sighted by The unitythe listing is located at LoopNetand there is also a dedicated website which provides a little more detail about the track and offers a brilliant sales pitch for potential future owners. The price is not listed.
Willow Springs has been owned by the Huth family for 62 years. They kept the facilities in more or less the same condition over the decades, keeping Willow Springs affordable and unpretentious, while other tracks were modernized to attract a wealthy clientele — or simply disappeared into housing areas.
Located about 80 miles north of Los Angeles, Willow Springs is actually a complex of seven trails, including the 2.5-mile Big Willow road course, Streets of Willow and Horse Thief Mile, along with a skidpad, autocross and dirt oval. In addition to some initial experiments with NASCARIt has primarily been a facility for enthusiasts rather than professional riders.
Willow Springs International Raceway (image via LoopNet)
Opened in 1953, Willow Springs was designed with the help of Ken Milesthe driver and car repairman profiled in “Ford versus Ferrari” (which was also filmed in Willow Springs).
It was purchased by Bill Huth in 1962 with the intention of turning the front of Big Willow into a drag strip, his son said. Motor Tendency in 2015. However, it was too short, so the route remained. Huth died in 2015 at age 91, with his family continuing to operate the track until now.
As The Drive notes, the sale doesn’t mean Willow Springs will disappear. It is in a remote location that is not conducive to development. But the listing encourages potential investors to seek “upscale clientele” and to seek “increased entrance fees and concession sales, additional lodging options and long-term garage rentals.” This way, the new owners could change the character of the track and make it less accessible.