Willow Springs Is NOT Closing - Full Update on Iconic Track w/ New Owner

The iconic Willow Springs has been surrounded by rumors of closures, sales, renovations, and uncertainty. Our own Chris Rosales interviewed Co-founder and Managing Partner of CrossHarbor, Sam Byrne, which now owns Willow Springs to get the facts straight. Read more below:

About 100 miles north of Los Angeles, deep in the dustiest corner of the Mojave Desert, is an iconic ribbon of tarmac: Willow Springs International Raceway. Founded in 1953, then stewarded by the late Bill Huth from 1962 until his death in 2015, the track was home for road racers like Carroll Shelby and Bob Bondurant. The Ford GT40 spent test sessions there in ‘65 ahead of its iconic Le Mans win. Nigel Mansell set the longstanding track record in a Lotus 91 in ‘82. It has long been woven into the fabric of America’s racing culture.

Last year, Willow Springs went up for sale. Then, the controversies came.

After months of agonizing over its future, multiple potential buyers, and a (rumored) astronomically high asking price, the track finally sold to a private equity firm called CrossHarbor Capital Partners. Rumors of doom and gloom and evictions followed—What would happen to Willow Springs? Is it getting torn down and turned into condos? Will the track stay alive? Well, we have an answer for you:

No. Willow Springs is not closing down. But it will never be the same.

Co-founder and Managing Partner of CrossHarbor, Sam Byrne, confirmed the track would not close in an interview with Motor1, and detailed some of the changes coming to the legendary course.

And to be clear, as a local myself, the track needs help. It’s been limping since Bill Huth died, running on fumes with subpar safety and facilities. It couldn’t go on forever. Just last year, a driver died during a test day. At least once a weekend, someone totals their car after a relatively minor off-track excursion. Willow is a dangerous track.

All of the communications from everyone involved have respect for the history of the track and enhancing it as it currently exists, not totally reinventing what it is. Byrne is an enthusiast, a driver, a car collector, and passionate about Willow Springs, and specifically said he did not want to create another Thermal Club.

CrossHarbor seemingly purchased Willow as a passion project with Byrne to keep the track alive as it faced dire straits. Singer is well-known for its cars and the brand’s dedication to detail. Byrne clarified, "This isn’t going into our private equity business, this is all being done with permanent capital. This is a huge personal passion of mine, and the equity is being aligned from people with a like-minded mentality… passionate motorsports enthusiasts." And the idea for keeping the track alive is by opening its doors to more people rather than becoming exclusive for the elite.

In its own words, "CrossHarbor and Singer do not intend to ever sell Willow Springs."

Willow Springs Is Not Closing
https://www.motor1.com/news/756007/willow-springs-not-closing-exclusive/

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00:00 - Is Willow Springs Closing?
00:21 - Willow Springs History
00:35 - Willow Springs Current Status
02:14 - New Ownership Interview
03:00 - Willow Springs Safety
04:05 - Why Willow Springs Was Bought
04:44 - Willow Springs Track Packages
06:27 - Willow Springs Upcoming Changes

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