Willow Springs Unveils Updated Streets in Willow and Go-Kart Track

      Willow Springs Raceway/YouTube

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      As we've kept track of Willow Springs International Raceway's sale to private equity, we've talked to several members of the local racing and track club community, who have shared nostalgic stories about this cherished venue. They all seem to convey the same underlying sentiment: "Yeah, it was a bit of a wreck, but it was our wreck."

      If you're a track enthusiast, you likely have a favorite rundown circuit. For me, it was Summit Point during my early days in the hobby. Just a couple of states away, friends were happily navigating the numerous growing potholes at Nelson Ledges. At least Nelson was affordable; I'm not sure what Summit's justification was. My point is, I can relate.

      Consequently, I also grasped the unspoken worries about the future of this rugged corner of the desert. With new management came commitments for necessary upgrades. However, there's a reason these improvements were deferred for so long: they require funding. The scrappy charm of Willow made it appealing and budget-friendly, which helped maintain its allure despite its remote setting.

      The news initially seemed bleak, but we're now witnessing the first results of the new ownership's efforts. Both the Streets of Willow and the go-kart track have undergone extensive renovations. In fact, the improvements to the go-kart track are quite significant; the entire area has been demolished and re-paved (check out the YouTube video below).

      While the Streets of Willow course wasn't entirely rebuilt, the modifications are quite substantial, as evident from the before-and-after images above. The most noticeable change is the new curbing, but anyone familiar with the old layout would quickly see that the track now follows a different path.

      Old (Google Earth)

      New (Willow Springs Raceway)

      One of the most pronounced changes occurs at the pit entry/skidpad area towards the end of the course (T13-14, or possibly 15, as there seem to be inconsistencies between track maps). The detour onto the skidpad has been lengthened, and the previous s-curve section has been replaced with a single decreasing-radius turn. The optional chicane styled like a bus stop between turns 11 and 12 seems to have been eliminated.

      Additionally, two new optional chicanes have been introduced between turn 8 and turn 9. This should attract groups looking for configurations that are more novice-friendly and help limit speeds on the straight section. However, this change comes at a price; the cross-overs connecting the straight with turns 4 and 6 are no longer in place. This means that the two shorter configurations previously available are gone, but if the goal was to eliminate the straight, the new bus stops effectively achieve that without significantly shortening the track.

      Over at the go-kart track, the layout remains consistent aside from the removal of some unnecessary paved sections. The crew has replaced all the worn-out asphalt with fresh blacktop, resulting in a clean and spacious surface—ideal for an autocross. Who wouldn’t want to take a Miata for a spin around a kart track once or twice?

      Thus far, we've received feedback that Willow’s new management has honored most of their 2025 bookings and pricing, but considering the progress we've witnessed, we anticipate that prices will begin to rise with events in the coming year. At least you'll likely enjoy a better track surface for it.

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