Word leaked the “The Fastest Road In The West” a.k.a. Willow Springs Raceway was sold back in February to a Boston-based private equity firm. Stating that it “specializes in property turnarounds for commercial real estate,” CrossHarbor Capital Partners hinted the track would continue operations for the foreseeable future as recently as February 20th — “we can confirm that a deal is pending and the team is excited to preserve the legacy and enthusiast access to one of America’s most iconic racing facilities while also setting up the property for growth and success in the future.”
Apparently all bets are off as The Drive, RoadRacing World and others have reported that long-time tenants are being evicted. Tenants of the 600-acre facility have until March 29 to vacate the premises according to the notifications circulating on multiple social media channels:
Willow Springs Raceway was actually listed for sale last June, but the offer and purchase price of the facility remain undisclosed, as did a deadline to depart. The track had been operated for 62 years by Bill Huth and his family. When Huth passed away in 2015, his family continued running the track in its historic bare-bones manner.
“So it’s finally over. No more races at Willow Springs,” says racer turned motorcycle historian Don Emde. “Such a loss. While the facility was old school, bare bones actually, compared to the great race tracks of the world. The racetrack itself, in my opinion, was as good as it gets for the riders… I always considered racing at Willow is how I learned to roadrace. Before I ever heard the term “apex” we used to call it “the line.” And it was one thing to know what the line was, and it was another to follow it. I never went to college, but in a way I did. I graduated from the Willow Springs School of Roadracing. R.I.P. Willow Springs.”
