Willow Springs International Motorsports Park, Motorsport racing complex in Rosamond, California, US.
Willow Springs International Motorsports Park is a racing complex near Rosamond, California, with seven tracks on 600 acres of high-desert terrain. Its main circuit, Big Willow, is a 2.5-mile (4 km) paved road course with nine turns, unchanged since 1953. The site also has the Streets of Willow, Horse Thief Mile, a quarter-mile paved oval, a kart track, a training track and Walt James Stadium.
Construction began in 1952 and the first race was held on 23 November 1953 on a 2.5-mile road course whose layout is unchanged since. The original plan was a replica of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, but space constraints produced the final configuration, with Ken Miles among those involved in planning it. Bill Huth bought the facility in 1962 for $116,000, purchased the lease outright in 1980 and expanded it from 230 to 600 acres, adding the Streets of Willow and, in 2003, Horse Thief Mile.
The California State designated this facility as an Official Point of Historical Interest in 1996, recognizing its role in American motorsport development.
The complex lies about 80 miles (130 km) north of Los Angeles, near Rosamond in the Antelope Valley desert, reached via California State Route 14. Summer heat is intense and shade is scarce, so bring sun protection and water. The paved tracks sit among dry tan-brown earth and low brown hills.
Michael Andretti set a lap record of 1 minute and 6.050 seconds at an average speed of 136 miles per hour (220 kilometers per hour). The property has also served as a testing ground for racing teams and car manufacturers who appreciate the remote location and varied track conditions.
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