Willow Springs Motorsports Park Announces New Programs, Tracks New Paved Oval Highlights Additions for 2002 For the 2002 season, Willow Springs International Motorsports Park has adopted several new programs to promote its historic Willow Springs International Raceway, along with the six other racetracks and off-road areas which surround it. The plan includes free admission for spectators to all weekend events as well as weekday tuning and testing sessions. The only exceptions to this will be for private testing sessions where the customer has requested confidentiality, and for special events, such as national championship races, where admission will be charged. All weekend club events and daily testing and tuning will otherwise be open, free of fees, to the public. Because of insurance requirements, the ten dollar admission will remain in effect for entrance to the pit area. Willow Springs International Motorsports Park now includes the following raceways and test tracks: Willow Springs International Raceway This track, constructed in 1953 by a group of racing enthusiasts, was originally planned as two-mile oval. The road racing fans prevailed, though, and the track was ultimately built as the road course we see today. This raceway was the first purpose-built road course in North America, patterned after the great courses and road racing traditions of Europe. It is the oldest operating road course on the continent, and - with the exception of an asphalt cap - is unchanged from its original 1953 configuration. With its substantial elevation changes and high average speeds, Willow Springs is one of the fastest and most challenging tracks in the country. Also known as the Fastest Road in the West, this track is one of the safest road courses in the world, despite its high velocities. Cornering speeds on this track range from about 70 mph to over 150 mph, with straightaway speeds of over 170 mph possible with fastest cars and motorcycles. The New Streets of Willow Springs This track was built exclusively for testing and tuning in a "real world" environment. At 1.5 miles in its longest configuration, this road course features a wide variety of challenging turns. From tight first-gear chicanes to banked, sweeping bends, this track has just about everything that real roads do, without the law enforcement or road hazards. It's the perfect place to conduct a motorsports driving school or tuning and testing on street or race machinery. Course speeds range from 25 mph in the tightest sections to 100 mph in the fastest turns. One unique feature of this track is that it can be split into two separate tracks, one of about ½-mile and the other of about ¾-mile, each with its own set of turns and challenges. The Walt James Stadium (Clay Oval and Paved Oval) · Clay Oval The 3/8-mile clay oval has been called one of the finest dirt tracks in the country. Wide and well-banked, it's a dirt track racer's dream. Both motorcycles and cars compete on this track. · Paved Oval The new paved oval in Walt James Stadium is the latest addition to the park. Designed and tested by World 500cc Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing Champions Wayne Rainey and Eddie Lawson, this 40-foot wide oval sits within the existing clay oval, and is connected through the center by a paved crossroad. Built to accommodate testing, tuning, and racing of open-wheeled cars, the track is ideal for World SuperKart racing. The fifty feet of runoff provided by the clay oval make this track the safest paved oval in the world. Speeds range from 50-100 mph, depending on the vehicle. This track is also available for motorsports schools, and is an excellent training ground for turning and braking skills development. Kern County Raceway This paved, banked oval was designed for stock car racing. The track is surrounded by a 3.5-foot high crash wall, and is lighted for night racing. Willow Springs Kart Track Built especially for the smaller karts, including 125cc shifter karts, this .625-mile track features nine wide, flat turns perfect for testing or racing karts. It can be configured in several ways and is well-suited to spectating. Off-Road Terrain The motorsports park also features approximately 160 acres of off-road, mountainous terrain excellent for testing and photography of off-road vehicles. Spectator Amenities Willow Springs International Motorsports Park features two full-service snack bars, plenty of spectator seating and parking, and outstanding viewing areas. Racing fuel and tire services are available at the track. Large areas are available for RV parking and camping. Enclosed garages for use by competitors and testers are available in the pit area.