Willow Springs Raceway owner Bill Huth passes away at 91

Bill Huth, longtime owner of Willow Springs Raceway in Southern California, passed away on May 4, at the age of 91.

The desert road course is located in Willow Springs near Rosamond and Lancaster, Calif, about an hour's drive north of Los Angeles. Its 2.5-mile long course is unchanged from its original 1953 configuration, featuring interesting elevation changes and high average speeds that make it a favorite of many road racing drivers.

Huth purchased the track in 1962 and had owned it ever since, investing in the facility with safety and other enhancements and also taking an active role in providing oppotunities for racers. An example was the concept he developed for Formula Pacific as an inexpensive formula series that could offer close, competitive racing on a limited budget (pictured: Bill with a Yamaha-powered Formula Pacific car, photo courtesy of sportscardigest.com).

Huth's daughter, Stephanie Huth, told Roadracingworld.com that the family would continue to operate the racetrack.

Under Huth's ownership, what is now known as Willow Springs International Raceway Park has expanded with other racing facilities such as The Streets of Willow (1.8-mile road course), The Horsethief Mile (road course), Willow Springs Speedway (1/4-mile paved oval), Willow Springs Kart Track (a 0.625-mile, 9-turn paved sprint track), The Playpen (a 1/4-mile paved training track), and the Walt James Stadium (Clay Oval and Paved Oval). The facility is also frequently seen in TV commercials.

Efforts by fans resulted in the State of California declaring Willow Springs International Raceway a California Point of Historical Interest in 1996.