The historic racetrack showcased its new buildings and new pavement with drift cars, vintage races, and dirt-slinging ridealongs.

In 2025, the buzz about the historic Willow Springs Raceway was that the track had just been sold after 63 years of Huth family ownership. The new owners, a partnership between private equity firm CrossHarbor and Porsche reinventers, Singer Vehicle Design, announced big plans for the massive multi-track facility in the California desert. Car and motorcycle enthusiasts were excited (albeit hesitant) to hear about improvements at the racetrack they had come to know and love over the years, especially as it was one of only a few publicly accessible tracks left in Southern California. Last year’s inaugural Willow Springs Reimagined event reassured locals that the track was there to stay, although it was less encouraging about public access as the track moved to a members-only format.

Willow Reimagined, now in its second year, mixed car show elements with on-track experiences and a luxury lounge for those who purchased access. The 2025 intro year had a great energy but suffered from organizational bobbles. Lessons have clearly been learned from the first year’s missteps, so there were none of the long entry lines or parking confusion of last year’s event. Frequent shuttles ran transport to bring attendees around the large and hilly property. Food and beverages were readily available from the updated track café and, for those with a VIP ticket, from catered food stalls inside the hospitality area. Even the weather cooperated, with warm temperatures and a pleasant breeze—a rarity at a track known for sudden sandstorms and extreme temperatures.

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