Chuckwalla Valley Raceway

A Racer’s Oasis in the Desert

By Larry Mason

Copyright © 2010 Larry Mason

On April 27, 2010 I had the opportunity to visit and pound some laps in a Moses Smith Racing prepared Formula Mazda at the all-new Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in Desert Center about 45 miles east of Indio, California. The day was set up as a media day to invite journalists and special guests to get a first-hand look, and drive, at this new Ed Bargy designed road racing track. Bargy’s other track designs include Talladega GPR, Arizona Raceway, and Jennings GP in Florida.

The track which seems like it’s out in the middle of nowhere is really rather centrally located to Los Angeles-175 miles, San Diego-208 miles, Phoenix-200 miles, and Las Vegas-230 miles. I feel that it’s certainly worth the drive after getting to test the asphalt with a really fun race car. The painted FIA curbing on the inside of the corners and painted undulating rumble strips on the outside of the corners definitely mark the confines of the mostly billiard table smooth surface.

The 2.68-mile, 17-turn track consists of many types of corners such as; double apex, increasing radius, decreasing radius, and features some elevation changes and banking (off-camber and steeply banked) surprises. CVR has its own version of Laguna Seca’s famous corkscrew which leads directly to a high banked 180 degree “Monza” type turn. There’s also an off-camber uphill, blind apex, downhill corner (a sharper off-camber version of Phil Hill at Buttonwillow Raceway Park) that really gets your attention since at the exit it spits you out driver’s right with a right hand corner immediately following. The flow is nice and smooth and keeps you constantly focused on putting everything together to complete a good clean lap.

I spoke with a number of racers and folks during the Sports Car Club of America Double National races at Buttonwillow Raceway Park the next day about the track. Most people I spoke with were aware of the track and had heard the rumor that it’s too narrow, and that there’s no place to pass. The fact of the matter is that it is 40 feet wide at its narrowest point and if you define “being able to pass” as a really long straight away with a tight corner at the end, then by definition you’d be correct. I believe however that it’s a very “raceable” track due to the long medium-speed double-apex corners. If you’re pushing really hard, it’s easy to go off line just enough to allow someone underneath you before the second apex. If you can’t get the pass done in mid-corner, you still have an opportunity on the short straight before the next one. I don’t think that most of the turns are fast enough to lose too much aero grip to stay tight on the rear wing in front of you, but alas, I didn’t get an opportunity to prove my theory. There were a number of Corvettes out there and the drivers said that with the understeer they were having you had to be careful with the front tires going off. This means to me that by the middle to end of a race, passing could certainly take place.

The large well-marked paddock area is smooth like the track and uses the same paving as the track. The asphalt compound is similar to what CalTrans uses on the nearby Interstate 10 and is designed to withstand the abuse of the hot desert sun. Right now there is no running water, but there are plenty of portable restrooms evenly spaced throughout. The circuit and paddock currently occupy about 250 acres of land but the expansion plans are already in place for two future tracks, four hot pit garages, 12 parking garages, club house, RV facilities and fueling facilities that will consume the 850 acres. Adjacent to the track is the Desert Center Airport with its 4,200 foot runway and tie-down space for 30 aircraft.

Solar energy will soon provide electrical power to the track. There will be a 13-acre area where SolFocus will place their advanced solar cells. Known as Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) technology, these cells use a parabolic mirror system that magnify the suns rays by 650 times. Ultimately the 182 cells will produce nearly four megawatt hours per year (the equivalent amount to power over 550 homes per year). The track will actually be producing more power than they need and will be selling the surplus energy.

Amenities and lodging are not currently convenient. Technically, it’s a wee bit closer to stay in Blythe, but I would guess that most racers will either stay in an RV or make the commute to Indio for overnight accommodations.

Overall, I like the track. It’s fun and it flows well. It’s a bit of a drive but then again, what track isn’t for most folks? CVR has a schedule full of lapping days, driver’s (and motorcycle rider’s) schools for the rest of the year with one of the highlights being the “Palm Springs Revival” - an HSR West vintage racing event November 19-21. The track is selling memberships similar to that in a golf course. These memberships are designed to give members additional privileges and unlimited access to the facilities. The rates vary based on amenities and are open to individuals, families, or corporations.

The old saying of “If you build it, they will come” certainly held true the day I was there. About 100 people showed up including John Morton and Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Celebrity race winner (and pro skateboarder) Bucky Lasek. Some really cool cars also took to the track including Maserati, Corvette, Porsche and BMW. For more information, log on to their website at www.chuckwallavalleyraceway.com.

Illustrations/Photos

Track layout shows lots of technical turns. Airport runway runs perpendicular to straight between turns 14 and 15.

Courtesy of CVR

Mason speeds by the start/finish line in the MSR Formula Mazda.

Photo courtesy of J.R. Ibarra

SolFocus CPV technology is high-tech and efficient.

Image credit Edmund Jenks (2010)