Thermal Club: California’s Exclusive Racetrack
April 2020 • By Jere Teepen
Photos by Tony Thacker
Ferrari 488 Pista is the perfect Ferrari for the exclusive Thermal Club near Palm Springs, California.
Racetracks are an endangered species, there’s no doubt about it. Even when tracks were built far from existing developments new development has crept ever closer until the townies with their tract homes, strip malls and big box stores are at the very gates of our tracks shouting, “I don’t want that noise and traffic in my back yard.”
This Imperial Supplies’ Gen 2 Porsche 991 GT3 Cup raced in the Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA Series.
For those that do want that noise right in their back yard there is always California’s Thermal Club: ‘The Ultimate Motorsports Club and Resort Community’ located at Thermal, next to Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, east of Palm Springs, California, and just south of the site of the Coachella music festival.
Track day participants at the Thermal Club could not have been more friendly or accommodating especially when things did not go according to plan.
Opened in 2012, Thermal is billed as ‘An all-inclusive private, year-round destination for the distinguished motorsport enthusiast,’ and has three circuits designed by prolific track designer Alan Wilson: There is the 1.4-mile, seven turn Desert Circuit that can be modified to be their fastest and most technical track. There is the 1.2-mile, 10 turn North Palm Circuit featuring a wide-banked carousel, challenging drivers to keep their momentum through every apex. Finally, there is the 1.8-mile, 10 turn South Palm Circuit that combines the longest straight at Thermal with sweeping turns, for a thrilling driving experience.
TorqTalk.com went track testing at Thermal courtesy of HM Racing and Bob Yellen seen here in his 2-OL Zetec Ford-powered Van Diemen that competes in the Pacific F2000 Series.
In total, there is 5.1 miles of raceable asphalt that can be re-configured to give members more than 20 different options. There is also an auto cross track, a skid pad, a kart track, a full-service garage with a gas station, a four-story club house with gift shop, bar, restaurant and much more.
As outrageous as the Lamborghini Huracán Performante is, the exterior is restrained, however, it’s powered by an even more powerful V-10 with 640 CV (470 kW) @ 8.000 rpm and 600 Nm @ 6.500 rpm.
As you can imagine, with a mission statement that says, “To provide the ideal racing environment in a country club setting for the performance- and luxury-minded enthusiast,” membership of the Thermal Club is not inexpensive. Initiation fees are said to be approaching $100,000 a year with annual dues at almost $20,000 and if you want to buy/build a house next to the track expect to spend north of $3million for something akin to a 10,000-square-foot home complete with massive garages for up to 15 cars.
According to some the outrageous McLaren Senna GTR is the best track car that the British automaker has ever created. Only 75 made at $1,400,000.
As far as we could tell, there are almost 100 members, more than 40 homes built with more under construction and Thermal is said to be profitable. In fact, BMW’s West Coast operation has just signed a long-term contract to house their Performance Driving School at Thermal.
Adjacent to the main track area there is a kart track that was seeing a lot of action when we were there.
We spoke to Shelby legend Allen Grant who is very familiar with Thermal. “It’s a fantastic place,” said Grant. “It’s the perfect environment with great architecture and impeccable tracks, which they have just extended. For those that can afford it, it’s wonderful.”
This nice ’68 Porsche 912 was prepared for rallying and vintage racing by Klaus Holthaus at NARW but sadly the owner died. It is now owned and raced by Allen Russack.
The Pertamina Lamborghini Huracán GT3 was, we believe recently listed for sale. Put me down, I like green.
The drive out from Los Angeles was an easy two-hour jaunt albeit into the early morning sun. Security was tight, as you would expect but our names were on the list and we were welcomed in. Everybody was exceptionally friendly and we were shown around by various members who pointed out the free coffee, snacks and soft drinks. Indeed, we were welcome to freely wander around the pits, the garage and even the clubhouse although the bar wasn’t open to non-members. We even took the elevator up to the fourth floor viewing tower that afforded a fantastic view of not only the Thermal tracks and 344-acre facility but also the surrounding Coachella Valley. The friendliness and openness of everybody from staff to patrons was really refreshing. No doubt it’s car folks with car folks when other social barriers are ignored. And, we were allowed to photograph everything. No once did somebody say, “No photographs.” Indeed, the owners of the various supercars being put through their paces were extremely accommodating even when they were having problems.
The Thermal Club is now home to BMW’s West Coast Performance Driving School.
In all, we had a very enjoyable and fast day out and can’t wait to go back meanwhile, Thermal Club founder Tim Rogers summed it up saying, “Our goal is to have a country club that the entire family can be a part of giving our members a place that feels like home for a day at the track or a long weekend getaway.” That works for us.
For more information visit: thethermalclub.com
