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Photos: In the desert, laps of luxury

Red-and-white barriers snake around a track at the Thermal Club, a 344-acre private playground rising out of the desert heat half an hour from Palm Springs. Hundreds of multimillion-dollar villas will house a car collection on the ground floor.

Red-and-white barriers snake around a track at the Thermal Club, a 344-acre private playground rising out of the desert heat half an hour from Palm Springs. Hundreds of multimillion-dollar villas will house a car collection on the ground floor.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Not far from Palm Springs, a private racing club is rising out of the desert heat. The 344-acre Thermal Club aims to lure wealthy gearheads who’ll be able to race on three tracks and house their car collections in multimillion-dollar villas.

The Thermal Club

This 1.8-mile circuit is already in use by early members and manufacturers for media and promotional events. The second circuit will be paved later this summer.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Thermal Club

Instructor Nick Rhoades drives a Porsche Cayman modified to be a race car on the 1.8-mile track that is currently open to members and guests at the Thermal Club.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Thermal Club

A scenic view of the 1.8-mile track from atop a carwash and storage facility at the Thermal Club. The second circuit will be paved later this summer, and the third in a year or so, after more buyers put down deposits on villas.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Thermal Club

In the center of the massive gated property will be a clubhouse with three-story viewing tower, a garage for car storage and detailing, a tuning shop for work on new exotics and classic cars, a restaurant, a spa and a fueling center.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Thermal Club

Tony Renaud, president of the Thermal Club, stands inside a race car storage facility under construction at the club.   (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Thermal Club

Thermal is building up a fleet of its own cars that members can rent for themselves or for guests, and a pro driver is on staff.   (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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