New Jersey Motorsports Park

HondaGalToo · 08-01-2008, 10:04 AM

When I first heard it was in the works several years ago, I was skeptical, as many tracks have been planned in the PA area and they fell through. NJ? Here? Racetrack?? Yeah....riiiiiiight. Given the congestion of this state and strict zoning laws I figured, like most of these types of projects, it would never get off the ground. I figured I'd believe it when I was actually riding on it.

That opportunity came on July 23rd, when I rode the Lightning Course, one of the 2 road courses at the facility. I had to keep pinching myself. A facility on par with VIR (it's the same owners) 2 hours from my door? Incredible!

The Facility:

700 acres! The first phase, nearing completion, features two roadcourses. The Lightning is a 1.9 mile course, 10 turns, 20 acre paddock space, less technical, which opened in July. The Thunderbolt, the signature course, will open the first week of August and will feature 14 challenging turns, a 40 acre paddock space, and VIP suites. The VIP suites are rooms for rent that overlook the front straight and feature tv, internet, wetbar, showers, and pull out beds, so you can stay there overnight. I haven't looked into them, they are probably pricey.
There is also a karting course and autocross course located on the one side of Lightning's paddock.

The second and third phases will see the addition of a tri-oval speedway, villa homes trackside, and a hotel.

For more info, check out Welcome to New Jersey Motorsports Park

The Lightning Course

Pulling into the facility for the first time, I followed the winding road to the gate to sign in. It must be 1/2 mile long and is at least a few lanes wide. That will nicely accommodate traffic coming into the park for spectator events. Once signed in, I turned right to head towards the Lightning course and followed another long road around, passing the Driver's Club country club area (too rich for my blood), then some garages, then over a bridge into the paddock area. Turning left over the bridge takes you to the paddock. Turning right takes you to the F1 karting area.
There's lots of room to pit! Blacktop areas and grass areas are available. The bathrooms are airconditioned! I pick a spot and drop my trailer for the night.

The next morning...getting ready! The PA system here actually works and you can hear it from anywhere in the paddock.

Ok, the course itself:

1.9 miles, run in clockwise direction.
Front straight, 5th gear, up a hill and turn right for Turn 1. It is a blind turn, and right after making it, the track drops downhill. The fast guys say it's difficult to keep the front end down. Heading towards Turns 2 and 3, it's better to stay more towards the middle of 2, making it one big arc, so you are set up on the outside to enter 3. Then a left at 4 (fun part of the track, all 3rd gear). Approaching slight uphill to Turn 5, a blind right hander that drops off to the outside. Many different lines possible, I found it best to stay to the inside. Then it's full throttle acceleration hanging off through Turn 6 to the bridge. You're just about straightened up by the time you go under the bridge, and brake for Turn 7, a fun left hander (there's only 2 braking zones on the track...for Turns 1 and 7). Then Turn 8 and approach the Turn 9 bowl. You are in this right hand turn, hanging off, forever! The fast guys do it in 4th, dragging a knee through the entire thing. I was in third. Exiting the bowl, stay to the right, as the track makes one more slight right before the front straight. Easy to run out of track if you're not paying attention. Head up the straight to Turn 1 and repeat.

Fun, fast, and flowing! Never below 3rd gear. Overall, I liked it a lot. My main concern is the bridge abutments, they are way too close to the track, and you are approaching the bridge at high speed. I have no idea, given the room there, why they couldn't have pushed those abutments back. Airfence is needed there. The outside of the Turn 9 bowl could use a bit more runoff, as it's surrounded by armco and a sound barrier wall. A gravel trap there would help. Overall, the track is fairly narrow. Pit out is a typical Alan Wilson...sending you out into the race line shortly after the blind Turn 1.

I liked it and will look forward to riding on it again, but I'm really looking forward to the Thunderbolt course!

HondaGalToo · 08-01-2008, 10:04 AM

I've now had a chance to ride NJ Motorsports Park's signature course, the 2.25 mile Thunderbolt. There's three configurations: No chicanes, both chicanes, or second chicane only. Early on, clubs were deciding what was best. The first chicane is unsafe. Typical of Alan Wilson's designs, pit out puts you quickly in the race line. Using the first chicane puts riders entering the chicane across the path of riders pitting out. No one uses that first chicane any longer. I've ridden the course with no chicanes, and with the second chicane only. I like both ways. This review will focus on the second chicane config, as it's become the preferred way for most clubs to ride it. On the attached maps, turn 1 is the bottom left. The Tony's Track Day map shows the config with the second chicane.

Turn 1 is a fast right hander. The approach to turn 2 is a blind uphill. Hugging the inside of fast turn 2 will allow plenty of track upon exit, once you can see the track again. Then it's right-left-right into the second chicane. Exiting the chicane you can get on the gas and accelerate up a blind hill. Fast riders wheelie (think the hump at Grattan, but it doesn't go back downhill on the other side). My front end got very light several times. The next right hander is fast, I never seemed to take it fast enough, something I'll work on next year; it's more of a kink. The next left is sharper, grab a downshift. Fast exit to another fast right hander that leads you to a unique bowl/carousel area. It's best taken as a triple apex; hug the inside curbing, straighten up a bit and drift wide, aim for the next entry cone, then slow a bit into a tight right hand decreasing radius turn. Next is a left that's best approached mid to wide, late apexing gives you a good set up to enter the esses. After the esses, upshift, head under the bridge to a ridiculousy fast right hander onto the front straight. Fun!

Here's a link to a couple of laps of me that one of my buddies took:

YouTube - NJMP NESNA 10/06/08 Judy

I'm not the rider in front of him at first-the uppers of my leathers are white with a star on the back...

JH41 · 08-01-2008, 05:41 PM

Cant say enough about the air conditioned bathrooms, eh?

How do the right sides of your tires look?

HondaGalToo · 08-02-2008, 12:26 AM

Shot!

The day I went there was day number 8 on my Corsa IIIs anyway. I'll change them out at BeaveRun in a couple of weeks when I'm out there.

JH41 · 08-02-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

Shot!

The day I went there was day number 8 on my Corsa IIIs anyway. I'll change them out at BeaveRun in a couple of weeks when I'm out there.

That was the 6th day on my Corsa III's

They were wearing so evenly at Grattan I thought for sure I'd be able to get to Thunderbolt with em.

-jh

HondaGalToo · 10-11-2008, 05:02 PM

Bump - Thunderbolt course review added above...

smoothrideronli · 10-12-2008, 12:28 AM

Just left Lightning again today...got some video I will be uploading.

smoothrideronli · 10-13-2008, 10:00 AM

Here is some video of one of my sessions. I am following my friend on the black and grey leathers. The first two laps were a warmup.

smoothrideronli · 10-14-2008, 07:32 PM

YouTube - Smooth Following R2 at NJMP

ND4SPD · 10-29-2008, 04:02 PM

New Jersey Motorsports Park Happy With Inaugural Season, Beginning Next Phase Of Development News Article // RoadracingWorld.com

HondaGalToo · 10-29-2008, 04:15 PM

I, too, am looking forward to next season! I'll bet it's helped the economy in south Jersey. I don't know what else you'd go to Millville for, so I don't doubt that the motels had been hurting. There's not much down there, it looks to be a depressed area.

I ate at the restaurant/bar located within the facility...they were walking around passing out coupons for a free drink at one of the trackdays I attended...it wasn't bad.

I'll be there, probably freezing my ass off, this weekend. That'll close out my season with days 21 and 22 this year!

I've ridden at NJMP 9 days this year since it opened in July, and I expect to be there even more next year. Two hours from my door!

Too bad the Quality Inn no longer allows dogs.

Gotta find a dog sitter more often now.

ND4SPD · 10-29-2008, 04:18 PM

22 track days in one season?

Jetbdude · 10-29-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

22 track days in one season?

I'm up to 25 this year with the racing

smoothrideronli · 10-29-2008, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

I, too, am looking forward to next season! I'll bet it's helped the economy in south Jersey. I don't know what else you'd go to Millville for, so I don't doubt that the motels had been hurting. There's not much down there, it looks to be a depressed area.

I ate at the restaurant/bar located within the facility...they were walking around passing out coupons for a free drink at one of the trackdays I attended...it wasn't bad.

I'll be there, probably freezing my ass off, this weekend. That'll close out my season with days 21 and 22 this year!

I've ridden at NJMP 9 days this year since it opened in July, and I expect to be there even more next year. Two hours from my door!

Too bad the Quality Inn no longer allows dogs.

Gotta find a dog sitter more often now.

I may go there on 11/11...its only $99. That should do it for me for the year. I will definately have to link up with you next year...we only spoke for a breif second at Poconos.

smoothrideronli · 10-29-2008, 04:32 PM

By the way...the track is great!!

smoothrideronli · 10-29-2008, 04:35 PM

On a side note...the guy that runs the kart racing is real cool. We talked with him for about 20 mins and he showed us his 1988 or 89 BMW series with a Mustang V8 in it. The exhaust note sounded creepy coming from a 3 series!!

HondaGalToo · 10-29-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoothrideronli

I may go there on 11/11...its only $99. That should do it for me for the year. I will definately have to link up with you next year...we only spoke for a breif second at Poconos.

That would be awesome! I'll be riding with NESBA again next year, with some Absolute days thrown in.

ND4SPD · 11-04-2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

I, too, am looking forward to next season! I'll bet it's helped the economy in south Jersey. I don't know what else you'd go to Millville for, so I don't doubt that the motels had been hurting. There's not much down there, it looks to be a depressed area.

I ate at the restaurant/bar located within the facility...they were walking around passing out coupons for a free drink at one of the trackdays I attended...it wasn't bad.

I'll be there, probably freezing my ass off, this weekend. That'll close out my season with days 21 and 22 this year!

I've ridden at NJMP 9 days this year since it opened in July, and I expect to be there even more next year. Two hours from my door!

Too bad the Quality Inn no longer allows dogs.

Gotta find a dog sitter more often now.

HondaGalToo · 11-04-2008, 12:14 PM

The weekend of Nov 1 & 2 was a bit of a crash-fest, unfortunately. Not NESBA's fault, they did everything they could. Sunday afternoon was actually much-improved after the I group was yelled at. Sat and Sun mornings were cold...in the 40s...and folks were crashing on the out-lap. Not giving tires time to warm up. Sat afternoon it got up to the upper 60s...beautiful, but Sunday remained upper 40s/low 50s.

All in all, I had a great time! Got to ride and hang with a bunch of folks I met this year, being it was my first full year with NESBA. It wasn't a weekend to push limits...too cold, so I just rode at a reduced pace and worked on body position and lines. I did one good session after lunch on Sunday (no red flags!!!) then packed it up. I heard the last 2 sessions of the day were also good, no more crashes. A good end to a wonderful season.

One of my best ever, I think, in terms of the number of days I did, the folks I met, and some small improvements made in my riding.

I've already put the antifreeze back in the gix and started removing the bodywork. I have some Armour Bodies to fit and then send for painting.

Can't wait for next season! Gonna be a long Winter. I'm sure I'll do even more days at NJMP next year since it's only 2 hours away. I really like both tracks there, Thunderbolt especially.

08-01-2008, 10:04 AM	#1
HondaGalToo ...into the 30s Join Date: 12-16-2006 Location: New Jersey Age: 48 Bike(s): '01 929, '07 gsxr 600 Posts: 1,757	New Jersey Motorsports Park When I first heard it was in the works several years ago, I was skeptical, as many tracks have been planned in the PA area and they fell through. NJ? Here? Racetrack?? Yeah....riiiiiiight. Given the congestion of this state and strict zoning laws I figured, like most of these types of projects, it would never get off the ground. I figured I'd believe it when I was actually riding on it. That opportunity came on July 23rd, when I rode the Lightning Course, one of the 2 road courses at the facility. I had to keep pinching myself. A facility on par with VIR (it's the same owners) 2 hours from my door? Incredible! The Facility: 700 acres! The first phase, nearing completion, features two roadcourses. The Lightning is a 1.9 mile course, 10 turns, 20 acre paddock space, less technical, which opened in July. The Thunderbolt, the signature course, will open the first week of August and will feature 14 challenging turns, a 40 acre paddock space, and VIP suites. The VIP suites are rooms for rent that overlook the front straight and feature tv, internet, wetbar, showers, and pull out beds, so you can stay there overnight. I haven't looked into them, they are probably pricey. There is also a karting course and autocross course located on the one side of Lightning's paddock. The second and third phases will see the addition of a tri-oval speedway, villa homes trackside, and a hotel. For more info, check out Welcome to New Jersey Motorsports Park The Lightning Course Pulling into the facility for the first time, I followed the winding road to the gate to sign in. It must be 1/2 mile long and is at least a few lanes wide. That will nicely accommodate traffic coming into the park for spectator events. Once signed in, I turned right to head towards the Lightning course and followed another long road around, passing the Driver's Club country club area (too rich for my blood), then some garages, then over a bridge into the paddock area. Turning left over the bridge takes you to the paddock. Turning right takes you to the F1 karting area. There's lots of room to pit! Blacktop areas and grass areas are available. The bathrooms are airconditioned! I pick a spot and drop my trailer for the night. The next morning...getting ready! The PA system here actually works and you can hear it from anywhere in the paddock. Ok, the course itself: 1.9 miles, run in clockwise direction. Front straight, 5th gear, up a hill and turn right for Turn 1. It is a blind turn, and right after making it, the track drops downhill. The fast guys say it's difficult to keep the front end down. Heading towards Turns 2 and 3, it's better to stay more towards the middle of 2, making it one big arc, so you are set up on the outside to enter 3. Then a left at 4 (fun part of the track, all 3rd gear). Approaching slight uphill to Turn 5, a blind right hander that drops off to the outside. Many different lines possible, I found it best to stay to the inside. Then it's full throttle acceleration hanging off through Turn 6 to the bridge. You're just about straightened up by the time you go under the bridge, and brake for Turn 7, a fun left hander (there's only 2 braking zones on the track...for Turns 1 and 7). Then Turn 8 and approach the Turn 9 bowl. You are in this right hand turn, hanging off, forever! The fast guys do it in 4th, dragging a knee through the entire thing. I was in third. Exiting the bowl, stay to the right, as the track makes one more slight right before the front straight. Easy to run out of track if you're not paying attention. Head up the straight to Turn 1 and repeat. Fun, fast, and flowing! Never below 3rd gear. Overall, I liked it a lot. My main concern is the bridge abutments, they are way too close to the track, and you are approaching the bridge at high speed. I have no idea, given the room there, why they couldn't have pushed those abutments back. Airfence is needed there. The outside of the Turn 9 bowl could use a bit more runoff, as it's surrounded by armco and a sound barrier wall. A gravel trap there would help. Overall, the track is fairly narrow. Pit out is a typical Alan Wilson...sending you out into the race line shortly after the blind Turn 1. I liked it and will look forward to riding on it again, but I'm really looking forward to the Thunderbolt course! Attached Thumbnails __________________ “I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.” ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

08-01-2008, 05:41 PM	#3
JH41 Team Whale Watch Join Date: 12-27-2006 Bike(s): 01 XR400 Posts: 476	Cant say enough about the air conditioned bathrooms, eh? How do the right sides of your tires look? __________________ *- I told my wife: 4 bikes or 4 girlfriends.... she's letting me keep the bikes* - Cars lean the wrong way in turns.

08-02-2008, 12:26 AM	#4
HondaGalToo ...into the 30s Join Date: 12-16-2006 Location: New Jersey Age: 48 Bike(s): '01 929, '07 gsxr 600 Posts: 1,757	Shot! The day I went there was day number 8 on my Corsa IIIs anyway. I'll change them out at BeaveRun in a couple of weeks when I'm out there. __________________ “I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.” ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

10-11-2008, 05:02 PM	#6
HondaGalToo ...into the 30s Join Date: 12-16-2006 Location: New Jersey Age: 48 Bike(s): '01 929, '07 gsxr 600 Posts: 1,757	Bump - Thunderbolt course review added above... __________________ “I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.” ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

10-12-2008, 12:28 AM	#7
smoothrideronli www.calendartreats.com Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: New York Age: 34 Bike(s): 2004 1000RR, 2008 1000RR Posts: 1,374	Just left Lightning again today...got some video I will be uploading. __________________

10-29-2008, 04:02 PM	#10
ND4SPD I'm BATMAN!!! Join Date: 12-12-2006 Bike(s): Trek Posts: 8,137 Images: 25	New Jersey Motorsports Park Happy With Inaugural Season, Beginning Next Phase Of Development News Article // RoadracingWorld.com __________________ "This is your life - are you who you want to be?" Learn all you need to know about Mac OS X

10-29-2008, 04:15 PM	#11
HondaGalToo ...into the 30s Join Date: 12-16-2006 Location: New Jersey Age: 48 Bike(s): '01 929, '07 gsxr 600 Posts: 1,757	I, too, am looking forward to next season! I'll bet it's helped the economy in south Jersey. I don't know what else you'd go to Millville for, so I don't doubt that the motels had been hurting. There's not much down there, it looks to be a depressed area. I ate at the restaurant/bar located within the facility...they were walking around passing out coupons for a free drink at one of the trackdays I attended...it wasn't bad. I'll be there, probably freezing my ass off, this weekend. That'll close out my season with days 21 and 22 this year! I've ridden at NJMP 9 days this year since it opened in July, and I expect to be there even more next year. Two hours from my door! Too bad the Quality Inn no longer allows dogs. Gotta find a dog sitter more often now. __________________ “I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.” ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

10-29-2008, 04:18 PM	#12
ND4SPD I'm BATMAN!!! Join Date: 12-12-2006 Bike(s): Trek Posts: 8,137 Images: 25	22 track days in one season? __________________ "This is your life - are you who you want to be?" Learn all you need to know about Mac OS X

10-29-2008, 04:32 PM	#15
smoothrideronli www.calendartreats.com Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: New York Age: 34 Bike(s): 2004 1000RR, 2008 1000RR Posts: 1,374	By the way...the track is great!! __________________

10-29-2008, 04:35 PM	#16
smoothrideronli www.calendartreats.com Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: New York Age: 34 Bike(s): 2004 1000RR, 2008 1000RR Posts: 1,374	On a side note...the guy that runs the kart racing is real cool. We talked with him for about 20 mins and he showed us his 1988 or 89 BMW series with a Mustang V8 in it. The exhaust note sounded creepy coming from a 3 series!! __________________

11-04-2008, 12:14 PM	#19
HondaGalToo ...into the 30s Join Date: 12-16-2006 Location: New Jersey Age: 48 Bike(s): '01 929, '07 gsxr 600 Posts: 1,757	The weekend of Nov 1 & 2 was a bit of a crash-fest, unfortunately. Not NESBA's fault, they did everything they could. Sunday afternoon was actually much-improved after the I group was yelled at. Sat and Sun mornings were cold...in the 40s...and folks were crashing on the out-lap. Not giving tires time to warm up. Sat afternoon it got up to the upper 60s...beautiful, but Sunday remained upper 40s/low 50s. All in all, I had a great time! Got to ride and hang with a bunch of folks I met this year, being it was my first full year with NESBA. It wasn't a weekend to push limits...too cold, so I just rode at a reduced pace and worked on body position and lines. I did one good session after lunch on Sunday (no red flags!!!) then packed it up. I heard the last 2 sessions of the day were also good, no more crashes. A good end to a wonderful season. One of my best ever, I think, in terms of the number of days I did, the folks I met, and some small improvements made in my riding. I've already put the antifreeze back in the gix and started removing the bodywork. I have some Armour Bodies to fit and then send for painting. Can't wait for next season! Gonna be a long Winter. I'm sure I'll do even more days at NJMP next year since it's only 2 hours away. I really like both tracks there, Thunderbolt especially. __________________ “I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.” ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

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