Interested in driving NJMP this WINTER?

[Phokaioglaukos]

At the last member day of the year Steve Stander, the new NJMP sales fellow, confirmed the rumour that NJMP hopes to open on those warm days that come from time to time in South Jersey. The plan is to send an e-mail out when the forecast is good and, if enough members sign up, they'll staff up for a track day.

In 2008 there was no limit on the guests a member could bring, and I guess that would be the same for these special winter days, but there are no guarantees. If you are interested in hearing about whatever NJMP does, just Watch this thread. I'll post whatever I hear and we'll take it from there.

Steve also said that NJMP is on the verge of announcing joint member days with PBIR (the reconstructed Moroso). There is already a common membership with VIR.

[bobt993]

Chris, 

I will want to attend.  The car is going through Cervelli tuning as I send parts to him next week and get the corrected suspension components back.  Chris is also interested in seeing the track/pro-coaching at Thunderbolt.  I know he is booked for Sebring, but has some time otherwise.  Engine, diff and suspension are all being fixed up, should be a lot faster next year!!

[George3]

Depending on the weather, and if I can get the car out of the shop with good weather timing.  I'd like to get some warm-winter seat time in.  The Diasio is being shaken down, and the Evo is getting a major safety equipment overhaul... roll bar, Stoptech big brake kit, wheels, etc.

[steveh]

I'd be interested in some mid-winter fun at NJMP. 

By the way, PBIR/Moroso is a fun track.  I did an open track day there in December '06, before the "refresh," but it was still in pretty good shape and a challenging track to drive.  Don't know about now, but in the old days the biggest complaint was that trackside facilities were pretty sparse.

[delanckc]

Steveh,

I assume you saw the tentative schedule for 09.  There are a number of events at NJMP this year.  Looks like there will be some single dates sprinkled in.  I'm very excited to spend three days at Lightning in June. 

I had a fantastic time at Thunderbolt this fall.  It was refreshing after missing a good portion of the summer with mechanical issues (steering rack, clutch).  The three days at Thunderbolt were great.   Promoted to White. 

The only two (minor) things about Thunderbolt that I'd change would be grass and high speed left hand turns.  Car interior was dusty from driving through the clouds as folks went off.  One or two more left hand turns would be great.  Absolutely fantastic to have the track so close to West Chester.

Kevin

[bobt993]

Kevin,

That dust was nothing.  You should have been at the NASA race last year just after Summit was repaved.  There were times we could not even see the track!!!

[George3]

bobt993 wrote:

Kevin,

That dust was nothing. You should have been at the NASA race last year just after Summit was repaved. There were times we could not even see the track!!!

And Bob, don't forget to mention the knee deep soft mud along the sides of the newly paved surface. When the topsoil was filled in along the sides, they never bothered to compact it. So, when it got wet, you'd go down very deep if you had two wheels off.

[steveh]

Kevin:

Congrats on the promotion to White.  Hope the mechanical gremlins stay away next year.

Had a chance to run Lightning with Chin Motorsports this fall.  Although it's shorter, I think it "flows" better than Thunderbolt, although left turns are still pretty rare.

Both tracks are great, and close (as opposed to Pocono, which is just - close).

Looking forward to next season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[delanckc]

Hopefully they have fixed both issues.   Otherwise we'll have to make dust masks and rubber boots part of the uniform.

Kevin

[George3]

I think Summit Point will be in decent shape for the beginning of the Spring season.  The track surface has been repaired, and hopefully it will hold up for a while.

When I was at Thunderbolt in November with NASA, they were not allowing any parking on the grass areas, whatsoever!.  All parking needed to be on paved surfaces.  They realized that the grass was not given a chance to grow strength with all the parking on it.  Hopefully, that too will not be an issue this coming spring.