New Jersey Motorsports Park – Thunderbolt Raceway

[Brian Minkin]

Great News Nick. Looking forward to being on Lightning with you and Shatenbaum in July.

[Nick]

The final coat of asphalt has been laid on Thunderbolt, Lightning and the F1 Karting circuit.  One of the karting tracks looks like the Pocono tri-oval but its not, so it was named Poconot.  I know someone who has driven over 140 mph on Lightning and over 130 mph on Thunderbolt with street tires.  The 125cc karts achieve about 100mph on the kart track.

Everything is on schedule to open next Saturday (July 5th).  I’ve posted lots of pictures of the track, so here is one of the bar!

[Tony356993]

Looking forward to being on Lightning with you and Shatenbaum in July.

I'll be there too Nick - with your 50.

 

[Phokaioglaukos]

I'll be there on the 5th and 6th. Not sure how they'll structure these days, but I'm eager to try the track. If I get my act together I'll video a lap so that you can offer suggestions on improving my line.

Just got back from the race at Summit Point. When we had the 12 hour race on the 14th the track was rough. Those who were at Hyperfest last weekend said it was horrible (thanks to the drifting competition?) and that it was 70% better this weekend. I don't know about that precise estimate, but the patches in T1 and T5 in particular have become Swiss cheese like. Very little grip. Best line is to straddle the rough stuff.

Here's hoping the new pavement at NJMP holds up better than the repave at SPR! Hard to believe it could be worse.

[Phokaioglaukos]

Copied here form a Rennlist post:

http://www.peterkrause.net/Krause_&_...orts_Park.html

Neat writeup authored by the consultant they brought in to do final placement of curbing. They used a Mustang street car to help verify curb location on Thunderbolt, and he says they saw 130mph twice a lap.

His video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_6T7CzShJw

[Nick]

Phokaioglaukos wrote:

Copied here form a Rennlist post:

http://www.peterkrause.net/Krause_&_...orts_Park.html

Neat writeup authored by the consultant they brought in to do final placement of curbing. They used a Mustang street car to help verify curb location on Thunderbolt, and he says they saw 130mph twice a lap.

His video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_6T7CzShJw

I know the driver. He told me that he exceeds 140mph on Lightning in his Mustang Cobra.

[Phokaioglaukos]

First day on Lightning. Couple of thoughts. The track was wet in the early sessions (torrential downpour last night) but dry in this afternoon. The track is smooth and grippy every place. There are many more turns than are evident on the track map. Most notable are T1 and T5 (nomenclature to be determined). T1 is a blind right after the front straight. Pit out is right there, too. Not so much an issue in a DE, but in a race it will be exciting. The track is also standard width--and that can seem narrow in many places. T5 is a a blind right hander that is at the end of a turn sequence. I'll try to post some video that shows what is going on. Overall impression is a bit of Summit Point carousel and a bit of Shenandoah. It's faster than tha would sugest, though. More tomorrow.

[Tony356993]

Thanks Chris - keep us posted. I watched some video but look forward to yours.

[michael lang]

Man, that track sounds like it will be so much fun. I just can't wait to drive it.

[Phokaioglaukos]

I started a thread about Lightning here: http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/sh...p?t=441145

I'll try to get the corresponding video posted tonight. Nick will be instructing at EMRA this weekend and then again at the Schattenbaum event, so I hope he will post to that thread too.


You can see the video on Post #36 now.