Grand Am at NJMP

NJSPDER · 08-31-2008, 06:29 PM

Just got home from the Grand Am race at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The facility looks great. They raced on the Thunderbolt Course and it looks fast and there was certainly a lot of places to pass. Walking around leaves you with good views of pretty much every part of the track.

The race was well run and the cautions were all kept short as the local safety team was on top of every car immediately. The track also has a ton of run off room, so when someone does make a bigger mistake the consequences are more about the amount of dirt you are cleaning out of the car than having to fix things.

Only two rather minor complaints. I think I would have had even more if the facility had a bit more time to install facilities and amenities before this weekend.
There wasn't much grass, so people walking around and cars dropping tires made massive dust clouds. There was also a serious lack of bleachers, being an under-tall person this is sort of a problem for me.

Overall I would call it a track and a race that was definately worth the cheap $35 ticket. Putting Ferrari Challenge, Mustang Challenge, and the DP/GT Supercar Life 250 all on one ticket was great.

-Tim

raffi · 09-01-2008, 01:12 PM

IT WAS AWSOME.. besides the dust and vendors running out of water on 90* day very nice track and cars.

raffi · 09-01-2008, 01:40 PM

few more

NJSPDER · 09-01-2008, 06:57 PM

Cool pics. I can't wait to see what they can do once they really get rolling down there. I am hoping to get in on some track time before the end of the year

SIK02SS · 09-01-2008, 10:50 PM

nice! i was at Infineon the other weekend for IRL, HGP, and Grand Am

I love free hot pit passes

The Crazy Sweed · 09-02-2008, 02:39 AM

nice event! looks like allot of nice cars! those BBS rims mounted on the ferrari looks like a spyder in a way.

dailydriver · 09-02-2008, 12:43 PM

COOL pics!

FINALLY Joyzee has it's own real, bona fide, certified road course!!!
It's about time!

Those Pirelli girls are hot.

Was that interior shot of the GXP.R??

raffi · 09-02-2008, 03:44 PM

interior shot is of the Porsche.

INSIDE VETTE

raffi · 09-02-2008, 04:10 PM

GXP.R had carbon fiber doors i think the guy caught me

when the door was open

dailydriver · 09-03-2008, 03:34 PM

The GXP.Rs have X-Trac Sequential 5 speeds, I guess the Sahlens Vettes do not.
Unless they bolted that short chrome Hurst stick onto the X-Trac shifter??

raffi · 09-27-2008, 05:50 PM

BAN THIS FOOL PLZ

mitchntx · 09-28-2008, 12:44 AM

saw the race today on Speed ...

Doesn't grass grow in Jersey?
The Civic in the armco was a wicked hit.
The melee was stupid close racing.
Great finish ... like it's supposed to be. The last turn of the last lap ...

NJSPDER · 09-28-2008, 11:01 AM

Track is just too new. The first official event was only held the last weekend of July or firstr weekend of August. Right now it is basically a race track in the middle of a massive construction site. lol

The grass is starting to grow in, it just look worse on TV. What makes it tough is south jersey has this really really fine dirt. It is dust basically, so the second a wheel is dropped off, it is a cloud like you saw.

The Koni Challenge race was insane. No one was giving any space or courtesy it seemed. It didn't help that the guys at the front of the field seemed to be really into driving well beyond what the cars and tires had left in them.

mitchntx · 09-28-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJSPDER

Track is just too new.

The grass is starting to grow in

south jersey has this really really fine dirt. It is dust basically

driving well beyond what the cars and tires had left in them.

I don't think it was so much what the cars and tires had in them, but more what the track had on it ... like no rubber and talcum powder.

Looks like a great facility, though.

NJSPDER · 09-28-2008, 12:39 PM

The place is amazing. Two full road courses, a pair of reconfigurable FIA cert'ed carting facilities, rental garages, luxary townhouses , a great restaurant/clubhouse, and then there is all of the next phase stuff, including a paved oval with stadium type seating, more townhomes, more garages, and there is a rumor(note, ONLY a rumor right now) that they want to lay tarmac to link the two road courses together to have one, nearly 5 mile long road course. Hell, they even have their own CDOC store in the paddock of the Thunderbolt circuit.

It is stil going to be another full year before they are done building, but they are off to a hell of a start. Lots of big series are visiting the facility already and with Baltimore, Philadelphia, and NYC all with in about 2-2.5 hours, it is easy to see how they will keep the place full every weekend year round soon.

Anyone who races in the streets in New Jersey is a retard. So many facilities in such a small state, there is no reason to run on the road for anything anymore.

For those in the area, the NJFBOA is working on some things at NJMP. So stay tuned