THUNDERBOLTRACEWAY
CumberlandCounty’snewracingvenuewillprovide
afunpit-stopforvacationers. ByFaithR.Foyil
eventuallyofferVIPsuites,banquetrooms,
amediacenterandVIPfacilities.
The1.9mileLightingRoadCoursewas
namedfortheP-38Lightning,American’s
firstdualenginefighter.Thisfastandchal-
lenging ten-corner circuit will feature
someofthePark’smostinterestinganddra-
matic elevation changes as well as a 20-
acrepaddockareawithafour-acreskidpad
andautocrossareaplusschoolanddriver
meetingroomfacilities.
Bothtrackswilloffervariedconcession
stands and their own timing towers. In
addition to these two main courses, the
Park will eventually encompass a Gary
Bailey designed ATV/Motocross extreme
sportsracecourseandpark.Theproposed
designatedNJoffroad/ATVparkisslated
tobeopenin2009.
Severalfamily-themedrestaurantsplusa
varietyofspecialtystores,VIPsuites,track-
side villas and even conference centers,
maketheNJMPvenueidealforcorporate
W
HILE THE GROUND’S still averagespeedof7.5mph.That’safarcry eventsaswellasfamilyoutings.
trembling from the first giant fromtoday’sfast-pacedcarsthatziparound
excavationtrucksintheFallof tracks at speeds averaging more like 125 A Taste of Racing 2008
2007,thePark,toutedas“a major tourism, mph, with nationally recognized industry The2008racingscheduleisnearlyfilled,
entertainment and lifestyle destination,” icons guiding their high-tech machines and includes an assortment of varied and
alreadyboastsafullline-upofprofessional around precision-designed tracks and excitingracingeventsforNJMP.
races and amateur driver and car club embankments. Want to see a Ferrari Formula 2, a
eventsslatedtoheadoffoverfortyweeksa HarveySiegel,apartnerofNJMPanda Porsche 356, Jaguar E-Type or McLaren
yearofintenseracing-relatedaction. seasoned racecar driver himself, brings a M8D Can-Am up close? These beauties
Upon final completion, which is long history of success to this diverse andotherdreamyclassiccarswillshiftgears
planned in three phases, the New Jersey motorsports park. Siegel’s the brainchild ontheThunderboltRacewayattheSports-
MotorsportsPark(NJMP)willbecomethe behind the historic Virginia International car Vintage Racing Association (SVRA)’s
only U.S. complex with such diverse Raceway,oneofthenation’spremierroad weekendonAugust7th-10th2008.
venuesastworoadcourses,drivertraining courses and the sister facility of NJMP. August 15th to 17th marks the Shelby
and skid pad facilities, high performance Siegel, along with managing partner Lee AmericanAutomobileClub’snationalcon-
karting as well as off-road courses for Brahin, aclassiccarracerandrealestate vention,completewitharacingevent,also
extremesportsanda¾miletri-oval.And developer,Richard“RJ”Valentine,aRolex open to the public. Former racer and
it’salllocatedinaveritablecountryclub GrandAmSeriesracerandentrepreneur, AmericancardesignerCarrollShelbycol-
setting within the beautiful pine-tree andJoeSavaro,partnerandNJMPDevel- laboratedonThunderbolt’soriginallayout
forests of Cumberland County, New opment Project Manager, have elaborate andconceptualdesign,whichwillmakeit
Jersey, adjacent to the 14,000 acre New hospitalityplansforNJMPthatcatertothe
Jersey State Bevan Wildlife Preserve and needsofracecardriversandracingfansas
the federally designated Wild and Scenic wellastherestofthefamily.
MauriceRiverwatershed. Thepark’ssignature2.25mileThunder-
boltRacewaypayshomagetothehistoricP-
Then and Now 47 Thunderbolt aircraft which were sta-
Carracingisoneofthemostpopularspec- tionedatMillville’sadjacentArmyAirField
tatorsportsinAmerica.Thisphenomenon duringWWII.TheThunderbolttrackfea-
hasrootsdatingbacktothetailendofthe tures14challengingturns,aone-halfmile
19thcenturyin1895.Theultimatewinner straightway and approximately 40 acres of
finished the course in nine hours at an fullservicepaddockspace.Theracewaywill
52 S O U T H E R N N E W J E R S E Y V A C A T I O N E R
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