07-27-2008, 03:47 PM
I went out to the brand spanking new NJ Motorsports Park yesterday for a Team Promotion motorcycle track day. I had wanted to try out the track but all of the track days there were sold out for some time. Then Team Promotion opened up some slots for a 'twilight session'. It would be two hours of open track time from 4:30 to 6:30 for $125. Score.
According to Google maps it should only take about 3 hours to get to the track from Falls Church. But with Saturday traffic on 495, 95, the NJ Turnpike, and a two lane road you have to take, it ended up taking over 4 hours. Next time I go I'm going to try to find some alternate routes.
Facilities
Right now only the Lightning course is finished, the Thunderbolt track is still under construction. Driving into the Lightning paddock you are welcomed with a glorious paved paddock. The only two buildings there right now are a support building for the track that has a medium size garage area, bathroom, and classroom; and a similar building for the gokart track. The kart track sits inside the road course. It looks like it's a bit longer than the kart track at VIR but it also looks tighter. There were a couple of guys with shifters there but I didn't get to see 'em run.
Track Layout
So I got out on track (with the 600 not the 1000) and got to learning. I circulated for awhile trying to figure out which way the track goes then started cranking up the pace.
You can tell that the track was designed by Alan Wilson because it is very similar in feel to Beaverun and looks a lot like Miller Motorsports Park. Lots of medium speed corners and a couple of sections where if you're going fast enough, two turns become one. The track is only 1.9 miles long but it is easily faster than most of the tracks we go to.
The only thing I didn't like is that it only had two left turns and only one of them was decently long. On a bike I've found a feel a lot more comfortable in left hand turns since I'm hanging away from my throttle hand. And whenever I get around to trying to slide a sport bike...
Elevation Change
Millville NJ is towards the coast so there's not lots of hills to speak of. Thus, NJMP doesn't feature a huge amount of elevation change, but it makes the best of what it has. Kind of like a modestly-breasted woman wearing a push-up bra.
The first mound is at T1. It's uphill so you can go through turn 1 a lot faster than you'd think at first glance. The trick though is that after T1 the track drops back down. Once I started picking up speed I'd be wheeling coming over the crest, which is a little unsettling if you're not totally straight when you go over it. Then, the one time I didn't have my weight over the front I ended up doing a stunna wheelie.
The second rise isn't so dramatic because the track drops off and keeps turning after the apex so you're not really getting on the throttle as the track drops away.
Run off room is a bit on the tight side. There are a couple of places on the track where there is no avoiding armco if you go off there. Fine for a track day but in a race when people might be beating and banging on each other there might be tears. The final loooonnnngggg parabolica-type turn leading onto the front straight is a 3rd/4th gear turn but again, doesn't have a lot of runoff room. If you come blasting in there and go off you're taking a chopper ride.
Conclusion
Right off the bat this is a MUCH better track than Summit Point, although that's not saying much. The only criticism I have is the run-off room and the stupid amount of tolls between there and here. Millville, NJ is a little more ghetto than Danville but there are a good number of places to eat there. For those who gamble, Atlantic City is only an hour away.
Really, any way you slice it, you can't lose with NJMP, unless you hit the armco.
According to Google maps it should only take about 3 hours to get to the track from Falls Church. But with Saturday traffic on 495, 95, the NJ Turnpike, and a two lane road you have to take, it ended up taking over 4 hours. Next time I go I'm going to try to find some alternate routes.
Facilities
Right now only the Lightning course is finished, the Thunderbolt track is still under construction. Driving into the Lightning paddock you are welcomed with a glorious paved paddock. The only two buildings there right now are a support building for the track that has a medium size garage area, bathroom, and classroom; and a similar building for the gokart track. The kart track sits inside the road course. It looks like it's a bit longer than the kart track at VIR but it also looks tighter. There were a couple of guys with shifters there but I didn't get to see 'em run.
Track Layout
So I got out on track (with the 600 not the 1000) and got to learning. I circulated for awhile trying to figure out which way the track goes then started cranking up the pace.
You can tell that the track was designed by Alan Wilson because it is very similar in feel to Beaverun and looks a lot like Miller Motorsports Park. Lots of medium speed corners and a couple of sections where if you're going fast enough, two turns become one. The track is only 1.9 miles long but it is easily faster than most of the tracks we go to.
The only thing I didn't like is that it only had two left turns and only one of them was decently long. On a bike I've found a feel a lot more comfortable in left hand turns since I'm hanging away from my throttle hand. And whenever I get around to trying to slide a sport bike...
Elevation Change
Millville NJ is towards the coast so there's not lots of hills to speak of. Thus, NJMP doesn't feature a huge amount of elevation change, but it makes the best of what it has. Kind of like a modestly-breasted woman wearing a push-up bra.
The first mound is at T1. It's uphill so you can go through turn 1 a lot faster than you'd think at first glance. The trick though is that after T1 the track drops back down. Once I started picking up speed I'd be wheeling coming over the crest, which is a little unsettling if you're not totally straight when you go over it. Then, the one time I didn't have my weight over the front I ended up doing a stunna wheelie.
The second rise isn't so dramatic because the track drops off and keeps turning after the apex so you're not really getting on the throttle as the track drops away.
Run off room is a bit on the tight side. There are a couple of places on the track where there is no avoiding armco if you go off there. Fine for a track day but in a race when people might be beating and banging on each other there might be tears. The final loooonnnngggg parabolica-type turn leading onto the front straight is a 3rd/4th gear turn but again, doesn't have a lot of runoff room. If you come blasting in there and go off you're taking a chopper ride.
Conclusion
Right off the bat this is a MUCH better track than Summit Point, although that's not saying much. The only criticism I have is the run-off room and the stupid amount of tolls between there and here. Millville, NJ is a little more ghetto than Danville but there are a good number of places to eat there. For those who gamble, Atlantic City is only an hour away.
Really, any way you slice it, you can't lose with NJMP, unless you hit the armco.
2018 Ducati Panigale V4
Past: 2018 Honda Civic Type-R, 2015 Yamaha R1, 2009 BMW M3, 2013 Aprilia RSV4R, 2006 Honda Ridgeline, 2006 Porsche Cayman S, 2012 Ducati 1199, 2009 Subaru WRX, 2008 CBR1000RR, 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R, 2000 Toyota Tundra, 2005 Honda CBR600RR, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1997 Honda Civic EX
http://www.aclr8.com
Past: 2018 Honda Civic Type-R, 2015 Yamaha R1, 2009 BMW M3, 2013 Aprilia RSV4R, 2006 Honda Ridgeline, 2006 Porsche Cayman S, 2012 Ducati 1199, 2009 Subaru WRX, 2008 CBR1000RR, 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R, 2000 Toyota Tundra, 2005 Honda CBR600RR, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1997 Honda Civic EX
http://www.aclr8.com
