Went there today for my second time since it opened at the start of the month. This is a brand new facility and track so things are still under construction. For reference the group that owns VIR owns this as well. Pic of the track:



Last time with Team Promotion we ran both chicanes but this time with NESBA we didn't run any. I also got a better feel this time for the track and it's FAST FAST FAST!!! 2.25 miles long and there's so many high speed turns. Turn 1 is a fast right hander leading you up the hill toward a blind turn 2 which I never got down really. Then a fast little straight to turn 3 which is if you got ***** use them and lean it over through there and then up a hill toward turn 4 which is a real fast kink. Then you come to a nice left hander toward another fast right which leads you toward the carousel. This turn is nuts. It's like a triple apex right hander that never ends. It's decreasing radius too so you can screw it up real easy if you're not careful. The whole time you're thinking please end please end. Then flip right over to a long left hander which builds up your speed back to the front straight. Advanced guys are going under the bridge and hitting the little bend onto the front straight at around 135mph and doing probably pinned 6th by the brake markers for turn 1. Absolutely insane


This track is sooo sooo smooth too. Top notch facilty and a blast of a track. I ran into spoolinlude there too who was riding the track for his first time. Looked like he was doing well. Was kind've funny when I'm lined up and all the sudden hear "hey man are you from Honda Tech??" Guess he recognized my bike. Next time - I group as they bumped me early Pics to come once they're posted

 

there wasnt anyone there today was there?

was it a ducati day? my buddy was there today with his paul smart said it swas EMPTY

 

looks like fun, but arent all tracks fun.

 

nah it was a packed track. Big wide open track though

 

I was there too!

Met Joe, he passed me twice on his RC haha.... it was my first time, so I wasn't too pissed about it. He got upgraded to "I" class, congrats dude.

I think I did alright, didn't get my knee down, but I dragged boot a few times. The CR's were VERY helpful, my last two sessions out I followed one around the track and had a blast. I must have passed 30 bikes on my last session. My biggest problem is my corner entry speed, but thats more of a mental issue than a riding issue I think. I need to get over the fact that the bike WILL make it, (and basically stop being a puss). I probably could of pushed it a little harder, got my knee down, and stuck on the CR's tail through the corners, but my bike isn't a 100% track bike, so I was a little aprehensive about pushing it as hard as I could, as I can't really afford to drop it.

I had a great time, met a lot of awesome poeple, and I'll certainly be back!

 

pics!.

 

were people running at the other track? there is a moto ST race there this weekend

 

I don't think anything was going on at Lightining.... didn't sound like it anyway.

We took some pictures with our cameras, but the "pro" ones aren't on the website yet.

I got one 8x10 printout of me, not the greatest shot, but the best one i saw.... some of the photos weren't available yet, so I'm hoping to see more on the website.

EDIT: Yeah it was pretty funny seeing Joe in the hot pit.... I got passed by him earlier and it didn't click, then all of the sudden in the hot pit, i was like wait a minute, I know that bike....... OH ****...... "honk honk".... "HEY!!! ARE YOU ON HONDA TECH"........ lines start to move out..... "SCREW IT I'LL ASK YOU LATER!"


Modified by spoolinlude at 11:46 AM 8/26/2008

 

Here's a couple pics I stole off the website, I had to "printscreen" them because it wouldn't let me copy them.

I didn't buy the picture CD, but my buddy did, and he's right behind me in most of my photos.

I'm not very impressed with the photos, the corner they used wasn't a "tight" corner, so you don't really get to see yourself in a high lean angle corner. Plus they could of moved around the track and taken pictures from various locations. I wish I went out on the last session, looks like they moved for that one, but I wasn't feeling well, just really tired, and I decided not to chance it.

Anyway, here's a couple of the better ones.
Leading the pack:
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

Like I said, I wish they were in the carousel or at the tight left right before you get to the carousel, I really wanted to see myself in those corners.... O well, next time maybe.

 

is there any suspensions techs there that will do your bike for you? i wanna get mine done for my weight cause i dont feel like messing with it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The Hooligan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is there any suspensions techs there that will do your bike for you? i wanna get mine done for my weight cause i dont feel like messing with it.</TD></TR></TABLE>


No suspension techs there today but often times there are. If you went though an experienced rider or control rider would likely help you out and help at least get it in the general ballpark with preload and baseline rebound and compression settings.


Yeah I'm not buying any pictures. The angle and turn he was forced to take them at kind've sucked. Oh well. I'm there again on Monday


oh and for MSCHU - fastest times I heard about were 1:23 for a 2.25 mile track. That was on a 675 and a mille. So average speed of like 97.59 mph.

 

I'm so jealous Joe.... the Sept 15th day is full debating on signing up for the Oct 6th date.... haven't made up my mind yet.

Who are you there with on Monday? Promotion is there on the 8th.... looks like cars this monday.

I was talking to Mike Himmelsbach(spelling?) and Ty early in the day as they were pitted just about next to me. For neither one of them ever even seeing the track they were FLYING. Really nice guys too.... I snapped some shots of mike's experimental steering stabilizer and experimental rear shock.... they didn't seem to care, what the hell am I gonna do with it... lol...

 

Sportbiketracktime on Monday. No cars there

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by spoolinlude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I was talking to Mike Himmelsbach(spelling?) and Ty early in the day as they were pitted just about next to me. For neither one of them ever even seeing the track they were FLYING. Really nice guys too.... I snapped some shots of mike's experimental steering stabilizer and experimental rear shock.... they didn't seem to care, what the hell am I gonna do with it... lol...</TD></TR></TABLE>


those two were the fastest on the track all day or probably ever running like 1:23 all day on their bikes. I saw the Mille but not the 675. The A group guys were like [freak] they were FLYING!!! And some of the fastest were running high 20's with most running low to mid 30's.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EngineNoO9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


those two were the fastest on the track all day or probably ever running like 1:23 all day on their bikes. I saw the Mille but not the 675. The A group guys were like [freak] they were FLYING!!! And some of the fastest were running high 20's with most running low to mid 30's. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, the man has won 14 American GP's now..... Mike was having issues early on in the day, apparently the bike shut off on him in mid turn a few times. It's funny when you watch those guys from the track balcony because they really don't look to be going that fast, yet when you're out there you feel like you're hauling ***, but you probably look like you're moving really slow...haha

I have a damn lap timer built into my bike, you think dumbass me woulda remembered to use it? nope........ o well, my lap times weren't a huge concern.... yet.....

 

I did NJMP a month or so ago and did a write up for another forum, guess I should've posted here too. I did a Team Promotion 'Twilight Session' from about 4-6 pm.

Facilities

Right now only the Lightning course is finished, the Thunderbolt track is still under construction. Driving into the Lightning course 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 could be 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.[/quote]

 

so you did that on your 1000rr or another bike? Thunderbolt apparently is a lot nicer and really doesn't have any run off issues

 

I agree, I didn't see anywhere that looked like a "dangerous place to crash", the only place I could see getting pretty messed up is if you flat out flew off the track in turn one at 100mph+

 

Posted up some videos on youtube, these are from the 2nd session. The only session I was able to capture due to the camera dying..... I'm pissed because session 4 and 5 were my best, and the damn thing didn't record them

O well, next time..... Joe are you going 10/6?

part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ9fT3jqjXA

part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuupeMRsqcw

 

That was the 600. Thunderbolt wasn't finished when I went out there.

The areas on Lightning that are iffy are right where you go under the bridge and probably the last turn coming onto the straight. The one on the bridge is bad because if you're really hauling through there you're going to be turning for a good bit of time and there's no real way to slow down if you come off the bike.

Overall I would do more track days there but I wouldn't race there. I guess that's what Thunderbolt is for. I'll try to take the 1000 out there before the season ends, I just hope it's not too cold.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by spoolinlude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Posted up some videos on youtube, these are from the 2nd session. The only session I was able to capture due to the camera dying..... I'm pissed because session 4 and 5 were my best, and the damn thing didn't record them

O well, next time..... Joe are you going 10/6?

part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ9fT3jqjXA

part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuupeMRsqcw</TD></TR></TABLE>

I may go then. Gotta make sure I'm not traveling with work though. We'll see


2nd vid for the first lap around I pass you out of turn 2 and had to wait for the CR to pick up the pace and then let me by going down the straight.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMU R1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That was the 600. Thunderbolt wasn't finished when I went out there.

The areas on Lightning that are iffy are right where you go under the bridge and probably the last turn coming onto the straight. The one on the bridge is bad because if you're really hauling through there you're going to be turning for a good bit of time and there's no real way to slow down if you come off the bike.

Overall I would do more track days there but I wouldn't race there. I guess that's what Thunderbolt is for. I'll try to take the 1000 out there before the season ends, I just hope it's not too cold.</TD></TR></TABLE>


My understanding talking to some of the better guys on 1000 i4's is that they're a handful on this track because it's so fast. I know once I hit turn 2 right I'll probably loft it coming out of the turn and coming out of turn 3 I was getting a little headshake while accelerating. The hill I never had a chance to stay on it the whole time but that on your 1000rr should launch you into the stratosphere. Then as mentioned the straight is a 1/2 mile but you'll hit warp speed on the 1000. 170-180 mph is very reasonable on a bike that size if you enter the straight correctly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EngineNoO9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I may go then. Gotta make sure I'm not traveling with work though. We'll see


2nd vid for the first lap around I pass you out of turn 2 and had to wait for the CR to pick up the pace and then let me by going down the straight.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I thought you'd like your cameo..... I'll try to keep up next time

Me and that CR actually caught back up to you in the carousel, you were gone on the front straight though.... I just don't have that power.

 

Your bike will stay neck and neck with mine and actually pull on me. You just don't know it. It sounds like you're short shifting big time. A 2004 or newer 600 will easily keep pace with the RC51 and more then likely pull on me on the straights.


Yeah I watched the whole thing this time and I got caught up behind more traffic. It's the way it goes. For awhile I was sandwiched between 2 CR's waiting for another wave by.

 

i just made it down to the track yesterday for the first time. im about 30 minutes away from the track so its pretty sweet. there was bmws practicing so atleast i got to see something.

is there a list of websites for the motorcycle events or leagues? im trying to get all the info i need so i can do my first trackday, thanks.

 

I heard to the grape vine that the ROLEX cars F*Cked the track up pretty bad....

Not sure if i'm going on 10/6 yet...... wondering how bad the track is....

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EngineNoO9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your bike will stay neck and neck with mine and actually pull on me. You just don't know it. It sounds like you're short shifting big time. A 2004 or newer 600 will easily keep pace with the RC51 and more then likely pull on me on the straights.


Yeah I watched the whole thing this time and I got caught up behind more traffic. It's the way it goes. For awhile I was sandwiched between 2 CR's waiting for another wave by.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I was short shifting and not shifting enough, and pretty much ALWAYS in the wrong gear.... hahaha.... I watched some vids of "A" group guys, and the whole time was thinking jesus I needed to be a gear lower all over the place..... Live and Learn.....