NJMP Thunderbolt Circuit Grand Opening.
NJMP Thunderbolt Circuit Grand Opening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT8md1kxY2M
Finally a track close to home. I’m impressed how quickly they were able to get this track up and running. Both circuits (Thunderbolt, 2.25 miles, and Lightning 1.9 mile) are ready and operational. While both circuits are ready, a lot of constrictions still undergoing. PDA was one of the first clubs to rent Thunderbolt circuit, so I decided to sign up and join the action.
The track itself is smooth, technical, and a lot of fun. Everyone spent the first couple of sessions trying to figure out the right line. A few spin offs, mushroom clouds of dust (south Jersey sand), by the 3rd session everyone was up to speed.
Turn 1 - slightly banked right turn
Turn 2 - another right turn, over the hill, and blind exit.
Turn 3 - slightly off camber quick right sweeper. You can carry a lot of speed into the back straight.
Back straight - dips down in the middle to the point that you can’t see the exit, no breaks needed, plenty of room left. However, you will go airborne right after the dip.
Turn 5 - right hand turn, must take it tight and stay to the right to setup for turn 6.
Turn 6 - sharp left hand turn, nothing special.
Turn 7 - nothing special, a quick right hand sweeper.
Right hand carousel - similar to big bend @ Lime Rock, slightly cambered. You can single or double apex it. The exit into the left hand carousel is the slowest turn, very sharp decreasing radius right hand turn.
Left hand carousel - tight left hand sweeper. Must stay to the outside and prepare for the exit into the Esses.
The Esses – a quick right followed by a quick left. You can carry a lot of speed through them.
Last turn – right hand turn with the pit’s divider in the middle. The fastest way though is to go over the divider with all 4 wheels. However, doing so will upset the balance of the car and may get you it trouble. If you decide to completely avoid the divider, the turn will become too tight and you’ll have to left off or even brake. I was most comfortable with 2 wheels on the divider.
Over all, 2 thumbs up.
Finally a track close to home. I’m impressed how quickly they were able to get this track up and running. Both circuits (Thunderbolt, 2.25 miles, and Lightning 1.9 mile) are ready and operational. While both circuits are ready, a lot of constrictions still undergoing. PDA was one of the first clubs to rent Thunderbolt circuit, so I decided to sign up and join the action.
The track itself is smooth, technical, and a lot of fun. Everyone spent the first couple of sessions trying to figure out the right line. A few spin offs, mushroom clouds of dust (south Jersey sand), by the 3rd session everyone was up to speed.
Turn 1 - slightly banked right turn
Turn 2 - another right turn, over the hill, and blind exit.
Turn 3 - slightly off camber quick right sweeper. You can carry a lot of speed into the back straight.
Back straight - dips down in the middle to the point that you can’t see the exit, no breaks needed, plenty of room left. However, you will go airborne right after the dip.
Turn 5 - right hand turn, must take it tight and stay to the right to setup for turn 6.
Turn 6 - sharp left hand turn, nothing special.
Turn 7 - nothing special, a quick right hand sweeper.
Right hand carousel - similar to big bend @ Lime Rock, slightly cambered. You can single or double apex it. The exit into the left hand carousel is the slowest turn, very sharp decreasing radius right hand turn.
Left hand carousel - tight left hand sweeper. Must stay to the outside and prepare for the exit into the Esses.
The Esses – a quick right followed by a quick left. You can carry a lot of speed through them.
Last turn – right hand turn with the pit’s divider in the middle. The fastest way though is to go over the divider with all 4 wheels. However, doing so will upset the balance of the car and may get you it trouble. If you decide to completely avoid the divider, the turn will become too tight and you’ll have to left off or even brake. I was most comfortable with 2 wheels on the divider.
Over all, 2 thumbs up.
Where did you mount your camera? On the rear shelf at the child seat anchor hook?
I'm in the process of making a bracket to bring the camera more forward for a better field of view - the seats just kill most of the view.... going there the following weekend.
How bad was the course on the drivers front tire? Appears all those right turns would kill it off quite quickly...
Is thunderbolt faster than lightning? - does not really appear like it from the vids I have been watching.
Did you really get air (4 wheels off) or just getting the suspension light like going over the hill at Limerock? From the vid it looked just like getting the car light but not off the ground.
Do you know of the courses can be run both ways like Jefferson? Or just clockwise? I have just seen vids going clockwise on both circuits.
Thanks.
I'm in the process of making a bracket to bring the camera more forward for a better field of view - the seats just kill most of the view.... going there the following weekend.
How bad was the course on the drivers front tire? Appears all those right turns would kill it off quite quickly...
Is thunderbolt faster than lightning? - does not really appear like it from the vids I have been watching.
Did you really get air (4 wheels off) or just getting the suspension light like going over the hill at Limerock? From the vid it looked just like getting the car light but not off the ground.
Do you know of the courses can be run both ways like Jefferson? Or just clockwise? I have just seen vids going clockwise on both circuits.
Thanks.
