I had a track drive the Saturday before last, it was at the new New Jersey Motorpsort Park in Millville.(www.newjerseymotorsportpark.com) 10am we sat down in clubhouse for breakfast, serve yourself fruits, pastries, bagel, etc.... 10:30 was the drivers meeting where we went over the agenda for the day and track etiquette, etc.... It was what they call a "Touring Lights" session, we ran the racing line, single file, with no passing, with straightaway speeds close to 80mph, and corner speeds pretty much at the limit of adhesion on my car. We ran 13 laps on the small 10 turn "Lightning" course(think limerock but bigger),

This track is basically all rights(a quick, very cool uphill off camber on turn one), with a downhill 90degree left, and another left hand kink. It seems pretty fast, and is fun with the uphill to turn 1, and the downhill run to the hard left. Its also got a big 180+ sweeper, lots of fun to dive from up top all the way down across track after the apex. This was the first course we ran and my cheeks hurt from smiling like an idiot the whole time I was driving!
The second track was the bigger "Thunderbolt",

its 2.25 miles long and we ran 10 laps, we only ran about 45mph average as the first portion of the track(the straight and the "chicanes" at beginning of course) where having new FIA compliant curbs put in(they look like saw teeth, kind of, sort of, LOL) at the far end of the track as seen in the pic, we picked up the pace a little bit and again were right on the edge of adhesion of my tires, it was a blast. There were Corvette pace cars keeping the field in groups, and anytime the pace car or track side spotters saw anyone falling behind or getting squirrely/unable to follow racing line they would slow the pace down. I was the first car in line, immediatley behind the Vette, and I made damn sure I was NEVER the reason our groupd slowed down. There was a 90s 300ZX and a Fox body Mustang behind me, behind them was a pair of new BMW M6's, a C5 FRC and a Healey. I stayed right on our pace cars bumper, I refused to let him shake me, when we did slow down it was because the 300ZX couldnt make the hard left on the first track past about 45mph, and the mustand couldnt follow the racing line at speed on the big track through the twisty part (known as the Jersey Devil) I was very happy with the experience and how my car performed.
The stock tires may be junque on the street, but on a properly designed and maintained racing surface they did suprisingly well, they were rock solid until the very edge and then they would squeal right before they let loose, controllably, and usually all at once, making for a nice(shocking) 4 wheel drift on that hard left.......EVERYONE in my group along with the spotter from the track wanted to talk to me at lunch about what I had done to my little economy car to make it handle so well. I was the center of attention for a few minutes at my table, and the 300ZX guy said he couldnt believe he got hung out to dry by a Cobalt LS LOL LOL LOL

I was planning on taking lots of pics of the track and all the cars.....but I was having so much fun, and concentrating so hard driving that I got FOUR of the whole day
Old School(2 of them died during the day)


The guys I outran(not the M6)


Uphill turn 1 on Lightning, behind pace car


Pit lane IN on the big course

 

I am actually glad that I didn't go last year. Every single people I heard from visited there last year was about how dusty the circuit is, as they are still doing construction when people are racing there. I recall also watching the star Mazda series that the driver had the exact same complain. Planned to visit in the 2009 season, still waiting for all the club schedules to release.

BTW, which club hosted the event?

 

I was at the track for every major event and even the first ever green flag, the place is awesome, if its in your backyard youre missing out for not going. Yeah it was dusty in the summer, because no grass was grown yet.

wasnt a club, it was an invite from NJMP itself.

 

Whats all done to your car maven and how did those brake hose's work out?

 

SS/TC FE5 Springs
SS/TC FE5 Lower control arms
SS/SC FE5 Struts/shocks
SS/TC FE5 Front sway bar
OEM tires @34psi cold
OEM 15" steel wheels
FTS braided stainless hoses
ATE Typ 200 DOT4
Hawk HPS front brake pads
Carbotech 1521 rear brake shoes
OEM rotors/drums/calipers

*Coming after Christmas*
More SS/TC parts
Finally install my PGI end links(had them for months now )

The brake hoses are very high quality, look great, but are a pain to install because A:front hoses do not accept stock retaining clips and rattle around. You need to use the supplied E-clips and modify the stock retainers to get the proper retension.B: Rear hoses are too short, its virtually impossible to install hoses with axle at full droop, it puts a nasty bend on them. You need to hold axle at some point other than all the way down to install them......fine for me in a fully equipped shop, and in dire need of hoses, but way shitty otherwise.

 

09 should be much better, all the construction work should be complete and the grass should be fully grown.

Just wondering on your rear brake hose comment, wouldn't it cause a problem under hard cornering if it is too short?

 

I will be in contact with them tomorrow about adding a couple inches to the rear lines. Do you want replacements? As for the fronts do you have any pics?

 

We should definetly arrange a group event. I would love to take my SS/TC or BMW M3 or that course. When the time comes and people want to go, count me in!

 

wow, looks absolutely awesome!

 

:drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:



:drool: :drool:

:drool:


You have no idea how bad I want to be there

Oh and flip it upside down and it looks like a droopey wang

 

sick sick little man....

 

Definite track envy Maven, wish I coulda been there. Maybe another time.

 

Nothing little about me my friend

 

no, just droopy aparently

 

My pen is tis not dro0pey



You can't miss that Brad cmon... YOU know you saw it too

 

I would be in to get some track time up there next year. Looks like a blast.

 

Ill take some pics as soon as I get a chance. The fronts go on fine, and will fit an SS/SC even better than an LS, the problem is that these lines(like others) dont have the exacvt same end as stock where it attaches to brake pipe, so instead of fitting tightly in the bracket and having the clip snap on, they fit loosely in the bracket and you use the supplied E-clips to hold it in place, problem with that is the lines still move around in bracket when you turn wheels or go over bumps, this will make noise and wear away at the bracket and hose fitting. I used one E-clip from the kit and then used the stock retainers with some material filed off so they fit around hose, to hold fronts in bracket securely with no movement. The rears you can reuse the stock retainers with no mods(just discard the E-clips supplied for the rear)

Rocket, I am not concerned about the lines being affected by normal suspension travel.


Josh, yes if he's gonna make up some longer rear hoses I would definitely like them, as I said, they function fine, but I really dont like the way they stretch tight like that with car lifted up, I probably take my rear wheels off at least once every 6 weeks, so this condition worries me in the long term.