http://www.nj.com/news/bridgeton/loc...00.xml&coll=10
Two smaller road courses planned for Phase I
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
By JAIME MARINE
jmarine@sjnewsco.com
MILLVILLE -- Developers of the $150 million motorsports park are targeting a September ground breaking ceremony for the facility, slated for construction near the city's airport.
Project official Joe Savaro said Tuesday during a meeting of the Green Flag Committee not much has changed on the plans for Phase I of the raceway, but added a slight change has been made to the 4-mile road course.
Phase I, expected to cost between $40 and $50 million, will now feature two smaller road courses. It will be situated on over 500 acres at the intersection of Buckshutem and Dividing Creek roads. The overall project is over 700 acres.
Savaro said one course will be 2.2 miles and will still be known as Thunderbolt Raceway. The second course will be about 1.9 miles and will be called Lightning.
The southern road circuit, Thunderbolt Raceway, will feature over 2.25 miles of asphalt, 14 challenging turns, and a one-half-mile straightway.
The northern circuit, Lightning, is a 10-corner circuit that will be fast and challenging. It will feature some of the most interesting and dramatic corners and elevation changes in the park.
Savaro said the idea to split the course came from talking to those who would utilize the circuits.
"Logistically, it is a lot easier," he said, adding there were some concerns associated with a 4-mile course.
Savaro added two separate course will also make it easier to hold more than one event at a time.
Lee Brahin, project developer, said the smaller courses will make the racing more exciting and easier for spectators to watch. He added it will not preclude the type racing the facility is attracting.
Savaro said the project will still honor the area's World War II heritage by having themed buildings at the site.
Phase I will still include a clubhouse, construction of the villas, a karting facility, garages, a maintenance area, concession stands and a medical area.
"When we started this thing over four years ago, we were considered fictional characters," Savaro said. "No one believed, but liked the story.
"We are no longer fictional characters. We are real live business owners."
Savaro said the developers are looking forward to being judged based on their success. Success to him, he said, is based on the number of people attending events at the park, issuing the paychecks to workers and creating new jobs -- 200 full and part time, on-site jobs are proposed in the first phase.
"We are a business first and foremost that can't be relocated outside of Millville," he said. "We are here for years to come."
The motorsports park is still anticipating opening in June 2008, and Savaro said that gives contractors a year to get the work done.
He added the project will also have to hit several benchmark dates before it is completed.
Developers will be going before the city's planning board within the next few months seeking subdivision approval for the villas.
Between 174 and 182 villas are being proposed, and construction could start in September, if approval is given.
Eighteen units are already reserved at this point in the process.
Front Row Marketing, a subsidiary of Comcast, is also working as a corporate marketing partner in advertising and sponsorship related to events at the motorsports park.
Two committees are also under way that will explore the educational components and tourism components that result from the motorsports park.
For more information on the progress of New Jersey Motorsports Park, visit
www.njmotorsportspark.com.
Thunder bolt Raceway..
Linear Mode
