Racetrack Schedule in High Gears
By Joel Landau
The Daily Journal
thedailyjournal.com

Millville, N.J. (July 29, 2008) – Local residents will have the first crack at Thunderbolt Raceway this weekend at the New Jersey Motorsports Park.

The park will open its second auto racetrack Friday with a charity drive-in movie presentation of "Grand Prix" near the track's hangar. The track also will host a Run-Ride-Walk on Saturday for people to walk, run and ride a bicycle at the track. Both events will benefit the South Jersey Healthcare and Lance Armstrong foundations.

Don Fauerbach, a motorsports park official, said a variety of events are scheduled for next month to open the 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway.

The first race at Thunderbolt will be a "community initiative," he said. "We're very excited about that."

Thunderbolt Raceway will be open, but some of the buildings will not be accessible until next week while the park waits for official building-code enforcement approval for some buildings near the track, including the event garages and concession stand.

Joe Savaro, one of the park's owners, said he expects to receive a certificate of occupancy -- issued by the city -- for part of the clubhouse today and the rest of the buildings by next week. Savaro said the park will plan this weekend's events without use of these buildings.

Drivers Club members will get the first chance to drive on the course Saturday. The first official race -- the Vintage Sports Car Racing series--is scheduled for Aug. 7 to 10. The park will bring some of the cars to High Street for a special car show on the night of Aug. 8.

"Some of these cars have untold value," Savaro said. "But they're not afraid to go out there and race."

The park will host two races at the F1 New Jersey Karting Facility on Saturday, featuring local politicians in one race and local radio personalities in another.

Assemblyman Douglas Fisher, D-3, Cumberland County Freeholders Doug Rainear and Joe Pepitone, and Planning Director Kim Ayres are among those expected to compete.

"They'll be out there dicing it up to see who's the fastest," Fauerbach said.