Thunderbolt -- where to stay?

Millville, New Jersey....night spots? you're joking, right? Bring your RV and a six pack. I really don't think that there is much of anything in the area. Philly is 40-45 minutes away...

 

http://www.hotels.com/processIndexSearch.do?_dyncharset=UTF-8&allPropertyTypesSelected=true&searchType=&destination=usertyped&usertypedcity=Millville%2C+New+Jersey%2C+US&street1=&street2=&acDestinationId=6892C166-6715-42A6-814F-CD3B6B39E609&acDestinationType=1&lat=&lon=&pointName=&checkIn=&checkOut=&numrooms=1&adults%5B0%5D=2&child%5B0%5D=0&CIMonth=-1&CIDay=-1&CIYear=2008&COMonth=-1&CODay=-1&COYear=2008&refined=true

 

I've never stayed in a hotel in my home area obviously but they did build a holiday inn express next to the cumberland mall a few years ago. There are a couple more about another 5 to 10 minutes from there although I can't think of the name of them off hand. Hehe nightlife. When I want some kind of real nightlife I head to AC or philly quite frankly. There are several bars. A few supposedly semi upscale restaurants in downtown Millville but I've never been to them. Here's a list of some place in the "Arts District"

http://www.glasstownartsdistrict.com/cat.php?grab=3

 

When are you headed down???...I will be at a track day there in August (20th)....Can't wait...if you are going prior...please post up your impressions.
Thanks
s

 

I just returned from a Mon/Tue at Lightning with the Schattenbaum PCA I stayed at The Country Inn in Millville (856) 825-3100
Clean, cheap, outdoor pool, 10 min. from track. There is not much night life, try the OarHouse outdoor beer garden. The resturants close early on Sunday and are not open on Monday but that should change because the track is rented every day for the forseeable future.

 

Drove a couple parade laps there recently. The Lightning course is fresh pavement, and very fast. If you're pushing the car there is no need to drop below 50 or 60 mph anywhere on the course. The 180 degree banked turn that spits you out onto the front straight is fantastic, I've heard people have held up to 115 mph on street cars on it, and I'm sure some could even be faster. A high end sports car can hit 170 on the front straight without much difficulty, but be careful on the blind right hander at the end of the straight. All in all, a very nice course.

 

Not sure what I was doing through the final, banked 180 degree turn, but with the petal to the floor from apex of the last turn to breaking for turn 1 (except for the 4-5shift), I was doing around 140mph at the end of the straight in a stock Evo IX MR. Turn 1 is lots of fun...crested, blind, fast....but so is turn 5, 6 and 7. I had three 30 minute sessions and loved every minute of it. Going back this week for 3-day Bertil Roos and another track day (this time on Thunderbolt) the first weekend of August.

 

Oh...forgot to mention...totally agree with MattF....slowest corners (5 and 7) were taken in 3rd gear...certainly no slower than 60mph or so...

 

Cape May is about 45 minutes, Wildwood is closer, AC isn't too far. While Millville is close, it wouldn't be my first choice, especially if you have a nice car with you.

Regards,

Art S.

PS. Looks like a great track with no neighbors to complain about the noise.