NJMP Groundbreaking

[thewake]

The New Jersey Motorsports Park held a public goundbreaking last night. The ceremony was nice and everyone was excited, except of course Chris Economaki who said that he wanted to avoid that particular word. He described himself as 'enthused' and 'enraptured'.

The first events are planned for June 2008. The first event is going to be held by the Shelby American Automobile Club. The Sports Car Club of America in particular the South Jersey Region will be hosting events as well, we just don't have the dates yet.

The owners of the track will be naming the media tower after Chris Economaki and they unveiled the plaque that will hang in the building in his honor. He seemed to really appreciate the gesture. Everyone there cheered when they made the announcement.

They then went just outside the tent to do the ceremonial digging with the golden shovels.

I even managed to catch the flying dirt with my camera.

We got to see and walk on sections of the "Lightbulb Turn" section of the Lightning Racetrack. The track has a long way to go, yet it is well on the way to the proverbial checkered flag that is opening day. I am not going to wait patiently, I need to get busy on my project car.

Even if you don't want to race, come on out and help us hold the races. We (and any other club that holds events there) will need workers of all types.

Yes I know they have been working out there for a while. Still this was the "official groundbreaking" so I thought you would like to see the photos and perhaps read my report.

Also read about it at http://www.courierpostonline.com/app...18/1004/living and http://www.nj.com/sunbeam/stories/in...180.xml&coll=9 and http://www.globest.com/news/996_996/.../164161-1.html. you can see the channel 40 (NBC in Atlantic City) video at http://www.nbc40.net/pages/videoplay...o.php?vid=3097. Channel 6 was also there, but I didn't see a report on their site.