Cumberland Raceway May Benefit This County

SWAINTON — Thunderbolt and Lightning may, if plans unfold as expected, by next June, augment Cape May County’s tourism economy.
They are the names of two raceways at New Jersey Motorsports Park, on Buckshutem Road adjacent to Millville Airport in Cumberland County.
Cape May County Chamber of Commerce members got the first in-county view of the race and development venue at the business body’s Oct. 18 monthly meeting at Stone Harbor Golf Club.
Making the presentation were New Jersey Motorsports Park, LLC principals Joe Savaro and Chuck Wyble.
The $150-million project will be placed on 700 acres adjacent to Millville Airport.
When completed, it is expected that the raceway will draw an estimated half million visitors annually.
Since Cumberland County does not have sufficient motel rooms for all those visitors, it is expected the overflow will come into Cape May County, according to Savaro.
It is estimated some 1,520 jobs will be created at the raceway, with an estimated 6,000 jobs “indirectly” added to attendant businesses.
It is reportedly the “largest employment-producing project” in Cumberland County in over two decades.
Savaro said there would be “a variety of anchors,” in the project.
“Instead of a mall concept, we are in the process of developing a motor sport park with two road courses.”
Those will include a venue for racing of BMW and Grand Am-type series of professional and amateur racers, Savaro said.
In the latter part of its second phase, the raceway will also include a “carting facility” for go-kart enthusiasts.
“We are getting the novice introduced to the motor sport world by taking them through different venues,” said Savaro.
By that way, it is expected, he said, that the entity would “grow the customer base.”
He also added it would offer “a lot of corporate team building,” but would also include “youth leagues and a variety of interests.”
A future all-terrain-vehicle course is also envisioned at the tract, he added.
That would add a “variety of youth-oriented extreme sports,” he said.
The theory is similar to a shopping center, he said. Instead of using stores to attract customers, the raceway is using a “different anchor, different niches under one roof to do entertainment,” he added.
The latter phase will also include a three-quarter mile oval track for “more stock car experience.”
It is expected to draw racing enthusiasts to Millville from Washington, D.C., New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, said Savaro.
The marketplace has over 36 million potential patrons. That translates to “A lot of car enthusiast folks who have interest but are underserved,” Savaro said.
Savaro acknowledged transportation from those metropolitan areas was a problem, and said the organizers have been working with county and state agencies to handle the expected traffic glut, which he placed at 500,000 to 700,000 annually.
Another feature of the project was its “country-club setting,” that will also add “20-25 profit centers under the same roof,” said Savaro.
“Diversity is our strength. We are a country club instead of a golf course, centered around a motor sports club,” Savaro said.
“Trackside Villas” are resort-style housing where fans can stay while racing.
“There isn’t anything like this in the mid-Atlantic area,” said Savaro.
By bringing in race fans from Thursday to Sunday, “they will stay two additional days. That is why we formed the partnership of tourism and motor sport,” said Savaro.
Names of the raceways, Thunderbolt and Lightning were pulled from Millville Airport’s World War II history, said Savaro.
They were the names of type of airplane pilots learned to fly there during World War II.
To carry through on the wartime era, one of the architectural features of the raceway will be a “barrel roof” similar to a hangar in World War II, Savaro said.
The tower is also in keeping with the aeronautical heritage, he said.
While the raceway uses the “mall concept,” it will have specialty shops, auctions, car shows and other attractions.
The tract has already received zoning approvals as well as local and state approvals for “up to 600 hotel rooms.”
There will be “at least four restaurants on pads we can develop,” said Savaro.
“This is the only location in New Jersey zoned as a motor sports park,” Savaro said.
That is because of the difficulty in “finding 700 contiguous acres, so we have a corner on the market, so to speak, on the motor sports industry,” he said.
During off-seasons, the raceway may also be used by specialty driving schools, including New Jersey State Police and security companies that teach evasive tactics for high-profile individuals.
Savaro said there had been much interest from car clubs, and for that reason, the idea grew to have two tracks.
Thunderball raceway will have challenging turns requiring speed and elevation changes, “as well as challenging turns.”
Lightning raceway will be two miles with fewer turns and will be “a lot faster, with banking situations that really creates much more thrill for the driver.
“It will be considered a world-class venue for these drivers,” said Savaro.
Among groups that have shown interest is the Shelby (Ford) National Convention, which will require 800 rooms, said Savaro.
“That leads into getting into Cape May County. We are beginning to see just how this kind of development will have a regional impact on the economy,” Savaro continued.
Wyble said the raceway is “reaching out to all South Jersey and the region.”
He envisioned an average guest stay of two to three nights.
“We are trying to have people come into Millville and come down to the shore,” he added.
“What we are saying, you are as important to the motor sport park as a the motor sport park is to you. It’s a win-win situation that should have tremendous economic impact,” Wyble added.
“Using the analogy of the mall, what we are really building is a platform for small business to build off of,” said Savaro.
“This is a unique opportunity for an area. We are all excited about it, and we want to share the future and hopes we have with existing businesses. We are working as conscientiously as possible to create a platform for area business to grow off of with us,” he added.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com