I'm planning on heading to NJ on Sunday for the race (could not make it for the entire weekend).  Is anyone there who can tell me a little bit about the place and what I can expect?  Have to say the tracks website leaves much to be desired--doesn't even tell you where to park or where the main gate is located!  Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 The track is a study in contrasts. Much of it is oh so impressive. The pit garages are first class and above the garages are pit suites (don't know what is inside suites). The media tower is gorgeous, five stories with observation deck above. There are infield garages also and a large building with meeting rooms and other facilities. The track itself looks interesting and challenging and seems smooth. All the facilities that are complete are world class.

That being said... there is another side of the issue. The paddock area is dirt (mud) and no one I spoke with knew if it was planned to be paved in future. It was painful to see all the transporters and equipment parked on dirt.

I have no idea where spectators are supposed to view the activities. The was but one very small grandstand overlooking the carrousel but the capacity looked to be about 200. I have no idea where others will view. There is no grass, no viewing mounds or other places to watch.

The track has great potential but as most of the competitors said today "we came a year too early."

I have to say, from a fan / spectotor point of view, I'm quite disappointed.  You're right - there's only one place to see anything on the track, and that is in the grandstands you mention.  The 'outer' section of the track has no viewing locations.  There are no areas of higher elevations for spectator viewing.  There is another grandstand at pit exit, but all you can see from there are the tops of the tents in pit lane.  I was really hoping to have lots of viewing areas, but it doesn't appear that was even a consideration for the layout & design.

The dust is unbelieveable.  If it rains, this place would be a disaster.  I can see in a few years they could turn this into a very good place, but they are more than one year away.  For now, it looks like a nice club track.  The people are nice!

Thanks for the info.  How are they fixed for restrooms, venders, and food?  From what you've said, it seems that the spectators and their comfort and enjoyment have been an afterthought.  My husband and I are having second thoughts about driving three hours only to find we cannot see what we came to watch!  I'm dissappointed as I was looking forward to checking out a new venue that is relatively close by.

I've been down to the track several times for club events on the Lightning cicuit.  For those times, spectators could park & view anywhere along the fence line, there are several high points, most notably near the hairpin, some of the best viewing and spots for photography I've been to.   Perhaps they have limited the viewing options for the pro racing, which is unfortunate.  I had planned to drive down, its about1 hour for me, but now am having second thoughts.

Just got back from the track. A few heads-up for anyone going Sunday: Take your second or third car in the family because the dust/sand/silt is UNREAL. Your car will be unrecognizable by the end of the day. I think a small shower would have been a good thing for keeping the clouds of dust down. Yes, the only place to see more than two turns is in the tiny grandstand just to the right after you enter the paddock. The grandstand on the front stretch should be on the outside of the track (your view is almost entirely blocked by pit canopies).
Now for the good:
Today(Saturday) we paid our $50 and were allowed to roam EVERYWHERE. Yes, watching these drivers and cars on the track is amazing, but being able to stand with the likes of Wayne Taylor, Max the Axe, Christian Fittipaldi (no Pruett sightings) and watch their engineers prepare these machines is something you can't do in alot of series. Try asking an F1 or INDY engineer about the set-up they're working on (while you're watching over his shoulder).
As for food, there were many little stands set up all around the infield.
All in all they probably needed a little more time for grass to be put in and  the parking lots (both spectator and tranporters) paved. As for grandstands I don't know enough about how much land the group owns/ some of the best views are on the outside of the track, and all of the grandstands are in the infield.

As far as an over all viewing area like the hill at Lime Rock - there is none. The aforementioned grandstand is the best for an extended view. They have placed two large signs in the infield right in front of this grandstand that partially blocks your view unless you stay all the way to one side. Vendor numbers are good with the usual apalling track prices ($7 hamburgers -$9 sausage subs - $4 Cokes-  $3 waters). Coolers are allowed. The fences are NOT Daytona high, so I don't have to bring a stepstool to shoot photos. Where to park is a mystery - yesterday I parked in the infield with no problem. Today the rude. (rhymes with witch) parking nazi told me in no uncertain terms that there was no way I parked in the infield yesterday because she was on station and she would not have let me in. I turned around, went to the main office, told my tale of woe, showed my season ticket and was presented with a VIP parking pass good for the rest of the year by the very pleasant woman. I pretty much parked where I wanted to after that. Others were made to park well outside the track and had the option of taking a "trolley". It drops you off just at the entrance to the track at the infield bridge. From there, you have a LOT of walking if you like to hit different vantage point. Bikes are allowed and I made good use of my mountain bike. Golf carts are also available to rent. I have no idea the price. When you do pick a spot where you want to watch the race, pay very close attention to the wind direction. The dust is beyond belief!! It will coat your camera in an instant! They have the vendor row placed right up againt the road that everyone has to travel to get in. If you're shopping, you are standing in the road with lots of traffic - BE CAREFUL. I saw some very close calls.
Next year will be 100% better we have a real gem of a track here.


See you at the race

Well, I'm convinced and disappointed. It's ashame as I was definitely going to drive up tomorrow to watch the race but I think the feeling that it's a year too early for this race probably has merit. I've got a brand new Corvette and there's no way I'm subjecting it to the dust described. The viewing areas problem also seems to be a non-starter.  Honestly, I wouldn't mind the three hour drive to see a GA race - closer than any other option for me. I've driven five hours to VIR to watch GA but this just doesn't seem to be a good idea at this point. Maybe next year. I hope you're listenting Grand-Am. Obviously the track's state of readiness is not your purview and I know GA isn't responsible but again, this is ashame. 
 
Oh well, off to Summit Point instead for the MARRS sports car weekend. I'll take my sportscar fix where I can get it. And hey, no dust!

I've also decided to go the TV route this weekend.  Definitely disappointed, but I'll be there next year when the grass grows and they are a tad more organized and ready for spectators.  Sad--seems like forever until I go to Watkins Glen next June for the 6 Hours--just hope they come out with the 2009 schedule soon!  Have fun everyone in NJ--looks like a nice circuit in the making!

They need to fix the jump as well.  Barbosa showed the potential danger there...  Also, there was mention of the track getting torn up in one spot (white dust from concrete?), but fortunately it did not materialize.  This should be a great track once they make all the needed improvements – glad nobody was hurt too bad during its inaugural professional weekend / finding the new track’s hazards… could have been a LOT worse!