Mmmmm, we call it "the octopus".
Image Courtesy Courtesy New Jersey Motorsports Park
Did New Jersey Motorsports Park simply have some extra asphalt laying around after a multimillion-dollar repave and renovation of its facility this year? Not necessarily. Much more thought than that went into adding The Devil’s Pass to its Thunderbolt Circuit.
Thunderbolt Classic Circuit, without The Devil's Pass.
The Thunderbolt Classic Circuit features The Devil, which consists of two highly technical turns, 9 and 10. Essentially, The Devil’s Pass does what it sounds like: It bypasses The Devil, creating a path from Turn 9 straight to Turn 11A. The course makes a 90-degree left where Turn 11A is to rejoin the existing circuit.
“This offers the challenging flow of setting up through the sweeping right and subsequent straightaway for a new braking zone and passing opportunity–and a critical turn to execute perfectly for maximum speed down the front straight,” said Brad Scott, President and Chief Operating Officer of NJMP, in a press release.
Alex Sedgwick, who finished runner-up in the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship said: “This will be an interesting new addition, opening up a new passing opportunity for race events and increasing the average speed of the lap, demanding something different from car and driver when compared to what is usually a relatively slow speed, low commitment area of the track.”
NJMP wanted to stress that this was much more than just adding pavement. It involved many factors, with the final design effort led by Bryce Engelhart, of Technical Track Design (TTD).
“There are a number of important details involved in getting this right,” Scott said. “There are 358 linear feet of new racing surface, with a slight negative camber in the new turn, and 100 linear feet of what is known as Melbourne curbing. The runoff area is comprised of a grass strip, followed by paved runoff, and finally an FIA grade 12” gravel pit. The guard rails behind the tire bundles will be raised to 4-levels instead of the typical 3-level for additional safety, and movable tire bundles enable the change between circuit configurations. The project also includes the required underground basins to capture water runoff.”
With all the improvements NJMP has made in the past year, they hope to do more than please racers. “Our goal is to attract additional top-level professional series to NJMP,” said NJMP Managing Director and experienced racer RJ Valentine.
Mmmmm, we call it "the octopus".
TR7 said:Mmmmm, we call it "the octopus".
Maybe "Octopus Pass" doesn't sound as intimidating??? If they named it the Kraken's Pass, now we're talking.
Octopus is the correct name for the corner by the locals... should be fun as I'm usually on the limiter in 3 or in 4th having to down shift normally so the extra bit of track will make that a firmer decision depending on how funky the left hander gets...
I'm curious what happened to the "clip" arrangement they were supposed to do this along with a 180 at T7 into the octopus, all of this was supposed to get done with the repave...
I wonder if they'll ever join the two circuits like originally planned. I raced the 12hr there in 2011. Fun and challenging track!
So they're actually laying asphalt now or soon? It didn't get done last winter because they hadn't worked out a drainage plan (I think).
Bikes probably won't use it, at least for the track days I attend.
mfennell said:So they're actually laying asphalt now or soon? It didn't get done last winter because they hadn't worked out a drainage plan (I think).
Bikes probably won't use it, at least for the track days I attend.
The Devil's Pass should be available for the 2025 season, per NJMP.
I always liked the 11a->11b section when coming off of the octopus. It was super fun on bikes because, as far as I remember, it was basically just a straightaway.
confuZion3 said:I always liked the 11a->11b section when coming off of the octopus. It was super fun on bikes because, as far as I remember, it was basically just a straightaway.
Depends on the bike! On a slower bike, the front straight effectively starts at the exit of 10. They pay for any mistake on the exit of 10 for a very long time.
Funny thing, I have 20+ days at Thunderbolt and I've never heard anyone call that section the Devil or Octopus. It's just 9 and 10.
In reply to mfennell :
been going there since it opened 08-ish term was coined early on back then in BMWCCA and NASA groups, maybe is just sticks there?
The Devil is what the track likes to call it...
thewaitingthrophyman said:In reply to mfennell :
been going there since it opened 08-ish term was coined early on back then in BMWCCA and NASA groups, maybe is just sticks there?
The Devil is what the track likes to call it...
What if we combined them? The Devil's Octopus? I kinda like the ring of that.
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