Fauerbach named manager of NJMP
By JAIME MARINE, Staff Writer
Bridgeton News
January 23, 2008
MILLVILLE -- Owners of New Jersey Motorsports Park announced Tuesday that Ken Grammer and Donald Fauerbach will be given management positions with the raceway, scheduled to hold its inaugural race in August.
Grammer has been named the park's managing director, and Fauerbach will be its general manager.
Race officials said both strengthen the park's management team with a wealth of competitive racing, team ownership and operational experience.
"Both bring with them invaluable experience in both management and motorsports," said Lee Brahin, managing partner of NJMP.
Fauerbach, a Maurice River Township resident, founded the New Jersey Motorsports Park Green Flag Committee, and has been instrumental in the progress of the motorsports park.
"It is truly an honor that successful businessmen have chosen to put Ken and I in the cockpit of this 747," he said. "We are building a team, and as a team, we are overly excited about this."
Joe Savaro, an official with the motorsports park located at Buckshutem and Dividing Creek roads, said Tuesday that the owners view this project as something special and innovative, and he said their goal was to find people that were just as motivated by it.
"We wanted him to be a part of the opening and the experience that comes with seeing the thrill of the dream completed," he said of Fauerbach, who will oversee sales, marketing, public affairs, participant/customer relations, compliance, commercial affairs and future developments.
Savaro said they knew Fauerbach would be involved with the motorsports park in some way throughout the whole project.
As for Grammer, Savaro said he comes with a lot of personal experience in the motorsports world.
His new duties include the overall operations of NJMP, including staffing, accounting, security and day-to-day operations.
Fauerbach added that Grammer brings great attributes to the team.
"Ken brings to us an element that we needed," he said.
Since the owners are focusing on the project as a whole, Savaro said it was important for them to have leaders that will treat this project as seriously as they do, and who are committed to doing a good job. Both positions become effective on April 1.
Savaro said the ownership will be working with both men to create a strategic plan outlining what is needed for the park, and how they get from now to the opening this summer.
Savaro said work at the site is moving along.
"We are still on course, and we are comfortable with our opening dates," he said.
Grammer is the former director of operations for SCCA Pro Racing and its World Challenge, North American Championship and Miata Cup series.
He is also the former president of Synergy Racing, winners of the 2005 Grand-Am GT Drivers Championship, as well as president and founder of the United States Endurance Racing Association (USERA).
Behind the wheel, he has driven in SCCA Regional and National events, as well as a number of Motorola Cup (currently Grand-Am Cup) pro events.
As for Fauerbach, he owned and operated MAURTCO Motorsports, Inc., with teams competing in ARCA and NASCAR stock car and truck racing series, and raced motorcycles professionally.
In addition to the opening event, the motorsports park has four more races and a number of driving schools and other events scheduled this year.
New Jersey Motorsports Park, featuring Thunderbolt Raceway, is located on 700 acres of land adjacent to the airport. Those going to the facility will enjoy road, oval and off-road racing venues, along with VIP suites, shade tree garages, event garages and trackside villas.
The $150 million park broke ground in September 2007.
Owners of the racetrack are expected to make more announcements soon about other partnerships with community organizations and companies.