GSP Raceway

I do something every day nearly 7 days a week 365 days a year that I thought I would never do.  I drive on the Garden State Parkway (GSP). The parkway always had an image for me, that the only reason to drive it was you we're headed to the shore. This image has changed, because I drive it to get home in Cranford. As I swerve in and out of the ubiquitous rush hour traffic I imagine something. All the traffic disappears and it's just me on the road. I fly ahead and jet rocket to my exit at either 137 or 136 and I'm home in 20 mins rather than the usual 45 minutes. One can only dream of this. But with these dreams in my head of just me alone on the GSP a thought came to me. Here it is. Why not close the roads of GSP for one day and make it a grand prix race? I know, I know it will never happen, but is the idea that crazy? Here me out.

 There are examples all over the world of grand prix races. The Monaco grand prix is a formula one motor race and has been held since 1929. According to its Wikipedia page “it is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world”. “The race is held on a narrow course laid out in the streets of Monaco, with many elevation changes and tight corners as well as a tunnel, making it one of the most demanding tracks in Formula One”. Yes there are race cars going through the streets. If you’re thinking to yourself, well that’s a European model and won’t happen in the states, this has been proposed for NYC several times. The last approval of the race was to be laid out on the streets of Red Hook Brooklyn. BK Grand Prix. And then there was this ill-conceived attempt through the hills and sharp turns of West New York. I know these roads, being a resident of Union City for 4 years. Hudson County Grand Prix

So let’s get back to my idea and some back story of the GSP. According to Wikipedia the parkway is a 172.4 mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale to Cape May the State’s southernmost tip. In fact the GSP actually begins in NY right off the 287. It’s a little known fact and could be one of those trick questions in trivial pursuit. The GSP is also the longest highway in the State and construction started in 1946 and took 11 years. And what a find I found on YouTube promoting the construction of the GSP. This promotional video was made in 1952 by the NJ Highway Authority to rally voters for the referendum in making the GSP a reality. GSP Promotional Video

One of the interesting things about the GSP and all parkways was the intention was not for a highway, but rather a road for a Sunday drive and where one can stop on the side of the road for picnics. Hence the name parkway But as the ubiquitous car became normalcy, you know what happened. The road became a speedway with a speed limit of 65 but in reality 75-80 and the GSP became a major road in NJ.

 Why make the GSP a one day raceway?  Well first of all when you think of NJ, what are some of things that come to mind? No it’s not the Jersey shore gang on MTV or the barren industrial wasteland of the turnpike.  For me one of the images is GSP. It’s an identity of NJ. It's iconic; if you can think of a road being iconic but it is. And frankly in my opinion it’s a beautiful ride.  The GSP is the connection from the mountain range of Ramapo up north (yes there are mountains up north) to the beaches of the Jersey shore. You go from skiing to surfing. 

The race of the GSP would start up north and end with exit 0 down south. The characteristics of the GSP go hand in hand with the region of NJ which it serves. There are the mountains (maybe large hills of Ramapo), from there the capitalistic side of the GSP with the shopping commerce of Bergen County.  As you fly by Route 19 the gateway into Paterson and the Great Falls, you begin to enter Essex County. With some tight corners and turns you literally cut through the center of East Orange and Irvington and bisect the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, of East Orange. 

As you drive into Union County, the golf courses of Galloping Hills beckons you. Next is my exit 137 where one can give a quick wave to Cranford. As you pass by the commercial suburban office Metro Park and the Amtrak station to the massive Edison bridge crossing over the Raritan River that takes you to the lands of the Jersey Shore and Monmouth County. The Edison Bridge is named for our lighting forefather Thomas Edison and opened in 1940 and reopened again in 2003 to the 12 land vermouth we know of it as now.

The Jersey Shore is approximately 141 miles of 40 communities with each town having a different character, identity, atmosphere and pride. To the rebirth of Asbury Park, to the mansions of Deal to the old missile testing area of Sandy Hook the Jersey shore is very much an identity of NJ. 

As you continue down the GSP running parallel to the jersey shore you bisect the Pine Barrens region of NJ. The Pine Barrens is a heavily forested coastal plain and is known for its unique and diverse spectrum of plant life. The Pine Barrens is also home to NJ folklore of the Jersey Devil. The grand stretch run to the finish line is a fitting place. From exit 172 to exit 0 brings you to one of the jewels of the Jersey Shore. Cape May. There the engines come to a roaring stop, the celebration and party begins. The winners will drink out of their Garden State Racing trophy in the background of Cape May.

So how can this be done with having the minimalist impact by closing the GSP. First the race will only take 2-3 hours max and only the southern parkway road will be closed. The race will begin from the northern point to Cape May. Driving 75mp this will take over 3 hours. Driving 150mph this will take over an hour and half. Race will not be during the summer hours when one is trying to drive to the shore, but either in early spring or fall on an early Sunday morning.

What will the positive impact be? Well first I think it could tie into taking pride in your garden state day. Something to be proud of and all NJ can connect to. It’s exciting. A race down the GSP. Imagine being on the overpasses and hearing the engines roar by you. Visitors will flock from all over the world to witness this type of race and offset the costs involved in organizing, coordinating, safety and other means to make this race run smoothly.

 I know it’s a pipe dream and the chances of this happening are almost slim to none. But one can only dream of the GSP Raceway.