Sports Show Motorsports

[kae1]

I was fortunate to be invited to shoot ARCA racing at Flat Rock Speedway from the infield. Some of the head-on and right-side views are from the pit wall during qualifying.

First time trying this, it was quite an experience. My panning skills learning curve looked like a ski slope! I tried a lot of different shutter speeds and was surprised how low they had to be go to get decent motion blur. Respect to you guys who do this often and are so good at it.

There are about 60 images in the folder, this is one class, 'Outlaw Super Late Models'. I still have to wade through the Stock and Figure 8 shots.

For a first time panning you've got some great photos posted here and on your Flickr link too. Hopefully you enjoyed your experience and will be invited back.

Incidentally I also noticed on your Flickr account some of your shots of drag racing at night - they are incredible!

 

[Brownie]

For a first time panning you've got some great photos posted here and on your Flickr link too. Hopefully you enjoyed your experience and will be invited back.

Incidentally I also noticed on your Flickr account some of your shots of drag racing at night - they are incredible!

Not my first time panning, I just don’t do it enough to be good at it!

Thanks for the nod on the night shots. As allergic as I am to primes, I finally sucked it up and bought some for night out there. Even at 1.4 some of this are at ISO 10000 and even higher. Most of those were made with a Minolta Maxxum 85/1.4 on an LA-EA5 adapter. It does a very nice job!

 

[Brownie]

Another few. These are 'Street Stock' Class, which they aren't even close to, but that's what they call them.

These first two are with the Minolta Maxxum 80-200/2.8 HS APO G on an LA-EA5 and Sony A7 IV.

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC02710 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC02700 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC01943 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC01817 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC05596 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC05585 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC05454 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

 

[kae1]

Went to Donington to do a reccy for this week's BSB round and Cadwell to watch the Vintage Motorcycle Club's meeting. I loved the old bikes but the highlight of the weekend's racing for me were seeing some unexpected vehicles racing - rounds of the British Scooter Championship (which I've never seen race before) and the sidecar racing included 3 wheelers Morgans and a Berkeley T60

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

.

 

[doobs]

Went to Donington to do a reccy for this week's BSB round and Cadwell to watch the Vintage Motorcycle Club's meeting. I loved the old bikes but the highlight of the weekend's racing for me were seeing some unexpected vehicles racing - rounds of the British Scooter Championship (which I've never seen race before) and the sidecar racing included 3 wheelers Morgans and a Berkeley T60View attachment 388636View attachment 388637View attachment 388638View attachment 388645View attachment 388646View attachment 388644View attachment 388639View attachment 388640View attachment 388641View attachment 388643View attachment 388647View attachment 388648View attachment 388642.

These are awesome. I love alternative vehicle racing.

 

[Brownie]

From the same event, the final class. These are Figure 8 cars. Not at all what I expected, my understanding of Figure 8 was controlled chaos with old junk cars slamming into each other at the intersection. Basically, a demolition derby within the confines of a track. I couldn't have been more wrong. These are custom-built vehicles, very low to the ground and fast. They look like a big go-kart. The intersection is a point of strategy: Some guys blast though, risking a collision but gaining time. Others will come to a stop, losing time but ensuring they stay in the race. It was a lot of fun.

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC01686 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

A little sideways!

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC01703 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC05479 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

A close one!

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC03037 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC02873 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC02438 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC02460 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Winner!

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC05731 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

 

[kae1]

Enjoyed a sunny day (see what buying a weather sealed lens does to the weather ) at Donington Park to watch the British Super Bikes plus support. The full GP circuit was in use and I got a chance to walk around most of the track.

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Plus in the BSB race Peter Hickman and Jason O'Hallaran had a close encounter resulting in O'Hallaran going off the track at a 150mph!

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[Brownie]

Went to a test and tune last night. Not a race, just a chance for the drivers to go down the track over and over to get the car tuned and ready for race day.

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC00744 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC00781 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC00900 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC00943 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC03581 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC00736 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC00679 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

 

[Irene McC]

Uitenhage Wings & Wheels, 2019

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[kae1]

Another sunny day at Donington Park this time to see qualifying for the British GT championship. Making the most of seeing them on the GP loop.

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[scottR]

Went to Donington to do a reccy for this week's BSB round and Cadwell to watch the Vintage Motorcycle Club's meeting. I loved the old bikes but the highlight of the weekend's racing for me were seeing some unexpected vehicles racing - rounds of the British Scooter Championship (which I've never seen race before) and the sidecar racing included 3 wheelers Morgans and a Berkeley T60View attachment 388636View attachment 388637View attachment 388638View attachment 388645View attachment 388646View attachment 388644View attachment 388639View attachment 388640View attachment 388641View attachment 388643View attachment 388647View attachment 388648View attachment 388642.

Kae..them hairdryers look fast! .Great images as always

 

[Rick-Australia]

Went to a test and tune last night. Not a race, just a chance for the drivers to go down the track over and over to get the car tuned and ready for race day.


View attachment 389991DSC00736 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

Great image. Startling to see the tyre deforming on take off.

 

[kae1]

Another trip to Harewood Hillclimb proved to be even more more nostalgic than usual. Apart from the cars from the 60's/70's I was using a full frame camera for the first time since the 1970's. My £400 "test" outfit consisted of Sony A7 and an adapted Pentax K fit Tamron 70-300. Whilst focusing was still manual the ability to change ISO settings plus burst mode allowed me to take some improved images compared to the 1973 kit of my brother's Zenith E and a roll of Agfa CT18.

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

plus comparison from 1973

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[Harry Cutts]

Not too shabby at all Ken, some excellent results

 

[Knikki]

@kae1 Some nice images and cars in that collection.

How you find the Sony compaired with the Olympus gear?
To me the colours look a little subdude, compaired to OM, but as you know I mess in the menu for WB and colour on mine

 

[kae1]

How you find the Sony compaired with the Olympus gear?
To me the colours look a little subdude, compaired to OM, but as you know I mess in the menu for WB and colour on mine

Thanks for kind words, Nick.

I bought the camera to see if it could be a cheap "upmarket" compact but then went " off piste" and thought I'd try it for motorsports with an adapted lens. As this was a back to basics test I thoroughly enjoyed using the camera and now have a check list of things to re-learn - manual focus and exposure fiddling being two! I found the balance of the A7 and adapted lens manageable although I would personally struggle with any heavier lens. There is a newer Tamron 70-300 which weighs the same as the old lens plus adapter but would allow auto exposure and possibly AF (I think the limitations of the A7 mki would then become apparent - poor CAF and slow burst rate) if I decide to continue using the A7 for motorsports. My Olympus outfits are much more sophisticated than the A7 - I am sure later Sony versions from A7iii on are better though.

The A7 settings I was using were all standard and as I like punchier colours I will need to fiddle with the settings to see what I can get in-camera. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the output and really enjoyed fiddling!

All being well I'm at Oulton this Saturday for the TCR meeting and it would be good to catch up if you are there .

 

[Knikki]

@kae1 I am planning to be at Outlon on Saturday.

Yeah I guess the Sony C-AF won't be on par with the OMD 1x BUT neither is the OMD 5 MkII that I sometimes use but you can get good images, its like you say 'just have to relearn stuff'
Funny you using a Sony, I was using the Canons last week and really felt the weight and started looking at possible replacement and Sony was one I looked at.
Then I started messing with the Canon files and decided I would put up with the weight as I really like images out of the two machines.

 

[Brownie]

(I think the limitations of the A7 mki would then become apparent - poor CAF and slow burst rate) if I decide to continue using the A7 for motorsports. My Olympus outfits are much more sophisticated than the A7 - I am sure later Sony versions from A7iii on are better though.

Spot on. The older cameras lacked considerably for this type of shooting. Even my A7R III has a little more difficult time, but the A7 IV locks on and tracks like a rabid dog. A9 series, A1, A7R IV and the new A7R V are all incredibly capable.

As for burst rates, I've learned that nothing much happens in motorsports at 20 FPS that can't be caught at the A7 IV's 6 FPS. The A7R III can shoot at 8 FPS RAW and even that results in a lot more images than I need or care to cull.

 

[Brownie]

Great image. Startling to see the tyre deforming on take off.

Here's some very weird deformation. I've never seen this before, it may have been underpressurized.

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

DSC05195 by Shotglass Photo, on Flickr

 

[Brownie]

Lenses cleaned? Check!
Settings in order? Check!
Batteries charged? Check!
Cards empty? Check!
Bag(s) packed? Check!

The biggest event of the year at the Milan Dragway, the "Detroit Dragway Reunion" is this weekend. The Detroit Dragway closed in 1998 due to community pressure. This event brings back many of the original racers, who in their day were 20-year-old kids. Unbelievably, many have kept their cars. Other cars have been sold and purchased by guys who still race them in their original form.

I usually go out for the main event on Saturday, but this year I'm going both Friday and Saturday. Gates open at noon Friday, I plan to get there around 2:00. Friday is mostly test-tune for the big event Saturday, but they do have a Gambler's Race. Friday ends at 10:00 pm. Then I have to go home and upload images so all my cards are empty for the long day Saturday, which starts for me around 9:00 a.m. I'll try to stay until it's over, which could be 11:00 or so if there's no rain-out. The weather forecast keeps going back and forth between partly cloudy and showers late, so we'll see.

This is all about nostalgia racing. There's also a car show with a special display of original funny cars and dragsters that raced at Detroit back in the day.