Club race pic's
Discussion
Cledus Snow said:
Pic's from Snetterton at teh weekend
Awesome pic's mate. I was there on Saturday for a while, the V8 rumble was brilliant!!Chevron, do you use autofocus? I've always thought your pic's are really, really good. My camera's a bit old and knackered and a lot of my photo's that are scrap are because I have to use manual focus, so when panning I have to hit it exactly right, speed/position wise!
I'm wondering whether it's worth me saving some pennies and trying to get a slightly better camera!!
chevronb37 said:
I do tend to use autofocus almost all of the time, just to help react to what's going on on the track. I'm afraid I'm not a very knowledgable photographer - I use a Canon 450D with a fairly cheap 55-250mm telephoto lens. I've never done any post-processing on a photo other than cropping in MS Paint and resizing to make web hosting easier so technically hopeless for the most part!
In my amateur experience the single element which makes the most difference is where you stand. Whenever I have media access my shots are better than I expect. Of course the really good guys will take awesome photos from anywhere. I don't possess that kind of talent sadly but will keep working at it.
I think the autofocus will be built into the lens so may be worth thinking about new lenses rather than a new body. Again, I'm so technically inept that there will be a hundreds of guys who read this thread that are better-qualified than me to comment!
Haha, thanks mate. It sounds like you're very similar in your photography as I am (no offence!). My camera body is what was, the cheapest digi' SLR you could buy at the time. A Pentax of some description, which I bought about five years ago. My lens is a Sigma 300mm zoom, and I know that it doesn't have much of an autofocus, so you may be right although I suspect it's a combination of the two!In my amateur experience the single element which makes the most difference is where you stand. Whenever I have media access my shots are better than I expect. Of course the really good guys will take awesome photos from anywhere. I don't possess that kind of talent sadly but will keep working at it.
I think the autofocus will be built into the lens so may be worth thinking about new lenses rather than a new body. Again, I'm so technically inept that there will be a hundreds of guys who read this thread that are better-qualified than me to comment!
To be honest I quite enjoy doing everything manually, I often get some quite odd but entertaining photo's, evocative of the era when wheels seemed to warp! I'd quite like to find a 'safe' setting though, as my snapping is very haphazard at best, and it would be nice to be able to make sure I can get a decent, clear shot of friends when they're racing!
This is the type of pic I like to take, but I end up with about 70 crap ones to find one flukey half decent one. And I've only just started trying to work out 'post processing', and this is auto-fixed as it was massively over-exposed!
chevronb37 said:
That looks like Cadwell, heading up onto the Mountain...? I know exactly the kind of shot you mean and I aspire to the same. Just need to work out how to do it! In keeping with your VSCC theme, I snapped the below at Oulton Park a couple of years, similar vibe.
I've never used a Sigma lens but my understanding is that a large part of the price and weight in the best lenses is the AF systems and how fast they can react to movement in the photo subject. If I can ever get to the stage where I am paid for words/photos then I'll put some money back into my kit but for the moment I do it purely for enjoyment so can't really justify it. Keep us updated on your decision and look forward to seeing some photos from events this season!
That's a great picture! Especially as you can see the old girl firing in the smopke out of the exhaust!I've never used a Sigma lens but my understanding is that a large part of the price and weight in the best lenses is the AF systems and how fast they can react to movement in the photo subject. If I can ever get to the stage where I am paid for words/photos then I'll put some money back into my kit but for the moment I do it purely for enjoyment so can't really justify it. Keep us updated on your decision and look forward to seeing some photos from events this season!
The best meeting I've been to for years and years was the VSCC meet at Cadwell last year (as you rightly observed!). Such a variety of machinery. They're having a VSCC meeting at Snetterton this year too, so I'll make sure I get along to both.
I'll keep you posted, but I doubt I'll be able to justify anything for a while yet
XKjimmy said:
If anyone else has more pic's of any, I'd love to see them
Chunkychucky said:
Awesome shots there thankyou. I love going to HSCC meets and your pics for me sum up why I love historic touring cars: the variety, the close racing, the sliding and in person the noise aswell. Thanks 
Cheers mate. I really, really enjoyed the day and it reminded me why I'd rather buy a season ticket to watch a years worth of club racing than a single day pass to watch five races at the British GP! We also said that it was one of those rare days when you wish the dinner break was longer, as there was so much to look at in the paddock. Normally I end up kicking my heels waiting for the racing to begin again!And yep, there was lots of sideways action! The first lap of the second touring car race, the yellow Cortina held an absolutely perfect 30 degree drift all the way around Corrum - whilst in the lead! Really was a special sight
Rufus said:
FAO Srob, not sure if you know (or care!) but the yellow Lotus 11 that you pictured going over the bridge at Snetterton is actually owned and being driven by Clive Chapman, son of Colin.
Hi mate. Yep, we saw him there, he didn't stay for long though. Bit of a busman's holiday for him though, I guess 
I still think the 11 is one of the nicest sports racing cars from that era. We saw a fella unloading one out of a trailer in a service station en route to Le Mans a few years ago, so he could drive it the last bit. Looked so small in todays traffic, but hats off to him, it looked amazing
Chevron, very good pic's as usual! I was due to go to Goodwood on Friday but events unfolded against me, so I couldn't make it. Shame, with all the Lotus bits going on. Love the pic of the sculpture and the Lotus traffic jam!!
chevronb37 said:
I believe this is the very same 11 at CTL. Amazing place!
I've never actually been around the place! We saw them unloading all the cars when they got back from Goodwood, and it was fun watching them do some shakedowns around the track before. It's a definate perk of the job to be able to nip outside at lunchtime, sit on the grass and watch them thrashing past
chevronb37 said:
Chaps,
Any interest in some photos and a write-up of the old Grand Prix circuit at Montjuic, near Barcelona? Not exactly club racing I'll admit...
Chev.
Yeah, bung them up mate!Any interest in some photos and a write-up of the old Grand Prix circuit at Montjuic, near Barcelona? Not exactly club racing I'll admit...
Chev.
To be honest, if I'd thought I should have called the thread "amateur motorsport pic's" or something. The intention was just a thread for us that stand on the banks taking pic's to put them
I'm quite happy to ask for a title change, if anyone thinks it's worth doing?
chevronb37 said:
I'm delighted either way. I think it's a great thread and love looking at everyone's photos from all over. Though I'm anxious it doesn't become the "Chevronb37 chats s
t at disinterested members" thread 
t at disinterested members" thread Not at all! To be honest I've barely had my money's worth out of my season ticket this year, had so many other commitments at weekends! Come later in the year I'll be back with a vengence!
Keep posting mate, I always look through your pic's as I@m sure loads of other people (who don't comment!) do too
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