Historic Motorport Show - Stoneleigh

[rhubarb]

Armed with my new lens (Sigma 70-200 f2.8) I went to Stoneleigh on Saturday to the historic motorsport show. It was quite good, especially the slowly sideways historic rally demonstration - which is really what I went to see. I missed the RS200 last year at Goowood FoS so popped along to see it in action. It was bitterly cold - should have taken some gloves. But here's the first real fruits of my new lens.

Oh and my first impressions of the lens are - it's big and heavy, didn't think I'd be able to hold it still, but I don't think there's any camera shake (correct me if I'm wrong - there might have been some from my chattering teeth). It also focuses very quickly and quietly, although there was a coupe of occasions I missed shots as it hadn't caught up, although to be fair I was pretty close, and hadn't got predictive focusing on (never used it - just read about it the other day - is it any good?). Unfortunately as they were only a demo runs, from where I was it was difficult to instill much action into the shots. Anyway here they are:

1: The reason I went (my favorite car) Ford RS200



2: Peugeot 206 GTI - with a famous driver (?)



3: Lancia Type 037



4: Renault 5 Turbo



5: Metro 6R4



There's some more at photobox here

[V6GTO]

Nice images rhubarb...makes you think what a great decade for motorsport the 80's were.

Martin.

[simpo two]

Spot on focus Rhubarb and everything else. The only thing I'd say is that you've frozen the action so some cars almost look parked; that's where creative use of shutter speed comes in

[rhubarb]

Simpo Two, yeah you're absolutely right, ditched a load that were even more static, but even these I've posted look a little parked. This was my first go at shots directly or nearly in front of the cars. Last year I learnt the art of panning quite well, with sharp subject and blurred background, but not really sure what to do head on. The only thing I could think of at the time was to freeze them with as quicker shutter as I could get, and hopefully get debris and such thrown up, or some air between the ground and the tyres. Unfortunately I wasn't in the best position and as you can see, it was off a roughish track (but still hard) and onto tarmac. What other shots can you do head on?

[Twelve_75]

Some really nice ones there Mr.Barb. Credit to you sir.

I particularly like the one of the 037 from behind. Devilish

[LongQ]

rhubarb said:

What other shots can you do head on?

Not many really. And if the closing speed is a little rapid you are likely (I assume) to challenge the autofocus on most lenses.

If you pre-focus (or, like me, ar still in the stone age with manual focus) you have to grapple with DoF. With my 600mm event at something like f8 or f11 and filling the frame at around 150 to maybe 200 ft using 35mm film the DoF is about a car length or a little less. Slow speeds are not really an option, IMO.

So what you need is a lot of muck being through around and, if possible, bright colours and bright sunshine.



Fortunately there was so much sunshine for this one that I was probably using 1/2000th at the time. Certainly 1/1000th minimum.

Loading some 800 ISO film a short time before when a few clouds drifted over and it looked, briefly, like it might rain (so I predicted a duller and wetter afternoon.) made it all possible.

Remarkably grain free for an 800 film thought the colour drifts to the blue and of reds. Sadly it's Konica so won't be available much longer.

Here's the other view ...



I liked your shots BTW. Appreciating the limitations of the subject and the event I thought you got quite a good sense of speed and movement under the circumstances. But thenas much as I like a nice pan shot I also really like frozen action - so I am biased.

>> Edited by LongQ on Tuesday 28th February 01:45

[matrs]

Great pictures Giles, I had planned to go, but a personal issue got in the way

[V6GTO]

Is it me, or does the Escort look like it's been squeezed in the 1st shot?

Martin.

[sorrento205]

206 GTI I'll have you know its a 205 T16. Certainly in Evo2 body trim (front & rear spoilers), couldnt say what spec the engine is from that though.

For that shameful mistake, i think you should send me all of your 205 t16 photos in 1280 x 960 so i can have a different wallpaper for every day of the week

Awesome pictures, i'll have to put this event in my diary for next year.

[Trackside]

'Twas a good show. I went on the Sunday when it was still bloody cold! Got these pics of the Slowly Sideways cars.


Russell Brookes, who was reunited with his Andrews-sponsored Manta 400

1979 World Champion Bjorn Waaldegard drove this 911 in Safari spec

[rustybin]

Rhubarb, really like the three shot montages on your photobox gallery. The vertical 6R4 set in particular. They really convey the drama of the beastie.