A new, exciting way to die?

Ok, the plan was to race until I was too old to enjoy life and then hopefully I'd go out in a big way just after winning a big race. But since I've been out of the car it was begining to look like I'll just get old and die the way normal, boring people do (eating my pudding in a nurseing home) :-(

But thanks to a good friend who does the fire squad at several tracks I have a new potentialy leathel possibility!

I used to do sports photography for a local paper but haven't been doing nuch shooting for the last 10-15 years. So when I got my new Canon 40D SLR I decided the only proper way to break it in was at a track. I shot some indy shots a couple of weeks ago, tonight I shot at Lakeville Speedway (Ohio). The nice thing about small dirt tracks is they don't care if you stand a few feet off of the inside of the corner with no barrier between you and the cars.

I have a bunch of pictures to sort through but here are a couple that I just pulled quickly...they haven't been cropped or retouched yet so they're not perfect but I think they are a good sign that when I sort throug suff there should be some cool pics.





Below is a good freind of mine in his mini stock...

Cool images.

How do you like the new camera. EOS 40D, you must be doing good for yourself while out of the driver seat. I haven't even seen one of those up close yet, but I usually see them after they are broken.

The shots on the turns of the Power slides are the bread an butter of the dirt track photographers repertoire. But a shot of a from turn one looking down the front straight of the finish line catching a close finish or of cars passing can really be cool. Personally I'd like to be about 15' above the track but in most venues that probably isn't feasible.

Tips for the Camera.
1. Turn off camera before changing lenses, the CCD/CMOS unit attracts dust due to a electro-static charge when on.
2. Find a reputable repair shop. You will get spots on your images from dust no matter how well you treat the camera. You'll want the CCD cleaned professionally every once in a while. It should cost between $45 and $65 (My shop charges $65 and I can't get a discount on that) and can be done at most day or two. It really takes between an hour or two but depends on how busy the shop is when you take it to them.

Nice bro thos are sik!!!!!!!!!

Thanks guys. Bilbo, I was going to shoot up the track towars th flagman but with my back problem I can't move as fast as I used to and the track marshal didn't think it was a good Idea for me to be on the edge of the track with my back to the cars when I could jump out of the way easily. crap insurance regualtions. There is one place I'd like to get if they let me... hey have a road grader parked above turn three so if I was allowed up to the cab I'd be about ten feet above the top of the bank on the outside of the turn with no obstructions. It could be very cool. The other idea I had was to go to the bottom of the banking on the outside and shoot the cars that were running the top...no one else thought that was a good idea though...something about 2600 lbs of steel and a hundred miles an hour crushing me to death??

sidewinder wrote:

Thanks guys. Bilbo, I was going to shoot up the track towars th flagman but with my back problem I can't move as fast as I used to and the track marshal didn't think it was a good Idea for me to be on the edge of the track with my back to the cars when I could jump out of the way easily. crap insurance regualtions.

Probably not a good idea, we need you around here. Us old guys need to keep the youngsters in line.

sidewinder wrote:

There is one place I'd like to get if they let me... hey have a road grader parked above turn three so if I was allowed up to the cab I'd be about ten feet above the top of the bank on the outside of the turn with no obstructions. It could be very cool.

That would be cool, but get the track operator to put it in turn one.

sidewinder wrote:

The other idea I had was to go to the bottom of the banking on the outside and shoot the cars that were running the top...no one else thought that was a good idea though...something about 2600 lbs of steel and a hundred miles an hour crushing me to death??

Again with the crushing and death.

You are going to have to get over that.

Now if you ever plan to retire from the car and go Pro-Photographer you may consider joining Eastern Motorsport Press Association. My company sends a technician to their convention just outside Philly every January. No I don't get to go, I'm not currently a technician. I've talked to a few of the members and they are nice guys.

Thanks for the link. I think m friend George used their service for a sponsorship package... he's got about 250K a year in suport so it seems to have worked. I was considering using a sponsor rep until...well, you know. Anyways, I just signed up for the news letter...I'm kind of hoping I can hook up with either Mid American Racing News or National SpeedSport since I can not only write feature lenght stories but also provide my own pictures. I have been talking with the editors, I doubt it will happen since they are well staffed, but you never know. Then maybe from there to Circle Track or Open Wheel mags? Awe heck, I'd be satisfied just to get infield passes to all the Ohio tracks.

That's assuming I can't get back into a car soon.

sidewinder wrote:

Thanks for the link. I think m friend George used their service for a sponsorship package... he's got about 250K a year in suport so it seems to have worked. I was considering using a sponsor rep until...well, you know. Anyways, I just signed up for the news letter...I'm kind of hoping I can hook up with either Mid American Racing News or National SpeedSport since I can not only write feature lenght stories but also provide my own pictures. I have been talking with the editors, I doubt it will happen since they are well staffed, but you never know. Then maybe from there to Circle Track or Open Wheel mags? Awe heck, I'd be satisfied just to get infield passes to all the Ohio tracks.

That's assuming I can't get back into a car soon.

In the words of J. Jonah Jameson, "Freelance, it's the best for a young man like you."

Oh wait, you aren't a young man anymore, unless you are comparing yourself to Stan Lee or John McCain.

Just remember this adage.

Old age and Treachery always overcomes Youth and Enthusiasm.

Haha so funny its genius a car running into you

brushlessmicrodude wrote:

Haha so funny its genius a car running into you

It happens to photographers a lot...they tend to get too close to the track and then watch what their taking pictures of so when someone loses control behind them...well...splat.
Bilbo Wrote:

Quote :

Old age and Treachery always overcomes Youth and Enthusiasm.

I had that painted on the dash (well the panel where a dash would be in a street car) of my last two cars.

That actually did happen a few weeks ago

sidewinder wrote:

It happens to photographers a lot...they tend to get too close to the track and then watch what their taking pictures of so when someone loses control behind them...well...splat.

I'm thinking you should stay behind the barriers and get a bigger lens. I thinking the EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM would be nice. The lowest price I've seen was around 12 grand. Pocket change for big money racers.

BilboBaggins wrote:

Old age and Treachery always overcomes Youth and Enthusiasm.

sidewinder wrote:

I had that painted on the dash (well the panel where a dash would be in a street car) of my last two cars.

Great minds think alike.

12K? one refresh on the engine...but how do I get the sponsor stickers on it without gumming it up?

I was looking at a 100-300mm (I might be wrong on the bottom length) but even that is $1500. I have a 28-135 now but no matter how far I can zoom it just more fun being on the edge of the track.

I'd like to try one of the doubler couplings so I could shoot at 270mm (OK I have no idea of what they're actually called but the double the focal length) . I had one that I use for years on my AE1's and A1's., in a pinch I even stacked two once or twice (that didn't work as well).
I kept hearing how badly they degrade the image but honestly I couldn't tell the difference. either you played with the f-stop or you just pushed the film a little when developing and things seemed to work out well enough. I just don't know what this will do to the noise and white balance on a digital? I'm going to see if I can borrow one before spending the money though.

sidewinder wrote:

12K? one refresh on the engine...but how do I get the sponsor stickers on it without gumming it up?

Most sports photographers use 600 to 1000mm lenses. It's hurts when I see the photographers at the football games get run over by the players and the camera/lens hits the ground. But getting hit by a car would really hurt the camera.

sidewinder wrote:

I was looking at a 100-300mm (I might be wrong on the bottom length) but even that is $1500. I have a 28-135 now but no matter how far I can zoom it just more fun being on the edge of the track.

The bigger lenses cost more because they make fewer of them so the development/tooling costs must be made up somewhere. To save money you can try the aftermarket lenses but take the camera with you to try them out before buying. Some have communication problems with the newest cameras.

sidewinder wrote:

I'd like to try one of the doubler couplings so I could shoot at 270mm (OK I have no idea of what they're actually called but the double the focal length) . I had one that I use for years on my AE1's and A1's., in a pinch I even stacked two once or twice (that didn't work as well).
I kept hearing how badly they degrade the image but honestly I couldn't tell the difference. either you played with the f-stop or you just pushed the film a little when developing and things seemed to work out well enough. I just don't know what this will do to the noise and white balance on a digital? I'm going to see if I can borrow one before spending the money though.

It's called a teleconverter. I wouldn't double them up because the amount of glass could cause problems. The 2x teleconverter doubles the focal length but also doubles the aperture. So if you have an F4 (maximum aperture) lens it'd be an F8 when using a 2x teleconverter. The 1.4x Teleconverter would make an F4 into about F5.6. Most amateurs can't tell the difference if doubling up the teleconverters but I know a few Pros who can tell if the photo was taken with a fixed focal length lens or zoom lens.

Definitely borrow one if you can before spending the cash.

Thanks... I never really read the directions on the old pair I had I just slapped them on and ran with it Of course Shooting mostly B&W for the paper meant grain and other such imperfections didn't matter since they were going to screen them anyway.

If your interested here's a link to some of the shots I've taken recently. http://SlappyThePenguin.smugmug.com/gallery/5613776_efozT/1/344780751_5ihan

Oh, and now that I've priced them, I will definitely borrow one before I buy. Seems like nothing made by Canon is cheap, even if its basically a tube with some circuitry in it

The Name Brands (Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax, Etc.) ones are always expensive, you should really check out Nikon prices. There is a reason I don't own a Digital SLR. Your choice of which to get is usually detemined by Brand loyalty, You had Canon in the past you go with Canon DSLR. Some go for price and other go for features. I personally like Canon and Nikon.

Remember the faster the lens the more expensive. So a f2.8 lens is more expensive than a f4 of he same focal length. You can get some relatively cheap 18-70 and 80-200 lenses because they were mass produced and relatively slow (F3.5).

Even the better aftermarket ones (Tamron, Tokina, Sigma) are expensive on the lower produced items. I liked Tamron's 80-200mm f2.8 from about 8 years ago and it was a grand new.

I loved the pictures. Now you need the Press/Pit pass for the bigger events.

my camera is a lumix

brushlessmicrodude wrote:

my camera is a lumix

I thought you didn't have a Digital camera. If you have one then posts some images then. Maybe a shot of you facing a mirror so you can take a picture of yourself.

Lumix is not the brand name but a designation of digital cameras made by Panasonic.

They are not one of my favorite series of cameras.

The press pass would be great. I used to get them from a local paper and the access o places like Mid Ohio, Watkins Glenn, Nelsons Ledges, etc was great. It was a blast back then before everyone started suing for everything. You could just hunker down behind the guardrail and pop up every now and then to shoot. I had John Greenwood's Corvette slide to a stop about two feet from the rail I was standing behind at Mid Ohio in 1979 or 80?
I was so scared I didn't even get a picture, but I did get a ride around the track in one of his 'vettes latter. I wish I still had all of those pictures... I have the negatives somewhere but for the life of me I can't remember where I put the film vault.

You're so right about brand loyalty. I almost went for the Nikon because it was less expensive, but in the end I couldn't bring myself to jump ship.

I think one of the things I want to get if I can afford it is a good telescope with and adaptor for the Canon. Down south of us (about two hours drive) is Crooksville Speedway. Its red clay, super high banked and best of all its built into the side of a mountain. The mountain is terraced and you can watch (and camp) from up to 100ft above. I'm thinking with the telescope it would be almost like shooting from a plane, well except stationary. I just don't know if I can justify the expense for one project. Maybe????

i just got one and i will put some pics up when i go get my losi aftershock sometime when i have $300 i have $110 now so over 1/3 there

sidewinder wrote:

The press pass would be great. I used to get them from a local paper and the access o places like Mid Ohio, Watkins Glenn, Nelsons Ledges, etc was great. It was a blast back then before everyone started suing for everything. You could just hunker down behind the guardrail and pop up every now and then to shoot. I had John Greenwood's Corvette slide to a stop about two feet from the rail I was standing behind at Mid Ohio in 1979 or 80?
I was so scared I didn't even get a picture, but I did get a ride around the track in one of his 'vettes latter. I wish I still had all of those pictures... I have the negatives somewhere but for the life of me I can't remember where I put the film vault.

Try the local paper again, especially if they are really small. They might even pay you for photos.

sidewinder wrote:

You're so right about brand loyalty. I almost went for the Nikon because it was less expensive, but in the end I couldn't bring myself to jump ship.

Nikon less expensive? Where are you shopping. You must realize that Nikon has Amateur and Pro lines. The Amateur line is the D40, D50, D60, D80. The real money hogs are the Pro models of D200 and D300. 2-3 grand for a body.

sidewinder wrote:

I think one of the things I want to get if I can afford it is a good telescope with and adaptor for the Canon. Down south of us (about two hours drive) is Crooksville Speedway. Its red clay, super high banked and best of all its built into the side of a mountain. The mountain is terraced and you can watch (and camp) from up to 100ft above. I'm thinking with the telescope it would be almost like shooting from a plane, well except stationary. I just don't know if I can justify the expense for one project. Maybe????

Time to get some freinds who have the equipment you need so you can borrow from them. I really think you need low freinds in high places.

Unfortunatly the papers been sold to a big newspaper... it used to be easy to get press passes. I'd like to say it was because I was so good, but the truth is probably it was easy because my father was the editor.

Oh, and have ypu priced the Nikon's lately...if you're in the market the D200 is going cheap. $649 with a lens, here http://www.1wayphoto.com/products.asp?dept_id=10267&product_id=12215

Oh, and friends? Most of my friends are racers...you know...broke and/or hillbillys'.

Nice pics sidewinder, I certainly hope you don't die, we need you around here.

Someday I hope to have the money for a D40, right now I'm using a 4 year old Nikon Coolpic 3200 that was handed down to me. Not that I mind, since I use it out on the rocks alot while crawling, since its only worth about $20(if even that) I wont feel bad if I break it

I have had my Christmas list made out for a while.

Nikon P50
http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-Camera/25583/COOLPIX-P50.html

I know its weird to put a neck strap on a point & shoot, but it sure would be handy for those times you "almost" drop your cam.
http://www.wolfcamera.com/product/221661747.htm?bct=t13031003%3Bcidigital-cameras-and-accessories%3Bcibags-cases-straps%3Bcicamera-straps

2GB Extreme III SD card, I recently found out how big of a difference a high quality card makes with your pictures.
http://www.wolfcamera.com/product/100190107.htm?bct=t13031003%3Bcidigital-cameras-and-accessories%3Bcimemory-cards-readers-storage%3Bcimultimedia-sd-memory-cards

Thanks Shaun, you're the second one to say you hope I don't die...my family never even says that My father saw the shots and said "Nice, ah...how close to the track were you?" when I told him I was about ten to fifteen feet off the edge he said, "Huh? I hope they're better at not hitting things than you were." I think he was kidding??? Although I did take out a flag guy once under caution (he was OK, mad, but OK).

When you get your car done you should cruse on over to the Hot Rod Nationals, its only about 11 hours drive, and we can get some great pictures of your car. Just watch the Cannonball Run first for motivation. Or Smokey and the Bandit.

cannonball run is awesome

sidewinder wrote:

Or Smokey and the Bandit.

East bound and down, loaded up and truckin'.
We're going to do what they say can't be done.
Gotta long way to go and a short time to get there
I'm east bound, just watch ol' bandit run.

Great, getting Jerry Reed songs stuck in my head.