A very grey Superbike Test at Snetterton...

[GSH]

I left home at 6am for the 230 mile trip to Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk. Cold does not describe the weather, with a freezing wind blowing across the circuit and hardly a glimpse of the sun all day.

Luckily, there was plenty of action on track.....This was my first visit to this circuit, so i had no idea where the good public shooting spots were. Fortunately it was fairly quiet so getting the car around the perimeter road for access wasn't a problem :)

This is the first time i have ever shot racing bikes...

Ryuichi Kyonari - Honda CBR-RR

http://www.pbase.com/geoff_hubbert/image/57429765/large.jpg

Jonathan Rea - RedBull Honda CBR-RR

http://www.pbase.com/geoff_hubbert/image/57429772/large.jpg

Tommy Hill - Yamaha YZF-R1

http://www.pbase.com/geoff_hubbert/image/57429775/large.jpg

Karl Harris on another of the H&M Plant Honda CBR-RR and a rare outing for the sun.

http://www.pbase.com/geoff_hubbert/image/57429769/large.jpg

Billy McConnell on a Virgin Mobile Yamaha YZF-R1

http://www.pbase.com/geoff_hubbert/image/57429801/large.jpg

Shane "Shakey" Byrne had a problem in one of the early sessions...

http://www.pbase.com/geoff_hubbert/image/57429776/large.jpg


I'm still working on the gallery, so i'll post more of the other sessions later. :)

[Simon Harrison]

Nice shots Geoff. Looks like Snetterton is pretty photographer friendly!

Cheers,

Simon.

[GSH]

Cheers Simon :)


From the point of view of us mere mortals (non-media) It's very similar to Croft. Only 1 or 2 really high fences and most of the circuit only has a small inner fence behind the tyres.

Great access to the Infield too so once i'd got enough shots from there i took the car around the outside. It was too cold to walk :lol:

Some very interesting Canon gear was on display too, with 4 or 5 non-Pro's sporting the 300 2.8 IS and at least one of the pro's shooting off a pair of 20D's with a 300 .8 IS and a 100-400L.

The familiar hammer of the 1D series was also in evidence on my side of the fence, and Ken is right, it gets bloody annoying after a while when they just spray & pray :rolleyes:

[Simon Harrison]

Snetterton's a place that I've never been to. Like #1 #5 a lot. Might have been tempted to crop #1 a little from the left to balance up the shot a little, but that's just me.

I really can't see the point of 'spraying and praying'. As always, there's a time and a place, but sooner or later they'll learn that it's still easy to miss the peak action point even at 8.5 fps. And who could be bothered sorting through that many shots on the PC!

Cheers,

Simon.

[Boggy]

Great effort for a first time shooting racing bikes. Thought somebody from here would post some images. Been checking times on mst to see who will set the pace at Brands next weekend. Like #1 of Kiyonari and Shakey pushing the Suzuki.
Anyway, I "only" have a 10D and a non is 300 2.8 so can't spray and pray but I do have accreditation and know how to work my kit. I've been trackside and been asked by someone, carrying 2 1Dmk2's one with a 400 2.8is and the other a 70-200 2.8is, how do I view the picture I've just taken.:lol: It's what "you" do, not what you do it with that counts and you have done a very smart job and must be very pleased with you efforts.

Shaun

[GSH]

I "only" have a 10D and a non is 300 2.8 so can't spray and pray but I do have accreditation and know how to work my kit. I've been trackside and been asked by someone, carrying 2 1Dmk2's one with a 400 2.8is and the other a 70-200 2.8is, how do I view the picture I've just taken.:lol: It's what "you" do, not what you do it with that counts and you have done a very smart job and must be very pleased with you efforts.[/SIZE]



Precisely the point i was making ;)

I don't think i've ever heard the Pro's trackside rattling off frames like there's no tomorrow, maybe 2 or 3 on the bounce at most....I've been planning to get a 1DMk2 this year, but i'm seriously considering something like a used 300 f2.8 (non IS) or a Sigma 120-300 f2.8 instead. Either would have been perfect for the conditions yesterday and a second body can wait a while....maybe.

I must admit to being a bit chuffed with them. I arrived just before the 1st Superbike session and i never realised how fast those things are, so at first i was well off the pace. Let's just say those shots are filed elsewhere :lol:

Anyway, thanks for the comments :)

Looking forward to Round 1 at Brands now :)

[cntry]

Great Shots!
________
Amateur british (http://www.****tube.com/categories/47/british/videos/1)

[Boggy]

Go for a 300 2.8 you will never regret it.

As for the being off the pace, until my timing is right, I could have files and files of missed shots.:lol: :lol: Roll on Sunday, as long as my pass arrives.;)

Shaun

[robam]

Hi Geoff,

Great shots. I was planning to be at Snetterton on Saturday as it is my local circuit but unfortunatly could'nt make it in the end. Try Coram bend if you come down for the BSB meeting it's a good right hander with good photo oppurtunities and you don't get many people that side.
Normally on race weekend it's an open paddock at Snetterton so you have a chance of meeting the riders etc.

Rob

[Skip Souza]

Thanks for braving the cold Geoff, and sharing with us. Great series.

[dengli]

Nice shots Geoff. You must be getting desperate going all that way to shoot something you've never done before. The results are worth it thought - especially #5 which is my pick of the bunch.

Lived in Norfolk for a good few years and regularly vsited Snetterton. You're right it's very friendly to spectatators with few high fences (at least last time I was there). The banking on the inside just before the Esses gives some great views.

One thing I don't miss about Norfolk is the wind - it can almost cut you in half when its coming from the East or North-East at this time of year.

[GSH]

One thing I don't miss about Norfolk is the wind - it can almost cut you in half when its coming from the East or North-East at this time of year.

Precisely where it was coming from yesterday Dave.

Croft was cold last weekend but the wind chill at Snetterton felt even worse. Not quite so easy to run back home after a 3 hour drive though :)

You're right, it was a long way to go but my reasoning was to use the test day to get the hang of shooting Bikes as i want to do a few BSB rounds this year for something different to cars.

Thanks to everyone for the comments, i'll have a full gallery online later. I've gone back to using Breezebrowser for RAW conversion and the results look a lot better than those i've posted so far.

[GSH]

Finally got the Gallery sorted...Snetterton Gallery - Click ! (http://bsb2006.fotopic.net/c896244.html)

Cheers !

[GSH]

Here's a few more...

I've done a bit more work on these to make up for the crappy light on the day...

Another shot of Shakey....only this time the bike's doing the work.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/GeoffHubbert/Superbikes%202006/80587e49.jpg

That RedBull livery looks good on anything...although this rider almost dropped the bike, hence his rather strange position

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/GeoffHubbert/Superbikes%202006/_MG_7301C.jpg

The Power of these bikes is amazing, the riders were battling to keep the front wheels on the ground....

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/GeoffHubbert/Superbikes%202006/_MG_7325C.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/GeoffHubbert/Superbikes%202006/_MG_7336C.jpg

1 or 2 of them lost that battle...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/GeoffHubbert/Superbikes%202006/_MG_7307C.jpg

But, as always, the Marshalls were there to pick them up...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/GeoffHubbert/Superbikes%202006/_MG_7309C.jpg

[Ian_H]

A great set of shots Geoff especially for you first time with bikes, there should be plenty of bikes at Croft this wekend unfortunately i wont be able to make it.


Cheers
Ian

[GSH]

Cheers Ian. To be honest once i got the pace of things i found it easier than cars. Snetterton's a cracking circuit for shooting too.

I may well be at Croft on Saturday, then Brands on sunday for sure.

Nice busy weekend, then 3 days off :D

[Cadwell]

Nice work. The 5th of your first batch is my favourite here.

Snetterton can be a miserable place when there's a cold wind blowing. One of the reasons why I don't go there too often nowadays. I'm also not a fan of many of the angles there, although I haven't been there since I've started to use the 500mm so that COULD open up some interesting prospects... maybe I'll take a trip up there this year.

[GSH]

Cheers Glenn.
Agreed, it was a thoroughly awful day as far as weather goes but strangely enjoyable at the same time.

There's definitely a few places where 400mm wasn't quite enough. 500+ could well be interesting.