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View Full Version : MG, Brabham, Lotus and Cooper - My Weekend at Cadwell

Simon Harrison
24th of April 2006 (Mon), 17:37
I had my first trip down to Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire this weekend. Saturday saw an early start (0530hrs :confused: ) for the drive down to the circuit for the MG Car Club meeting. After a full day, I managed to find my B&B without too much drama re-charge my batteries, grab a bite to eat and a few hours sleep before going back to the circuit on Sunday for the HSCC meeting. I was on my own on Saturday (apart from bumping into a few marshalls, drivers and officials I know), but had the company of Cadwell and KennyG on Sunday.

Anyway, enough waffle, here's some pictures.

#1 An immaculate MGB lifts a wheel heading through Hall Bends
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Cadwell/22-04-06---718.jpg

#2 The modern MG TF, but equally as photogenic in its own way
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Cadwell/22-04-06---111.jpg

#3 The MG Metro boys were for some fun as well
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Cadwell/22-04-06---589.jpg

#5 and a glorious MGB GT V8 on its way to a pretty emphatic victory
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Cadwell/22-04-06---518.jpg

On to Sunday, and I have to say the event I was most looking forward to.

#5 Cooper T82 setting up to climb the Mountain
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Cadwell/23-04-06---445.jpg

#6 Brabham BT30 - can't describe the noise as it powered through the trees
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Cadwell/23-04-06---071.jpg

#7 A rather enigmatic looking driver of a Gemini Mk 2
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Cadwell/23-04-06---540.jpg

#8 and it wouldn't be a 'proper' historic meeting without a Lotus
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Cadwell/23-04-06---281.jpg

As usual, any comments or feedback most appreciated.

Would like to thank Cadwell for the advice prior to the weekend on the circuit layout - a big help for Saturday in particular.

For those that are interested, a bigger gallery of shots from Saturday can be found here :-

http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/Motorcars/MG_Car_Club_Cadwell/index.htm

and from Sunday here :-

http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/Motorcars/HSCC_Cadwell/index.htm

Cheers,

Simon.
badgerbaiter
24th of April 2006 (Mon), 17:41
very nice.. i like the way that guy has the same 'i need a dump' expression that he has in Kenny's pics too :)
dengli
24th of April 2006 (Mon), 18:16
Hope you had a good weekend Simon. The shots look like it was well worth the trip.

The MG V8 in #5 looks like its got a bit too much engine in there and they can't get the bonnet shut. Doesn't look a bit like the MGB GT I used to have though.

That first shot from the Sunday is an absolute cracker and I really like the Brabham in #6. Those two are my pick of the bunch - great angle
KennyG
24th of April 2006 (Mon), 18:47
Simon, you and Glenn keep appearing in the background of my shots looking up the hill from the hairpin entry. You were the only one kitted out for the weather I noticed, very Arctic look.

I like the Gemini shot for the indication of depth behind with the second car.
Simon Harrison
25th of April 2006 (Tue), 02:48
very nice.. i like the way that guy has the same 'i need a dump' expression that he has in Kenny's pics too :)

Thanks Gary!

Simon.
Simon Harrison
25th of April 2006 (Tue), 06:56
Hope you had a good weekend Simon. The shots look like it was well worth the trip.

The MG V8 in #5 looks like its got a bit too much engine in there and they can't get the bonnet shut. Doesn't look a bit like the MGB GT I used to have though.

That first shot from the Sunday is an absolute cracker and I really like the Brabham in #6. Those two are my pick of the bunch - great angle

Thanks Dave - was definately worth the trip. Cadwell is a fantastic circuit, particularly for the historic and classic cars. I am sure that I will be back down before too long.

Cheers,

Simon.
Cadwell
25th of April 2006 (Tue), 07:02
Nicely done Simon, the Cooper T28 is my favourite from this bunch. It was nice to meet you at long last :)
belloire
25th of April 2006 (Tue), 07:10
love number 6. the brabham is magnificent and your shot captures it beautifully.
Simon Harrison
25th of April 2006 (Tue), 12:36
Simon, you and Glenn keep appearing in the background of my shots looking up the hill from the hairpin entry. You were the only one kitted out for the weather I noticed, very Arctic look.

I like the Gemini shot for the indication of depth behind with the second car.

I was bloomin' freezing at times this weekend Ken, and wished I'd had warmer clothes with me. Have to remember to pack my 'Hello Mum' sign for the next time;) .

I also like the shot of the Gemini for the reason that you state, plus you can clearly see the driver working the wheel. That location in Hall Bends gave a couple of really nice shots. Ones like the Brabham and Lotus posted above that have a completely clean background, and ones with multiple cars in the frame like the Gemini and this one :-
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Cadwell/23-04-06---238.jpg

Mind as I said to Glenn on Sunday, I seemed to get very adept at hiding 3 or 4 cars behind the lead car, particularly if the train of cars was very close to each other. The other problem I had was the odd stray wheel appearing in the top right corner of the frame as another car popped into view as I hit the shutter.

I'll add another shot in as well. Probably the closest I got to side on pan all weekend, and definately the prettiest road car running IMHO.

Here's the Milano GT Mk 1 braking hard to enter the start of the Mountain.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Cadwell/23-04-06---498.jpg

Cheers,

Simon.
Simon Harrison
25th of April 2006 (Tue), 13:07
Nicely done Simon, the Cooper T28 is my favourite from this bunch. It was nice to meet you at long last :)

And nice meeting you too!

The Cooper T28 shot has been cropped to remove what was a very distracting background of bright orange marshalls. That shot has come out well, but to be honest, I didn't really like that angle too much, partly because of the background and partly because of really having too little time tracking the car with the 20D while it braked and made a couple of direction changes. This gave me very inconsistent results, and hence I didn't take too many pictures from there as I suspected the camera might struggle. I also found that with the time of day that shot was taken, to expose the car properly, I ended up severely clipping channels on the marshalls ornage overalls, which if left in frame look pretty awful. I find it a nice shot, but nothing special. If I had been a fraction later on the shutter, there would have been a little more in the way of car dynamics as he turned right for the mountain.

Never mind - you live and learn.

Cheers,

Simon.
Skip Souza
25th of April 2006 (Tue), 18:05
Wonderful series Simon. Love the Lotus and the Gemini looks like a real "action' shot.
TimOLondon
25th of April 2006 (Tue), 18:12
Stunnigley sharp photos, and as a long time Brit sports car fan I love the subject matter... . I wish I could get the same results. Any more technical info to share so I can improve my own photos ? ....
Simon Harrison
26th of April 2006 (Wed), 07:07
Wonderful series Simon. Love the Lotus and the Gemini looks like a real "action' shot.

Thanks Skip. Being able to see the drivers face and his body language really helps the shot, as does the chasing car.

Cheers,

Simon.
Simon Harrison
26th of April 2006 (Wed), 07:09
Stunnigley sharp photos, and as a long time Brit sports car fan I love the subject matter... . I wish I could get the same results. Any more technical info to share so I can improve my own photos ? ....

Thanks Tim. I tend to shoot in manual (apart from AF ;) ) to give me full control over what's going on. Then it's down to practice, practice, practice. I don't know enough about the 5D to know whether it's suited to this type of photography - it's specs would lead me to believe it was aimed more at landscape and portrait 'togs.

Cheers,

Simon.
GSH
26th of April 2006 (Wed), 13:33
Top drawer shots Simon, are you sure it was your first visit?

The Cooper T82 and the Brabham BT30 are fantastic. I must get to one of the HSCC meets soon.
Simon Harrison
26th of April 2006 (Wed), 15:18
Top drawer shots Simon, are you sure it was your first visit?

The Cooper T82 and the Brabham BT30 are fantastic. I must get to one of the HSCC meets soon.

I had some good advice prior to and on the actual day of the HSCC meeting from a couple of regulars Geoff.

Still have trouble getting overly excited about the Cooper T82 shot, but the Brabham BT30 was exactly what I wanted - completely clean background with the car against it. More light would have been nice, but it came out okay.

The HSCC will be visiting Croft in June this year. Next best (well maybe;) :confused: ) thing is the CSCC which comes to Croft a week on Saturday.

Cheers,

Simon.
KevB
27th of April 2006 (Thu), 04:58
Lovely shots. That MGB GT is my favourite, looks like a cracking car.:D
Simon Harrison
28th of April 2006 (Fri), 14:25
Lovely shots. That MGB GT is my favourite, looks like a cracking car.:D

Thanks Kev - the MGB GT V8 was a bit of a 'sledge hammer to crack a nut' compared to the other cars that were running.

Cheers,

Simon.