Renault Winter Series-Croft Circuit.

[GSH]

Well the meeting lived up to its name with heavy rain, strong winds and generally cold weather. Brass Monkeys were seen limping around the circuit....

A heavy shower during the lunch break caused all sorts of fun for the Formula Renault racers..

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Croft%20Renault%20Winter/IMG_2394.jpg

Plenty of visibility for anyone in the pack..errr not.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Croft%20Renault%20Winter/IMG_2413.jpg

Keeping the lens steady in the wind was hard work..

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Croft%20Renault%20Winter/IMG_2419.jpg

A good sized grid for the Caterham race, although it was hardly the most exciting race i've ever seen.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Croft%20Renault%20Winter/IMG_2465.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Croft%20Renault%20Winter/IMG_2492.jpg

This Sunbeam from the Nothern Sports Saloon race sounded quite nice.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Croft%20Renault%20Winter/IMG_2555.jpg

Thanks for looking. Comments etc etc appreciated :)

[Miyagi-san]

all very good, 2 and 3 are rockin'! very cool....

[PeteDyer]

Panning is hard enough, so in the wind?Madness.
Great shots all the same

[Simon Harrison]

Nicely done Geoff. Kept my eyes open for some friendly faces, but hardly saw anyone at all today. I have to say the wind all but ruined the day for me - I really struggled in the conditions. That and I woke up with the worst dose of man flu you can imagine ;) :lol: .

That Sunbeam was great. First time I've seen a car lift the unloaded front tyre on the exit of Sunny.

Nice pan on #3, but maybe a little over saturated?

Cheers,

Simon.

[GSH]

Thanks for the comments :)

Simon, i had a look around but didn't see anyone. I just assumed they all had more sense than me :D

I'm not sure why #3 appears a bit over saturated. Admittedly i had the in-camera settings up to High but that should apply to all the shots from today and they're the same settings i always use. Breezebrowser just applies them at RAW conversion time.

Never mind, it's only a pan :D

<hides from Dave>

[Dave_G]

pah


nice shots Geoff, that Sunbeam was at Brands last weekend and certainly looked damn fast

again, the first shot is a nice example of how nice shooting in the rain can be. tip top, keep panning, bum the rest.

[Ian_H]

Nice shots Geoff in what look like difficult conditions, I was supposed to be there today but something came up:cry: Really like the pan shot with the car in the background and the Caterham line up shot is great, very dramatic. Would love to see that Lotus Sunbeam in next years NSSCC line up:D



Cheers
Ian

[RedWingNut]

Looks like you had some fun working your magic, huh? tough conditions, but you managed. Well done.

[musicmate]

excellent work in what looks to be very difficult conditions Geoff.

Steve

[GSH]

Looks like you had some fun working your magic, huh? tough conditions, but you managed. Well done.

No magic involved, just sheer luck :D

Ian / Simon, i assume you chaps will be out & about for the Roger Albert Clark/ Kall Kwik this weekend? I'll keep my eyes peeled for you both (and others).


Thanks everyone :)

[Simon Harrison]

Ian / Simon, i assume you chaps will be out & about for the Roger Albert Clark/ Kall Kwik this weekend? I'll keep my eyes peeled for you both (and others).

Yes I'll be heading down for the RAC / Kall Kwik. Will watch at least one of the Saturday forest stages and then maybe up to Croft for one of the stages in the dark. Not sure which of the forest stages to head down to. Hoping that I might happen across some stage info;) at some point. Let me know where you're heading to, and we might just manage to bump into each other.

Cheers,

Simon.

[GSH]

Yes I'll be heading down for the RAC / Kall Kwik. Will watch at least one of the Saturday forest stages and then maybe up to Croft for one of the stages in the dark. Not sure which of the forest stages to head down to. Hoping that I might happen across some stage info;) at some point. Let me know where you're heading to, and we might just manage to bump into each other.


One thing i forgot to do was pre-order a programme, but apparently they're available from the toll booths on Dalby Forest Drive on saturday. As there's 2 stages in Dalby, i might head there.

I've never actually ventured out into the forests for a rally, so it could either be very enjoyble or i'll end up getting lost and won't be seen again until april :D

Stage info here if you haven't seen it already..

http://www.delacymc.org.uk/RAC_2006/RAC_2006_route_details.htm

[KevB]

Nice shots Geoff.:D If the spectator areas in Dalby are the same as the ones used for the Trackrod Rally, I would get there a little earlier and walk into the stage if I was you. I found it very restrictive for photo's in the official area. Not sure if I can get a pass out for this one :( but I'm working on it ;) Hopefully I will get to Croft at some point, at least.

[GSH]

Cheers Kev :)

How early should i get there to walk into the stage? I'm guessing they close the roads well in advance so are we talking an hour or more?

[KevB]

To be honest Geoff, i'm not sure where the best place is in Dalby Forest. But anywhere away from red and white tape and spectators has got to be better than where I was. Maybe Ian or Simon know of some better spots.

Kev

[Ian_H]

Just to get you in the mood for the weekend
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=239740


Cheers
Ian

[Ian_H]

To be honest Geoff, i'm not sure where the best place is in Dalby Forest. But anywhere away from red and white tape and spectators has got to be better than where I was. Maybe Ian or Simon know of some better spots.

Kev


I don't know how they are running Dalby at the weekend yet as I haven't seen any maps and probably won't until I sign on at HQ on Friday night. When you enter the forest at the toll booths on Forest drive you will be able to drive down to Low Dalby. The Forestry Commision will have the rest of forest drive closed pretty early and the gate will be locked anyway. At low Dalby you will probably have the choice of going up the hill towards Housedale Rigg or turning tight and going along to the 'woodyard'. The woodyard will be very busy but if when you get their head off to the right along the stage you will come to some pretty good bends but depending on how it's run that could be quite a long walk:( If at Low Dalby you decide to head up the hill, drive up as far as you can (getting there early will be an advantage as it's bloody steep that hill) and then at the cross roads head off towards the right but again it may be a long walk and at that part of the stage there are a lot of fast straights and 90 degree bends although I don't know whether they are using the quarry as that can be quite good for spectating but if it is being used it will probably be busy.

Without knowing how the stage is going to be run it's very difficult to say where will be the best place to be, you will be limited to where the FC will allow you to park so the best bet is probably get parked find the stage and then head off in either direction away from the crowds and you are sure to find a good corner.


Cheers
Ian

[GSH]

Thanks for that Ian. Looks like it's an early morning, walking boots and a well loaded flask then :D

[Simon Harrison]

I've only been in Dalby a couple of times, so am by no means an expert. The last time I went to the quarry they were extremely strict with where you could stand. There was also more red and white tape than you could shake a stick at as well! I'll be taking a nice early morning stroll hopefully to the middle of no where!

Cheers,

Simon.,

[urbandancer]

Very nive number 5 worked for me