Oulton Park - Start of the Season with a close shave

[KennyG]

Back in the saddle and I have two challenges - lose the winter waistline and get fit again.

This weekend was the first of the car meetings at Oulton Park. The weather was dry and for the most part sunny. The racing was on the short Fosters circuit, which isn't my favourite for pictures, but does produce some of the best racing. There have been some major changes at Oulton Park, Druids has a larger gravel trap and the barriers on the outside have been moved back along with a number of trees removed, Lodge/Deer Leap has had barriers moved back and trees removed, the 'cut through' at Fosters has been widened and the line changed (for the worse IMHO).

On the subject of that change of line at Fosters. We had a few cars try to demolish the barrier, including this Capri only 6ft away from me then scraping down the barrier 6" away:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images201/op-31.jpg


I like Druids in the morning for qualifying. The sun is in the right place and at this time of year can be mellow. Chris Brokhurst's Super Silhouette:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images201/op-03.jpg

Oulton and BRSCC means Formula Fords. This is Mike Mullins in his 1986 Van Diemen:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images201/op-05.jpg

Richard Wood's 4,000cc Opel is insanely quick and well driven. There was no doubt he would end up on the top spot of the podium:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images201/op-12.jpg

I just love Tuscans. They are so photogenic and it was a pleasure to see such a good turn out after the recent problems at TVR:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images201/op-02.jpg

Back to my bitch about Fosters. This Porsche hit the barrier quite hard and wasn't going anywhere with front wheels pointing in different directions:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images201/op-22.jpg

A lot of Silhouettes coming into Cascades is a pretty sight:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images201/op-29.jpg

I'll finish with Mike Wright's XR3i having a bot of a challenge with Fosters:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images201/op-23.jpg

F3/GT this coming weekend (Saturday and Monday). Very early start on both days (8am for me) with loads of grid work and a lot of miles to cover. Maybe see some of you there. If you have a 446Mhz radio, call me on channel 6.

[Simon Harrison]

Hello Ken.

Good to hear from you again. Some lovelly stuff as usual, but I particularly like #2 and #7. Think I could and should join you with the challenge you have set yourself :lol: .

Looking forward to seeing more of your work over the season.

Cheers,

Simon.

[dodger]

Fantastic shots as usual Ken. They are so crisp! Its a shame the general public can't access the Druids location as its clearly a great spot to shoot from.
I was there for the latter part of the day and took most pictures from the outside of Knickerbrook. This is, I think, one of the few specs to get close without catchfencing getting in the way.

Nick

[Dave_G]

Good stuff as usual Ken, good Capri avoidance technique by the looks of it too!

[GSH]

I don't think i ever got that close to a Capri when i actually owned one :D There's a video on Youtube of a crash on the exit of Old Hall in the TVR race.

Nice to see these after the longggg winter lay off Ken. No doubt lugging that big old Tamrac around with all your kit will shift a few pounds pretty quick..

I'm planning to be there on Monday for F3/GT, i'll look out for the infamous hat.

[Fireblade]

great pics Ken and a little too close for comfort in the first pic :lol: .

[Cadwell]

Lovely images. Good to see your work back on the forum again, Ken.

[kt8]

Whats the craic at Oulton Park guys, Its literally down the road from me but never shot there, Can I gain access to shoot or need to work for someone? Any advice

[GSH]

Whats the craic at Oulton Park guys, Its literally down the road from me but never shot there, Can I gain access to shoot or need to work for someone? Any advice

Buy ticket, stand next to track, point camera at cars, make pictures.

Easy :)

[kt8]

So pro gear is allowed in then? hmmmmmm, not many sports allow this but as its that simple and your so sure, Cheers I will try it.

[GSH]

So pro gear is allowed in then? hmmmmmm, not many sports allow this but as its that simple and your so sure, Cheers I will try it.

Motor Racing is a lot more relaxed than other sports as far as photography goes. Just be aware that you're not allowed on the "hot" side of the fence unless you're signed on as accredited media. If you're asked to move by a Marshal or other official then do so, but this will rarely happen unless you're doing something very silly.

The good thing about Oulton Park is that you can get some superb shots from the public areas :)

[JurekB]

Quality pics, impressive as always.

Oulton is pretty good for shooting with not too many high fences which is always nice. I'll be there on Monday, can't wait.

[JuZ]

Great to see your photos here again Ken, I look forward to more :)

[tag141]

Love the pictures and love Oulton. You're so right about the light, first thing in the morning is cracking.

Is that Mike Wright of Mike Wright Motorsport who lives just down the road from Oulton? Very friendly, approachable chap and I used to race against him when he had his Sunbeam Ti. Seeing him drift into lodge was a site to see.

[kt8]

Is there somewhere I can find a meetings list for the UK ? This is something Id love to have a crack at,

Yip, I have googled (and found it, part of british tracks site, Cant wait now, Wish Touring cars were up this way tho)

[KennyG]

kt8, look at www.motorsportvision.co.uk for the Oulton Park fixtures. The BTCC will be there on 23rd/24th June. Get someone to point you in the direction of Knickerbrook for the best public area on the circuit. Arrive early early though (pre-9am) as all the best spots are quickly taken for bigger meetings.

[ajbalazic]

Stunning shots- all of them. But that rail scraper is really something.

[Ian_H]

Nice shots Ken and good to see you back on the forum, no doubt I will bump into you at some point in the season.


Cheers
Ian

[CarCapture]

That last shot looks like it's AutoCross not circuit racing

[pswillies]

Great stuff as usual Ken. :cool:

Your shots have been missed over the winter!

:)

[kt8]

kt8, look at www.motorsportvision.co.uk (http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk) for the Oulton Park fixtures. The BTCC will be there on 23rd/24th June. Get someone to point you in the direction of Knickerbrook for the best public area on the circuit. Arrive early early though (pre-9am) as all the best spots are quickly taken for bigger meetings.


Many thanks for the helpful replies, I will defo be trying this out but probably a lesser day where the entrance is cheaper and hopefully not so many crowds to try my hand. Cheers all.

[PhotosGuy]

... this Capri only 6ft away from me then scraping down the barrier 6" away: Without a camera on the back of my hat, I'd have missed that shot? ;)

[deletedpenguin]

Kudos for sticking with that 1st shot. Well done!

[jforj143]

Great Stuff yet again Ken and we to are looking forward to more of your posts.
As always its shoot first take evasive action second but we are to with Photosguy definetely would have missed the shot.6FT is just that little bit too close.
Well done.
cheers

[F308 MAN]

excellent work as always, kenny.

.... however,
i note the shots with the 600mm are slightly more crisper than those shot at 420mm fl.
would you care to divulge details of the respective lenses ?
many thanks in anticipation.
kind regards,
david

edit ... sussed it out from your profile ... cheers