SAE/SCCA Autocross Event

[MizzouMan_2000]

I heard that they were going to have an Autocross event in one of our office parking lots. It was a fun experience, but I was sore the next day from all the squatting and hand-holding my Sigma 50-500 all day.

Anyway, here are a few of the 2000 photos I took, and reduced down to 700. There were 60 cars, some driven by more than one person.
1.
http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/40997/2300943000102769469S600x600Q85.jpg
2.
http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/43335/2713917390102769469S600x600Q85.jpg
3. One of the older cars... notice the left, rear tire...
http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/19836/2493362380102769469S600x600Q85.jpg
4.
http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/41778/2690981480102769469S600x600Q85.jpg
5. Example of a kart
http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/43576/2979738940102769469S600x600Q85.jpg
6. One of my favs.
http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/25922/2479988970102769469S600x600Q85.jpg
7. Another example of a custom made kart.. this one was built by U of IL engineering students
http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/44288/2784813050102769469S600x600Q85.jpg
8. Facial expression of the day goes to the old man in the passenger seat of this car... hopefully you can see it at this resolution.
http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/28348/2506469610102769469S600x600Q85.jpg
Thanks for looking.

[Jamie Holladay]

Nice job. I'd like to see a little more motion.

Did you run or just shoot?

[MizzouMan_2000]

THis was my first attempt at this kind of action. If I had an IS lens longer than 135mm, I might have been able to get more blur. I kept shutter speeds about 1/200. I was trying to keep some blur in the wheels to imply motion and speed... plus, not all of these cars were really going that fast, especially the timid first-timers.

I didn't run.. didn't see much point in taking my little 08 Malibu 4-banger.

[MizzouMan_2000]

For the kart I did up my speed a bit faster, so I could use more reach without worrying about camera shake... I may have been up to the 1/300 to 1/400 range.

Thanks!

[Jamie Holladay]

08 Malibu 4-banger.
HS (H stock) Just be sure to check your air pressure!

Next time try 1/125. That should get you a little more blur. Be sure to use AI Servio for focusing and track the cars.

[MizzouMan_2000]

Yeah, they were all pumpin' air into their tires... I had buddies there that would have looked out for me.

Yeah, I did use AI Servo..

I may have done a couple at 1/125... but haven't gone back to look at how they came out.. I imagine that they were most likely blurred from camera shake... it's hard to not get carried away with the 50-500 and getting into focal lengths that will suffer from camera shake at 1/125. Again, IS would have been nice... gotta invest in some nice L glass with IS soon. :)