Rallycross Superprix 2008 - Croft Circuit.

[GSH]

I won't bother with any of Saturday's stuff as it was an 'orrible, cold, windy, grey day and the photos show it....

Sunday on the other hand started off cold, grey, wet and equally 'orrible, but at least there was no wind. Every cloud has a grey lining....

#1. One of the Division 1 heats heading for the first corner. Shot through Croft's version of a T Rex fence.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Images2008/RXSP/RallyX%20SP%20Sunday-0022.jpg

#2 Not too long afterwards the weather took a turn for the worse..
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Images2008/RXSP/RallyX%20SP%20Sunday-0050.jpg

#3 In the spirit of fairness and equality the other classes had to do battle with the elements too..
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Images2008/RXSP/RallyX%20SP%20Sunday-0157.jpg

#4 Help, i'm in a sea of advertising banners and can't get out! - Steve Petch demonstrating his Hyundai Accent WRC between races. I thought i'd have a go at one of these "speck of dust sized car in a frame full of clutter" type shots...they seem to be all the rage. I won't be bothering much again.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Images2008/RXSP/RallyX%20SP%20Sunday-0270.jpg

#5 They'd re-graded the Rallycross circuit before the event. Fortunately it cut up fairly quickly and the old faithful bump re-appeared.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Images2008/RXSP/RallyX%20SP%20Sunday-0958.jpg

#6 The light was perfect later in the day which is why i didn't move much on Sunday...that and terminal laziness.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Images2008/RXSP/RallyX%20SP%20Sunday-1014.jpg

#7 Dave Bellerby was kind enough to provide some heat for everyone freezing their wotsits off
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Images2008/RXSP/RallyX%20SP%20Sunday-1038.jpg

#8 Toyoto Corolla doing wheelies..
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Images2008/RXSP/RallyX%20SP%20Sunday-1080.jpg

Gear was the usual mix of 1DMK2N / Sigma 500 prime / Sigma 120-300.

Thanks for looking in. Feel free to comment etc as per usual.

[BALDY]

Great set Geoff and nice catch on #7

BALDY

[chrispons]

A great series of shots ,Geoff.
The Rallycross is sooo much better than the circuit stuff to look at,probably to photograph too.
Do you think Get Connected had enough placards out ???:),still I like Damian Cole and watching him.
Does it ever not rain up by you ? ,you dont have to answer that,but I shall be staying in my leafy castle for a bit longer.:)
My favourite shot is the last ,sharp and the natural lighting is beautiful.
Which shots were with the 120-300 ? ,am very interested as is on my wish list .
Thanks,
Pons

[Big Ant]

Superb stuff Geoff #7 is awesome. There all clean, crisp and sharp. Great stuff

[petrolhead]

Great capture of the flames, just need to get a bit closer to get warmed up :)

[GSH]

A great series of shots ,Geoff.
The Rallycross is sooo much better than the circuit stuff to look at,probably to photograph too.
Do you think Get Connected had enough placards out ???:),still I like Damian Cole and watching him.
Does it ever not rain up by you ? ,you dont have to answer that,but I shall be staying in my leafy castle for a bit longer.:)
My favourite shot is the last ,sharp and the natural lighting is beautiful.
Which shots were with the 120-300 ? ,am very interested as is on my wish list .
Thanks,
Pons

The comparison 'twixt circuit racing & Rallycross is like night & day IMHO. I love a good circuit race race but they seem to be getting rarer. I prefer Rallying but Rallycross is the best of both world's and you're guranteed action. As for Mr Cole, he was also out doing Demo laps in his Accent WRC.

Rain?...I left home at 0815 on Sunday in glorious sunshine and it stayed like that all day(at home), however Croft is famous for its weather being extremely random and it generally lives up to that reputation. It's all part of the charm so they tell me.

Out of this set the only one with the 120-300 (and 1.4x TC in this case) is #8. The light was pretty much gone at that point due to a large cloud, hence it's at ISO 1000. I'll be wielding the 120-300 on the Malton Forest Rally this Sunday, so look out for a thread on Sunday night if you're looking at that little beast ;)


Great set Geoff and nice catch on #7


It wasn't that difficult to be honest. The car was spitting flames at exactly the same spot on each lap :)

Superb stuff Geoff #7 is awesome. There all clean, crisp and sharp. Great stuff

Aye i suppose they're not bad for using those crappy Sigma lenses that the so-called experts on here seem to hate..

Great capture of the flames, just need to get a bit closer to get warmed up :)

The 500 makes it look closer that it was ;)

Cheers everyone :)

[chrispons]

Well cheers for the info ,Geoff,the 500 will be too many pennies,but the 120-300,or 70-200 2.8 is next on the list.
I am finally going to sell the Nikon tack where ironically have just got hold of a very sharp 80-200,but descision is made ,Canon it will be .persevering with the 1d mk2 ,the 35-350 is not mine ,but virtual permanent loan.
Looking forward to seeing photos.Now where's Malton ?,wonder if my mate fancies a trip to the frozen norf.
Pons

[Simon Harrison]

The light on Sunday afternoon was without doubt, some of the best I have photographed in for a long, long time. It was a real pleasure to be out in it, and more than made up for being blown about by the gale force winds the day before.

For me, the pick of this selection is #6. While the lighting is just gorgeous, the picture has many elements to it that appeal to me. It clearly shows racing go on for a start, but the DoF means that the chasing cars are in no way competing for attention with Ben Power's Ka. Add in the fact you can see the driver, and importantly the position of his hands on the steering indicating a degree of opposite lock being applied backed up by the slight turn in the front wheels, the compression on the suspension and the dirt being kicked up, then I think the shot is an absolute winner. Timing, as they say, is everything.

The only thing I would maybe liked to have seen was more speccies in the background, but there's not a lot you can do about that.

#5 and #8 show two of the local drivers (if you stretch 'local' to Ferryhill - Tony Bell) in full on action, and again show great timing.

In fact the only one I'm not sure about is #4 - I can only assume that the death burger you had for lunch must have made you delerious (sp?) for a while :lol:

Cheers,

Simon.

[gsgary]

Great shots the weather looked a bit grotty in 2 an 3 great flames shot but i got slatted for shooting that tight :lol:

[GSH]

Well cheers for the info ,Geoff,the 500 will be too many pennies,but the 120-300,or 70-200 2.8 is next on the list.
I am finally going to sell the Nikon tack where ironically have just got hold of a very sharp 80-200,but descision is made ,Canon it will be .persevering with the 1d mk2 ,the 35-350 is not mine ,but virtual permanent loan.
Looking forward to seeing photos.Now where's Malton ?,wonder if my mate fancies a trip to the frozen norf.
Pons

I've you've got kit you can do without then get rid of it. After walking our of my previous job last Christmas i sold the 20D, 100-400L and some other bits and bobs for a bit of Emergenct cash which happily i didn't need. Eventually it funded the purchase of the 500. If you're into shooting rallies then the 1DMK2 and 120-300 is a tough combination to beat IMHO

The Malton Forest stages are up on The North Yorkshire Moors...quite a trek for you.

[GSH]

The light on Sunday afternoon was without doubt, some of the best I have photographed in for a long, long time. It was a real pleasure to be out in it, and more than made up for being blown about by the gale force winds the day before.

For me, the pick of this selection is #6. While the lighting is just gorgeous, the picture has many elements to it that appeal to me. It clearly shows racing go on for a start, but the DoF means that the chasing cars are in no way competing for attention with Ben Power's Ka. Add in the fact you can see the driver, and importantly the position of his hands on the steering indicating a degree of opposite lock being applied backed up by the slight turn in the front wheels, the compression on the suspension and the dirt being kicked up, then I think the shot is an absolute winner. Timing, as they say, is everything.

The only thing I would maybe liked to have seen was more speccies in the background, but there's not a lot you can do about that.

#5 and #8 show two of the local drivers (if you stretch 'local' to Ferryhill - Tony Bell) in full on action, and again show great timing.

In fact the only one I'm not sure about is #4 - I can only assume that the death burger you had for lunch must have made you delerious (sp?) for a while :lol:


Crikey, that's quite a post Simon but cheers anyway :).

If you think back to one of our conversations from Saturday you'll see the reason for #4. I think it's rubbish myself but i didn't post it for positive comments ;)

[Simon Harrison]

Crikey, that's quite a post Simon but cheers anyway :).

If you think back to one of our conversations from Saturday you'll see the reason for #4. I think it's rubbish myself but i didn't post it for positive comments ;)

Credit where credit is due :D.

I remember the conversation alright, and guessed why you might have posted it. I have only one thing more to say about it ..............bw!...............:lol:

I'll behave now :o

Simon.

[GSH]

I have only one thing more to say about it ..............bw!...............:lol:


Or not bw! as the case may be ;)

[GAELICSTORM7]

Hi Geoff,

Nice to see you again on Saturday :D, had to shoot off early as the guy I was with wasn't too well, must have been all that wind !, some cracking shots there matey, gotta say the light looks loads better on Sunday than it was on Saturday !

Love the Ka shot, hope you don't mind but here's my shot of it, just shows how good yours is !

Cheers,

Alan

[Jamie Holladay]

Great Shots Geoff

[Tessa]

Very nice pics, I love rallycross action. Too bad the season is over here... :confused:

[Cadwell]

Aye i suppose they're not bad for using those crappy Sigma lenses that the so-called experts on here seem to hate..

Steady, Geoff; you'll upset the experts! You might force them to go out and take some photos to prove their point rather than just pontificating about lenses they've never used or only tested in a "lab" :lol: Some of them might catch cold if they have to go outside :( and you wouldn't want that on your conscience, would you?

Lovely photos of one of my favourite forms of motorsport which sadly I don't get to see very much any more because Jonathan Palmer is such a pussy about his grass.

[Simon Harrison]

Lovely photos of one of my favourite forms of motorsport which sadly I don't get to see very much any more because Jonathan Palmer is such a pussy about his grass.

You need to get to Lyden next year then. Apparently, they have secured a round of the European Championship. That should mean 50+ Division 1 Supercars, and maybe even drivers like Marcus Gronholm making an appearence.

Simon.

[chrispons]

Thanks for the info ,Geoff.
The Sigi does sound a great bet.Did a have a quick play with one at Shelsey ,very impressed ,but never saw the results except in the back of a D3 Nikon screen,looked sharp ,which is amazing for me.
Sounds like North Yorkshire might have to be left to you norvern togs ,anyway ,mine would look like camera phone shots next to you lads.
Deffo going to get one of Simons disc jobbies ,works for him with his mk 2.

Cheers,
Pons.

[willy b]

Brilliants shots, love the flying cars!

[John Hudson]

Superb shots Geoff with the bouncing cars being my favourites.

Your sixth shot is very evocative for me, I've got shots with similar light from last year. The late afternoon and time of year produces some lovely colour (as long as it's not bloody raining).

I'm gutted I'm going to miss all of these events this year, Jack Frost and Winter stages in particular are favourites.

John

[D.A.]

#5 is very nice (great shot and great car - I like Renault :)đ
Rest are also interesting.