Daytona 200 - AMA Pro Racing Under the Lights for the 1st time!

[sheik*yerbouti]

I was just in Jacksonville, Florida for work a few weeks ago, and the job managed to keep me there over a weekend. So come Saturday morning, I was off early - I headed down to Daytona 80 miles away and ended up shooting the ACRA race and the NASCAR Bud Shootout, under the lights. I only had a small bit of kit with me so it was shot with an XS, and 70-200 f/4L + Canon 1.4x TC, and the Canon 17-40 f/4L.

It was my first time to Daytona, first time shooting the NSCS roundy round, but the results, IMHO, came out pretty well.

Bud Shootout Pics -> http://www.jasonfagan.com/imageGallery/

And while spending the day and night hoofing around the infield, I determined that it appears there are a TON of good vantage points to shoot the infield road course where there would be no fencing in between me and the action.

I've pulled the trigger and I'm going back for the AMA Daytona 200. And I will have my gripped 50D and my shiny new 300 f/4L this time!

So is anyone going?

So Tuesday at 5PM I fly from cold, damp Central Ohio to KJAX and I will be arriving at the track at about 1-3AM Wednesday morning. I am parking and camping in the infield, inside turn 3 in the orange camping area.

I shipped a 40lb box with my tent, air mattress, sleeping bag, pillow, towel, shower flip-flops, a backpack and my camping bag of hot dog sticks, bug spray, fire starters, etc - via UPS ground to our JAX store - here's hoping that all arrives in one piece!

I've got a Ford Explorer rent-a-wreck lined up, am taking my AC inverter, even a Mongoose 21-speed full suspension mountain bike dropped at the shop by one of our employees for me to get around on.

I'll have my Verizon air card and laptop with PS CS3, JAlbum and Dreamweaver, and I hope to be one of the very first to publish online, night racing pics of SuperSports 'under the lights' within just a few hours after the conclusion of the race.

This should be a pretty wild adventure all the way around. I've shot pro level bike racing (albeit from the spectator side of the fence) before, and have learned from my mistakes. Now with an IS lens and a good bit more reach, I am hoping for some really good results!

Anybody else going to be there shooting or not?

I hope none of this comes across as bragging it's just that I'm massively excited. I think I just peed a little. :cool:

[2wheeler]

Count me in. Our company is holding a conference there during bike week. I will be at both the 200 and the motocross race. Should be good. There will be portable lights for the infield, more than enough, and the track lights for the tri-oval. Outside lights of tri-oval working at 100% and the inside lights of tri-oval at 50%. Not sure what adjust will be needed for the banking because of the light power, but should be fun finding out.