Food City 500 at Bristol

[Tom W]

NASCAR at its best - sort-of. My first race shots in 20+ years, with a few lessons learned.

First, the venue - this is what 160,000 people look like sitting around a 1/2 mile banked oval track:

http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/41662957.jpg


Bristol is built to allow a maximum number of people to enjoy watching the race, and it is great for that purpose. But it isn't built for fans with cameras, at least not in the 6th row. I had to shoot action across the track for the most part, due to the obtrusive fence in front of our seats. There were also quite a few infield obstructions that a higher seat would have helped with.

I really should have got up to walk with the camera more, but given the seating situation, getting in and out was not easy. Next time, I'll vacate the seat and walk for about 2/3 of the race.

Anyway, here's a couple:

http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/41662982.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/41662971.jpg

And a couple from right in front - you can see how the fence was a problem from my position.

Jarrett pulling out of the pits:

http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/41662967.jpg

And Jeff Gordon leaving pit row on the back straight:

http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/41662978.jpg

And finally, Stewart's spin on turn 3 - he got bumped and spun around once, got straight, and continued the race. Unfortunately, I was on single shot so I didn't get a nice series:

http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/41662984.jpg

I had a great time with this one - first NASCAR. Oddly, my neck got sunburned! Its quite red today. :)

[avdh20]

Cool man, your shots actually turned out great considering the conditions. I got to go to the Califonia Speedway last month. My friend and I kinda snuck our way through the pit area. I got some pretty sick shots. Let me know If you want to see any. Happy shooting, and Happy Racing. Boogity, Boogity, Boogity!!!!

[blinking8s]

i was there!!! not shooting the race (although I wish I was), but working for the speedway childrens charity fund...we do service work with the speedway at every race...

can you believe they are adding more seating to the track? insane...hehe. Glad I had a parking pass though :)

Sat totally sucked though, 75 the day before to 45 degree down-pour and I was outside working...

[Tom W]

i was there!!! not shooting the race (although I wish I was), but working for the speedway childrens charity fund...we do service work with the speedway at every race...

Do you have access to the areas where the photogs congregate? I'd love to help out (as long as I can work my shooting into the event).

can you believe they are adding more seating to the track? insane...hehe. Glad I had a parking pass though :)

They can only go up higher - it would be impossible to make the seats any narrower!
That parking pass was worth its weight in gold - we had to push my friend's F-150 through the mud to drier ground where we parked.

Sat totally sucked though, 75 the day before to 45 degree down-pour and I was outside working...

I was in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately, the heavy rain didn't allow for some nice shots. I do intend to head up there again sometime before the schools let out when you can still get around a bit. Its a very nice area, but also very crowded.

Anyway, I'm glad that it cleared up for the race. Very enjoyable experience.

[stoneylonesome]

Cool shots. Thanks for sharing. nice job.

[Kinger]

Great shots, now I really can't wait for the Dover race (my first race, and bringing my gear)

[Tom W]

Thanks, Stephen & Stoney -

Might as well pass on what I've learned with this race. The seating is tight, so travel a little light. I brought a reasonably healthy cooler with food, water, gatorade, & beer. Found that I probably should have brought a little less cooler as I took quite a bit back to the truck with me after the race. As for gear, I carried my 15 mm fisheye, 50/1.4, and the 100-400. Used the 100-400 extensively, and the fisheye a couple of times. I left the 24-70 at the Chalet for weight reduction, but it would have been useful as well, though the 100-400 was by far the most useful lens for the race. 100 was a little long for close-to-the-fence shooting though. Being in tight quarters, switching lenses was a pain in the butt.

I was pretty weighed down by all my gear, and by the time we got to the top of cardiac hill, I was feeling the effects. The 70-300 DO might be a good choice for weight, along with a 24-85 or something of that nature. As long as its very bright out, fast apertures aren't quite as necessary, though fast focusing is a must.

Get up and move around a little - don't spend a lot of time anywhere or the ushers will usher you off, but they don't mind if you stop and take a shot from various spots. The stands are very vertical, so you can stop at the fence and take a shot or two (something which I didn't do, but should have) without blocking people's views. Just don't loiter for more than a few minutes.

A photo vest is not a bad idea, as opposed to putting your gear bag under the seat. Mine stayed clean and dry, but things can get wet and dirty on the concrete below the seat as the fans behind you spill things. The vest also allows you to wander a bit more without leaving gear behind for your friends to watch.

Slow that shutter down - I really could have dropped shutter speed at least in half to get a more significant blurring effect as I panned the cars in the back straight. Also, pick some spots on the track where you have a good view if you're going to shoot from the seat. I have quite a few shots that have various poles, satellite dishes, and gasoline signs blocking the cars. Being up high would help.

Be careful of the folks around you - nothing says "hello" quite the same way as a 400 mm lens hood in the face. Its easy to get lost in your pan and forget the guy next to you. Be especially careful if he is the one that drove you to the race. :)

[stoneylonesome]

Great advice for any type of event. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

[blinking8s]

A fraternity brothers father runs the fireworks for the events at Bristol, we usually get full pit passes to help out with that, and since I know most of the local Press I usually get to hang out with them for a bit. The only thing Icouldnt do was sit with photogs during the race, but Im sure if I tried hard enough I could pull that off too...Im so busy during the events there that I rarely have time to go shoot though.

We usually raise about $30,000 and clock 10x more service hours than normal on weekends there alone. Its a great fundraiser and a lot of fun getting to go to the race for free. I really should auction those parking passes off on ebay :)

[Jetmech1]

Great pics. I'll be at the night race in Charlotte this October. Hopefully by then I'll have a fast L series zoom for some nice night shooting. Bristol is a great race, but a nightmare to get to and from the track I hear. Never been there, maybe one day.

[blinking8s]

http://www.blinking8s.com/temp/dev/pixelpost/v1.4/images/20050414040842_img_9396.jpg

;)