Something to get the Croft regulars in the mood...

[GSH]

The Circuit racing season at Croft finally gets under way this weekend. The more observant amongst you will be thinking "hmm that's a bit late?" but as some of the Neighbours have kicked up a stink and had an injunction slapped on the Circuit, we're lucky the season is getting underway at all...

Anyway, amongst other series appearing this weekend, we have the opening rounds of Darlington & District Motor Club's Northern Saloon & Sports Car Championship (or is it Sports & Saloon...i'm never sure) so i've been trawling through the archive to refresh my memory a bit..

#1. The forecast suggests this is what we may well see this weekend..
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/NSSCC%2008/BARC-0676.jpg

#2 Saving on rubber..
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/NSSCC%2008/DDMC%2017%20May-0328.jpg

#3 Andrew Gallacher's nutty Focus - Now gracing the Time Attack series so i hear..
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/NSSCC%2008/DDMC%2017%20May-0495.jpg

#4 The early laps are always fun at the Complex..
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/NSSCC%2008/DDMC%2018%20May-0030.jpg

#5 Shot through the fence. I have plans for this angle at certain meetings this year - subject to crowds..
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/NSSCC%2008/DDMC%2018%20May-0237.jpg

#6 Please, please PLEASE let this lovely beast out to play this year...
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/NSSCC%2008/DDMC%20September%2027-0491.jpg

#7 One to try for the BTCC as the tyres never last past lap 1
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/NSSCC%2008/DDMC%20September%2027-0499.jpg


#8. Nothing to do with this weekend, but it's the BTCC in 4 weeks and i felt like posting this one!
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Other/Croft%20BTCC%20Sunday-0022.jpg


Over to you....or not as the case may be.

[Ian_H]

Northern Saloon & Sports Car Championship (or is it Sports & Saloon...i'm never sure)

Your first one is correct, It is The Northern Saloon & Sports Car Championship and I'm really looking forward to the season kicking off again. The Equippe GTS sound interesting and there will probably be some carnage from the Scottish XR2's;). The MX5's always seem to provide some good racing (for a bunch of hairdressers;):lol:) and the Scottish Saloon & sports should be putting in an appearance so it should be a good weekend, just a bit pissed off I am supposed to be at Blyton on Sunday:(


Cheers
Ian

[Simon Harrison]

Well there you go! I always thought it was the other way around. I think I'll just stick to calling it the NSSCC!

Excellent apetite whetter Geoff. There's 40+ registered for the NSSCC this year, so hopefully most will be out this weekend. There's also supposed to be 30+ MX5s out to play, so we just need a decent grid from the Equipe and Jedis and the weekend will be sorted.

Bring it on!

Simon.

[restyles]

Love that flamey Focus shot Geoff.. nice. Looks like you boys up there are in for a treat this weekend. Enjoy.

[PhotosGuy]

Good shots. Neighbours have kicked up a stink and had an injunction slapped on the Circuit, My home track has been under an injunction & limited to about a dozen weekends a year. The track was there first & the subdivision has made us run with mufflers to keep the noise down. That SO sucks!

The first one reminds me of a similar situation in the rain where I looked in my mirror & was thinking, "Don't screw up! Don't screw up!" :D

[KennyG]

I'll miss Croft this year Geoff. I decided to stick with the MSV circuits and reduce my workload. I would love to retire from it all but they won't let me!

The Croft situation is a disgrace and I know quite a lot of what is behind it which never came out in court. Start truck racing, that'll keep them amused.

Is 51 in your first shot still driving home in the car after the meeting?

Yes, the bonkers Focus appears in Time Attack. Now that's an event best avoided. No idea of who is in the lead, looks like boy racers on a trip out, all very confusing. I had to cover it along with the EDC (drifting) and, yes it was different, but once was more than enough.

[GSH]

I'll miss Croft this year Geoff. I decided to stick with the MSV circuits and reduce my workload. I would love to retire from it all but they won't let me!



You'll make more comebacks than Frank Sinatra did Ken ;)

Strange that you should mention Truck Racing. There's actually a Demo run at this "Truckfest" event they're having soon and there was a recent story in Motorsport News claiming Croft is a possible venue. Allegedly restricted Diesels are "quieter" than race engines... Hah !

I believe the Driver of #51still drives the car to & from the Circuit. I seem to recall Simon mentioning it to me a while ago.

[Z FOTOTECHNIKA]

After I saw that model, I couldn't even remeber what photos came before...lol wow:eek:

[matt sayle]

Sorry to drag this all the way up but are all these taken spectator side? Also, what focal length were they taken at?

Making my first trip Oop North on Sunday ;)

[GSH]

Sorry to drag this all the way up but are all these taken spectator side? Also, what focal length were they taken at?


All from public areas apart from #8 which was in the pit lane.

1 to 5 are 500mm on the 1DMK2N, 6&7 are 420mm and 8 was with a 70-200.

[matt sayle]

All from public areas apart from #8 which was in the pit lane.

1 to 5 are 500mm on the 1DMK2N, 6&7 are 420mm and 8 was with a 70-200.

Thanks for that, looks like I am going to have some cropping to do as I only go up to 300mm!

[GSH]

Thanks for that, looks like I am going to have some cropping to do as I only go up to 300mm!

The end of the start/finish straight (#1) and the Complex (#4) should be doable with a 300, albeit somewhat looser than those i've posted here.

300 on a 1.6x body should also be fine for the chicane (#6 and 7 here). Sometimes it's too easy to bolt on the big lenses and go for the usual shots. You never know, you might find something different.

[Jonathan]

Love the first for some reason I cannot adequately explain.