Michigan, Ohio, Sarnia, Ontario Race weekend.

[PhotosGuy]

I’ve noticed that we have more than 20 members in Michigan & with Ohio, Sarnia & Ontario not too far away, I’d like to purpose a group get-together at Waterford Hills Road Racing on August 28th (Sunday). I’ve picked this date 'cause Sunday is a class & feature race schedule, where Sat is only practice & class races.

It’s an excellent track for photography & you can get very close to the cars. This is club racing so you’ll see a great variety of cars, but probably not any “big time” iron, but you never know who might show up to test a car. Note that this is a RAIN OR SHINE event. (Bring your rain tires, I mean tyres… I mean gear.)

We’ll be able to get access to the pits. Supervised children under 12 are welcome in the pits, but liability releases will have to be signed by the parents for all childern entering that area. You'll have to sign one for yourself, too. No releases are needed for the spectator area, & children aren't allowed on the corners of course.

We’ll also be able to shoot from the pit barriers & some of the flag stations at the corners if you would like to. Downside to this will an early meeting with the Chief Steward for a mandatory safety lecture, probably between 8:30 & 9AM, but that time won’t be confirmed ‘till the week before the event.

Practice starts at 10AM & racing at 10:25AM. If someone would like to arrive later than the “early meeting group” I can try to meet you at a later time.

There is a picnic area & concession stand inside of turn 3, so you have options. While there are stands for spectators at points around the track, I’d suggest that your own lawn chair might be more comfortable. ;) Be advised that there aren’t many areas that offer shade.

PM me with an email address if you think you’d like to attend so we can keep in touch. Total cost per person will be under $20 as I’m told we can get a discount but that hasn’t been worked out yet. Payment, whatever it is will be at the track, so there’s no problem if you say you want to go & something comes up in the meantime.

WHRRI Home page & track layout (http://www.waterfordhills.com/)

The track is about 50 miles N of downtown Detroit, a few miles off I-75.

Directions (http://www.waterfordhills.com/info/trackinfo.htm)

Some pics from last year’s races (http://************/cfmzl)

[HJMinard]

I'm in, Frank ...

[Pamela107]

Sounds great to me

Pamela

[PhotosGuy]

Great, that's two, maybe three. Lots of room for more.
Pamela, don't forget the PM w/email address so I can keep everyone up to date. ;-)

[AngelaS]

Sounds good to me!

[KirkM]

I'm in Frank, but only if you share some shooting tips :) Sending you a PM.

Kirk

[PhotosGuy]

Got it! Looks like 5 of us so far! More if members of the female persuasion get around to sending their email.

[Jon Foster]

I'm in too. I have to check with the boss to be sure nothing is going on that day but for now I'm in...

Jon.

[mrclark321]

I'm interested Frank but I also have to check with boss and work schedule.

Is this a place I could bring my 10 year old son?

Dan

[PhotosGuy]

Dan, I hope you can make it.
Yes, he can come into the pits. I'll have to edit the 2nd paragraph to read, "supervised children under 12 are welcome in the pits, but liability releases will have to be signed by the parents for all childern entering that area." You'll have to sign one for yourself, too. No releases are needed for the spectator area, & children aren't allowed on the corners of course.

[PhotosGuy]

We now have at least 10 people in the group! Anyone else?

[HectorsGTI]

I am interested but I have a wierd work schedule. I won't know for sure until a few weeks beforehand.

[Persian-Rice]

I'm in if I have no work or other arrangement in place. But it's a pretty long drive for me, a good 400km, It's also on the other side of the border and I usually have to go through hell to get across. I know and they know I was born and raised here, but I am young and of Persian blood, so they either think I am trying to smuggle weed & alcohol or a WMD. I'm not kidding. So I will get back to you on that. Put my status as 50/50.

[PhotosGuy]

But it's a pretty long drive for me, a good 400km, We'd be happy to have you come, but I can identify with that as I've made it many times pulling a trailer. Remember, this is club racing with the main advantage being that you can get close to the cars. OTOH, Mosport is only about 1 hour to your NEast. ;-)

BTW, there is free camping on the club grounds. If anyone wants to come out on Friday night or Saturday, arrangements can be made to get in at whatever our reduced price turns out to be.

[Roach711]

Definitley interested!

[RonSmith]

Thanks for the PM Frank. As I mentioned, as long as nothing unexpected comes up, I am definitely looking forward to meeting everyone at the races.

My Waterford photos...
http://www.pbase.com/rs2/cars
http://www.pbase.com/rs2/cars_20d

[PhotosGuy]

NOTICE: An initial test email was sent out a few days ago to everyone who said that they were interested.
PLEASE read & forward it back to me so that I know that I can communicate that way with you. Not everyone has PM enabled & it's a PITA to have to ask a moderator to pass on a message.
If you didn't get it, then maybe you ought to PM me now? ;-)

[Persian-Rice]

Umm, count me out Frank. It's very tempting, but the drive is very long and to be honest something similar has grabbed my interest. ALMS will be going to mosport (150km from me) on Sep 2-4. I will probably be going to that instead.

Have fun guys.

[Rigrider]

I'm in...will have to book that night off of work, but won't be a problem. And Persian-Rice, if you change your mind, you can cross with me..I know most of the customs guys by name and they never give me a hard time! :D

PMing now!

L8r,

[HectorsGTI]

Are we there yet?

[PhotosGuy]

:D:D Soon! Use the time to sharpen your shutter speeds & fill up those apertures! ;)

[RAitch]

This is tempting as I've never shot cars before... yet I'm not sure that I can tear myself away from my family that day.

Great idea though. I'd like to meet some people and take some photos with some other lenses :)

[PhotosGuy]

Bring them along? PM your email address & I'll put you on the list for updates. If you decide not to come, it's not a big thing. No $s paid 'till you arrive. ;-)

[HectorsGTI]

are we there yet?

[PhotosGuy]

First email sent to everyone on the list. Please don't reply by PM.
Frank

[HectorsGTI]

Um, I never got an email :D

And I just purchased a new domain soley for this photo shoot. Well not really, but I did get one. 00Photo.com (http://www.00photo.com/content)

I spent the last week coding it up. It is fully operational and breathtakingly empty. I'm sorting thru over 10,000 photos right now. That's a hoot. At least I'll have someplace to host my photos now :D

[mrclark321]

Frank

I hope everyone has a great time! I wish I could have went but my back in not co-operating!!

Lets see lots of great shots!!!
Dan

[PhotosGuy]

Email resent Hector.
Several people haven't replied. I wonder how many got lost in "email hell"? I'll give it a few days & then resend to the rest.

[PhotosGuy]

Thanks, Dan. Sorry you can't make it. I understand about the back. Luckily, mine only seems to go out for 1-2 days when it does. It's not due again 'till next year! ;-)

[HectorsGTI]

Got that email. I will be there insanely early so I can recon the track a bit before the safety meeting.

[PhotosGuy]

Hector, the safety meeting will only take 5-10 minutes. We'll have lots of time for recon in the time before the races start. Get some sleep! ;-)

[PhotosGuy]

CONFIRMATION:

1. The safety meeting WILL be at 9AM. Meet me in the pits at the track side of the timing tower.

2. I’m sending another email with some info re directions & a PM now to those who haven't yet replied with the names. This will be my last attempt to reach you.

We have 9 people so far! It should be fun! ;)

[HectorsGTI]

I'm used to getting up early for a day at the track. Usually because I'm driving though. You always want to get there early for the best paddock spots. It usually takes me a couple hours to walk around and plan shots and pick where you want to be for the morning light, afternoon light and evening light. Especially if I've never been to a circuit. We spent the better part of a day doing recon for the F1 race at Indianapolis. That place is too friggin big. It was kinda funny because everywhere I picked the day before had a large crowd of photogs crowded around it when the cars were out on circuit. I guess I could have saved myself all the walking and just looked for the big groups of photogs all huddled together lol.

[PhotosGuy]

I've walked big tracks too, but trust me on this, Hector, it's a small track & you can see everything you need to see in the hour before engine start at 10AM. ;-)

[PhotosGuy]

The names are now on the list. I've arranged that the list notes that names my be added at registration as early as Friday night, so if anyone else wants to come, then be our guest!

My final email has been sent, along with a jpg of generally good shooting angles in case I get run over by a truck on the way to the track or if you arrive late & can’t find us. ;) Contact info is in the email.

See you Sunday, rain or shine,
Frank

[RAitch]

Have fun guys... I can't make it.
As far as finding you if somebody comes late... just look for a cluster of people with POTN straps!! ;)

[HectorsGTI]

See you guys there!

[mrclark321]

HAVE GREAT DAY TOMORROW EVERYONE, LOOK FORWARD TO THE PICS!

Dan

[PhotosGuy]

Thanks, Dan. Good weather is predicted. I was looking forward to getting some more rain shots!:D;)

[Jon Foster]

Well, we spent most of the day with Frank and Hector at the track and I must say we had a blast! The weather was fantastic and the company was great. I took over 250 pictures so it will be a few days before I can get through them all but this one caught my eye while I was down loading my CF card to the PC... I guess I like the look on his face...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v601/jfoster48386/Canon%20300D/Planes%20Trains%20and%20Automobiles/ARealDrag.jpg

Jon.

[HectorsGTI]

I think my eyes are sunburned now..........

[Jon Foster]

I think my eyes are sunburned now..........

Ha ha ha, did you see my face when we left? I not only have a sunburn "everywhere" on my head and neck but I have these stupid looking white lines around my eyes from squinting all day!

Jon.

[HectorsGTI]

I have a couple VW photos processed already. Gotta do the VW's first!

Rabbit vs Mustang, classic.
http://00photo.com/codename/itbgti006.jpg

Early morning shot:
http://00photo.com/codename/itbgti007.jpg http://00photo.com/codename/itbgti005.jpg

[RonSmith]

Nice shots Hector.

Frank, it was good to meet you and the other guys. Sorry we didn't get there earlier. Here are a few shots I took at turn 1...
http://i.pbase.com/v3/12/464812/2/48346719.082805199a.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/v3/12/464812/2/48348771.082805194a.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/v3/12/464812/2/48348772.082805229a.jpg

[mrclark321]

Great shots everyone!! I wish I could have attended.

Dan

[PhotosGuy]

GEEEEEZ, I'm the last one posting! You guys are FAST! :D Nice shots, everyone!
I'm glad we could do this & it was fun meeting someone who hasn't heard all of my old war stories! (Sorry about that, guys!) ;)

FYI, I also got kicked off the hill at turn 2! I had to ignore the "Turn Ferns" waving me off for a few minutes, but I got some shots first! :D
I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of your shots in "Sports" in a few days.

OK, here's a couple of mine, #1 'cause 66 was my old number & well, I had to put it up first!
And the 2nd, 'cause the bright yellow was easy to see at 6AM!
:D :D :D