Need some baseline setting for group photo.

[factoryphoto]

I shoot motocross exclusively and was invited to Daytona to shoot the Ricky Carmichael Amt race and his motocross school. The motocross school is going to be mostly candid type shots and some photos of his students doing things he teaches. They want a group shot of the whole class which is about 100 students and all students will get a 8x10 or 11x17 printed photo. As I shoot wide open so much 2.8 with a 300 I am looking for some basic tips on settings for the group photo. Camera is a 1ds mark III, 1d Mark III and a 50D and lenses I have are canon 300 2.8, canon 70-200 2.8, canon 17-40 and a canon 28-135 lens.
I am thinking about F11 to try to get everyone in focus and set the shutter where ever to get correct exposure. I will have a tripod (that i have never used in my life lol) but what about where you focus? Do you focus on the center row using all focus points?
Any tips and what camera/lens of what i am bringing would you use would be of great help.
thank you in advance.
Hoss

[FamilyJules]

Wit that many people, I would do what I can to try to get above the crowd.... We are often asked to get a shot of the entire guest list at a wedding, so I will usually find a balcony or make use of a ladder. That way, You don't have heads growing out of heads (if you stack), and also, the shorter people in the back won't get so lost.
F11 should be more than enough to get everyone in focus. This is also a fun angle to get the "woohoo" shot, as well... the one where everyone yells and throws their hands up.
A couple examples of large groups shot from a higher vantage point:
(Obviously not 100 people, but you get the idea of not losing the people in the back)
http://jwilsonphotography.smugmug.com/Weddings/Marianne-and-Fernando-101109/IMG139/767349591_HiZJC-XL.jpg
A larger group shot from a balcony about 100 ft away:
http://jwilsonphotography.smugmug.com/Weddings/Marianne-and-Fernando-101109/IMG320/767362481_uKsoK-XL.jpg

[factoryphoto]

Thank you for the reply.. Unfortunately I will be on the grass in the middle of the Daytona speedway track on flat ground. If there is a JLG lift in site I may ask to get on it but I dont think they will allow it but never know. I will be shooting straight at them from a tripod. Shortest to tallest front to back row probably 10-15 a row. With the FF body with the 70-200 I should be able to get pretty close I hope.

[gonzogolf]

The other advantage of getting up high and shooting down is that you tilt the focal plane accordingly and as result you can get more depth front to back.

[FamilyJules]

Thank you for the reply.. Unfortunately I will be on the grass in the middle of the Daytona speedway track on flat ground. If there is a JLG lift in site I may ask to get on it but I dont think they will allow it but never know. I will be shooting straight at them from a tripod. Shortest to tallest front to back row probably 10-15 a row. With the FF body with the 70-200 I should be able to get pretty close I hope.

Well, then possibly get the frist row to sit down on the grass... a few in front them even laying down (on their sides, perhaps), another row on their knees, and even another row again on their knees, but staggered from the row before them. The rest standing from shortest to tallest.
FF cam with the 70-200 should do the trick.
Bring a ladder if you can... any height will help

[tony rage]

if youre in the grass at daytona SW im sure youll find many RV's to climb to. I know thats where everyone brings their RVs and party... just an idea