Motorbikes, Sidecars and Autograss

[Simon Harrison]

Last weekend was my first full weekend of the 2009 season, with a trip to Croft for the North East Motorcycle Racing Club on Saturday, and then a trip to my local Autograss track on Sunday. I also wanted to give my 40D another workout at the track prior to more critical events later this month. Despite a very strong wind which made handling the 40D on my 500mm difficult, I am very happy with the results it produced.

Anyway, on to some pictures.

#1 Getting the knee down through Hawthorn. (40D + Sigma 500mm)


#2 Up close and personal with one of the sidecar outfits as they brake for the hairpin. (1d mk II + Sigma 500mm)


#3 These two had a race long battle with #18 coming out on top. (1d mk II + Sigma 500mm)


#4 Don't see me doing pans very often....... (1d mk II + Canon 85mm)


#5 The charge down into Clervaux Corner (40D + Sigma 500mm)


#6 Sidecars entering the Complex (1d mk II + Sigma 500mm)


#7 Another 'getting the knee down' shot. (40D + Sigma 500mm)


On to Sunday now, and the first time I've experienced problems caused by other photographers. A little tale for you. Last year at one of the Autograss events I couldn't get to, a couple of guys with DSLRs rock up and manage to blag their way into signing on. Investigation by the club later would show they had absolutely no right to be signed on at all and were shooting for their website / portfolio. The photographers then disregarded a lot of the rules that the club and governing body for the sport has (if they had any clue about what they were doing they would've asked about the dos and don'ts) and stood in some truely stupid places to get 'the shot'. Not only that, they trespassed on ground not owned or allowed to be used by the club. When asked to move, they gave a lot of lip back to club officials stating they were signed on photographers and could go where they wanted. They were "asked" to leave, but the upshot of this was a lot of rule changes. Now, signed on photographers can only stand next to, and I mean next to, a marshall and nor can you stand in front of the spectator line on the outside of the track. This means you have to try and shoot over, round or through 3 fences or between large orange traffic cones if you're on the inside of the track. You can imagine that this severely restricts the type of shot you can get. Even more than that, these rules have been adopted by the governing body, and will be applied at every track in the country.

So you see, blagging your way in can have huge, far reaching consequences to everyone involved in a particular sport.

#8 Anyway, keeping with the bike theme, here's a Hyabusa powered Class 8 special powering out of the start line bend. (1d mk II + Sigma 120-300)


Hope you like the pictures, and my apologies for the rant. The photographs were all taken with either a 1D mk II or a 40D and I used a combination of my Sigma 120-300mm, Sigma 500mm and my Canon 85mm f1.8.

There's full galleries on my website for those that are interested, and as usual any comments or feedback are most welcome.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Swiss Toni]

That last shot of the "busa" is a great catch.

[jbanbury]

Lovely set Simon, the last one is stunning! Brilliant shot

[Ian_H]

Great shots Simon, I would say better than you normal high standard, the 2 that stand out for me is the pan of the outfit and the last one.

I wonder if I could guess who the blaggers were although I think there was a blagger at Croft for the bikes also


Cheers
Ian

[chrispons]

Totally agree with the previous comments,not much to add,other than I wish I could pan as well as that.
Pons

[neil_r]

Great pictures I m a big fan of the tight crops.

[neil_r]

Just checked out your website, some amazing work there.

You have a typo on your "About" page "Adope Photoshop"

[Simon Harrison]

Originally Posted by Swiss Toni

That last shot of the "busa" is a great catch.

Thanks Swiss! Those Class 8 pilots are truely entertaining to watch

Simon,.

[Simon Harrison]

Originally Posted by jbanbury

Lovely set Simon, the last one is stunning! Brilliant shot

Thanks Jay. The Autograss is always fun to watch, and there's usually action on each and every lap.

Simon.

[gmen]

Been a while since I stopped by! Good to see your top notch work as always Simon. Loving all of 'em... the autograss shot is my fave of the bunch.

I also read your 'rant' with interest and I know exactly where you're coming from. It's a damn shame that your access is now restricted.

---- Gavin

[GSH]

Storming stuff Simon, maybe you can teach me how to use the 50D and 500mm on Saturday

If (like Ian has) i were to take a guess at the identity of the aforementioned "Blaggers", would i be correct?

[stuman16]

I love #5 and #6, they are really nice.

[Simon Harrison]

Originally Posted by Ian_H

Great shots Simon, I would say better than you normal high standard, the 2 that stand out for me is the pan of the outfit and the last one.

I wonder if I could guess who the blaggers were although I think there was a blagger at Croft for the bikes also


Cheers
Ian

Thanks Ian!

I honestly don't know who the 'blaggers' were, but I don't think they are who you're referring to.

I did see the marshalls eject someone from around by Hawthorn on Saturday morning though. He'd come through a gate that was clearly marked and still tried to protest that he didn't realise he shouldn't have been there.

Simon

[Simon Harrison]

Originally Posted by gmen

Been a while since I stopped by! Good to see your top notch work as always Simon. Loving all of 'em... the autograss shot is my fave of the bunch.

I also read your 'rant' with interest and I know exactly where you're coming from. It's a damn shame that your access is now restricted.

---- Gavin

Hi Gavin - long time no speak!

Hope you're well.

The biggest disappointment for me is that I have spent the best part of 6 or 7 years working with this particular club on where photographers can and can't go, only to have all of that undone by two very selfish individuals who just couldn't care less. More or less reflects society at the moment though.

Simon.

[Simon Harrison]

Originally Posted by GSH

Storming stuff Simon, maybe you can teach me how to use the 50D and 500mm on Saturday

If (like Ian has) i were to take a guess at the identity of the aforementioned "Blaggers", would i be correct?

Thanks Geoff.

I don't think you would be on this occasion Geoff, but I can't be sure.

Simon