Stupid Spectators

I'm out shooting at a local racing school and this idiot walks around the jersey barriers, past the cones and is standing next to the track. I look over and he is holding up his iPad taking pictures!

From what the owner of the school told me he had done this at several points on the track.

I did manage to catch a shot with him in it, standing on a downhill curve:

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I've seen lots of people attempting pics with iPads. I don't think i have ever seen a spectator on the wrong side of a barrier like that. Darwin will eventually take care of it, and probably get the track shut down in the process.

Let Darwin Work...

I love the people who take their iPads to concerts and hold them up to record video or take pictures.

bigVinnie wrote in post #14925823
Is this a common issue? or does Darwin take care of it?

It's nowhere near as common as Photographers standing in stupid places.

i went to a magazine sponsored private track day and the # of idiot photogs there astounded me. I didnt have track access so I shot from the sidelines, but here are a few things I saw.

1. Standing in the middle of the runnoff at the end of a high speed turn
2. crossing a hot track
3. standing in a low spot and popping up as cars came at them
4. laying down on the inside of the corner (now, its not as bad, but I would NEVER lay down if I was inside the track and had no barrier

These were not professional drivers. These were amateurs with some track experience. I was really surprised that no photog was killed or even hurt. SOme lucky bastards. But yes, I have seen plenty of idiodic people like this, especially during an event where its lower budget and there are less staff and most people assume that if you are there, you are not an idiot. I have personally yanked people out of the way of moving cars in the paddock because they are chimping or talking on their phone as a race car is coming up and nearly hits them.

As far as the iPad, yeah, he is an idiot. lol

GSH wrote in post #14929808
It's nowhere near as common as Photographers standing in stupid places.

Seen that a few times at Blackhawk Farms. One was taking pics in T4 right at the concrete wall behind the tires. Well bikes do fly OVER the wall pretty easy. Another one was setup between the trees after T3a right in an impact zone (well more of an alley for bikes that run off to ride through if need be).

Now at BHF, no track photographer pass, no access beyond the spectator fence anymore.

Have seen some rather idiot stunts by spectators though. Had a bike go down between T4 and T5. Cracked his waterpump. 2 other bikes lost it there. Well 3 spectators took it upon themselves to try to "stop" the riders still racing by running to the edge of the track. IMO they should had been arrested for tresspassing (much like a ball park). Bikes are around 80mph there. A bike goes down there, its spectator bowling and I guarantee those 3 morons would had probably left by helicopter or hearse.

This one is a new facility called The Ridge Motorsports Park. They are still working on setting up spectator areas and determining where photographers will be allowed.

The Olympus Rally is coming in Sept and the website is telling people that the best place to see the cars will be at this track. It will be interesting to see how this goes.

I personally intend to be somewhere else on the rally course.

It's not just photographers. Ever go to a rally?

GSH wrote in post #14929808
It's nowhere near as common as Photographers standing in stupid places.

Sorry Geoff, but I beg to differ. I see just as many spectators in ridiculous places as photographers.

Rhodri.Lew10 wrote in post #14931351
Sorry Geoff, but I beg to differ. I see just as many spectators in ridiculous places as photographers.

The OP is talking about shooting at Tracks. Last time i checked, that's something you don't do much, if at all.

I imagine if rallycross was more popular here we would be having a slightly different conversation.

The one in September will be the first one for me. It is the only one anywhere near me and it is once a year.

Usually the genuine Fotogs who have been around a while DONT get them selves in stupid places....It s the wekend warruiors & true amatuers ,....they're the ones who are dangerous..& pt them selves in danger,....

Theyrre the ones who are going to ruin it for all of us......

long, long L Lenses will soon be derigour....because of idiots like this guy...

BTW ,, as your on the outside of the corner exit... I hope you were behind a barrier,...still looks like a dangerous spot,...but Im assuming you were a distance away..

Al

I cropped out the jersey barrier. There is a dirt area, exit road to pits, more dirt and then the fence I'm standing behind. I seriously doubt there was much danger from my vantage point.

If you thought that spectator was bad....

http://www.wreckedmaga​zine.com …during-tandem-oops-video/