Baltimore Grand Prix 2012

Here are a few shots from Friday practice at the Baltimore Grand Prix. The layout was less photo friendly than last year, if that is possible. All shots were taken from spectator areas. As always C&C welcome.

#1

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Very nice work.

I watched that on TV and kept thinking it would really suck to be there. It looked like with those mondo fences there it would be impossible to get any good photos.

You proved me wrong

I like number 6 a lot... Im going to really miss the series and real sports car racing.

Geeze, looks like the promotors decided to make their track just as photog-friendly as Long Beach ! Bless 'em....

Good work, despite that !

Thanks for the comments everyone. It was not a fun time. The one spot that didn't have catch fences last year, and didn't need them, had some this year blocking the view. They actually put up blue tarps in that area on Saturday and Sunday. At least the grandstands were general admission on Friday which allowed shooting over the fence in one spot. They also forgot to close off a foot bridge for a couple of the early practice sessions, that is how i got the overhead shots.

jeast wrote in post #14951720
Im going to really miss the series and real sports car racing.

It sounds like ALMS GT is going to carry on under the new series, so all is not lost. The merger has the potential to be really great, races at Daytona and Sebring in the same championship for the first time in years. But with NASCAR people involved we will probably end up with a sportscar version of "The Chase".

autoidiodyssey wrote in post #14953322
Thanks for the comments everyone. It was not a fun time. The one spot that didn't have catch fences last year, and didn't need them, had some this year blocking the view. They actually put up blue tarps in that area on Saturday and Sunday. At least the grandstands were general admission on Friday which allowed shooting over the fence in one spot. They also forgot to close off a foot bridge for a couple of the early practice sessions, that is how i got the overhead shots.

It sounds like ALMS GT is going to carry on under the new series, so all is not lost. The merger has the potential to be really great, races at Daytona and Sebring in the same championship for the first time in years. But with NASCAR people involved we will probably end up with a sportscar version of "The Chase".

I guess I'm just pessimistic lol... But for the Daytona Protos to be the top class they are going to have to really slow down the GT cars because the are the same speed and even a little faster at some tracks and that would make them not ACO GT2 cars anymore

About the only spots I could find was entering the pits and a rear view. Last years spots were covered by the second layer of fence.. Very nice shots, would love to find those locations next year. I concentrated on the paddock area, love details of car construction..

They didn't do anyone any favors with all the added chain link and blue fences this year. Luckily I had credentials this year (didn't have any last year) which made it a little easier but the track is still a challenge. If they do the same next year the only places to shoot without creds come Saturday/Sunday is pit in and entering turn 12 from the rear. On Friday you can get some decent stuff from atop the 1st turn grand stands along with entering turn 10.

Thanks for the comments. #3 and #6 were taken from the grandstands by Pickle's across from Camden Yards with a 500mm. You could just get over the fence at the top of the grandstand. On Friday the grandstands are all general admission so you can freely go to any of them. #2 and #4 were taken from the foot bridge over Pratt Street by the Convention Center, it was open early on Friday. If I go back next year I will probably only go on Friday.