Club Motorcycle Championship Racing from the UK - 56k Beware

Well I guess my 2007 season got under way properly this weekend, when the popular North East Motorcycle Racing Club kicked its 2007 championship off at Croft Circuit in the North East of England. There were some 260+ bikes entered and as usual, there was some great racing. Conditions were tough - with gale force winds that become so strong they caused Sunday's races to be abandoned completely. The snow didn't help much either....

I was also trying out a new Sigma 2XTC, so there's a couple of new angles for me. What did I think of it? Well have a look at the pictures below and judge for yourself.

#1 Jordan Thompson on his GP125 Honda RS rounds Complex 2 - 1D mk I + 120-300 f2.8 + 2XTC

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top drawer Simon! the 1-series + 120-300 + 2xTC looks to be a winner.

I tried a 2x TC with my 120-300 and on the 20D it wasn't all that, AF was slow and it hunted, looks like you've not had that problem here.

loving the sidecars shots and the last one

Some great shots there Simon, the sidecar with a wheel in the air is excellent.

I went to this event today (Sunday), but unfortunately it was cancelled due to the high winds.

John Hudson wrote in post #2891317
Some great shots there Simon, the sidecar with a wheel in the air is excellent.

I went to this event today (Sunday), but unfortunately it was cancelled due to the high winds.

Thanks John.

The wind was not good yesterday (Saturday) and I think was at least partly responsible for the number of incidents across the day. There was still two races from Saturday that were going to be ran ahead of Sunday's planned schedule.

The circuit was in touch with Teesside Airport, and they were just going on to severe gale warning around lunchtime. I must admit, I thought we were already having 'severe gales' when I got to the circuit! The two sidecar outfits that went out to assess conditions reported that they were just about being blown off the circuit down through Barcroft and Sunny. Given the speeds (particularly at Barcroft), abandoning the days racing was really the only option. Shame though, as Saturday's racing was excellent.

Cheers,

Simon.

Dave_G wrote in post #2891227
top drawer Simon! the 1-series + 120-300 + 2xTC looks to be a winner.

I tried a 2x TC with my 120-300 and on the 20D it wasn't all that, AF was slow and it hunted, looks like you've not had that problem here.

loving the sidecars shots and the last one

Thanks Dave.

The combination works well, very well. Obviously, there are some compromises and AF speed is definately slowed a little, along with some degradation in image quality. I figured if it could keep up with motorbikes (small target with not a lot of contrast on the front end) in a gale and crap light, then it should work pretty well for cars once the summer arrives .

Cheers,

Simon.

A nice set there Simon. I particularly like the low angles on the sidecar shots.

I become more and more tempted to replace my 300 f/4L with a 120-300 every time I see somebody post shots from it.

Another purchase Simon ?
Looks like it was worth the money and let's face it, the only other realistic way to get 500 or 600mm involves selling vital organs or family members. It's good to see the combination works well on a 1-series. I might get to try it some day if Canon ever get the MK3 into the shops

You'll probably find that even a reasonable amount of sunlight makes a world of difference. I noticed over the 2 days of the RallyX Superprix last October that the results from Sunday when the sun was out were a hell of a lot better than saturday when it was dull.
I gave this meeting a miss as it was blowing a gale down here so i knew Croft would be even worse.

pswillies wrote in post #2891969
A nice set there Simon. I particularly like the low angles on the sidecar shots.

I become more and more tempted to replace my 300 f/4L with a 120-300 every time I see somebody post shots from it.

Thanks! I am certainly enjoying my 120-300, and am looking forward to the car racing get underway properly to really put it through its paces.

Cheers,

Simon.

I know I keep harping on but don't forget Langbar 2nd April

It is just no fare that you all use clear visors. I can't remember the last time I saw a rider with a clear one here in this area.

Great collection of shots there too. Just the kind of light the sigma likes to play in. Cheers.

Croasdail wrote in post #2895671
It is just no fare that you all use clear visors. I can't remember the last time I saw a rider with a clear one here in this area.

Give it a month or 2 and the tinted visors will be out here too...

hey.... just noticed "EOS20D + Battery Grip with "character"..... that's funny only because it is so true. Your going to miss the extra .3 factor there. I kept my 20d just for the track and the extra reach. Anyway, sorry Simon for the diversion. Cheers.

Croasdail wrote in post #2895671
It is just no fare that you all use clear visors. I can't remember the last time I saw a rider with a clear one here in this area.

Great collection of shots there too. Just the kind of light the sigma likes to play in. Cheers.

Thanks!

The clear visors and being able to see the riders face really do add to the shots.

Cheers,

Simon.

Great shots, the last is my favorite. Nice selection of angles as well.

Very nice Simon, I particularly like #1 & 7. It was a pity about Sunday


Cheers
Ian