Drag Racing First Timer, Rules Question

Hi Guys,

I am attending my first drag racing meet this weekend with a media pass to get in and shoot.

My question is, and i understand this might change from track to track.

But when shooting at night, using an external flash, is there areas down either side you can and cant shoot from to make it safer for the drivers.

or does the flash at such speed not make a difference?

Also, as far as being in other photographers way etc, is there any unwritten rules or etiquette i should be aware of?

Thanks in advance.

Not a drag racer (have done the spectator drag stuff/open nights before), but I wouldnt like to have flashes going off right next to the track while underway. May not affect some drivers, may others.

I wouldnt want to take pics from the wall past the start line. Seen quite a few cars get sideways and slam the barrier tossing parts (and sometimes the whole car) over it. Some photographers do, I personally wouldnt feel that safe.

Agree with Rob, not real safe taking pics downtrack unless you are well away from the wall or guardrail. Not sure about the flash question. If I was driving I wouldn't like it though

yea, see i thought the same as both of you.

But ive been asking around some photographers i know here who do i t all the time and they all do it. they all use flashes all the time and rekon theyve never had a complaint.


i just don't wanna be the cause of a accident that's worth more then my house

Well....there are a lot of "open" questions not answered by your original post......

First off...it will depend on what level of a track it is.
Most tracks will prohibit you from going any further than 300 feet down track. If its a top end NHRA, maybe 200 feet.
You can go down past the finish line and it will depend on what the track has for setup where you will be allowed. Some top level tracks have it where if you have long glass...you can shoot and get from start to finish......but then this is only good for day shots.

Some "old time" critic's claim that you shouldn't use flash near the starting line....but in fact...the drivers are watching the tower...so if your on the starting line side...they are looking away from you.

I shoot night nitro shots at about 250 feet....because the class level that is on this track don't even produce flames until almost the finish line. I actually get better day shots than night because of that.

Depending on the track lighting will be the whole determining factor for you.....the better the track the better the odds of some fair night shots. Lesser capacity track........unless you have top end new gear......concentrate more on launch shots....where you can get some really great reflective flash shots.

The key to night drag shots.......is use existing light to highlight your image...then use fill to capture.

Cool,

Its only a local track, and the fastest stuff there is 7 second pro stock cars.

I only recently found out theyve change from being all night but tstart at 1pm and finish at 9pm/ so i shud be able to get a fair amount of good day shots to get the idea of what its about

Thanks for your advice!

If the track is as dark as the track where I shoot, existing light won't do much after dark.

Most drivers tell me they don't notice the flash. The exception is Jr. Dragster drivers. Regardless, I usually don't shoot with flash during eliminations except for heads up classes. I figure if you are racing heads up instead of brackets, your level of concentration is good enough that it isn't an issue. This also guarantees that I have shot after both cars have left the starting line. On the rare occasions that I have shot bracket races with flash, I only shoot the quicker car because it leaves last. Some drivers have told me they really don't like flash while staging, even though they don't mind it at the launch.

iv never shot drag racing, but my favorite pic is behind the car with all the fumes coming up. and im not sure it would be very safe to use a flash. im not sure how it works with drag racing but i photograph dirtbikes and i know that a flash is a big no no. just because it will distract. but who knows with drag racing

I am surprized nobody said it. Check with the track officials. They are there for your safety as well as the safety of the drivers. I have raced at night, and when you see a bright flash out of the corner of your eye, you dont know what the heck it was. It may be a blower explosion from your competition in the other lane and cause you to react for no reason. I didnt have a problem at the starting line, but not down the track.

As long as you don't fire the flash when they're staging, the don't notice it. I only had one racer complain and it was because i flashed him when he was purging his nitrous... but he won the race so i told him to stop bitchin' about it.. and the photo was really nice. lol

I've raced at eastern creek a few times and had guys flashing with their camera's. I'm not in a 7 second car or anything so I can't speak for that level, but i can speak for the normal to modified street car level of entrants and the flashes don't annoy or anything.

you're in a helmet which will block most of your perepheral, and you're in a car, so you're flash has to go through a window which dulls it out.

You don't really notice them driving, and lots of other toggers flash, so I say go for it