The Roaring Season

GD66 wrote:Wow, more goodies : love that Halliday tribute Escort. Excuse the ignorance Nigel, but I've never been to Hampton : it does look as though cameramen are able to get good shots from pretty close to the track. That would make it something of an exception in terms of newer circuits !

Yes. One of the reasons I really like HD. All of my shots were taken from the spectator enclosure as I don't have a media pass [hint hint!]

Nigel- the quality- clarity, colour action-of your pics never ceases to amaze me.
You have even caught me with my arm catching some breeze with the window down on the parade lap

GD66 wrote:Wow, more goodies : love that Halliday tribute Escort. Excuse the ignorance Nigel, but I've never been to Hampton : it does look as though cameramen are able to get good shots from pretty close to the track. That would make it something of an exception in terms of newer circuits !

GD66 - I believe that is the Halliday Escort, but I could be wrong!

All of my own pics are from the spectator areas GD66 and for my money, the photo opportunities either as paying spectators or as Media pass holding photographers, are as good as anywhere I have ever been to. Having access to the middle of the track gives you time to take pics from two or three great vantage points within the same race and without the hassles of overly high catch fencing.

Nigel, just go to the secretary's office and ask to sign the Photographer's disclaimer. If you don't have an orange Hi-Vis vest (please don't use yellow), you can borrow mine. I'll be around Grant Kern's big trailer on the road up to Hamptons.

Just check with the nearest flag post if you want to cross the track between races. This isn't Monaco or Silverstone and it is what makes spectating at HD's Classic/Historic events such a joy.

All we need is that massive support from the south now and again so that we can see some of those wonderful cars again now that I have a decent camera!

GD66 wrote:Wow, more goodies : love that Halliday tribute Escort. Excuse the ignorance Nigel, but I've never been to Hampton : it does look as though cameramen are able to get good shots from pretty close to the track. That would make it something of an exception in terms of newer circuits !

GD66 - I believe that is the Halliday Escort, but I could be wrong!

All of my own pics are from the spectator areas GD66 and for my money, the photo opportunities either as paying spectators or as Media pass holding photographers, are as good as anywhere I have ever been to. Having access to the middle of the track gives you time to take pics from two or three great vantage points within the same race and without the hassles of overly high catch fencing.

Nigel, just go to the secretary's office and ask to sign the Photographer's disclaimer. If you don't have an orange Hi-Vis vest (please don't use yellow), you can borrow mine. I'll be around Grant Kern's big trailer on the road up to Hamptons.

Just check with the nearest flag post if you want to cross the track between races. This isn't Monaco or Silverstone and it is what makes spectating at HD's Classic/Historic events such a joy.

All we need is that massive support from the south now and again so that we can see some of those wonderful cars again now that I have a decent camera!

Oh yes - the catch fencing - the bain of photographers.
I regret that I don't go to Pukekohe anymore because of the high fences.

John McKechnie wrote:Nigel- the quality- clarity, colour action-of your pics never ceases to amaze me.
You have even caught me with my arm catching some breeze with the window down on the parade lap

Thanks John. I just can't imagine how hot it must be inside your race suits. I'd sweat buckets if I tried that.

Great pics Nigel. A wheel (or two) off the floor or a bit of drift (not a lot of drift, as in drifting!) is what makes some of these cars photograph so well.

A much better crowd today than yesterday.

Car #281 was fixed and back in the fray today but it was a day of ups and downs for several of our drivers.

Most impressive return was car #75 after yesterday's engine blow up. Rob Berggren just happened to have a Ford Escort engine under his bench in one of the apartment garage units, so by the time lunch time came, car #75 was up and running again! Brilliant - but it kept the reserve list up!

Car #866 had issues and when fixed, found that a faulty radiator cap needed fixing - to be sorted overnight as there aren't many places stocking Renault Gordini parts locally!
Car #156 had a split radiator - but also returned after a replacement was sourced.

Sadly, in the afternoon handicap, we had our first panel damage of the weekend. #739 was faced with a spinning Cobra at Turn 1 and copped a damaged right front wing, but will race tomorrow. The Cobra will not run with us.

Car #146 freaked out when being caught by the two fast charging scratch guys and put himself off at turn 1 causing a little bit of body damage. Well done to Bruce Manon, overtaking the whole field, driving Mike Sexton's immaculate Escort, snatching the lead just before the final hairpin on the last lap.

Overall, a busy day on track with full grids for both handicaps and full grids for tomorrow (Sunday), still with reserves to call upon. Thankfully, our attrition rate appears to be lower than many smaller grids - which is a bit of a surprise to be honest! Well driven guys. Very proud of you. A couple of yellow flags certainly stopped the bulk of the faster cars getting to the front in the afternoon - typical of handicaps - yet they managed it during the morning race.

Race 13 from yesterday with me, John Samios and Murray- both had great runs today
The red flag period when the hemi had to be retrieved has been edited.
I fell off the track on turn one , was careful coming back on not to get close to the SUPER IMMACULATE GULF Camaro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHDOBt7GiNU