Road Racing Classic at Lime Rock

[Will Schneekloth]

My summer of motorsports begins! It's my last summer before I finish college, so I'm spending it doing odd jobs and photo assignments, but mostly driving out to car races as a spectator as many weekends of the summer as I can. Being from New Jersey, my main tracks are going to be Watkins Glen, Lime Rock and NJMP, plus one longer trip out to Mid Ohio for the ALMS/IndyCar weekend. I'll be shooting as a spectator, to work on my vision and technique and to build a portfolio to shop around for next season.

My first trip was to this weekend's Road Racing Classic at Lime Rock, hosting Historic Grand Prix, F2000, and Grand-Am Koni Challenge races. The weather was great, and I was really impressed at the level of access a spectator has at the park... it's a lot better than Watkins Glen in my view.

Anyway, my eight favorite from the weekend. C&C very appreciated!

1.
http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000nBk5xVV2_XY/s

2.
http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ZQ6c4XIwCaw/s

3.
http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000xGG2BI7_w5U/s

4.
http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000981.0jzSGTg/s

5.
http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000bxyqCIPWkxs/s

6.
http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000YWhXfD0JuRw/s

7.
http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000SFPrEguDxZU/s

8.
http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000.xVnmkjSbC8/s

More from the weekend are online here:

Monday: http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/wlschnee/gallery/Lime-Rock-Road-Racing-Classic-Mon-May-25-2009/G0000ZlaDUDg9Bcc
and here: http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/wlschnee/gallery/2009-05-25-LRP-Road-Racing-Classic/G00004EezjEoSRCk
Saturday: http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/wlschnee/gallery/Lime-Rock-Road-Racing-Classic-Sat-May-23-2009/G00000n5yNwHZMXE

[Eric McClellan]

I love #6, I like the grouping! :)

[John Thawley]

Yeah, 1 and 6 are really nice. I don't know how you pinched #7 in there. Nice job.

[Will Schneekloth]

Thanks Eric and John,
The Koni Challenge boys are good for bunched up racing like in #6 (the million or so 6 lap caution periods don't hurt either...). #7 came from the new spectator area on the outside before diving turn, on the downhill side of the bridge nearer to diving turn. There's a lot of different gap angles in the foliage you can shoot through from there that made for some neat looks.

Thanks again!
Will

[Ken Neher]

I will be going to lime rock for the first time in the summer and I would love some shooting tips for the track, from spectator available areas....

[Chris Kelly]

From someone that was at Lime Rock last July, can you please explain what that green stuff is immediately adjacent to the track surface? ;)

Some nice stuff here. Nothing new from me, I like 1, and 6.

[Will Schneekloth]

Thanks Chris,
It's obvious the amount of work they've put into re-greening the Park through the off-season, and will continue to do until it is back to the lush lawn it was. They have all kinds of mesh nets keeping grass and plant seed in place in the areas where last year's re-model left the ground barren and dusty. The only area of remaining dirt that I noticed was the island between the uphill turn and new chicane, but again that's an area where a lot of greening work is obviously in place for the summer.

The place is really beautiful. There are so many shades of green up in the forest hillsides, it's quite stunning.

Ken,
Accessibility as a fan at Lime Rock is really good. I've only shot at Watkins Glen seriously before, and this is a whole lot better. There are a lot of spots near the exit of Big Bend and near the new chicanes at the uphill and West Bend that provide great views, both as a spectator and photographer.

And an additional question for all the pros on here. Does this represent the kind of work your clients would be happy with? Is there anything I can focus or more (or less) that your typical clients are looking for in a weekend?

Thanks again,
Will

[John Thawley]

To address your question about what clients want; First, every client is different... and most shy away from "art" unless they run a team of red and silver Porsche GT2 cars with a critter of sorts emblazoned across the side of the car.

What you need to think about (and you can't shoot everything "for the clients"... but think about a shot YOU would choose if the client told you to design a poster or hero card... the criteria would be:

The whole car, preferably a side to 3/4 shot.
Clear and in focus.
Make sure all the sponsors (major anyway) are visible.
Also, make sure there are no offending or competing brands/manufacturer's names/banners visible in the background.

Have fun.

JT