NASA Championships @ MidOh-Friday

[Chris Clark]

I went to the NASA Championships today at Mid-Ohio. After attending the SCCA Runoffs for the last several years, and it becoming my favorite event of the year, I was pretty irritated when they took their ball and went home. Today being only the second NASA event I've ever attended, I went with a bit of skepticism. I was pleasantly surprised.

The sun peeked through for about 2 minutes all day, the rest of the day was cloudy. Not an ideal day for shooting, but you have to make do.

So here are a few of what I got today:

1.
http://themotorsportreport.com/webimages/NASAFri01R.jpg

2.
http://themotorsportreport.com/webimages/NASAFri02R.jpg

3.
http://themotorsportreport.com/webimages/NASAFri03R.jpg

4.
http://themotorsportreport.com/webimages/NASAFri04R.jpg

5.
http://themotorsportreport.com/webimages/NASAFri06R.jpg

6.
http://themotorsportreport.com/webimages/NASAFri09R.jpg

7.
http://themotorsportreport.com/webimages/NASAFri07R.jpg

8.
http://themotorsportreport.com/webimages/NASAFri05R.jpg


Not an entirely bad day, but I have to say I wasn't all that happy with my "catch" today. I guess I'll have to try a little harder tomorrow.

C&C welcome, and very much needed!

[Jim Kosinski]

Nice work. Good to see one of our Florida drivers (last photo, orange Porsche) participating. I think we have 3 drivers from Florida attending.

So what is a "Super Photo Hole"?

I shoot NASA here in Florida. I have never shot SCCA since they have their our shooters and don't let others play. What do you see as the difference between NASA and SCCA?

[Chris Clark]

So what is a "Super Photo Hole"?

I shoot NASA here in Florida. I have never shot SCCA since they have their our shooters and don't let others play. What do you see as the difference between NASA and SCCA?


Yeah, The Super Photo Hole..... It's just one of the holes in the catch fencing for the Photographers to shoot through. I'm not sure who actually decides if it's Super or not. Not to mention they seem to move every year. Not sure why one year a hole is worthy, and the next it's not, but who am I to decide. At the Vintage event there was even a phot hole marked "super", but was shown on the photographers map as an off-limits place to shoot.:confused:

As far as NASA vs. SCCA: they seem to be similar. I don't really know enough about eithers rules to make a judgement. It seems that NASA will let you do just about any modifications to your car, they just re-class you. There was a guy in a heavily modified Turbo Miata, that they classed in with Porsches and Vipers and Vettes, and a couple other Turbo cars. It was pretty cool, you don't see that sort of thing at SCCA events. The SCCA seem more rules driven: "These are our rules, bring a car to fit." NASA seems to be "bring whatever you want, we will find a place for you". But like I said, I really don't know enough about either to be sure. I enjoyed both.:)

[Mark Scheuern]

It's the hole to shoot through to take super photos!

Actually, it's a photo hole for the folks with super photo passes, which is essentially an expensive ticket that people can buy who want better photography access but don't have press credentials.

Nice work, Chris. I especially like that Mustang shot, the Cobras, and the b&w shot.

Mark

[John Thawley]

I like #1 ,,,, I like how you have the car in the upper corner setting up for the keyhole turn... nice.

#2 is a nice shot... could be a touch lower in the frame... but nice composition. Almost too orderly. :)

#4 Is kind of a "is this anything?" and I'm thinking maybe it's not. I think I'd like to see it in color...

#5.... Well, let's just say Todd Corzett is on the phone and wants his shot back. LOL

#6 is a pretty shot... but you appear tired. PICK UP the lens and get the car down in the frame. The shot is sharp.. nice color.. good movement.. et al. It just needs to be down in the frame.

#7 not as pretty a shot as #6... but same sagging lens problem.

#8 looks good... a bit more tip might have made it a little more aggressive.

All in all, though, excellent color and exporsures.

You're really getting Mid-Ohio sorted out.

JT

[Phil Royle]

As far as NASA vs. SCCA: they seem to be similar. I don't really know enough about eithers rules to make a judgement. It seems that NASA will let you do just about any modifications to your car, they just re-class you. There was a guy in a heavily modified Turbo Miata, that they classed in with Porsches and Vipers and Vettes, and a couple other Turbo cars. It was pretty cool, you don't see that sort of thing at SCCA events. The SCCA seem more rules driven: "These are our rules, bring a car to fit." NASA seems to be "bring whatever you want, we will find a place for you". But like I said, I really don't know enough about either to be sure. I enjoyed both.:)

From what I understand, this is a somewhat acurate statement. SCCA releases its rules for all classes and you build to that, where as NASA has a points system, and for each modification you get X amount of points. The number of points you have determines your class. However, NASA also has several spec classes, similar to SCCA's classes. NASA has Spec Miata, Spec Focus, and several other spec classes where you build to the rules. If Thawley III is on here, I'm sure he can set us straight as he races NASA Honda Challenge.

As for the photos, I think they're solid all around. The only exception is shot #6 where there is too much room under the car.

[Chris Clark]

Thanks everyone for the comments.





#4 Is kind of a "is this anything?" and I'm thinking maybe it's not. I think I'd like to see it in color...

#5.... Well, let's just say Todd Corzett is on the phone and wants his shot back. LOL

All in all, though, excellent color and exporsures.

You're really getting Mid-Ohio sorted out.

JT

Thanks John.

#4 was kind of a "hey what happens if I shoot at 1/5 of second" shot... The reason it's B&W is because the original was so overexposed I couldn't really do much with it color-wise in PS. I gave up on PP-ing it then thought to myself "hey whats it look like in B&W?" So I desaturated, adjusted the contrast ,and thats what I got.

#5 - Ididn't even think about Todd's shot, but now that you mention it......:o
To be honest I kind of found that shot by accident, played around with it a bit, and I really don't like it. But I thought I'd post it and see what everyone else has to say.

Thanks again everyone. Today was a far better day for shooting, no clouds! I got ther this morning and the keyhole was just bathed in morning light, It was nice. So, I'll start sorting and maybe post some up from today later.

-chris

[Jeff Boerio]

NASA classes cars on horsepower-to-weight ratios and a points system (as mentioned previously). That's why you saw the Miata with the Corvettes.

Nice job Chris.

- Jeff

[Jim Kosinski]

Just wanted to post a little something from the NASA Florida newsletter concerning photo #8...

Special mention goes to NASA FL German Touring Series driver Hal Prewitt who accomplished a stunning come- from-behind effort that resulted in his victory in the feature NASA Championship Race for the German Touring Series and & Spec E30 Series on Sunday Sept 17. Prewitt, from Boca Raton, FL, started the feature race in a grid position near the back of a 50 car field. After a clean start in his powerful Porsche GT3 RS, Prewitt steadily improved his track position lap after lap on the 2.4 mile Mid Ohio road course, advancing upward on the lap charts with a fastest race lap time of 1:32.155 on Lap 11. By Lap 18 it seemed time might run out in the 40 min sprint race before Prewitt would be able to close the most difficult gap between himself and that of race leader Charles Stickley’s GTS 5 entry. However, the margin of difference continued to be reduced in Lap 19 and on Lap 20 Prewitt overtook Stickley’s BMW M3 to claim the overall leader position. Prewitt took the checkered flag on Lap 21 with a gap of 7.787 seconds over the 2nd place finisher Stickley. Congratulations to Hal Prewitt for his victory as the winner of GTS 5 and for making his race an exciting and entertaining thrill for his NASA home region supporters! We are proud to have Hal as NASA Florida’s first NASA National Champion.

[E. John Thawley III]

NASA classes cars on horsepower-to-weight ratios and a points system (as mentioned previously). That's why you saw the Miata with the Corvettes.
That is only true of certain classes within NASA. Performance Touring is the class which spun offf of NASA's very successful Time Trials program. Cars use a points system to "class" themselves based on how much has been done to improve the car's performace. Other classes, like all the GTS classes, American Iron and SE-R Cup run strictly off a power to weight formula.

I run in Honda Challenge where the rules are more SCCA-like, without the point system or the power to weight. It really depends on the class and type of car...

Thawley

http://www.thawleyphoto.com/gallery/public_html/EFwing&splitterRR001.JPG

[Erik Anderson]

Love the 5th Gen Prelude love shown on #7 (It's getting somewhat rare to find them racing)