Zippo Grand Prix at Watkins Glen

[Fritz Kloepfel]

I was at the Zippo Grand Prix in Watkins Glen to shoot the Can-Am and Trans-Am 40th anniversary.

While I was there I watched some of the other classes run as well, and this is a little bit of what I saw:

1) A Bugatti exits the boot. Anybody want to explain that camber?
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Bugatti.jpg

2) At one point early in the weekend a spectator said to me, "They don't REALLY race them, do they?" I think this photo answers that question quite nicely.
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Do_They_Really_Race.jpg

3) The leaves were just starting to turn, and they made a nice backdrop for this Porsche powered Dolphin.
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Dolphin_Porsche.jpg

4) Is there anything prettier than a cigar-bodied open-wheel car at speed?
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Formula_Red.jpg

5) OK, would this be better if the helmet were in focus, or does the blur of the driver accentuate the motion of "horsing" that big wheel as he fights it through the Inner Loop?
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Pre_War_Lean.jpg

6) A pack of colorful roadsters against a colorful fall setting.
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Roadsters_Racing.jpg

7) Is this a Chevron? Anybody know?
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Blue_Running.jpg

8) These two guys came around lap after lap JUST like this. What a show!
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Porsches_Dueling.jpg

This event was billed as the largest vintage event in the United States, and it offered a little bit of everything. I'm already making my plans for next year.

[Jeff Boerio]

Nice stuff, Fritz!

- Jeff

[Fritz Kloepfel]

Thank you Jeff.

[John Thawley]

Cool...

I wonder if anyone has considered trying to create a vintage helmet that meets current standards? The helmets really distract from the older open cockpit cars.

Looks like a fun weekend. Did you shoot the 3 laps of the old course in town?

JT

[Fritz Kloepfel]

John,

I went down to the old stone bridge, and to another section of the course with winding road through trees, but by the time the race cars ran the light was gone (7:30 pm) and I got very little usable stuff.

I'll try to find a few to post, but now wish I had stayed in the downtown area. I was hoping to create something that looked like a "period" shot, with nothing modern visible to "tip" the year, but it just didn't work out well.

Next year I'll be better prepared.

[Fritz Kloepfel]

John asked if I got any shots of cars on the "Old Course."

I finally went back and looked at what I had, and I pulled out a few to post here.

They did "tours" of the Old Course all afternoon, but the race cars ran just one lap very late in the day. The light was pretty well gone by that time.

1) A Porsche group did several laps mid-afternoon, but they mixed the old with the new, and it was difficult to get something that set a particular mood. The crooked road was scenic though.
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Old_Course01.jpg

2) An early Triumph rolls through a beautifully wooded section of the Old Course.
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Old_Course09.jpg

3) A Triumph Spitfire speeds through the dappled sunlight of late afternoon.
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Old_Course03.jpg

4) British sports cars cross the old stone bridge. This must have been an interesting spot during the race. The cars came down a steep hill, and made a fairly sharp turn right at the bridge. Coming in "too hot" would have created a pretty ugly scene.
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Old_Course04.jpg

5) A TR-3 speeds down the hill towards the bridge.
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Old_Course05.jpg

6) The guy driving this thing made several passes, and was having TOO MUCH fun.
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Old_Course06.jpg

7) A Porsche 944 caught in the last spray of sunlight on the road.
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Old_Course07.jpg

8) By the time the real race cars came through it was virtually dark. The blue plexiglass for the lights and windshield gave this car a unique appearance late in the day.
http://community.automotivephoto.net/photopost/data/523/medium/Old_Course08.jpg

[John Thawley]

Oh man... now I regret preserving my family life instead of going. :) That looks amazing. I have to go and shoot this.

Cool!!! Thanks.

JT

[Fritz Kloepfel]

Yes, definitely worth the effort on the Friday.

The race cars were meant to run earlier, but some sort of SNAFU held them up. Sure wish they ran three laps, like the "tours" did.

I'm certainly looking forward to going back next year.