Dog Star

It's hard to imagine that I'll ever tire of the atmosphere at Laguna Seca on the Monterey Peninsula.    I've been fortunate to take in over a half dozen race weekends since seeing the circuit for the first time just a few years ago.  

Between the micro climates that roll across the peninsula, the sunshine combines with pleasant, cool marine air to create an energy that I'm certain I'm not alone in drawing upon.  

On one of my first visits, I left Monterey with an indelible memento of that energy which I carry with me to every race circuit I've been since.    During one lull between sessions, I could not help but notice the circuit piping Perry Farrell's "Wish Upon a Dog Star" over the tinny sound system.

There is an energy in that piece of pop music (love the bass line LOL) that is in my mind synonymous with throwing a car into a corner on full opposite lock!    Whether I'm at Laguna Seca, Road Atlanta, or Monza, I'll listen to that track in the morning on my way to the circuit . . . perhaps to further stimulate my focus on capturing something unique on camera.    

Anyway, I'm still learning . . . and with news that I've acquired media credentials for this weekend's "Ferrari Racing Days" Challenge event, I'm hoping to channel Laguna Seca's energy beyond merely wishing to creating work that celebrates everything that is amazing about motor sport.

The laughable thing, however, is that I don't know whether I'm better at air guitar thumpin' that bass, or air double de-clutch downshifting . . .  

CLICK HERE for American Le Mans/Monterey Slide Show

Cheers

What it's all about . . .

Here's a story that any enthusiast will appreciate . . . a 1962 Porsche Roadster, originally posted in March of last year

Grind

I came across the following article on the "Friends of F1 Austin Texas" Facebook page.

The Austin F1 page has proven a great resource for keeping abreast of the Austin F1 endeavor, and is one place where honest discussion of the challenges with that effort occurs with any objective intelligence.

Regarding the article, I do not know the writer.     I wanted to post a comment on his blogspot page, but it appears he has disabled the comment feature.     I don't know, maybe I'm an idiot and simply missed it, but I kind of get the impression that he's not encouraging anyone to chime in.

Therefore I'm relying on the power of the internet to do that here.     Here goes.

I'll admit straight away that I found Mr. Knight's article extremely annoying.      

Comments such as:

" . . . Americans are reawakened to Formula One.  . . . . So far, I can't say I've seen much interest." 
" . . . America's ticket buying public knows as much about the drivers as they do rugby stars, and that the U.S. media has precious little access  . . . to build name recognition here" 


appear designed simply to reinforce a myth that there is no market for F1 in the US.


Contrary to this assertion, there is no shortage of interest in the return of the United States Grand Prix.     Specific to F1, Americans do not need "reawakening."     Hiring "ambassadors" will not address the real challenges facing the effort in Austin.     If ticket sales are falling short, it's not due to a lack of interest . . . it's due to missteps on behalf of CoTA management.

How do I know?     If hotel accommodations are any measure, almost every hotel room in Austin is booked . . . by US F1 fans.    I can testify that if one did not get a reservation in place within first days of the original race date announcement, they did not get a room.    

It is only because the race date graciously shifted to November that allowed many to later find accommodations in the shuffle.     When one considers that many visitors from abroad may have not even tried to book because of CoTA's back assward approach to ticket sales . . . you get my point.  

If Mr. Knight's objective is to take issue with CoTA, I've no complaint.     I've already voiced my concerns here and at times participate in the discussion on the "Friends of Austin F1" Facebook page.    

If Mr. Knight's objective is to further the false belief that F1 can not work in the US, then I've got a major beef.

Over the years, I've grown weary of repetitive suggestion in the media that the problems with F1 in the US have anything at all to do with the ticket buying public.     I even wonder at times if certain pundits in the US motor sport media are somehow afraid of F1 being successful here?  

The truth is that the American F1 fan has long needed a venue worthy of the sport.     Given the run of wretched street circuits followed by the failed mickey mouse effort at Indianapolis, there has not been a F1 race in the US which provided anyone a chance to witness these incredible cars and drivers perform at their normal, absolute limit.

Tavo Hellmund's vision for a purpose built circuit outside of one of America's more pleasant and fun places to visit had the potential to right that wrong.    It was never going to be easy, but certain aspects of CoTA's approach since Hellmund's departure have merited question if not outright concern and criticism.  

Austin's fortunes hinge not on PR ambassadors nearly as much as they do CoTA's ability to serve their customer base . . . thousands of US F1 fans.     Perhaps it is time that those in the motor sport media did the same.

Tough shoot

I ventured to Barber Motorsport Park in Birmingham last weekend to shoot the Porsche 250 Grand-AM (a Rolex Sportscar series event) and the Indycar Grand Prix of Alabama.    This was my first trip to Barber, a venue which I knew little about but had heard nothing short of high praise for over the years.    Having missed Sebring I needed to get back behind the lens asap and this race weekend was the next likely target on my calendar.  

In hindsight, I might have benefitted from burning a little midnight oil research over relying strictly on hearsay.    I still know very little about the circuit . . . the hows, whys, and for whom it was originally constructed . . . and once I log this post I will take proper time to uncover those answers.    

In the meantime, I would like to pass along my impressions of what proved hands down to be the toughest weekend I've encountered over my brief foray into photographing motor sport.

Trying to build a portfolio of fast cars while relegated outside the fencing of any motor sport venue is never easy.    I'm beginning to understand that commanding a craft is gravy when compared against how one actually practices that craft in the real world.    Shooting without the benefit of credentials is an incredible handicap . . . especially in this arena where safety precaution is paramount.

I'm not complaining.    This is a pursuit that I love; I'm not one to shy away from a challenge.     However there is a financial aspect and when it comes to selecting future venues at this stage of my journey, I doubt that I will return to Barber without credentials.

Please keep in mind that what follows is in no way designed to discourage anyone from attending and enjoying a motor sport event at Barber.      The museum alone is a must-see for any enthusiast, and if I were looking at this through purely spectator's eyes, I'd exclaim Barber to provide a grand time for all.    The circuit even runs a free shuttle running the perimeter of the facility . . . a very welcome feature indeed.

The circuit is nestled within a rolling forest which offers a surprising frequency of elevation change.    For this fact alone, Barber should be a photographer's paradise.     Somehow, I feel that consideration got left out of everything that transpired once the circuit was originally cut into these hills.

Barber features long, almost multi apex turns on each most northern corner, just prior and aft the pit straight.     Both of these signature corners offer sweeping spectator vistas along the exterior hillside.     They also offer elevation on tree lined interior hillsides, but their ideal vantage is not accessible to any non-credentialed photographer.

Blah, blah, blah.   I took some quick shots in the hope that I might assist the next photographer making their first visit to road racing in Alabama.      To avoid needless elaboration,  I've simply referenced aspects within each photo that summarize my impression of the circuit from a photographic perspective:

The photo above depicts the rise from turn 13 heading toward turn 14 and entry to the W-NW corner described above.  

A)   secondary fencing (lined with shrubbery), significantly distanced, (and in this case) downhill from the crest of the hill thus making the circuit impossible to see
B)   gaps in fencing are rare, even for a race course, and provide poor vantage at considerable distance, As one would expect, they are well off the probable path of debris in the event of an incident, but unusually narrow
C)    runoff area and fencing arguably extreme given the entry speed into the corner (13)

The photo above depicts turn 12

D)  the primary safety fencing rises to meet the height of the surrounding elevated viewing, not the height dictated by the direction and speed of travel of the cars
E)   circuit incident clearance vehicles, instead of being parked inside the circuit where no accessible vantage points exist, instead serve to further limit and inhibit potential shooting angles
F)    shrubbery looks nice and provides sense of being at a golf course, but in many areas is not trimmed tight enough as to not obstruct lensing
G)   secondary fencing again significantly distanced . . . such that even with slow shutters, it becomes difficult to defeat the single layer of primary fencing due to the optical physics involved as related to proximity to subject and focal distance

Angle on long straight headed toward turn 12

H)   despite height and distance from circuit, fencing still rises to obstruct perspective
I)     kind of hard to see in shadow, but the secondary fencing is again distanced and in this instance lower than shrubbery, restricting adequate camera perspective

Angle down long straight toward exit of turn 11 chicane

This single image serves as a nice summary of the challenges facing a photographer at Barber

Top of crest between turns 13 and 14, looking toward 14

I've added this image to demonstrate that there are very few work arounds.    Simply trying to devise a fresh perspective on the racing cars is not enough.

Single vantage on the turn 8 and 9 chicane, from NE corner of museum front lawn

Finally, I would be remiss to overlook the single most distressing factor of photographing a motor sport event at Barber.    

The chicane which breaks the downhill entry to turn 9 is . . . for all intents and purposes . . . not visible to anyone lacking proper credentials.      This is a shame as it is the only place on the circuit where, with any reasonable effort, a photographer could capture sports cars getting air over the inside curbing.    This complex would also provide a photographer ample opportunity to stack cars fighting for position, as the braking entry to 8 comes off of one of the circuit's longer straights.

I brought home a couple of good images from my weekend at Barber, but nowhere near the variety and quantity of images that I expected.    I was fortunate to discover a single hole in the fence near the crest of the rise out to turn 13; this was not a gift, but instead the product of sheer determination.     That said, it was a very difficult blind rise to capture and I needed 400mm when I only had 500mm.

Click here if you'd like to see my bounty.    I'll be updating with more images in the coming days.

Cheers

F1 is BACK!

I'm absolutely stoked by the arrival of the F1 season in Melbourne this weekend.  

The first qualifying session of the season naturally draws a great deal of curiosity.      This has never been more true than now.    Winter testing has fallen under such strict regulation that even the teams are left unclear as to how they will measure up against each other.  

Therefore, it was with ever heightened anticipation that I sat down to watch qualifying for Australia.

I spent the next hour or so border lining fits of excitement, disappointment, surprise, and skepticism.      In the end, all proved well as the session ended suggesting that we have a much closer battle ahead than witnessed in 2011.  

For anyone who noted Q1's five fastest, the result was probably surprising.     Granted Q1 rarely proves to be the real measure but given the mix of new faces in that lineup, the season looks bright.

I'm crushed that Ferrari truly appear to be in trouble.     I was hoping all of that preseason banter was just a bluff . . . but that beast looks scary.     Scary in the sense that it appears to have absolutely no grip nor readily identifiable personality.    It appears way too twitchy . . . and without warning prone to flip at once from understeer to snap oversteer.  

It boggles my mind how Ferrari can produce an aerodynamic marvel of a road car in the F12, yet year after year struggle to produce a single seater of equivalent impact.   Of course, I can only hope I'm being a bit dramatic, but despite his immeasurable skill, Fernando has appeared to be at a loss so far this weekend.

McLaren look very strong.     I don't want to contradict my opinion that this will be a close year, but if I had to guess where the 2012 driver's title will land, it will be at the feet of one of the McLaren drivers.

I'd made an off the cuff prediction following practice that Schumacher would make it onto the front two rows of the grid and I was thrilled to see that happen.     I can only hope that Mercedes have found true form that is free from the scrutineering clouds that are gathering around their rear wing.     It would be fantastic to see Rosberg and Schumacher fighting at the front . . . and for certain to see both of them on the podium throughout 2012.

Romain Grosjean delivered beyond my expectations and has looked very quick all weekend, whereas teammate Raikkonen has been off the pace.   I was gutted by his premature exit in Q1.     In fairness, Kimi has apparently suffered from issues with his power steering this weekend.     I've no idea whether Lotus resolved the issue prior quali . . . but this was not how I hoped he start his first race back in F1.

I'm thrilled to see Hulkenberg back on the grid and expect quite a bit from both he and Paul di Resta in the Mercedes powered Force India this season.

One of the surprises today was Williams.     Both Maldonado and Senna ran higher up the order than I expected and this makes me incredibly curious as to how that chassis will perform in the coming year.

Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo were both very impressive . . .

To wrap-up this entry: Red Bull.    Poor Seb wound up one spot behind Webber on the 3rd row!    

Red Bull hopefully have a fight on their hands this season.     Obviously, it is way too early to count anyone out, but it would be nice to see Vettel have to fight his way through the field for a change.   It will be interesting to see if Webber can earn a podium in his home race.  

Show us your PSL's

My sales consultant from the Circuit of The Americas certainly made it seem like people were snatching up the "Personal Seat Licenses" like hotcakes.      For some reason, I don't quite know . . . I'm a touch skeptical.

If you've purchased your PSL for the upcoming United States Grand Prix in Austin, I'd love to hear from you.    Please tell us about your experience, whether you opted for the main straight, Turn 1, or the Grand Plaza multi apex complex.     If you don't mind, it might be nice to get an idea of your total cash investment, for those so willing to discuss.    

 Looking forward to your comments . . .

Breaking point?

A few weeks back I was contacted by a couple of enthusiastic supporters of Tavo Hellmund's Austin F1 endeavor.  

Once I recovered from the shock that someone, somewhere was actually reading my blog . . . I realized that the topic of their outreach (my November comments regarding first news that not all was well with the event) suggested that they might know something the rest of us did not.

I had in fact only recently spent a few hours in Austin to put eyes on the proximity of our reserved accommodations to the circuit.     I wanted to get an idea of  the logistics and what sort of traffic challenges might lie in wait.   Construction was certainly buzzing at the circuit that day and I found that encouraging.  

There was, however, no sign of infrastructure or road improvement underway and I wondered if access to the circuit would be limited to the single two lane blacktop I'd parked alongside.     A nagging question, but I left Austin headed home with some confidence that all was indeed well with the return of F1 to US soil.

Flash forward a couple of weeks from that visit and news comes that Tavo Hellmund was suing his former partners in the Circuit of The Americas venture he created.      

I'd wondered whether my November observations were premature.   I am after all but an outsider, with no real connection to what had and was transpiring in Texas.  

Unfortunately, as I read the court filing it was instead looking like my post was spot on accurate.  

It simply made no sense that the one guy within the organization who understood the business of international motor sport had been relieved of his duties.      As if the details of the lawsuit were not troubling enough, other questions arose.  

I'd also read that CoTA had started contacting those who had placed deposits to be on their select seating wait list.    I must have been among the very first to place such a deposit, but two weeks had passed since the process commenced and I'd heard nothing.  

There was other news . . . unresolved questions surrounding CoTA's alleged contract with Moto GP, and renewed questions as to whether the race qualified for the major events trust fund among the more troubling.

Since then, it has started to feel like every day brings another report which only makes one wonder what the hell is going on with CoTA's management?

I have also finally heard from CoTA regarding my wait list reservation and tickets for the USGP.    As they they might say in Texas . . . the news ain't purty.

I had a nice chat with the ticket agent, but the details of his proposal were laughable.     He explained that for the main straightaway grandstand, Turn 1, and the "Grand Plaza" multi apex Turn 15 through 19 complex, one must purchase a "Personal Seat License."     The astronomical cost of this seat license did not include ticket costs and also held the purchaser to a 15 year minimum "season ticket" purchase.
To make matters worse, they are requiring this commitment from the purchaser when CoTA . . . even at this late juncture .  . . still can not say what plans for seating at Turns 1, 15 through 19 will look like.     Really, they want a fifteen year commitment to a seat that right now only exists in theory?!    Nonsense.

Much like consumer product marketing people making movies instead of filmmakers, CoTA believes, quite foolishly IMHO, that they can and should reinvent the wheel.

CoTA has apparently decided to fashion their ticket sales after the model set attracting season ticket holders to new football stadiums and hockey arenas.    This thinking is riddled with so many false assumptions about the race-going public that it makes my head spin.    Worse, it demonstrates complete, total ignorance on their behalf.

CoTA's approach confirms that the current climate of sports marketing in this country looks to marry apples to oranges and boil us all down into one, neat, tidy package.    CoTA must somehow believe that motor sport fans are as generic as a guy watching four different sports at once on his quad partitioned TV screen.    Such a broad generalization across the whole of motor sport enthusiasts only reeks of arrogance.

Race promoters have been selling tickets to F1 Grands Prix for decades.    It's not rocket science.    

It is mind boggling that this venture, which I believed to be a slam dunk, now appears teetering on the edge of becoming only the latest in a series of disappointing chapters in the history of F1 Grand Prix in the United States.

The ticket agent also explained that they had taken this ticketing route because F1 is not popular in the US.

Make no mistake, I have long believed to the contrary that F1 should flourish in the United States.   There is no shortage of passionate, enthusiastic fans.    The fans are not the issue.   (there's so much mythology surrounding this topic, but that's another discussion)
   
It is instead more probable that CoTA, sans Tavo Hellmund, may be the latest corporate entity to not understand the sport and its (their) customer base.  

I can only hope for those who recognized the potential in Hellmund's vision that this year's US Grand Prix will still prove a great success.   Perhaps I'm being a bit reactionary.

It did not help matters that the attached, rather vague seating map noted "breaking" as opposed to "braking" points:

   You get my drift.