This blog is about day one of the Memorial Day Classic at Lime Rock Park (LRP). On track action would be cars from Trans AM, SVRA, International GT and the FRP 1600. Hope you like the photos.

Left the hotel around 7.30 am, and went to a local fast food place to grab a coffee and muffin sausage sandwiches for breakfast. After arriving at the track about 3o minutes later, parked the car near the Mid-Way. Had some time to get together the camera gear that I would carry around the track; which included a Canon 500 mm f/4 lens mounted to a 1Dx Mark II on a monopod, and a 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens mounted to another 1Dx Mark II. Also carried a small shoulder bag which contained ND and PL filters, batteries, memory cards, lens blower , cleaning cloth, Mentos candy, muesli bars and water.

For the first track session decided to go to the outside of Big Bend. This is usually the track location I go to for the start of race events at this track. This is because there are opportunities for a variety of car photo angles including front, 3/4 panning, side panning and rear shots; with the morning sun illuminating these parts of the cars. In some aspects it’s a way for me to build my confidence by getting some “photos in the bag”. On my way to Big Bend took some photos of the A Paddock.

At 10.05 to am, the first test session for the SVRA and Miata’s started. For each session have a routine of where I start and end my photography, so can get a variety of shots. In this case, started with shots of the cars speeding down Sam Posey Straight. First a wide shot to give you an idea of this location with the Pedestrian Bridge in the foreground (top) and the #62 1989 Swift DB-1 painted in a brilliant red livery (bottom).

Into Big Bend with the #18 1963 Triumph Spitfire (top) and the #62 1989 Swift DB-1 (middle), being closely  followed by the #25 1975 Datsum 240Z (bottom).

The #62 1975 Chevron B-31.

Kept moving to my right for different vantage points. Here’s another view of the Pedestrian Bridge with the Berkshire Hills in the background.

One of my favorite cars, was the #5 1968 Bizzarrini GT Competition. Really liked how the low side profile of this car blended into the background of this panning shot.

At the end of the session took some wide shots of the cars exiting Big Bend with the Inner Spectator Hill area in the background.

At 11.05 am, qualifying for the International GT cars started. The motto for this class of cars is “contemporary GT race cars on legendary tracks” and includes late model Porsche and Ferrari’s.

Was watching the cars flying down the front straight, so tried a 3/4 panning shot to capture the speed of these cars.

Into Big Bend.

The classic Martini livery on this Porsche was also one of my favorites.

At 11.45 am, the TA2 class of the Trans-AM cars hit the track. The sound of these classic American Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger muscle cars was really impressive. The #88 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang.

The #30 Ghost Energy/Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro (top) and the #78 DQ/GPXLiveCamera/BCRaceCars Chevrolet Camaro (bottom) entering Big Bend.

Under the Pedestrian Bridge with TA2.

The #78 DQ/GPXLiveCamera/BCRaceCars Chevrolet Camaro speeding past the A Paddock in the background.

Another panning shot, this time of the #2 Hartman Davidson Ford Mustang, with the Inner Spectator Hill in the background.

Tried some really slow shutter speed shots, and managed to get one. The #12 Memo Corse / Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang passing through “layers of light”. The session ended around 12.00 noon, so headed back to the A Paddock and Media Center to get some lunch, download the morning session photos and edit. Also, many thanks to LRP for the food vouchers, snacks and drinks they provided for the media, much appreciated.

Headed back out to the track for the 2.15 pm TA2 practice session. For this section went to the outside of the Right-Hander. Here’s a shot of the great view you have from this vantage point, where you can get shots of the cars coming into, through and out of the Right-Hander.

The #29 CUBE 3 / Berryman Ford Mustang (top) and #32 BCR / AccioData Chevrolet Camaro (bottom).

Was watching the cars weave their way through the Right-Hander, and noticed how they cross in front of each other. So tried some slow shutter speed panning shots, by waiting for a line of cars to enter this section of the track, and focused on the last car, and tracked its entry into and through the Right-Hander, with the goal to take a series of panning shots of this car as other cars passed in front of it as they exited the Right-Hander. Was lucky that this shot worked for the #48 Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Ford Mustang being passed by a yellow-colored TA2 car (top) and continued tracking the #48 as it exited the Right-Hander (bottom).

The #27 SLR-M1 Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro passing in front of the Scoring and Timing Tower.

The #30 Ghost Energy/Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro.

Exiting the Right-Hander with the #16 Waypoint/Mike Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang, with the Inner Spectaor Hill in the background.

For Test Session 2 of the SVRA which started at 2.45 pm, went over to the inside of the short straight between the Left- and Right-Handers, with the Berkshire Hills in the background.

The #388 1980 Porsche 911SC.

The #262 1972 Datsun 240Z.

At 3.05 pm, the feature race for the International GT class started. Decided to capture the start of this race as they entered the straight after Big Bend.

Then followed the cars as they entered the Left-Hander, through, then out of the Right-Hander.

For a different vantage point, walked along the inside of the straight between Big Bend and the Right-Hander. First, photographed into the sun, to catch the glare from the track (top) and silhouette of the cars (bottom) as they exited the Right-Hander. Shooting into the sun gives a different look and variety to your photos.

Also captured the cars speeding out of the Right-Hander into Paul Newman Straight. After the session went back to the Media Center to recharge and download photos.

At 5.05 pm the last session of the day started, with TA2 qualifying. For this session went back down to the inside of the Left-Hander. The low afternoon sun was illuminating the cars beautifully. The #78 DQ / GPXLiveCamera / BCRaceCars Chevrolet Camaro.

One of the last shots of the session was of the #48 Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Ford Mustang speeding into Paul Newman Straight. At 5.35 pm, the on track activities ended, and went back to the Media Center to download and edit photos. Really enjoyed the day at the track and was great to get back into the swing of things. Thanks for spending your time reading this blog.