Last month, GRIDLIFE Circuit Legends returned to Lime Rock Park and was attended by record crowds. This was a three day car culture festival; which featured on track racing, time attack, drifting and a car concours. Since there was so much on and off track action, divided the day into three parts, here’s the first part. Hope you like the photos.

Before getting onto the first of three photo blogs, about the day I spent at this event, wanted to spend a moment to explain what the GRIDLIFE Circuit Legends is, since this was the first time I’d attended one of these events. This event is a festival tour which featured nearly 300 cars that participated in on track events that included the GRIDLIFE Touring Cup (GLTC), Time Attack and Drifting. Whilst off track, there was a car concours, an arcade, pizza party, karaoke and other activities. Hence, there was a lot of things for spectators to see and do. Now onto the photo blog.

Left Boston around 5.45 am Saturday morning for the approximately three hour drive west to Lee, then, south through Great Barrington and across the Massachusetts border to Lime Rock Park in upstate Connecticut.

(iPhone photos)

After the photo meeting walked past the Midway, on my way to the car to pick up my camera gear. Really liked the blue Datsun station wagon in the lower photo, which brought back memories from my younger years.

(iPhone photos)

Collected my camera gear and headed down the hill, then through the A Paddock.

Once at the outside of Big Bend, had some time to take in the view I had of the A Paddock, with the spectator hill and Berkshire Mountains in the background.

It wasn’t long until the first Time Attack session of the day started, where the goal is to be the fastest car and driver in one of several classes. Was really cool to see such a wide range of cars in this session, as well as the other sessions of the day. First started with front shots of the cars speeding down the front straight.

Then, 3/4 side panning shots of the cars entering Big Bend. Was cool to see a Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro, then a BMW 1 Series, followed by a Porsche.

Switched to a wider angled lens for a shot of the pedestrian bridge which spans the end of the front straight.

Walked further along the outside of Big Bend for panning shots of the cars as they sped past the A Paddock. Really liked the Mercedes Benz (top), which was FCP Euro’s project “190E 2.0-16″, a modern tribute to the Golden Era of DTM Racing.

Changed back to a long lens, for shots of the cars entering the Esses. A Tesla Model 3 EV.

Next up was race 2 of the GLTC, which was a sprint race series that focused on single-class sprint racing. The GLTC is a power to weight class, where all cars are built to 12.5 lbs/HP, then weight percentage modifiers are added or removed for modifications done to the cars. Really liked how a core principal of the GLTC is “race for the racing, not for the result”. Since there was a limit to how many cars could be on track at the same time, the GLTC series was broken into two groups, B  then A, with each group having 15 minutes track time.

Some of the GTLC Group B cars and the #57 Rudz Racing Chevrolet S10 truck, which was really cool seeing on the track.

It wasn’t long until the GLTC A race started.

The #41 Acura TSX leading the field into Big Bend.

The #99 Honda Integra DC Sports with its red, white and blue livery.

Seeing the #65 Toyota Celica also brought back memories, since was another car I really liked in my younger years.

A wide shot of the #184 Scion FRS G Speed entering Big Bend.

Continuing into Big Bend, the #243 Honda Civic.

Some panning shots of the cars speeding through Big Bend with the A paddock in the background. The #204 Track Monsters (top) and the #99 DC Sports (bottom) Honda Integra’s.

After the GLTC session ended, walked over to the inside of the track for shots of the Time Attack session cars entering the Lefthander of the Esses. By now, the sun was coming out and the fans were starting to get into position on the spectator hill.

The #2 Nissan GT-R “Godzilla”.

The reason I went to the Esses, was so I was in a good position to capture the Drifting, which was the session I was looking forward to the most. Drifting is a non-competitive event where the drivers can focus on entertaining the spectators and themselves by putting their cars in positions not normally seem on a race track, and making a lot of smoke from their tires. The first drifting car though the Esses was the Falken Tires Ford Mustang.

It didn’t take long for the Esses to be filled with smoke from the tires of drifting cars, which turned day into night and made it hard to see and photograph the cars. 

Luckily so time passed between the groups of drifting cars, which gave time for the smoke to clear, which must have made it easier for the drivers and spectators see, and to photograph. A speeding Toyota Supra with a GridLife drone in hot pursuit. The video footage captured by these drones was really cool and gave a very unique perspective of these cars. Also, liked how the passenger of the Toyota Supra had their hand out of the window, which captured the enjoyment they must have experienced.

At times it felt like the smoke was chasing the cars, and ready to envelope it, if the car slowed down.

At times, felt a little overwhelmed by all the smoke, noise and smell of burning rubber; and I think this photo captures it all.

“Smoking”.

Was fun watching the Toyota Supra film car in hot pursuit of the drifting car it was filming. It must take a lot of driving skill to drive this close behind a drifting car, especially with all the smoke impairing visibility.

Even with all the smoke, it was hard to conceal the vibrant colors of this Corvette.

Mixing dirt and smoke, as this car drifted into the Esses.

The line that drifting cars take into the corners is obviously very different to a sportscar, as illustrated by this BMW above.

It’s amazing how many different photography opportunities appear in front of you as the smoke and cars speed by you with very unique shapes. Developed this photo in black and white to emphasize the white smoke trailing this Nissan Z.

Another example of the unique photo opportunities that appear in front of you when photographing drifting cars, with this car being framed by smoke from its own tires and from the car in front.

A GridLife drone in hot pursuit of an Enjuku Racing car.

Here’s a few shots of a Nissan Nismo, with some really nice livery. Also, if you look carefully in the top photo, you can see the Toyota Supra film car in the smoke, chasing the Nissan Nismo.

Another favorite of mine was the 1966 Toyota Stout powered by a 3S/5S-GTE.

To finish off the session, a wide shot of a car drifting out of the Righthander. Wow, what a great morning shoot, and couldn’t wait for the other sessions later that day. But for now it was time for lunch, so headed to the food concession stand in the A Paddock for some chicken and chips. This concludes part 1 of my day at GridLife at Lime Rock Park. Thanks for spending your time reading this blog.