Towards the end of last May, the Trans Am series returned to Lime Rock Park (LRP) for the Memorial Day Classic. This was my first motorsport event for the year, and was very excited to capture these cars as they raced around LRP. Hope you like the photos.

The day before, left Boston around mid-morning, for the four hour drive to LRP. On the way to the track, experienced a lot of rain, which foreshadowed, the varying weather conditions we would experience over the next few days at LRP. Like to arrive at the track the day before the race activities start, so can settle in, and get my camera gear together.

The next morning, arrived at the track around 8.00 am, and was great to catch up with other photographers, I hadn’t seen since last year. Also, took a look at the Friday schedule; which consisted of the Trans Am TA2 class, the International GT (IGT) series and Lime Rock Classic (LRC) sessions. After reviewing the schedule, planned the different track locations I would go to for the different race sessions.

Since the first session, wasn’t going to start for an hour or so, went for a walk around the A Paddock to get photographs of the crews preparing the cars. First started at the Technical Inspection area where the cars are inspected to make sure they conform to the race regulations.

Continued walking down the A Paddock and saw a couple of classic Porsches, with cool looking livery.

Also saw Pirelli tires, who are the exclusive tire supplier for the Trans Am series.

One of the many tractor trailers parked in the paddock, used by the teams to transport there cars and equipment from track to track.

The #3 CMI/Spot-OnServices/AMTMtrspts Ford Mustang from the TA2 class.

Another TA2 class car, the #98 D&M Electric Ford Mustang.

A row of Porsches, all lined up and under cover.

For the TA2 optional test session went to the outside of Turn 1, also known as Big Bend. At 10.05 am, the cars started to leave pit lane, and move onto  the front straight. The #7 Waukegan Farms Chevrolet Camaro.

The #90 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry leading a row of TA cars down Sam Posey Straight. This was the first time I’d seen the new TRD Toyota Camry Trans Am architecture TA2 series body, and thought it looked really cool. TRD worked with Five Star RaceCar Bodies (official body manufacturer for the TA2 Series) on this car, which is available for purchase, with TRD offering contingency opportunities.

Under the front straight pedestrian bridge, with the #71 Ray Skillman Auto Group Ford Mustang.

Into Big Bend with the #27 Accio Data SLR/M1 Chevrolet Camaro.

The #97 Vixen Cycle Co / LTK / Cope Ford Mustang, covered in a really cool orange livery.

Another photo of the #90 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry.

The #57 Concord American Flagpole/SHR Chevrolet Camaro.

The #27 Accio Data SLR/M1 Chevrolet Camaro.

The #30 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang.

The #2 Guthrie’s Garage Chevrolet Camaro.

The #70 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry heading around Big Bend.

As the session continued, walked to my left, for another vantage point, to capture photos of the cars  going though Big Bend. Here’s a couple of wide focal length photographs from this vantage point of the pedestrian bridge to the outer paddock (top) and inner paddock (bottom).

Along the Sam Posey Straight with the #10 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry.

The #7 Waukegan Farms Chevrolet Camaro.

For the next couple of photos, tracked the cars as they exited Big Bend into the Lefthander. The #70 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry (top), #99 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (middle) and the #15 (bottom).

After the session finished, went to the inside of the Sam Posey straight for the morning IGT practice session which started at 10.45 am. Here’s a couple of photographs of the cars coming down the front straight, under the pedestrian bridge, and into Big Bend.

During the Lime Rock Park Classic session, walked through the A paddock, so could get to the Uphill part of the track. On my way through the A Paddock took some photos of what I saw.

After leaving the A Paddock, walked up the Infield Spectator hill, and watched a couple of laps of the Lime Rock Park Classic session.

Continued on my way, though the Midway concession area, and saw a cool Landrover, and the FCP Euro Mercedes parked under a beautiful tree.

Also noticed a lot of tents, caravans and RVs parked in the Autocross camping area, which was great.

Arrived at the Uphill, in time for the TA2 Optional Test session at 11.55 am. From this location you can capture the cars as they go up this part of the track, then along the Back Straight into West Bend. The #2 Guthrie’s Garage Chevrolet Camaro.

As you walk along the Back Straight, you can also get some nice panning shots of the cars as they speed by, with the catch fencing, creating parallel lines.

Turning around, another perspective, is of the cars as they go over the Uphill. The #30 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang.

For the IGT Practice session at 12.35 pm, continued my walk along the Back Straight towards West Bend. Then turned around, for some different perspectives of the cars going through the Uphill..

Also tried a range of panning shots at different focal lengths, for a variety of photographs and perspectives.

With the IGT session finishing at 1.05 pm, it was time for the lunch break. So walked back, through the Infield Spectator area, past the B Paddock, through the Midway, then down to the A Paddock to grab some lunch (fried chicken and chips, for energy!). Along the way, captured some photos of things I saw. Of particular interest, were the new garage condo’s that are being built along the outside of West Bend; for car storage, with private lounge, balcony and viewing areas (second top photo).

Finished lunch early, so could get back to West Bend, for photos of the TA2 Pro Am cars coming down No Name Straight, during the mid-afternoon practice session. The #39 GuthriesGarage/RaceMarketingUSA Ford Mustang.

Into West Bend, with the #51 Mike Cope Race Cars LLC Ford Mustang (top) and #30 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (bottom).

As the session continued, walked over to the top of the Down Hill, for head-on photos of the cars. Really liked how you can see the heat trails coming from the side of the cars. The #51 Mike Cope Race Cars LLC Ford Mustang (top) and the #60 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry (bottom).

A couple of photos of the cars descending into the Down Hill, then around the corner, which leads into the Sam Posey Straight. The #00 Black Underwear/CoolBoxx Chevrolet Camaro (top) and #99 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang (bottom).

For the Lime Rock Classic practice session at 2.50 pm, walked over to the hill which overlooks the B Paddock, for some slow shutter speed panning photos of the cars speeding down the Sam Posey Straight using the 500 mm lens. At slow shutter speeds, and pre-focusing, you can also track the car as it speeds behind the trees, creating a “green screen” over the car.

Then walked down the hill next to the B Paddock, and noticed, how the cars descending the Down Hill, disappeared behind the tall foliage next to the track. So, used a similar, technique of slow shutter speeds and pre-focusing, but this time used the 70-200mm lens for panning the cars.

For the afternoon IGT qualifying session, walked down the hill, through the A Paddock, then across the pedestrian bridge to the outfield spectator area, for photos of the cars speeding down the Sam Posey Straight. However, during this session,  the skies got darker, and the rain started to come down, which is emphasized, by editing these photos in black and white.

The track was still wet for the TA2 practice session 2, which started at 4.00 pm.  A few photos of the #70 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry speeding down Sam Posey Straight.

Speeding by the Lime Rock Park timing and scoring tower with the #71 Ray Skillman Auto Group Ford Mustang.

The #28 Spire Gainbridge SLR/M1 Chevrolet Camaro.

Also, tried some slow shutter speed photos of the cars. The #7 Waukegan Farms Chevrolet Camaro.

Under the pedestrian bridge with the #57 Concord American Flagpole/SHR Chevrolet Camaro (top) and #57 Concord American Flagpole/SHR Chevrolet Camaro.

As the cars left Sam Posey Straight and went around Big Bend, streams of water from the wet track trailed from behind them. The #90 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry (top) and #57 Concord American Flagpole/SHR Chevrolet Camaro (bottom).

For one of the last photos of the day, took a wide focal length photo of the cars speeding down the front straight. The #7 Waukegan Farms Chevrolet Camaro. Was a great day at the track, and looked forward to the next day. After leaving the track, went back to the hotel in Great Barrington where I was staying at, to get some dinner and rest. Thanks for spending your time reading this blog.