GRIDLIFE Circuit Legends returned to Lime Rock Park with two days of track action ranging from time attacks, touring car racing and full-course drifting; as well as some cool cars on display in the paddock.  This blog is about day one. Hope you like the photos.

(iPhone)

Arrived at the track around 9.30 am, under sunny blue skies. Every time I arrive at the track, I like to pause at the top of the Inner Spectator Hill which overlooks the A Paddock, to take in the sight, with the Berkshire Mountains in the background.

(iPhone)

For my first photo location to cover the on track action, walked down the hill to the end of the A Paddock, near the pedestrian bridge which spans Sam Posey Straight, and along the way captured a couple of photos of the paddock.

Positioned myself so could capture front-on photos of the Track Battle Time Attack cars as they sped down Sam Posey Straight. In this class of GRIDLIFE cars, competitors, battle the clock, for the best lap time. Really liked the front-on angular look of the BMW.

After a few laps, walked past the inside of the Pedestrian Bridge for photos of the cars going under this structure into Big Bend.

For the GLTC/GLGT practice session , went to the outside of Big Bend, and started with photos of the cars exiting the pit lane and speeding down Sam Posey Straight.

Then took some 3/4 panning shots of the cars as they entered Big Bend.

Changed lenses for some wider angle photos of this part of the track, to give you an idea of the great view you have of the cars as they pass under the Pedestrian Bridge, and is one of the best spots to photograph from under the morning sun.

Also panned at a shutter speed, which was high enough so you could get an idea of the Berkshire Mountain’s in the background, as the cars went around Big Bend.

When I started panning the cars passing around Big Bend, noticed some very close racing.

Continued panning the cars as they sped by.

Moved to my left for another vantage point of the cars moving into Big Bend.

For the Full Course Draft Jam session 1, went to the inside of The Esses, and first captured photos of the cars drifting along the short straight that leads into this part of the track.

Also edited some photos in black and white, to emphasize the tire smoke that the drifting cars created.

After the drift session ended, took a walk around the A Paddock to check out the cars in there garages. Really enjoyed the wide variety of modified cars on display.

At the start of the A Paddock was the Falken Tires stand, with their cool drift cars on display.

After walking through the grassed area where the Lime Rock Park Corvette was parked, went to the food vendor stand to grab some lunch.

After lunch went to the outside of the Right Hander, which is at the exit of The Esses, for the Rush qualifying session. In this series, drivers race a spec class, open cockpit high performance car, called the Rush SR. Was really cool watching these “rocket cars” speed through The Esses past the Timing and Scoring Tower.

Before the GLTC/GLGT qualifying session started at 1.15 pm, took a wide angle photo of the great view from this part of the track.

For this session, started with front shots of the cars exiting The Esses into the Paul Newman Straight.

Moved to my right and down the hill for some photos of the cars moving through The Esses and past the Timing and Scoring Tower. Was really impressed with how large the rear spoilers were on some of these cars for creating rear downforce.

Then for a different angle, turned to my left, for side panning shots of the cars as they sped past the Inner Spectator Hill, out of The Esses into Paul Newman Straight.

Next up was the full course Drift Jam Session 2, with the Bystrak 500 Racing Mustang making an impressive entrance.

The Falken Tires Mustang looked really cool as it sped past the Timing and Scoring Tower.

Also tried some slow shutter speed panning shots, which made the cars look like “rocket ships” as they sped by.

One of my favorite drifting cars, the #959, with smoke streaming from its rear tires.

Really enjoyed watching the cars drift through the Right Hander.

Ended the session with some photos of the cars “side-drifting” through The Esses.

After the session ended, headed back to the A Paddock to get into position for the next session.

For the start of Rush Race 1, went to the bottom of the Inner Spectator Hill, so could capture the cars,, going into The Esses.

As the day continued, kept walking around to look for different locations to photograph from, and was in the pit area for the Track Battle Heat 3.

Continued walking along pit lane to the false grid area, where the cars are arranged before going onto the track. A couple of cool looking BMWs and Honda Civic.

The B Paddock wasn’t very far away, so went over to this area to check out the cars being worked on.

Walked up the hill next to the B Paddock, so could loop back to the Midway, where some cool looking cars were parked in the vendor area.

Nissan Skyline GT-R.

Toyota Supra.

I think the FCP Euro 1973 BMW E9 3.0 CS was my favorite car of the event, with its beautiful light blue/grey paintwork, attention to detail; and matching replica car on the roof. Amazing car and workmanship.

The FCP Euro Mercedes Benz 190E, which is a tribute to the race car version that once dominated DTM racing.

Everywhere you looked there were wonderful cars on display, this time, next to the Toyo Tires vendor area.

As I left the Midway, walked past some nice looking cars parked on the grass.

Behind the Midway was a large tent, where more great cars were on display, including Nismo GT-R’s.

Then noticed behind the tent, several more exotic cars all lined up, with the Berkshire Mountains in the background.

Walked back to the A Paddock, and paused to take a look at the Falken Tires stand, with the Lime Rock Park Timing and Scoring Tower behind it, then continued down the hill to the grassed area in front of the Inner Spectator Hill for the next on track sessions.

By now it was a after 4.00 pm, and the GLTC_GLGT Race 1 was on. Photographing the cars moving through the Esses at this time of day is fantastic, due to the light and shadows that filter through the tree’s in the background, especially when panning the cars, where you see “layers of light”.

At 5.00 pm the Drift cars hit the track for there third jam session of the day. The Falken Tire Mustangs.

Then did a series of panning shots of the cars drifting through The Esses, with there tire smoke trailing behind them.

Sometimes, the cars hit the side of the track, which caused a spray of dirt to be mixed with the tire smoke behind them.

Two of my favorite drifting cars were next up, so I tracked their progress as they went through The Esses.

The drifting action continued, with each drifting car, creating there unique presence on the track. Wow, what a great drifting session. Really had a great time capturing these cars in still images. Thanks for spending your time reading this blog, and next up, will be day 2 of GRIDLIFE Circuit Legends at Lime Rock Park.