What to do? First assignment.

[Frog]

My son belogns to a four wheel club and they're having a poker run at a nearby 4x4 park next weekend. He'd told me about it a few months ago but I'd forgotten.
He wants me to set up somewhere on the trail and get shots of the guys going through.
We'll be looking for a spot that's at least somewhat hairy...big lean or wheels off the ground or something.
He wants me to get a shot of each rig coming through and then be able to upload them at the beginning of the trail so the rigs owners can pick a shot they like and order a print.

My equipment: Nikon D80, Nikon 18-135, nikon 50mm f/1.8, Tokina 12-24 f4, sigman 70-300 apo, tripod, 3 2gig cards, sb800 flash.
I really hope the nikon 50 or the tokina will work but may need to go with the 18-135. I doubt the sigma will be used but I'll take it anyway.
The plan is for me to start shooting and then for someone to pick up my cards and return them for uploading so the drivers can see and maybe order some.
I don't think there will be printing capabilities on site but if there are can I get my copyright on the images?
I'm thinking I'll shoot jpeg fine instead of raw like I usually do to cut down time on post editing but if conditions are pretty bad light wise I may go ahead and shoot raw. If I shoot jpeg, I'll probably use aperture priority.
There will be about 80 rigs. I think I'll go ahead and buy a couple more cards just to keep the flow going and shoot no more than 60 or 70 shots per card.

That's the best I can figure out. I've never done anything like this before.
Has anyone else and if so, I'd appreciate any and all hints.
What do the four-wheelers like to see?
Any equipment hints or settings hints?

Thanks in advance?

[racedraper]

I would set up were there are huge obstacles were horsepower and balance is a key. There would be some spots were 3 of the tires would be off the ground. or get on top of the hill and shoot down were the truck is roaring up the hill. get shots of the spotters as wheel , some will have tow ropes to keep the rig from tipping over, so this would be a great shp of them pulling it.
Does this help? Sounds like fun to me.

[freygr]

I would look for a place on the course were you have a good view with out getting run over. How close you are will dictate which lens you need to use. Make sure you have a charged spare battery and extra memory cards.

[Frog]

Thankyou, racedraper and freygr.
The problem with picking a good spot is that I'd have to go through the course first and that probably takes at least an hour and maybe two or three. My son has taken his ride through several times and thinks he knows a good spot but he isn't a photographer. I'll just have to see what comes there.
I bit the bullet and bought an 18-200 vr this morning and it should be here in a couple of days so I'm pretty sure it will be the lens I use but will also take the others.
The photos will be chosen at the base and if any are sold the money will go to the club but I'm trying to think of a good flyer to put up so my name will get out a bit. Too late for business cards I believe.

[freygr]

Thankyou, racedraper and freygr.
The problem with picking a good spot is that I'd have to go through the course first and that probably takes at least an hour and maybe two or three. My son has taken his ride through several times and thinks he knows a good spot but he isn't a photographer. I'll just have to see what comes there.
I bit the bullet and bought an 18-200 vr this morning and it should be here in a couple of days so I'm pretty sure it will be the lens I use but will also take the others.
The photos will be chosen at the base and if any are sold the money will go to the club but I'm trying to think of a good flyer to put up so my name will get out a bit. Too late for business cards I believe.

Heck business cards, 1) do you have a printer? If yes, goto an office supply store and purchase a packet of pre-cut or laser scribed ten up business cards. Then you can use MS Word, WordPrefect or better Ventura or MS Publisher to make the your cards. Personally I have found WordPrefect is so easy to use to make business cards followed by Ventura and MS Publisher with MS Word being the very last program to use.

[mn shutterbug]

I would recommend picking up some 110# index paper or card stock, to print on. IMO, at least the ones I've seen, pre cut business cards look amateurish. You can see and feel the perforation where they are pulled apart. However, there may be better quality ones out there that I haven't seen. It takes a bit longer to cut them yourself, but I think they look much better.

Good luck.

[Frog]

Thanx....all we have is ms word but I'll have my wife take a look at these ideas. She's better at this stuff.

[mn shutterbug]

I;m sure if you google "business card software", you'll find quite a few with free downloads or free trials. After all, you only need it for this one time.

[ciddog91]

I have never shot 4 wheeling, but have done it a bunch. Can't contribute to the shooting aspect, but GOOD LUCK and I can't wait until you post some.

Phil