Barber Grand-Am 08

[brmill26]

I figure Lori and I can both use this for the weekend's pics. Friday was the first day open to the public - mostly practice, but a few qualifying sessions as well. I mainly used it to move around the track and get a variety of shots.

But of course, first I had to meet Lori and thank her for getting me and several of my friends tickets for the weekend. She was in the middle of working, of course, so we only chatted for a minute. Here she is in her work post.



Patrick Dempsey's RX-8


Another RX-8 jumping the kerbing (Heavily cropped)


Hanging a wheel off


This shows of the true setting of Barber - hedges hiding the railing, woods on the inside. Beautiful, everywhere.




Don't worry about walking too far - just hop on the ever-circulating Tram and it'll take you anywhere around the track.


I must say, this is an odd one - Painting in the back of a race truck wearing heels and a cowboy hat?!


That's real 24k gold plating!


More to come through the weekend...

[wull]

Great job Brad. Some excellent shots.

Well done.

[Lori11]

Great shots Brad! Hope you can stop by tomorrow! I was wondering if this should have gone under "Capture a Sranger" post but he is not a stanger now! I will post some pics when I am totally concious :lol: I have spent 3 days covered in dirt ( as Brad was witness to lol) and have one more to go! Oh and Im the one without the bandana LOL

[Jimmy B]

Nice looking shots Brad. Seems this weekend was for some of the PR.com folks to get together and meet each other. OT and I met this weekend in his home state,Kentucky! Looking forward to seeing more of both of your shots, Jimmy B

[Old Timer]

Looking more like we are going to have to have a PR gathering at a race track. Maybe we could even entice JS out for something like that. I was hoping he would show up at KY Speedway this weekend, but with his work schedule the dogs and putting things back together after the tornado I guess that wasn't in the cards. Some great opening shots Brad looking forward to more from you and Lori.

[brmill26]

Thanks everyone. A PR track gathering would awesome...

As Lori mentioned in the other thread, HOT was the word. It was around 96* ambient on Sunday. Thankfully, Barber has a wonderfully shaded backstretch where you can get under the trees and watch the race. With the nice breeze, it was bearable from back there. The heat aside, it was an absolutely excellent weekend with some great action.

Here are a few from Saturday and Sunday:

These guys kept Lori covered in dust for the weekend...




The Mustang Challenge cars (spec series, fairly stock cars) put on a great show, being that most of the drivers were fairly amateur, trying to control a big car with a lot of torque.


That's easily the biggest slide I've ever seen off that turn, and he even kept it on track. Impressive.


The start of the Koni GS race didn't go well for this guy.


Clearly looking for a unique shot.


Fuel tank's in the trunk!


The battle for the lead of the Koni race


And the pass for the lead


55 went on win the race.




Sunday images still to come...

[Lori11]

Great shots! THe fuel cell being in the trunk has saved many a drivers life (one big fire I worked proved that to me) I screwed up and posted some in a seperate thread (apparently I didnt read your post clear till now lol) My new nickname is Dusty....I swear I had grass in my ears....
so much for the girly girl image
I will post some here later!

[brmill26]

Ha, it doesn't matter Lori! Two threads is probably better - not so many images to scroll through for everyone! And yeah, it was pretty darn dusty over there... I figured you wouldn't mind that I didn't get a portrait of you ;)

[Lori11]

MInd? Hell you are in the Will now! :lol: :lol:

[Lori11]

Sorry for the potty mouth :blush2:

[Lori11]

This is how and why I got the nickname Dusty lol 4 days of this all day

[brmill26]

lol, wow, is that a rally?! That's a great shot to show how dirty it was off line there.

Here are some of my Sunday shots. Sorry it took so long... busy week!

The Moto-ST race winner getting a knee down in turn 11


Bending it into 11 on an older Ducati


Jimmy Filice exiting the chicane in front of Lori


Wheelie / scenic shot.


A selection of exotics paraded during the lunch break:






Old school exotics as well




The Diablo a few minutes later


On to the races...
Not the way to end the day.


The Mustang Challenge race was... eventful. This guy got in a bit too hot into Turn 5


...but that paled in comparison to this guy. I didn't see the beginning of it, but I surmise he ran wide in front of Lori, lost control trying to correct a slide in the grass and spun across the track into the wall.


A P-51 flew over (along with two Texans) before the feature race.


Who cares about the race? Check out these awesome sticks!


After spinning backwards into a GT-class Porsche in Turn 5, his day was done.


3-way battle for the lead. Alex Gurney in the #99, Mark Wilkins in the #61, and Scott Pruett in the 01 would eventually win.


This was fun to watch. Clearly a future racing photog.




That's most of the highlights. It was a fantastic race weekend, and thanks again Lori for making it happen and it was a pleasure to meet you.

[Lori11]

Great photo;s Brad!! I am still editing Ishg.........And yes the guy who wrecked did 2 360's caught the grass and over steered.....its text book at my turn lol The car in the dirt is none other then Mr. Partick Dempsey himself lol hope he doesnt give up Grey's Anatomy :lol:

[Jimmy B]

Good work Brad, looks like the new lens was well worth the investment. Brad and Lori I can smell the "Mellow Mushroom Pizza" . I will be Bama bound in Oct.
Jimmy

[JETA]

WOW! What a great collection of photos Brad!

That's so cool some more pr people got to meet up!

[wull]

Great set of photos Brad. :thumbsup:

[brmill26]

Awesome, my first feature! Thanks guys!

[Jimmy B]

Brad, congrats on POW!!!!
Jimmy B

[Lori11]

WTG Brad Congrats!

[adamsti]

Nice shots, watch the shutter speeds though with the panning shots of the cars. They look a little too parked.