News / Blog - Motorsport News

As this website smashes through 17 MILLION VIEWS I maintain the effort to keep the updates coming.

CLICK HERE TO READ MY 17 MILLION VIEWS BLOG

The variety of work that makes up an average week of photography keeps everything interesting for me... and I'm pleased to say a few of you too, judging by the amount of picture views made every day on this website :-)

As an example of some of the variety of photoshoots there have been three new galleries added today. They feature Round three of the GK&MC Summer Kart Championship.

Then there are pics of Jo Reeve's fortieth birthday gig at the Golden Lion which saw Gay Army make a rare live appearance.

There's also a gallery of cricket pics that I captured during the Loveridge Cup half-time at KGV. See the previous Blog for those pics.

All this still doesn't mean that I'm up to date with the weeks work yet... but I'm definitely three steps closer!

These links will take you to the new uploads:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ROUND 3 OF THE SUMMER KART SERIES
CLICK HERE TO VIEW GAY ARMY PLAYING AT THE GOLDEN LION
CLICK HERE TO VIEW CRICKET AT KGV

This is just a quickie to keep you up-to-date with another couple of new galleries featuring some of the Bank Holiday weekend action.

My previous Blog offers a bit more information regarding the weekends work.

The latest two updates feature the Loveridge Cup U18's Final football game a KGV - Sylvans vs Rangers.

Then there's another update featuring the fourth round of the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club 2017 Sandracing Championship at Vazon Bay.

I've still got a load of updates to make... keep tuned into this Blog page for more details....

These are the latest galleries:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE LOVERIDGE CUP FINAL
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND 4 OF THE SANDRACING CHAMPIONSHIP

There's a theme here.

We start off with all the anticipation ahead of a busy Bank Holiday weekend.

It's always going to be none-stop action as many sporting and music events seem to get organized to take advantage of an extra day of leisure... if you're not a photographer that is!

Even though the holiday weekend means an overload of work for me I still look forward to them.

The bit that isn't so appealing is that by some freak of nature the holiday weekend seems to get more than its fair share of bad weather and rain!

So I guess I should have known that the waterproof kit would get an outing at least once... and it did. In fact the rain was so torrential on Sunday that the Powerboat racing had to be stopped because the visibility was so bad the safety crews couldn't see the racers!

In the end there was plenty other action to fill three full days so I was happy. It is only now that the editing has to be completed that I'm less enthused.

But I've been covering Bank Holidays for long enough to know the score and the only way to get through to the end is to stick at it. The end will come into view in a couple of days.

It is more straight forward for you. All you need to do is pop along here to this News page every now and then and I'll post a link to my new pics for you to view at your leisure. That's what Bank Holidays are all about :-)

So far the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's Hillclimb pics are online. View them here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE BANK HOLIDAY HILLCLIMB PICS

I’m chuffed to say that this website continues to gain a following. My thanks and a high five (a hug if you’re a lady) to anyone who pops along here for an occasional browse through the picture galleries.

The time I spend taking pics is mostly exciting and enjoyable…. and it definitely beats having a ‘proper job’!

Now whilst the pleasure I get from working full-time as a photographer should be enough to keep me happy there is an additional side to making me smile – that is this website and the amount of interest shown in my work.

The total number of picture viewings of the galleries has just passed another MILLION MILESTONE. The total now exceeds 17 MILLION VIEWS!

It seems that the annual average has now settled at FOUR MILLION VIEWS A YEAR!

This got me interested in calculating what that number means on a daily, hourly and minute basis. The result is quite surprising!

So I started with the 4 MILLION annual views.

A simple division gives you 11,000 views a day – every day of the year!

I then looked at the Google Analysis which shows most viewings are between 7am and 1am…. that’s eighteen hours out of the twenty-four day.

So another division…. 11,000 views divided by the 18 hours gives you 600 views an hour every day of the year!

Next divide the hourly views by 60 minutes and you arrive at 10 views a minute.

Finally another quick calculation and you can work out that (on average throughout the year) a picture is viewed every six seconds. WOW!

So there we have it, my Maths teachers at the Grammar School always said that I would be surprised how useful ‘learning sums’ could be later in life. In this case it has helped tickle my ego and encourage me to keep taking the pics…. At least while the interest remains ;-)

Thanks again for all your support.

If you want to read a few of my previous ‘MILLION MARK’ Blogs just click on this link:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PREVIOUS MILLION MARK BLOGS

It was a case of dodging the showers at a recent photoshoot I did for BMW, Jacksons Garage and the Guernsey Press.

The special event was an open day featuring a wide range of the latest BMW motorbikes which were on display and also available for test rides.

Brian Martel had been asked to test ride and report on the BMW R nineT Scrambler. I needed to capture pics to support his article.

Whilst I'm guessing that the damp conditions were what this bike is designed to cope with it was still a shame to get a new bike wet and splashed with spray.

After the shoot, this meant more work for both the photographer and garage technicians to get the bike looking at its best again.

My cleaning 'tool' was the Lightroom 'spot healer'. I didn't go for a complete touch-up as I quite liked the slightly 'grungy' look. I am sure, however, that my cleaning work was easier than the rags and polish required back in the garage!

You can view a small gallery of pics here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A FEW PICS OF THE JACKSONS BMW OPEN DAY

Whilst I'm sure many locals would have enjoyed two days leisure on Guernsey's beaches last weekend I was on the golden sands for work :-(

I'm not looking for any sympathy though. Far from it. I get to spend my 'work' time outside doing what I enjoy. I think I'm the lucky one here!

I also spent quite a bit of time walking around L'Ancresse golf course with my cameras slung around my neck trying to catch up with crucial moments of play in the Piccadilly Trophy and the Junior Hampshire Greenjackets Golf competitions. Again, what's so bad about doing that as my way to earn a crust (pay for the real ale)!

The beach work was capturing the action on the sands of Vazon Bay (Sand Racing) and the Autocross Banger racing on Chouet beach.

I've now added a couple of Galleries featuring the Motorsport action:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS ACTION
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST SAND RACING ACTION

The headline to this Blog is hard to say for a photographer!

Especially one of my era who grew up with rolls of film that offered little scope for any manipulation.

Another thing that sets me up as an 'old generation' 'tog is that I really don't 'get' videoing at all. I know that all my recently purchased cameras have a setting and buttons to start a video recording but I've never explored what they can do.

You'll now understand that I'm proper 'old school'. Maybe this means I'm missing out on all that fun... the endless editing, the massive files.... and just how do you sell the finished video after all that effort when, if you put it online, it is essentially given away?

Of course all of the previous comment could be complete rubbish... I did say that I have no idea about video!

However, even I can see that sometimes the 'good old fashioned' photograph cannot explain what is happening as well as a moving picture could do.

Perhaps the picture at the top of this Blog is an example. In this 'frozen' form you could be forgiven for thinking that it was captured moments before a terrible accident when the Marshall is run over by the Sand Racing car.

But you'd be wrong. I'm sure that any racers are able to interpret the picture correctly. It is clear from the angle the car is leaning into the corner and the spray being thrown up that the driver is making a huge controlled slide. The Marshall in the picture is also an experienced beach racer so he clearly felt comfortable so close to the action.

Now, having explained all of that, I reluctantly have to concede that a video of the same action wouldn't have needed any explanation at all!

But is that what we want when looking at dramatic moments of action?

When a photographer is lucky to catch a special moment in a photograph there remains something for the viewer of that picture to interpret in what they see before them. So this still leaves me thinking that a carefully timed and captured 'still' picture is the finest form of recording action sport. I welcome your own comments on this subject.

You can see from my comment that this 'stills photographer' is not likely to be pressing his 'Record' button anytime soon!

A full gallery of pics taken at the last Sand Racing meeting is now online:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST SAND RACING PICS

The official drought in Guernsey was ended over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Some of you might say good. Others will disagree.

However, thankfully, we are not yet able to control the weather - although I'm sure Donald Trump would enjoy wealding that amount of power!

In the end, for us mere mortals, we have to accept what we are given and just get on with things.

For me 'things' on a Bank Holiday usually means some sort of Motorsport event to photograph. So on Monday I found myself standing in the drought breaking rain on Le Val des Terres hill capturing some spectacular Hillclimb action through foggy lenses and rain splattered spectacles trying to tell myself this was fun!

Thankfully the misery of rain running down my back is soon forgotten whilst completing the edit of my pics. Once again it was worth the discomfort as the wet track produced some dramaatic shots.

I've now uploaded a gallery featuring some of my pics. Enjoy taking a look from the comfort of your screen.
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE DROUGHT BREAKING HILLCLIMB

The Guernsey Kart & Motor Club ran very close to breaking the Trade Description Act last Sunday when they called the latest Round of their Karting Championship a 'SUMMER RACE'.

Competitors were greeted by a very wet Track and the rain continued for nearly the whole of Round-2 of the Kart Summer Championship!

The rain did ease for short periods but the racing went on regardless.

I have learnt that it is at times like this that I have to 'man up', put on the waterproofs - both on me and my cameras - and keep shooting pics. The reason for the perseverance is that the wet track offers a new opportunity to capture a unique dynamic in my pictures.

That's really all I need to say on the subject as in this case I think pictures explain better that a thousand words....
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF A VERY WET KARTING EVENT

The first Mower Racing event of 2017 saw a grid made up of a mix of tweaked and modified chassis. Many were re-fitted with powerful motorbike engines. Suspensions and dampers had been replaced, tyre choices had been evaluated.

It seems that a racer will always try to find a way to go faster... and seeing the results of the winters work proved that they were successful.
Some of the mowers were seriously fast. Shockingly fast!

Mower racing is heading to the top of my 'best fun in Motorsport' list :-)

I only had a short time available to take my Mower pics - the Snooker Inter-Insular was the next job on my list. Sadly it didn't get my adrenaline pumping in quite the same way as the Mower Racing :-(

My pics are now online here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MOWER RACING PICS

A Bank Holiday Monday usually means Motorsport :-)

So why break the habit!

The first GMC&CC Hillclimb of 2017 was held at Le Val des Terres on Monday.

I was on the hill taking pics (between doing a bit of gardening and deadheading the daffodils)!

What am I on about I hear you say?

Well I've learnt to be fussy about the scene in front of me (before taking a single picture). Experience has shown me that spending five minutes tidying up the area that I will use as a setting for my subject can save me hours of cloning out litter, stray branches, leaves... etc, etc.

I've even been known to carry a pair of pruning shears in my kit. Yes I really am that fussy!

I often have the piss taken out of me (excuse the language) when people see me fiddling with a few blades of grass that are in the wrong place.

But last weekend the humour hit a new height... and I love it. Adrian 'Attenborough' Gabriel was sitting at his mid-hill commentators post when he saw me preparing for the next run of competitors up the hill.

I was unaware that he had started to video me as I concentrated on setting up the scene. It turns out that Guernsey's version of the famous wildlife observer is also a talented narrator as he added a fitting commentary to his work which (I'm embarrassed to say) is spot on!!

Check out Adrian Gabriel's video... there's a link on my Facebook page.
It certainly made me laugh - a lot! I hope it has the same effect on you :-)
https://www.facebook.com/andrewlep

Meanwhile, I've now finished updating my picture galleries of the days Hillclimbing - complete with deadheaded daffs :-)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST (TIDY) HILLCLIMB PICS

The broad sands of Vazon bay are the home to the long-running Sand Racing organized by the Guernsey Motor Cycle and Car Club.

There is no doubt that the annual highlight of this form of motorsport is the National Sand Ace meeting. That prestigious event attracts a high class field of Solo riders and Sidecar outfits from the UK, Europe and beyond.

It is a shame that the Sand Ace racing is just once a year... it is so spectacular to watch!

But that doesn't mean that the local competitors can't have a bit of fun whilst waiting for the Sand Ace to come along again.

So that's why I was down on the Vazon sands on Saturday - it was the first of the local championship series.

There was a good turnout of cars. The Junior Bike Class was the biggest that I can remember and the MX Class was well supported. All these produced good racing.

The small number of Solo Bike Sliders and Sidecar outfits was a disappointment. Hopefully the numbers will improve over the next few meetings.

Overall it was good to be back.... and we have the Sand Ace meeting to look forward to in June :-)
CLICK TO VIEW THE FIRST SAND RACING MEETING OF 2017

Spring has sprung, the winter rest is well and truly over and the sports events are coming thick and fast.

With a busy Easter weekend on the horizon I've made sure the picture galleries have been updated with last weekends shoots.

These include my coverage of another of the Velo Club's MTB XC series. Then there are pics of Round 1 of the GK&MC Summer Karting Championship followed by Banger racing pics from Chouet beach.

Never a dull moment around here, eh!!

Find the new pics here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST MTB XC PICS

CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST KARTING PICS

CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PICS

Yesterday the first tarmac Motorsport event of the year was held by the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club at Vazon coast road.

There was a really good entry that featured everything from exotic Lambo's and McLarens to family saloons... with the children's safety seat removed!

The usual suspects on two wheels were there with FTD firmly in their sight.

When it was clear that we were going to enjoy a dry... even sunny meeting the hopes were high that a few records would tumble.

In the end it might have been the strength of the wind that robbed a few hundredths here and there proving that long-standing records require absolutely everything to be perfect to beat.

In the end most of the racers went home with a smile. They had given their chosen ride a blow-out ahead of the next tarmac event... a hillclimb at Le Val des Terres. See you there.

I've added a full gallery of pics. Follow this link to view them:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE FIRST 2017 SPRINT

A day at the races.... Guernsey style.

In this case that meant that sun and sand were included in the deal ;-)

Of course it goes without saying that noise and speed are always part of any Motorsport Championship!

Today it was the Guernsey Autocross Club's Banger racers who provided the entertainment... and they didn't disappoint us.

The beach seemed in pretty good condition for racing and the meeting was very well organized as always with barely a break between races... apart from the times the Ambulance crew took to the sand to check that the occupants of a 'roll-over' were unhurt.

Happily, everyone returned home in one piece. That's more than could be said about some of the cars!

My pictures are now online here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PICS

The Annual 2-Day Trials meeting was organized by the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club last weekend.

I managed to get down to some of the sections but was limited for time this year. There seemed to be a good turnout of riders including visitors from Jersey, France and the UK.

It was a shame that the weather wasn't warmer with less wind as some of the conditions at exposed sections were pretty grim for the Marshalls. I hope their grit and stamina was praised by the competitors... it's never much fun sheltering from the wind and rain when you aren't taking part in the Trials action.

Even though the obvious, comfortable option was to stay at home there were good numbers of spectators spread around the sections and they were rewarded by some great riding.

An early springtime date for this meeting always runs the risk that it might be spoilt by inclement weather. But I've taken a look in previous years galleries and sometimes we've been treated to fantastic conditions. You really never know what you'll get with British weather!

I've just added a new gallery featuring pictures of the 2017 2-Day Trials meeting. Follow this link to view the pics:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE 2017 2-DAY TRIALS

Now who am I kidding? Summer is not here yet :-(

It might have been Round-1 of the Guernsey Autocross Club's summer Banger racing championship today but unfortunately one summer race doesn't make a summer.

So I'll have to wait a bit longer for the long hot summer days but there's no need wait for Motorsport action.... Beach Banger Racing supply's it by the beach bucket full.

When a photographer is offered so much action to capture there's no problem filling a gallery with pics. The proof is now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF RACE-1 OF THE SUMMER BANGER RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

My work-time has been a bit disrupted recently as I've had to commit more and more hours to the care of my father.

It has been a challenging time trying to fit everything from a 'normal' work and home life around the substantial hours spent caring for my dad.

My father is now over 90 and up until recently he has managed to look after himself... with a lot of support from me. But as time marches on things change and during the last few weeks he has had several falls which have knocked his (and my) confidence in his ability to live alone.

However I'm really pleased to say that after I've stayed with him nearly 24/7 for the last week he is now getting back to normal and is getting stronger again. We have also had fantastic support from all the Guernsey Social Services... from Carers, Fast Response Nurses, Social Workers, St Johns Ambulance, A&E, Doctors.... the list could go on. Thank you all.

This whole episode has caused me to step back and re-asses what is important in life... what is really important to me. I have realized that spending so much time with my father has meant we have strengthened our love and friendship in a very special way. It has been very rewarding.

But, away from that commitment life has to go on and whilst it has been challenging in every way I think a care plan is now in place. I think dad will be able to remain at home - which his wish.

The lack of free time and the stress of trying to keep dad safe are now the main factors that we have to address going forward.

What this ramble is leading to is explaining why it has taken more than a week to update a gallery featuring Round-6 of the GVC Winter MTB XC. I've now sorted this out and you can view the pics by following the link.

Going forward is a bit of an unknown. I'm intending to stay fully committed to the caring of my father and fit as much photography around this as I can. You'll maybe have to be a bit patient if the updates are a little slow sometimes.

Thanks to everyone for the continued support and interest in my pics... life goes on... it's just a little different :-)
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF ROUND 6 OF THE GVC MTB XC SERIES

Just a quick couple of links to more sports action pictures from the weekend.

On Saturday it was Round 2 of the GK&MC Motocross championship held on the track at Pleinmont... and it was nice and sunny! The pictures can be found by following the link below.

After I had photographed a couple of the races I had to head off to the next assignment in St Peters. This was a football match between Sylvans and Saints. Those pics are also online.

Click below to open the Galleries:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND 2 OF THE MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
CLICK TO VIEW SYLVANS v SAINTS FOOTBALL

The chilling wind at today's Autocross meeting kept most of the spectators hidden in their cars - who can blame them!

The lucky people (or well organized) who turned up early enough were able to claim the 'ring-side seats' in the car-park overlooking the action and they could watch the racing in comfort with their car heaters on!

It was the Marshals and photographers who had to make sure that they put on an extra layer or two of clothing to keep out the icy blast.

But it was worth making sure I was dressed in the thermals as there was plenty of action to photograph....

My pics are now online in a new gallery. You'll notice the shortage of spectators lining the top of the beach!

We must keep our fingers crossed for a warm and sunny day next meeting as the best way to experience the noise and drama of Banger Racing is to be outdoors and Chouet beach offers a natural 'stadium terracing' giving the perfect view-point.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CHILLY AUTOCROSS MEETING