News / Blog - Motorsport News

'Motorsport Sunday 2014' was a great success, we must hope it becomes an annual event.

The St Peter Port seafront and Salerie car-park were closed for the day to allow the many Guernsey Motorsport, Car, Bike, Historic Vehicle and Model Car Clubs to showcase themselves.

The three Emergency Services also put on an impressive showcase of their vehicles and kit.

After a wet start to the day the sun came out and so did the crowds making this new event a great success.

I'm sure many of the visitors to Motorsport Sunday would have been suprised how much racing machinery is owned and raced by local enthusiasts... and what was on show was just a tiny proportion of the whole lot!

It was great to see the many different Clubs come together to promote the scene as a whole. The usual thing is for the Clubs to operate on their own. Fostering a community spirit must be good for everyone involved.

Let's hope this first effort will grow over the next few years...
VIEW PICS OF MOTORSPORT SUNDAY 2014

What's better than the roar of a loud, racing V8 engine?

Well, TWO of course!

...and the many fans of the Guernsey Powerboat Association's Powerboat racing championship were treated to exactly that over the weekend when Martyn Robert joined Dave Corbet with another V24 Class boat:-)

The second race of the weekend offered more favourable conditions for photography... at least it was sunny! The brighter conditions have a massive impact on the vibrancy we can capture.

For a start the sea actually looks blue, rather than grey, and the race boats colours really come alive. Just compare the picture in my previous Blog to see what I mean.

I chose a different viewpoint for the Sunday as I like to vary the shots. I also had to photograph the 'Motorsport Sunday' on the seafront.

There will be another mention of this brilliant showcase of the Guernsey Motorsport scene in my next Blog.

For now though, you can check-out pics of the two days of water-based racing here:
VIEW PICS OF THE POWERBOAT RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

After a week of editing Chaos Festival pics it was a nice change to get some fresh air out on Richard Turk Vaudin's boat.

Thanks again for the ride :-)

The occasion wasn't a holiday, honest. No it was strictly business, honest!

I was grateful for the chance to get out to one of the distant corners of the Guernsey Powerboat Association's race-course in what weren't perfect conditions for photography.

The boat was a perfect stable platform, however as is often the case we couldn't really get close enough to the action. Also the light was grey and dull.

But the show has to go on and I captured around one hundred and fifty action pics.

It was also interesting to share the boat with three other photographers. The fact that we were all confined to the same three metre square area and we all saw the same action it will offer an interesting opportunity to compare our results... we all have our own style of shooting.

I've uploaded my edit of the race. Check the pics here:
VIEW PICS OF POWERBOAT RACE-5

After spending Saturday on the beach I swapped the sand for tarmac on Sunday.

Not quite as nice, I'm sure you'll agree :-)

However whilst the thrilling action of the Sand Ace meeting was always going to be a hard act to follow, the Kart racing at The Track did its best to entertain.

Unfortunately (perhaps) I missed a spectacular roll-over by Andy Ward. He has only just returned to the Kart track but he wasn't injured or put-off by the 'aerial antics' as he re-appeared for a later heat.

I was a late arrival at the racing as I had several publication deadlines to meet for pics from the Sand Ace meeting.

However the action hadn't finished yet as during the Rotax Junior Max final there was some controversial behaviour when Blue and Black flags were seemingly ignored. As the racing continued the failure to pull into the pits went on to affect the outcome of the race and the safety of drivers.

Tempers were understandably raised and I don't envy the Clerk of the Course and his assistants in their role in having to make sense of the argy-bargy!

This occasional behaviour by young competitors is, I guess, inevitable when the adrenaline is running high but it was a great shame to observe and certainly doesn't show our (potentially dangerous) Sport in good light.

There are penalties that cover the failure to abide by the rules for good reasons as parents need to know that their children are competing in a controlled environment with safety being the most important thing.

I'm sure that things will have calmed down before the next race meeting... let's get back to fair, safe, fast, noisy and competitive racing. It's what we love about the Sport.

Pics (not of the action!) are now online:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-4 OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSHIP

Sun, Sea, Sand and Ace Action.

That was what the weekend included for me and a couple of thousand Motorsport fans in Guernsey on Saturday.

It was fantastic to see such a high class entry for the 2014 Condor Ferries ACU British Sand Ace Championship held on the sands of Vazon Bay, Guernsey. It was also fantastic to see that the event attracted the crowd of spectators that it deserved.

I have no doubt that this unique Championship is held in high regard by the top riders who have raced on our sands. I spoke with many of the guys during the well attended social evening that followed the racing and I didn't hear a word of complaint... other than it is a shame we all have to wait a year before the fun kicks off again!

This praise of the organisation, friendliness and quality of the racing is a strong recommendation when it is remembered that most of the competitors have raced all over the UK and indeed the top venues in Europe.

So once again the small Island of Guernsey has proven that it is able to mix it with the heavy-weights and come out as winners!

Massive thanks must go to the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club and the many officials and helpers who made the day run so smoothly. Also the many Sponsors who enable the event to take place.

This photographer could barely conceal his enthusiasm whilst capturing the action. This event is one of the main highlights of my Motorsport photographic year.

I've now completed the proper edit of my pics after a rather stressful and fast preparation of a Slideshow of the unedited days work that I was requested to present for all the racers to view during the evening get-together.

Any photographers who are reading this Blog should have a little understanding that you would not choose to 'open up' your unedited work for appraisal. We can all capture some crap sometimes, eh?

Sand Racing can be quite a challenging sport to photograph - particularly if you have close access to the track - and it was with relief that I viewed the slideshow of pics for the first time along with the racers. It seemed to grab a lot of attention and good comments and I think my reputation as a Pro photog survived the experience :-)

I'm relieved to say that (even in the cold light of the next day) I didn't have too many 'fails'... phew!
VIEW THE 2014 CONDOR FERRIES SAND ACE CHAMPIONSHIP

Wherever you go around the world you can almost guarantee on one thing being a part of any community.

This will manifest itself in different forms dependant on resources, facilities and of course money!

What I am talking about is Motorsport.

A few things will also play a central role in all these Motorsport 'scenes'... men, competition, petrol, a love of speed and an ability to tweak your own racing machine.

Another feature of most Motorsport scenes is an element of a perceived 'restricted' access to all the fun.

My experience of the Guernsey Clubs and Motorsport scene couldn't be more different from that.

I know that they are always looking for new membership and will offer all the help and guidance they can to any prospective new racer. But that doesn't change the fact that some people who might be keen to start racing find it difficult to make a first approach.

This one fact alone makes the establishment of annual Motorsport Charity events so important and useful to encouraging fresh faces into the Clubs.

Of course the main aspect of these Charity events is to raise money for local Charities and tens of thousands of pounds from previous years have been donated. This year the Heritage Hillclimb was raising funds for Channel Islands Airsearch & the Guernsey Motor Neurone Disease Association.

This year the days racing (legally) up Le Val des Terres was enjoyed by all the competitors who experienced first hand what it is like to be part of the Guernsey Motorsport scene. We hope the taste of the 'real thing' will get a few of you excited enough to come back again to compete in a full event.

You will then become part of a Global Club.

There is however one thing on my list of the 'certainties' of a Motorsport scene that might be on the change. For me it is difficult to imagine racing without the smell of petrol and the noise from a V8 but the special guest who opened the Heritage Charity Hillclimb also showcased the future, maybe?

Guernsey's own World Motorsport Champion and BMW Team driver, Andy Priaulx, demonstrated the new BMW i3 Electric car... and just to show he hadn't forgotten his way up the 'Terres he smashed the Electric vehicle class record! Not bad to say his last competitive race up this hill was in 1995 when he won the MSA British National Hillclimb Championship!

Once a racer, always a racer.

So are you going to join a Club? It really isn't a restricted area :-)

I have added a Picture Gallery featuring all the days racers. A donation of 25% of all picture sales will be made to the designated Charities
VIEW PICS OF THE 2014 HERITAGE CHARITY HILLCLIMB

Last Saturday proved to be a busy day for me.

It was the last of the days jobs that was the biggie... That was my coverage of the Full Boar Lock-In at Beau Sejour. There is no escaping a large work-load when you photograph twelve bouts of fighting!

That work was all finished and on-line a couple of days ago. But that still left the days earlier photoshoot on the familiar sands at Vazon Bay. This was Round-4 of the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club Sand Racing Championship.

That job is now complete with an upload to a new Gallery of action pictures of the racing.

All these updates have been fitted around a very busy week of other work. No wonder I enjoy the time actually taking pics... it's the only chance I seem to have to get out from behind the editing desk!

Follow this link to view the latest Sandracing pictures:
VIEW ROUND-4 OF THE SANDRACING CHAMPIONSHIP

Thanks for the response to my previous Blog. There has been some really interesting feedback.
READ THE ORIGINAL BLOG HERE

However I think I should qualify what I originally said. Having re-read the post I feel that it can be interpreted as a put-down to hobbiest photogs.

This was certainly not the intention. I strongly believe that many of the most creative and talented photogs are amateurs. They thrive on their passion for the subject and revel in the freedom of shooting for their own pleasure. The quality of their results prove my point.

In contrast, there is an inevitable constraint that comes with professional photography. This comes with tight deadlines, tight briefs (not the underwear kind) and the need to guarantee the reliable completion of an assignment for a client. I know my own work was more varied before I needed to work within the limits of a brief.

Getting back to the intent in my original Blog. It was aimed more as a question and observation of the changes and added pressures that fall on a pro 'tog trying to work in this modern era.

Now that thought could open another completely new debate.

The question: Has the fast move to Digital photography and the proliferation of camera phones etc. helped move things forward for Professional photographers?

I'll start the ball rolling by stating that there is no way I would like to return to the 'good old days of film and the darkroom'.

So it seems that I can't have things both ways, can I?

Please feel free to pull my statements to pieces, I love a debate.

Do you know what the best compliment you can pay to a Motor Sport photographer is?

Maybe an even greater compliment than parting with your hard earned cash to actually buy a picture!

Well let me help you. My latest updates to the Hillclimb and Karting galleries have generated quite a number of kind comments regarding my 'style' of Motorsport photography. I have been encouraged by this interest and I thank you.

It's now quite a challenge for anyone wanting to make any sort of income from photographing Motorsport. Perhaps the same can be said about all forms of photography? I also specialize in live music and festival photography and that discipline is just as challenging to make money at.

Modern technology has given anyone with a few 'bob' to spend (only people of my era - and British - will understand that quote) the opportunity to capture endless numbers of digital pictures at almost no cost.

Digital photography allows a photog to fire away almost unlimited shots and then 'cherry pick' the successes. Call me old fashioned, which at fifty-nine I probably am, but I just don't 'get' this style of photography. I'm not sure that photographing action 'machine-gun' style proves that a photographer has any level of skill... apart from in editing, and even there, a photographer who shoots into the hundreds and thousands probably reveals that they have little sense of 'timing and composition'.

Add into this the capability of everyone to upload endless free pictures to Facebook and other free online galleries and you can see how this overload of images limits the ability of a Professional photographer to survive (meaning sell) his work. Who wants to pay for a pic when something similar is available for free?

This is a massive challenge to many professional photographers and is no different in 'little old Guernsey' than anywhere else in the world!

With the UK Motorsport Clubs and MSA seemingly relaxing some of their requirements to gain access to the Track/Hill/Beach this opens the opportunity for everyone to start taking pics track-side.

So where does this leave the professional photographer? Well a pro has to 'see' what the amateur doesn't. A Pro has to take full advantage of any access that they may still be able to gain to the track-side. A Pro must also work endlessly... meaning long hours. My experience is that hard work and persistence usually have to come before any form of success. That's a shame isn't it, but true!

Persistence, reliability, sticking to the job in uncomfortable situations and always trying to learn from your 'fails', mistakes and 'missed action' must always be part of your work ethic.

Also finding new angles to cover an assignment are important defining differences between a Pro and an Amateur photographer.

This takes me back to my original point and again I thank those who have contacted me to say that my work goes beyond simply taking pics of crashes and easy panning shots.

When a racer says that he can gather useful information about his set-up from looking at how his car is 'working' through a corner or how their racing line could be 'tweaked' after studying my work it makes me feel that I have added to and become a part of the racing scene. I am capturing real racing action. I'm not just cherry-picking the unfortunate racing 'offs'!

My chosen profession might not qualify as a 'proper job' (please don't tell my missus) but when I leave the house to go to 'work' it really thrills me and I wouldn't change a thing, despite the challenges.

This makes me a very happy chappie :-)

UPDATE:
Having considered this Blog again and taking into account the fantastic feedback I have had I've added a few more thoughts... A FEW MORE THOUGHTS... THE DEBATE GOES ON

The Kart Track saw its own share of Motor Sport action over the weekend. A long Bank holiday weekend is just too tempting to miss when you have petrol running through your veins.

Just think what a buzz the guys who substitute Methanol must get!

So for me the return to a bit of action photography was a pleasant experience after completing one of my other weekend assignments... photographing nearly 200 Brownies enjoying their 'Big Brownie Birthday Stay Away' at the Rue Mainguy Headquarters.

The Brownie Birthday was fantastic and the fun and energy that was put into making the event a great success, despite the weather, was a credit to all those involved.

The contrast between the various photo-shoots is what makes my job so much fun.

But back to the action. Sunday saw Round-3 of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club Summer Kart Championship. I was taking pics and it was difficult to know where to look as so much was happening on track... but as I've stated, I love Motor Sport action :-)
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-3 OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSHIP

It was literally non-stop action on Le Val des Terres for the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club Bank Holiday Hill Climb.

Well, perhaps that statement should be qualified. There were a few stoppages but they were all down to competitors 'off's'... and there were a few :-(

But as far as the running of the race meeting goes it was go, go, go all the way. This year has seen the introduction of there being no lunchtime break. A sad loss as far as this photographer is concerned. However there are pay-off's. We do get a lot of racing - and even an early finish :-)

The 'negative' (I'll explain later) is that it seems to be possible to squeeze up to six timed runs (plus a practice) into the new time slot!

So the racers certainly had their money's worth. Whether this amount of timed runs will become the normal is probably unlikely judging from the amount of spaces in the pits left empty by drivers and riders who seemed to be put off by the damp start to the day. We will see as the season progresses.

The result of all this racing is that I ended up taking more pics than ever before. I don't think I have lost the discipline to take as few shot as possible - but I must learn to keep control of the trigger finger as more pics means more work but NOT necessarily better quality (note to self).

I do however have a little way to go to match one of our local amateur photographers who told me he often takes Fourteen Hundred pics at a Hill Climb... ouch!!

As with most photography (especially when shooting silly numbers of pics) the trick is to make every shot count and get the exposure, cropping and timing all right in camera. This saves a lot of time later in the edit.

I turned around the edit of my (500) selection in just a couple of hours and they are now on-line.

Take a look to see what you think of my pics:
VIEW PICS OF THE BANK HOLIDAY HILL CLIMB

Continuing the Sun, Sea, Sand, Speed theme I have now added a Gallery featuring pictures of the weekends Sand Racing on Vazon beach.

It was good to see Martyn Guilbert out again on his Slider. That guy is one rider who makes a great action pic... makes my job easy!

Follow the link to view the latest pics:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST SAND RACING PICS

When is a boat not a boat but more like a plane?

Answer, When it's a Racing Powerboat!

Air offers less friction than water so I guess the less time you spend in contact with the wet stuff the faster you can go (potentially).

I'm sure it is a bit more complicated than that but seeing how hard the racers try to spend as much time airborne as is physically possible I can't be too far wrong.

The second Guernsey Powerboat Association race of the weekend was again treated to suberb, sunny weather. A little more swell outside St Peter Port added to the action and I captured as much as I could.

Big thanks to Chris Stonebridge for finding space on his small boat for me... (NOT 666 SLAYER that Paul Etasse races, shame)!

So I was lucky to get out on the water for a second day. However I needed all my years of shooting experience to nail the shots whilst using a 400mm lense on such a wobbly platform.

Loved the challenge though... see if you think it was worth my efforts...
VIEW PICS OF RACE-4 OF THE 2014 GPA POWERBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP

Always entertaining... but maybe the 2014 Autocross Club Fun Meeting was the best ever? There was a fantastic turn-out of cars & spectators. The weather was a special bonus :-)

If I had one disappointment it had to be that the jump wasn't used very much. I'm guessing that a 'racer is always a racer', even when doing it for fun! Why risk losing a place when taking the jump?

Shame, it can make a great pic!

But there is no argument that Chouet Beach on a sunny Sunday surrounded by maniacs driving old Bangers is a pretty exhilarating place to be.... mind your back mister.... they come at you from all directions!

I've added a new gallery of pics. Don't forget you can get any pic from as little as £4 - bargain :-) The digital file is bigger than this web-site displays, you don't have that horrible watermark... and you can sleep at night knowing you haven't nicked your pic from this photog, win, win, win.

I also promise that all funds received will be invested in Real Ale ;-)
VIEW PICS OF THE 2014 AUTOCROSS FUN MEETING

Sun, sea, sand, speed, sex!... now I'm getting carried away a bit

But I certainly enjoyed the first four, anyway.

Today (so far) has been a Motorsport day which included Powerboat Racing and Sandracing. (First four applied).

Later this eve it will be a bit of Metal at the Fermain Tavern.

Guernsey enjoyed a superb day of sunshine today and (for once) I was able to get out of the Studio/Van to soak up a few of the rays. The morning Powerboat race was over the Fermain/Lowerheads course and I was offered an ideal position on the Finish Line boat which gave a backdrop of Castle Cornet. That was the first box ticked :-)

In the afternoon it was the sands of Vazon beach that called. I managed to capture some of the Sandracing action. Those pics will follow.

First pics of the Powerboat pics are now online:
VIEW PICS OF POWERBOATS RACE-3

I'm pleased to report that (after a couple of early showers) Round-2 of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club Summer Kart Championship resembled the title... a Summer Championship!

After the first race meeting which was held under very wet skies it was quite a nice change to have a warm sun on my back. Lets hope that this is the weather that will continue throughout the Championship. I have everything crossed - including my camera straps :-)

I managed to capture some of today's action and the pics are now on-line here:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-2 OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSIP

The last week has been quite a blur. I have chased around to give coverage to so many events.

It has been very enjoyable. However I guess that most people (including 'casual' photographers) have little concept of how long the full processes take from the actual 'capture' of an image to the end result of having it published in Magazines, Newspapers and this Web-site. When all aspects are taken into account it is easy to see where the time goes.

You start by planning ahead. I have contacts with business clients and picture editors. Their requirements are noted and the day is planned. Simples, eh!

Then it is a case of keeping to the timetable hoping that everything runs on time. Having completed the days shoot the edits can start. Priority has to go to the print deadline work. This means a dash back to the office and a quick edit through maybe hundreds of shots to select the required pics. These have to fit the brief. Maybe specific action or subjects, upright or landscape format, close crop or wide view. All pics then have to be tagged with relevant details.

Often the first edit allows you only twenty minutes or so. You learn to work fast. All the time avoiding getting too many sandwich crumbs in the keyboard as you as you multi-task. Not bad for a man, eh!

Once the immediate edits are complete and e-mailed to the picture desks/client I turn the attention to the web-site updates. Once again speed is of the essence and the efforts taken to capture the best image 'in camera' will pay off as this greatly reduces the edit and processing time.

Next there is more captioning of pics. Then the uploading. Followed by the vital backing up and detailed cataloguing of all the days work. Why bother taking a picture if you can't find it in a few clicks when required?

In the analysis of this work-flow it is clear that the actual capturing of an image probably only takes twenty-five percent of the total time.

All the above processes have been in action during last week's work and I'm relieved to say that another job 'bites the dust' (sand).....

The latest update is for the GMC&CC Sand Race Championship. Pictures are now on-line:
VIEW PICS OF SAND RACING - RACE-2

VIEW PICS OF THE FIRST TWO POWERBOAT RACES
I'm still not sure how I fitted it all in but it's now Tuesday so something must have happened for the last four days. I just can't remember :-)

Luckily I have the pics to re-assure me that I did get out of bed!

Actually, from what I remember of all the chasing around, it was all pretty good fun.

As I'm still catching up with the photoshoots this Blog is simply a quick note of the latest updates. I'll post a few more details of the busy weekend tomorrow.

The main new Galleries updated today are for the first two Powerboat Races and the GMC&CC Hill Climb on Le Val des Terres.


VIEW PICS OF THE GMC&CC HILL CLIMB

The North Sections which feature in the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club Trials Bike Championship are viewed by a few of the competitors with trepidation.

The feature of this particular event is that it consists of many sections laid out around the northern coastal rocks.

These are challenging and unforgiving at the best of times, however if the day coincides with wet weather the whole event takes on an even more perilous edge!

Luckily this years meeting was held under dry skies which eased the tension a little.

I popped along to take a few pics on what was another very busy weekend for me. They are now on-line here:
VIEW PICS OF THE PERILOUS NORTH SECTION TRIALS

Also on the list of weekend photoshoots was Round-1 of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club Summer Kart Championship. You would be forgiven if you thought that it was just an extention of the Winter Championship (judging by the weather)!

However the changable conditions offered some great racing for competitors and spectators alike :-) View my pictures here:

VIEW PICS OF RACE 1 OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSHIP

A Bank Holiday weekend is looked forward to by most people as a time to relax, chill-out a bit and basically enjoy time away from work.

Well it couldn't be more different for me!

But don't feel too guilty about this. I love my job. It actually consists of what I would choose to do on my day off anyway! That makes me very lucky :-)

The only down-side is that I have to pack a huge amount into a very short time. There isn't much time to sleep when there are so many deadlines to meet.

To give you some idea how I've chased around for the last few days, here goes...

Good Friday:
Web site updates were first on the list. Then there were Guernsey Press photo jobs including the GIAAC 10km Road Run at Grande Rocque and a big Guernsey Basketball League game at Beau Sejour. All pics had to be edited, captioned and submitted to a short deadline.

Saturday:
First it was another update to this web site then off to the first GMC&CC Sand Race meeting of 2014 on Vazon beach. This was followed by another edit GP submissions and a web site update. Then it was time to head off to the The Fermain Tavern for the launch of Last of the Light Brigade's new album. There were three bands on the bill so that was more picture taking. The line-up was fantastic and consisted of Coastal Fire Department, Robert J Hunter and his Band and the boys from Last of the Light Brigade.
Home-time meant another quick edit and a 2am finish!

Sunday:
OK, I'll admit that I did take a little time out for Easter celebrations with my family... noisy bunch too. That comes from now having two grandchildren and a 'grand dog' (although I think my own three adult children were the loudest of the lot!) Next was an unusual Sunday photoshoot of a gig. Again it was at The Tav. This was the first of three #triplestoked weekends. If the remaining two can match the atmosphere and quality of last Sunday's line-up we are in for more treats!
The quality of performance, sound and lighting was 'top-notch' and a real pleasure to photograph. The line-up consisted of Buffalo Huddlestone, The Recks and visiting UK head liners YesSirBoss. Another late return home still allowed time for a quick edit and another 2am finish!

Easter Monday:
What felt like a very early start (9am... very rock 'n roll, eh!) for the first Hill Climb of 2014. Thankfully it stayed dry and it was great to be back 'track-side' capturing the action. There was no lunch break this year so I was tired and hungry by the time I got home ready to relax. But, hey, no chance! It was back to the editing as I had more Guernsey Press pics to submit and I then made a start on the edit for this web site. Needless to say it was another late finish :-(

So there you have it. I hope you enjoyed your casual weekend?

The pay-off for me is that the picture orders are already flowing in. And the best part? When you are back at your desk in the week I'll be out walking with the missus, maybe having a lunch or two at the Fleur du Jardin.

Then I'm sure I'll find time for a few beers at my 'town office', The Cock & Bull :-)

Like I always say, I love my job!

So far I Have added new Galleries for the GIAAC 10km Road Run, the Panthers v Le Mont Saint Basketball, GMC&CC Sandracing and the GMC&CC Hill Climb.

Pics of all six Bands will follow shortly.
VIEW PICS OF THE GMC&CC HILL CLIMB
VIEW PICS OF THE GMC&CC SAND RACING
VIEW PICS OF THE GIAAC 10km ROAD RACE
VIEW PICS OF PANTHERS v LE MONT SAINT BASKETBALL