News / Blog - Motorsport News

I'm not too great on superlatives it seems!

A 'three letter' 'WOW' seems a bit weak for the latest statistic showing viewings on this Web-site.

But there you have it. That was the first word I uttered when the counter passed THREE MILLION VIEWINGS!

Previous landmarks were also special to me. The FIRST MILLION was passed literaly on the Anniversary of the first year online. I was astounded by that coincidence.

TWO MILLION VIEWINGS showed up in May this year. This started me wondering if 3,000,000 viewings could be reached before the first two years online..... and we have just made it with nine days to go :-)

I'd like to thank all of you for the continued - and growing - interest in my work. I feel very lucky to call photography my 'proper job'. I speak to so many talented and enthusiastic photographers who would love to change places (and camera kit!) with me.

So passing the 3,000,000 viewings deserves to be analysed a little. This breaks down to 2,000,000 in the last 51 weeks.
Google Analytics shows that the vast majority of viewings are from European Countries/Time Zones.

With most of the viewings being made during 18 of the 24 hours available we can do some sums!

18 Hours x 60 Mins = 1,080 Mins a Day
1,080 Mins x 7 Days = 7,560 Mins a Week
7,560 x 51 Weeks = 385,560 Mins of viewing time to go from 1,000,000 to 3,000,000

So now a simple division reveals the average number of viewings that occurred every minute for every hour for the last 51 weeks....

2,000,000 divided by 385,560 = 5.18

The resulting number (as if you are really going to be as interested as me :-) shows this:

EVERY MINUTE FOR THE LAST 51 WEEKS (on average) FIVE PICTURES WERE VIEWED.

Meaning EVERY TWELVE SECONDS A PICTURE IS VIEWED.... and of course peak viewing would be much higher as this is just an average. WOW! ...... here I go again :-)

Looking ahead I have much more modest ambitions. I really can't see any possibility of improving on 2,000,000 annual viewings so I will consider that doing the same again as a job well done :-)

If you find a few minutes now and then to pop along here to check-out the latest updates I will be a happy man.
Thanks
Andrew
READ ABOUT THE FIRST MILLION
READ ABOUT THE SECOND MILLION

The 2012 Hill Climb season ended on a rather grey day.... it was pretty miserable!

This is not a comment that would apply to the standard of racing, however.

It was clear right from the start that we were in for a full day of the wet stuff and quite a number of drivers and riders never made it to the start line. Perhaps this was a little disappointing, but who can blame them. Petit Bot hill is very tight in places, suprisingly fast and even in a good (dry) year never offers the best grip due to its setting in a tree-lined and damp valley.

The positive of having a smaller field of competitors was that things ran through very fast and smoothly and the predicted (OK, I was wrong!) continual stopping the retrieve cars out of banks never really happened! Those who made the effort enjoyed a day of fun and speed that will have to keep them going until next year :-)

Spending a day standing in the rain taking pictures is not really my ideal 'day job' but occasionally you get the reward of some special pics. The reflections on the wet road surface and the addition of the spray adds a bit of drama. Trying to keep very expensive cameras and lenses dry(ish) is a real pain in the whatsit. My lenses were continually fogged up and I gave up on the 70-200mm when even the inside of the filter fogged over! Modern professional equipment is made to superb standards but there is always the worry that the water will do damage and the kit will fail you on an important job.

However, a few hours later - after a quick dry-out and check-over - the cameras were back on duty with me in another sweaty environment. This time it was for the Album launch party of Tantale's new recording. The cameras didn't skip a beat, phew! Thanks to the guys for my copy of the CD. I've already played it a few times and can recommend you find a copy. Pics of the Tantale gig will follow shortly.

In the meantime the Petit Bot pics are now online:
PICTURES OF PETIT BOT 2012

You can almost be certain that rolls will be on the menu when the Banger Racing serves up its entertainment on Chouet beach!

When the meeting is timed to start at midday (think lunchtime) it was just a case of waiting for the action :-) I managed to miss the first roll which happened whilst I was facing in the opposite direction. The resulting scene suggested that in this case Goliath had the upper hand over David. A little Peugeot should never mess with the might of a Volvo estate! HOW GOLIATH GOT HIS OWN BACK ON DAVID

My luck, however, was better for the biggest roll of the day. Having earned a place in the Race of Firsts it all went wrong for Billy Le Page when he rolled his car whilst pushing hard through the chicane. He seemed to have successfully negotiated the bend when his car suddenly launched itself. I managed to capture a sequence of shots but as I was using a telephoto lens at the time the results are a bit tightly cropped.

I didn't think Billy would do it again for me so I could make a better job of the pics..... so I didn't ask :-)

A new Gallery of Autocross pics is now online:
LUNCHTIME ROLLS ON THE BEACH AT CHOUET

Vazon sands welcomed three visiting bike (slider) riders from Jersey... in perfect conditions for the early start.

The big tides meant a morning start and an opportunity to run a massive track. There was early disappointment for Anthony Queripel when he blew his engine and this deprived us of seeing him go head to head with the visitors.

But we were still treated to some great racing for Round-9 of the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club Sand Racing Championships. It makes so much difference when a decent size entry signs in.

I have selected, developed and uploaded the pics in record time as I still have a busy weekend ahead. Take a look of the pics here:
ROUND-9 OF THE SAND RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

The Guernsey Kart & Motor Club held their annual 2-Day Motocross meeting at Pleinmont last weekend.

Now lets be honest, the conditions were varied to say the least!
The Saturday was windy and the track was very dry... the dust was of Sahara standards!
Sunday was rainy... by Amazonian standards! So the riders were challenged by varied conditions!

The new layout of the Motocross track seems to be slower... and this directly translates to safer racing. Of course, there will always be an occasional crash, but there seem to be less stops for 'hospital runs'.

The other side of these changes is that it makes a photographers job that bit more challenging. Since the alterations I have struggled to find good viewpoints to photograph the action. Somehow the dynamics have changed. So there is a new challemge for me. I like challenges:-)

Take a look back again at these Galleries later in the year to see if I have found a few new angles to capture the action....

Pics of the 2012 GK&MC 2-Day Moto-X are now online:
GK&MC 2-DAY MOTO-X MEETING

A few of the Guernsey Power Boat Association's races have fallen victim of the poor weather that we have endured this summer. So it was a treat to have reasonable conditions for Race-8.

I have not been able to photograph every race this year... I did try a couple that were cancelled after I got very wet whilst waiting for a race start in a small Rib with waves rolling in! Never a good idea with several grands worth of lenses and camera getting wet:-) I also missed a couple of races whilst I was photographing Jersey Live and a Hill Climb.

The latest race was quite a spectacle with the course bringing the racers close to the St Peter Port harbour walls which provided an ideal viewpoint. The 2012 season has show-cased some close racing and the seed has been sown with a few new competitors for next year. Let's hope we get an 'old fashioned' hot summer in 2013 :-)

Race-8 pics are now on-line:
Power Boat Championship Race-8

As the Hill Climb season nears its end for 2012 I have been reflecting on some of the performances I have seen this year.

The records have been lowered in such numbers that it has probably created a new record of its own!

The quality of driving. The standard of preparation of Cars, Bikes and Karts and the total commitment shown by competitors places Channel Island Motor Sport way up the 'league' when it is judged against other National venues.
Motor Sport has also shown that it is near the top when judged by the level of performance compared to other local sports.

There are probably few sports that demand such brave commitment. It is also an expensive activity to compete in - particulaly when many of the younger participants have families to feed!

The Alderney weekend always makes me aware how many people have to be involved with a Motor Sport Club to make everything happen. Guernsey is spoilt by having three well run and supported Clubs.

May I suggest that any racer who has enjoyed the 2012 season should take a moment to thank the Committee members and many helpers who make all this happen. That way we can all look forward to even better racing days ahead ;-)

Alderney Hill Climb pics are now on-line:
ALDERNEY HILL CLIMB 2012

Well what can I say? Party on..... Disco dancing & smoke. Only the disco lights are missing!
Whatever music these guys are listening to it must be loud ;-)

The Guernsey Kart & Motor Club have just returned from the Annual visit to Alderney. This is a highlight of the Channel Islands Motor Sport scene. There is no doubting that any competitor who makes the journey must LOVE their racing.

The logistics, cost and effort that goes into setting up a safe and successful weekend of Sprint and Hill Climb racing 'offshore' is massive. The Committee and all the many helpers and supporters are to be congratulated on another well run event.

Of course we were over in Alderney for the racing but the weekend always offers far more than that as all those involved mix for the social side as well. An outbreak of 'Alderney Flu' is the usual outcome by Sunday morning!

There was another helmet-full of new records.... something we have come to expect this year. Both events are extremely fast and inevitably attract the 'cream' of the racing scene. To watch this action from my privileged (and close!) viewpoint is quite astonishing. A certain red BMW paid me a rather close visit at the Hill Climb. I was most disappointed that no-one in the crowd of spectators got a picture of me legging it! I guess you have to be a 'pro' to keep clicking when it all 'kicks off', ha, ha!

In fact, on this occassion, even I missed the actual crash as I was breaking the 30 metre sprint record. Good job a 100 metre sprint wasn't needed - at my age!

It must have been a 'Red Car' thing this year as Tim Le Pelley had a big moment (actually it was more like five!) when his once beautiful Mini rolled over at the Sprint. He walked away having reaped the benefit of his careful car preparation. We were all very relieved.

I am now working through the weekends pics. First up are the Fort Corblets Sprint pictures.
PICTURES OF THE 2012 ALDERNEY SPRINT

With the previous Guernsey Kart & Motor Club Sprint at Vazon coast road being cancelled due to atrocious weather it was a relief to see near perfect conditions this time :-)
There was a good turn-out of competitors who enjoyed their track-time.

The speeds were phenomenal. How do you fancy 142mph over the quarter-mile finish line in a 'home-made' V8 powered chassis? If you want to know how that sort of speed feels along the substantial 'bend' that makes up the section on Vazon coast road you had better ask Scott Rayson. It was his 6,800cc custom-made car that did it!

This finishing speed was matched by FTD biker Adam Girard.
Adam also beat the 10 second mark with a time of 9.97. Again this represents a really 'ballsy' performance considering the bend, the changes in level and cambers. I'm impressed!

A gallery of pictures is now online. As always I have more pictures than get uploaded. Give me a call or e-mail if you want to view all your racing.
GK&MC SPRINT 08-09-2012

We all turned up at the bottom of Le Val des Terres with a weather forecast predicting rain. 'Not another wet one' was the pessimistic talk in the pits!

How wrong we all were. Whilst it was never blazingly hot, the track conditions must have been pretty good as the records dropped like the proverbial Autumn leaves. I think 10 new marks were set!

FTD went to Darren Warwick (just!) as he was pushed hard by James Shorto who pushed a little too hard on his last run... but the competition is so tight at the top they you won't be fast enough unless you are racing at the limits.

New record breakers were Tia Harvey, Matt Corson, Scott Rayson, Tim Le Pelley (for a few seconds before being retaken by Ben Batiste!), Tim Torode, Dale Crowsley, Steve Marquis and John Dunne.

There is one new record holder who needs special mention. Chris Guy lowered one of the longest standing records in the Racing Cars up to 600cc Class. The old record was held by Nick Saunders who is not known for being slow!

I am going to claim a vested interest in Chris's result as I have supplied a few close-up pics of the suspension working hard whilst cornering - this helps with perfecting the set-up. There can be no doubt that I can share the new record (not taking anything away from Chris's driving of course).
OK, lets just call it teamwork ;-)'
Long may this record stand!
Pictures are now online:
VIEW THE LATEST HILL CLIMB PICTURES

Saturday was spent on the beach. This is always a good idea on a sunny day, but if you are like me it is even better when you are inches away from racing Bikes and Cars.

There is a certain adrenaline rush that comes from the noise and speed and the 'edge' you stand on when surrounded by barely controlled racing machines. You have to keep your wits about you - and use the eyes in the back of your head (all motorsport photographers have them, take a look next time you see one!)

There was a reminder very early in Saturdays meeting that Motor Sport is potentially a dangerous and costly pass-time.
Martyn 'Rocky' Guilbert was involved in a nasty accident. First rumours were that he had broken a collar bone and had damaged an ankle. We all hope he makes a quick recovery and returns to racing again soon... although his bike was badly damaged - just to rub salt into his wounds. Think many £££££'s!

I have added new Sand Racing pics here - but no new ones of 'Rocky'. His racing was over before I even got there!
VIEW THE LATEST SAND RACING PICS

I also photographed the Karting at The Track on Sunday morning.
No major mishaps to report from here :-)
New Karting pics are here:
VIEW THE LATEST KARTING PICS

What problem? I hear you say.
Well, of course if you were a racer you were rewarded for the extra effort put in to get the racing up Les Val des Terres started earlier than usual.
The endeavour meant that an additional timed run was fitted in, even though there was a large entry of competitors.

So what problem? I hear you say again!
From a racers point of view the extra runs, combined with near perfect track conditions, presented the ideal setting to challenge Class records. The amount of new fastest times only go to prove this.

I think I have now established that there wasn't a negative for the competitors. No, it only impacted on us 'poor' photogs ;-(
More runs means more 'picture opportunities'... and who can resist those? Not me!
So I returned back to my studio desk with more pics than I intended to take and with the extra work needed to edit, optimise, catalogue and upload them.

The latest pictures are now online. I hope you find a few that justify the added work-load. Maybe you will even press the 'BUY NOW' button a couple of times?
With the success of the extended racing I have a feeling that I will have the same 'problem' again in the future ;-)
VIEW THE LATEST PICTURES OF 11-08-2012 HILL CLIMB

Congratulations to Anthony Queripel for taking the 'King of the Beach' Crown again on the sands at Vazon Bay. Anthony turned on the style and really only had to contend with Anthony Bougourd for the title.
A few quick updates have been added to my picture galleries. Take a look at Round-6 of the GMC&CC Sand Racing Championship here:
ROUND-6 OF THE SAND RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

The viewing counter has clicked past the 2.5 MILLION mark for this web site.
I was astonished when we passed 1 MILLION views almost exactly on the day of the first Anniversary :)
The new mark arrives with more than four months to go before the second Anniversary. My target has to be the 3 MILLION MARK after just 2 YEARS, fingers crossed!

Thanks to all the regulars who like to follow the Gallery updates. Thanks also if this is your first ever visit. Come again soon :)

Here are a couple of tips that might help your enjoyment when returning to the web site again. There are now more than 40,000 pics in the Galleries!!! This can make it difficult to find one that you liked on the last visit.

If you have a few favourite pictures this may help....

• You can use the Shopping Cart as a way to remember your favourites.
  Click the 'BUY NOW' button beneath any picture. It will be added to the Cart which then appears at the top of the page and will be remembered for your next visit.
  This doesn't commit you to buy the picture... it just helps you to find it again. You might even be tempted to buy it in the future :)
  
  
• You can also share a link to your favourite pictures by clicking the Facebook icon below each one. Other links are also available.
  
  
• There is also an option to E-mail a link to any picture. Click the E-mail icon and send this to a friend... or even yourself!
  
  
• You can also try using the SEARCH button on the left. Type in a word or two and see what you find!
  
  
• When viewing a Gallery use the ARROW KEYS to move to the next picture.
  
  
• Have you tried the SLIDESHOW option at the top of the 'Thumbnail View' to view all the pictures in a Gallery. You need Adobe Flash Player installed on your system for this to work.
  

I am constantly trying to improve the viewing experience on this web site and always welcome any comments.
Here is my E-mail:
E-MAIL ANDREW LE POIDEVIN

The Guernsey Power Boat Association held Race-6 of their 2012 Championship last weekend. This is the first race I have covered since Race-2.
I missed a couple due to the weather.... I did try, but was only rewarded by getting soaked whilst bobbing about in a small rib whilst waiting for a race start - which was then cancelled!
Then Race-5 conflicted with the Guernsey Rounds of the MSA National Hill Climb Championship.
But, if you stick with something, you should get the rewards - eventually!
So I had no conscience when last Sunday morning was gloriously hot and sunny and I was offered a ride out unto the Little Russel to photograph Race-6.

Once again there was a good entry for this race. I have also heard strong rumours about a few more boats coming to the line in the future.
The mornings work is now online. I'm reasonably pleased with the pictures. However, whilst very grateful for the offer of a boat to shoot from, sometimes it can compromise the photography. My transport was a race control/marshal so had responsibilities for safety as a priority of course. This restricted our options to move.
I think I will have to buy my own boat so I can position the direction of shooting.... and of course you can never be close enough! I had better have a word with the accountant, me thinks :)
Power Boat pics can be viewed here:
PICTURES OF RACE-6 OF THE POWER BOAT CHAMPIONSHIP

Decide for yourself if you think I am biased (as a true Guern)!
After the very successful Jersey rounds of the Avon Tyres MSA National Hill Climb Championship the road-show headed for the sunny shores of Guernsey.
Anticipation was high after Jos Goodyear re-wrote the record book with some stunning racing whilst at Bouley Bay.
A large crowd of spectators were eager to see if the Guernsey drivers could reproduce their superb performances in Jersey that saw three Guernsey lads qualify for the Top Twelve run-offs.
Nobody was dissapointed.
Repeating their successes in Jersey the 'Donkey's' had a good representation in the run-offs with Darren Warwick, Nick Saunders, Geoff and Chris Guille all flying the flag.

Top honours must go, once again, to Jos Goodyear driving his G.W.R. Raptor Extreme who took another all time record. This time on Le Val des Terres.
I noted whilst watching Jos from various positions on the hill that the Raptor was indeed noticably more rapid through the 'bendy bits'. I think this chassis will be high on a few drivers wish list as, amazingly, I got the impression that there was still a bit more to come! Watch this space.
I have now added new picture Galleries featuring all the action form the Guernsey rounds of the National Hill Climb Championship.
VIEW THE ACTION FROM THE GUERNSEY ROUNDS OF THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Last week saw the roadshow that makes up the Avon Tyres British National Hill Climb Championship reach our shores again.
This event is always a highlight of the Channel Islands Motor Sport year.
Tradition has it that the first stop is Jersey for the race up Bouley Bay on thursday. I made the trip over to sample this unique spectacle. Where else can you enjoy a beer literaly right on the start line!
The weather behaved itself - about time too - so the racing was held in near perfect conditions. Indeed they were good enough for Jos Goodyear to lower the outright record for Bouley Bay driving his very impressive G.W.R. Raptor Extreme.
I've added a new picture gallery for the Jersey Rounds of the MSA National Hill Climb Championship.
VIEW THE JERSEY MSA NATIONAL HILL CLIMB PICTURES

The Greenman MCC Chaos Festival is a bike Festival - with loads of music.
So it would be a suprise if there were no burnouts, wouldn't it?
If you visited the cliff-top site looking for the smell of burning rubber you were not disappointed :)
After the presentation of the prizes for the best bike catagories it was the turn of the tyre shredders.
The star, by quite a margin , was Neil 'Chopper' Looijenga. Lets just say that there was NO chance of him riding that bike home!
I have added new pictures to the Gallery showing the bike winners and burnouts. New Band pictures include Grant Sharkey & Pirate Party Brigade.
VIEW THE CHAOS 8 BURNOUTS

I have been working in Jersey this week completing some Commercial assignments and then covering the Jersey rounds of the Avon MSA British Hill Climb Championship.
This has delayed my selection and preparation of the pics I took at last weeks Greenman MCC Chaos 8 Festival on the cliffs at Pleinmont.
I have already commented in my previous Blog that once again Chaos presented all the ingredients for fun and chilling out.
The Festivals unique position on the cliffs might leave it prone to whatever weather rolls off the sea - but what a view from the mens loos! You won't get that anywhere else in the world. Sorry girls, it's a boys only thing :-)
The live peformances showcased many great acts on three complimentary stages.
Guernsey Gigs have made a fantastic video which really captures the atmosphere
TAKE A LOOK AT THE GUERNSEY GIGS VIDEO

I have now begun to catch up with the Gallery updates. They will still take quite a few days as there were so many Bands playing.
I am also completing a couple of important Commercial jobs which take priority - they pay the bills, unfortunately gig/motor sport photography doesn't!
I will also be adding pictures of the Jersey MSA Hill Climb (Guernsey this weekend) and a Power Boat Championship Race to their own new picture Galleries later next week.
Busy times then, love it!
The first Greenman MCC Chaos 8 Galleries are here (more updates will be added later).
First Bands include: Distant Shores, Deadwing, Big Machine, 2 Minutes 2 Late, Lydia Pugh, Robert J Hunter, Stone Em All, Skid Rue & Peppered Ant Legs.
VIEW THE FIRST GREENMAN MCC CHAOS 8 GALLERIES HERE

Event organiser Stuart Butler headlined his post-event e-mail to all the racers and helpers with the line quoted above.
Now the 'fun' part can be applied to both the drivers and spectators!
I was amazed at the reactions from the many spectators. I was rather expecting the general level of excitement to be somewhat lower than that of a 'proper' Hill Climb.
But no, the assorted mix of vehicles together with the 'show-boating' by JJ Gallagher and the many burn-outs (including the biggest I can remember on the hill by Zef Eisenberg) kept the crowd entertained!
There was also a queue for the passenger rides in a real race car.
First reports reckon on topping £30,000 raised for the chosen Charities of Headway Guernsey and The Lions Club.
This amounts to a job well done. My guess is that it will be more of the same in twelve months time.
My picture galleries are now complete. Please take a look and press the 'FACEBOOK LIKE' button if you want to add a link to your picture.
All pictures can be purchased by pressing 'BUY NOW' beneath any pic and you will be shown the options.
25% of any sales is donated to the chosen Charities.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PROFESSIONAL PICS OF THE HERITAGE HILL CLIMB