MotoGP 2008 - Here I come!

[DigiSLR]

For those of you that don't know, aside from being an amateur photographer, I am a HUGE MotoGP Motorcycle racing fan. Just yesterday I received my phone call confirming I have tickets to the inagural RedBull MotoGP race at the Indainapolis Motor Speedway in September 2008. (Yeah it's still a LONG way off...)

This brings up a few immediate questions to mind...

If I ride to the race like I'd love to do, what's the best way to get my camera gear there? Can I ship it FedEx to the hotel and if so, does anyone have a clue as wo how to pack it and insure the gear?

Anyone know of somewhere locally I can go practice shooting motorsports? I've never done it before, but considering I am going to the MotoGP race, I really want to practice practice practice...

Has anyone been to the MotoGP race in LAguna Seca? How close can you get to the riders and garages, etc during the weekend? I asume I'll be taking a large selection of lenses with me.

Now, I have almost a year to save, save, save for a beautiful FAST long lens. (Anyone selling a 400, 500, 600 sometime this year?)

[gsdpic]

I have no idea where "little elm" is, so not sure what your definition of local is. But you might look at the schedules at texas world speedway near bryan/college station. They have something going on many weekends and at least some of it is open to the public, I believe. A couple years back I went there on a day when there were some BMW and Porsche car club races and took pictures. If there are any other tracks closer to you, they might have something similar.

I've also been to IMS and shot a couple of the formula 1 races they have had there. I assume the MotoGP will be a similar set up with the road course. Most of the best places to shoot action on the track seemed to be along the infield section, though in most cases you may have to shoot through a fence if you are just a regular spectator.

[iCe]

There's a track south of and between Ft Worth and Dallas too. I checked my motorcycle links and for some reason I can't find it. Strange. Texas World Speedway (already mentioned) also schedules races but not as frequently as the track I mentioned first.

[t00mies]

motorsports? try eastbound george bush tollway between DNT and Preston Road at around 745am?

you might try the texas motor speedway. its a little far from little elm tho.


t

[iCe]

Also- Have you ever ridden that far? What bike would you take? Indy is a long haul (I've done my home to Blythe, CA on a bike in a day and a half) and by September the weather is going to be getting pretty unpredictable and cool.

[CaptainTom]

I've shot four wheelers at Laguna Seca, but not two wheelers.
I had credentials, but I think you can get great shots from the spectator areas as well. I would recommend a 300 with IS and a monopod.
Is Little Elm in the DFW area? There is a private track south of Ft. Worth that has both car and bike action on weekends. Photographer access is limited, but it is a start. If I locate the name I'll put it in this post. Practice your panning technique. You can do that next to the freeway, but I'd recomment you be discreet.

It's on 377 at Cresson. If you Google Cresson, Tx and view the hybrid you can see the track layout.

[billbunton]

Originally Posted by iCe

Also- Have you ever ridden that far? What bike would you take? Indy is a long haul (I've done my home to Blythe, CA on a bike in a day and a half) and by September the weather is going to be getting pretty unpredictable and cool.

Indy isn't a long haul, it's barely getting warmed up . And for anyone new-ish to LD riding, that was a joke -- it _is_ a long haul if you're not used to LD riding. But generally speaking the weather should be fine in Indiana in September; most years I meet a friend in northern Arkansas in late October for a day of riding, and he has to ride down from Chicago.

[billbunton]

I don't know anything about the venue at Indianapolis. At Laguna Seca you may need to purchase a pit pass, but you would then have pretty much unrestricted access to bikes and riders. I'd suggest you don't want to take a large selection of lenses, though, or you'll never be able to move around. I'd think one long lens, one longish zoom, and one somewhat wide to normal zoom should pretty much cover you.

[iCe]

Originally Posted by billbunton

Indy isn't a long haul, it's barely getting warmed up . And for anyone new-ish to LD riding, that was a joke -- it _is_ a long haul if you're not used to LD riding. But generally speaking the weather should be fine in Indiana in September; most years I meet a friend in northern Arkansas in late October for a day of riding, and he has to ride down from Chicago.

Not for a Beemer rider it isn't but if he's riding something like an R1 none for me thanks.

LD riding is different but in my opionion it's way better than "puttering around town".

[TXFZ1]

MSR is at Cresson, south of Benbrook, Tx. During racing there is a contract photographer which restricts track access to photographers.

Eagles Canyon, near Decautur/Denton Tx, I don't know if motorcycles are doing trackdays yet. No info on racing.

Oakhill, Henderson Tx is open most weekends with either motorcycles or karts.

David

[DigiSLR]

Originally Posted by iCe

Also- Have you ever ridden that far? What bike would you take? Indy is a long haul (I've done my home to Blythe, CA on a bike in a day and a half) and by September the weather is going to be getting pretty unpredictable and cool.

Thanks for the consern about the ride. I like to ride a lot. I put over 10k miles on my bike the first year I had it. I've ridden 740 miles in one session before from NorthEast PA to Mid Tennesee. After the first 200 miles the butt goes numb and its all ok.

As for the bike, its a Honda CBR1000RR. (Repsol replica, just like the MotoGP bikes)

I want to do my IronButt tour soon. (1000 miles in a 24 hour period)

[DigiSLR]

Thank you to everyone for all the great info on spots to shoot. If you're ever out speeding around George Bush and see a guy with a camera and monopod, it'll be me practicing my panning.

Oh, Little Elm is just West of Frisco, or about 25 miles North of Dallas.

Here's a phot of the bike. Please - no comments on the very quick (crappy) PS work...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/178/4...261f223b_o.jpg

[tommas4]

Whoo, I've missed this year's race in Brno (had to work), but getting ready for next year.
I'd not ship camera/lens at all. My bet is that there is local rental place, that would be my first call. You'll arrive there earlier anyway, so why not?
Shipping & insurance will be most likely more than weekend rental, so just bunch of cf cards in your bag and you set.

Have fun
Tomas

[DigiSLR]

Renting all the gear just wouldn't do it for me. I've come to know and enjoy my gear and renting a lens may be an option, but I just don't think I'd like renting everything for the weekend. Besides, I assume as busy as the weekend will be people will have a hard time finding anything available for that weekend.

I may just have to ship the BIKE there for the weekend and drive the car... I can't be at a MotoGP race without a bike can I?

Originally Posted by tommas4

Whoo, I've missed this year's race in Brno (had to work), but getting ready for next year.
I'd not ship camera/lens at all. My bet is that there is local rental place, that would be my first call. You'll arrive there earlier anyway, so why not?
Shipping & insurance will be most likely more than weekend rental, so just bunch of cf cards in your bag and you set.

Have fun
Tomas