This is a story I think you'll really understand and appreciate if your into old things that are starting to sell for a lot of money, like vintage cars & motorcycles.
A fellow was over visiting his friend, when his friend said "Follow me I'd like to show you something I just got."
It seems appropriate to explain the BIG picture when it comes to the significance of the Indianapolis 500 to the world of racing since it just ran a few weeks back. Also since SPORTS ILLUSTRATED referred to it as "the race that was once America's most watched and celebrated". Now their statement could be a matter of semantics, but it definately got me thinking as to the real significance of the Indianapolis 500.
There probably isn't a day that goes by where you might read or hear news about some new alternative fuel powered motor vehicle. Flex-Fuel, Bio-Fuel, Hydrogen, Compressed Natural Gas, Electric, etc. On one day it might be considered the next great thing and then a few days later, some major flaw is found with this particular new form of power.
Automotive history means a lot to me. I love it! I’ve had the chance to meet most of the significant players in the automotive and racing world that have had an effect in at least the last 70 years. You probably know that my dad and uncles, were deeply involved in racing of all types since before World War II. When it comes to stock car racing, they were involved with it well before the formation of NASCAR.
I have to admit the cars that Dan Gurney built in his shop are some of my favorite race cars that have ever rolled onto a race track. The 1972 Eagle would have to be near the top of my all-time list when it comes to legendary and revolutionary race cars.
But this is only part of the story. . .
It's no secret that today's auto racing is expensive no matter what series type you may be talking about; Formula 1, NASCAR, IRL, Champ Car, ALMS, NHRA, Grand Am, SCORE off-road, etc. Pick up a number of the current magazines, ROAD & TRACK included and you'll find articles about the cost of today's racing.
With that in mind,I'm going to talk about what it took to win the Indy 500 in 1950 as the main sponsor, a experience that my family lived first hand.
Continue reading "What it took to sponsor the 1950 Indy 500 winner" »
I know when you mention NASCAR you can get some real mixed reactions. From "I love it, the competition is the best" to "Are you kidding, I just don't see the appeal". I don't plan on settling that argument here, but I do think what I'm going to discuss might appeal to anyone interested in any form of racing. But first a little background on my families history. My dad Ed and his brothers Zeke and Gus, were there for the formation of NASCAR. . .
Continue reading "Early NASCAR history - uncovered and revealed!" »
I'm still asked questions by fellow photographers about making the transistion from film to the digital world of photography. There are a number of questions that come up and it shows that their still is a little confusion about this subject.
. . .but years back it was something special to own a camera that was capable of shooting a rapid fire sequence of racing action. The original cameras that racing photographers would use to capture this type of photography came out of aerial reconnaissance in World War II. I've always understood that one of the first sports sequences ever published was the horrific fatal crash sequence of Rex Mays (an Indy 500 standout of his time) at the Del Mar racetrack in 1949. If it wasn't the first sports sequence published it might have been the first auto racing sequence published. It ended up being used as a 2 page spread in LIFE magazine.
Continue reading "Rapid Fire Sequence Photography - very common today. . ." »
Cameras are so good today, that many if not most people set them on automatic and get shooting. I admit that I do my share of that type of shooting, but it’s not when I’m at a race track. For general snapshots of the family, the auto setting is fine and a true miracle of modern technology.
If you have any desire to learn how to shoot racing photographs at a higher, more professional level you need to spend the time to learn about Shutter Speed, f-stops (Aperture) and their effect on the photos you’re taking. It’s not just a good idea, but mandatory. Don’t let the confusing numbers, etc. scare you off. It’s really not that hard to understand if you just spend a little time at it.