#05 Core Autosport Oreca FLM09: Jon Bennett, Frankie Montecalvo (Darren Pierson)
After two races at familiar tracks stretching to learn the nuances of being a series photographer, we headed to the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix. A street course that we had never seen and where cars had never been driven in anger (well, other than taxis). Neither Cooper nor GT3 were here; I suppose since IndyCar was calling the shots, so my only real concern was to figure out where and how to shoot ALMS.
Friday got off to a slow start, F2000 was supposed to be on track at 8AM and the 1st ALMS running was to be at 9:25AM. We are told in our 7:30AM photo meeting that there would be around a two hour delay, so after checking out a lens from NPS, I walked back to our Daytime Campsite. I didn’t really think too much about the delay until around noon I realized that I had not once heard a car on the track. A quick check of the twitter hashtag #BGP2011 let me know that we might not be seeing anyone on track on Friday. This was proving to be a weird race weekend. Late in the afternoon, ALMS finally took to the track for an abbreviated practice day. Morning light was substituted for evening light and off we went to see what the streets of downtown Baltimore would provide. An indication of what caused the delay in bringing cars to the track was evident in the lack of completion around the course. Lack of clearly defined entry points to trackside access (or complete lack thereof), confused event staff and most annoying; marked but uncut photo holes. Let me be clear, photo holes are not the only place to shoot from, you have to think beyond the fence, but to have very limited shooting access coupled with marked, uncut holes laughing at you, makes for a difficult introduction.
#17 Team Falken Tire Porsche 911 GT3 RSR: Wolf Henzler, Bryan Sellers (Darren Pierson)
I was hoping to shoot from the island in the pits so that I could use the back of Camden Yard as locative scenery. I guess I did not pay much any attention to the track maps prior to arriving in Baltimore as I quickly learned that there was no island. Even better was the catch fence along the pit straight. It was mounted on the edge of a steep drop off down to the local train tracks and stop. It wasn’t possible to back off and shoot through the fence to catch the cars going past. Clearly I needed both an attitude change and a shooting rethink. Embrace the fence, get above it, go under it, look for gaps, look past it. Ignore the fence, its not going away.
I didn’t shoot at the chicane that seemed to be the cause of so much discussion. I saw lots of pictures from there. Nifty front and back shots of all manner of racing machines leaping into the air after bouncing off the chicane. The chicane, any chicane, anywhere. Here we were (by we here I mean the photo media) in Baltimore in the streets and the focus was on an un-memorable bit of asphalt in an unidentifiable bit of road. Too much forest in the tress I guess. The start of the race was a curiosity though, not really anywhere to shoot it from. It was never made clear if we could get into the runoff area past T1 and then get back out after the start. I initially had decided to shoot the start from T3 as I assumed the concertina effect at the hairpin would make for a decent field shot or at the very least a pile up. As I was headed over for the start, walking in the heat in my firesuit, I decided T2 would be much better (and closer).
Baltimore Grand Prix Race Start (Darren Pierson)
I was initially worried about my last second change of plans since the speed of the Prototypes might be enough that they were out of my frame before any GT cars came around the corner and into the field of view. Thankfully, it did not turn out that way and I was able to grab a great start shot that I think captured the moment and locale very well. I giess there was come carnage at one of the slow points on the track as on lap 2 or 3, all of the cars came though missing pieces and with smashed front and back ends. Most everyone seemed to be continuing, so apparently the damage was superficial. I was surprised to see the #62 and #45 at the tail end of the field as both cars had been excluded for on track stupidity during quali. Never did find out how they got back in.
Towards the end of the race, I was wandering around in an area completely wrong for the lighting that time of day and walked behind a lift and found a place to shoot under an advertising banner. I think that location gave me the best shot I took home from Baltimore and on of the better shots I grabbed all year.
#17 Team Falken Tire Porsche 911 GT3 RSR: Wolf Henzler, Bryan Sellers (Darren Pierson)
I was happy to see Falken finally break through with a deserving win, but I am not sure how the race itself went, it seemed like a bit of a parade. On a positive note, there were LOTS of people at the track, hopefully they will come back next year and maybe even watch another ALMS race. Assuming of course they can coax ESPN3 to allow them access.
We are off on a lonnnnnnnng drive to Laguna Seca. Before leaving Maryland, we are going to Ocean City so that we can do a proper coast to coast drive. Alex Roy has little to fear though, we plan on taking the scenic route.
All of my work can bee seen at dPerceptions MotorSports Photography and individual galleries including Highlights from Baltimore and the complete Baltimore Grand Prix Gallery
Bryan Sellers celebrates his GT class win (Darren Pierson)
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