Wellington Bucket and motards this weekend 20th April

[Korea]

Hey F5Dave dude,

I'm pretty sure I did get some pix of you - don't know why they weren't in this lot. Let me know which two bikes are yours and I'll have a squiz tonight...

Couple for F5Dave ~

Enjoy!

[F5 Dave]

ok well here's a good time to talk about 'that'

Yes one should ride the course if one is racing. I pulled a young lad up about it on sunday. . . Only to have to do it a couple of times myself later in the day. But the difference is doing it for gain on purpose.

I remember when I first started the tracks were much bigger & it was hard to work out where the tracks went, but now we have an issue with a small track and some hard obstacles if you get it wrong & no extra room to 'go around the outside'.

It is a feature of our track & we almost have to have an honour system. Sadly in the heat of the moment this is often lost. I've been leading a race to come up on a backmarker through a chicane & had to brake. Only to be passed on either side by pos 2 & 3 (no telling who, but they do the organising).

So what does one do? I always try to follow the track, but sometimes the speed differential & level of commitment is a bit scary when lapping people. At Kaitoki while backmarkers were all part of the game of getting through traffic, there was always the latitude of some room to do so. If I come upon someone with literally double their corner speed I have to make a judgement that I will squeeze through as long as I time it right & they don't move off the line they are on. It gets a bit like those movies where they have to jump through the ventilation fans.

Not trying to sound like a wanker, but to go fast on that track you need to commit to a line at the edge of traction & the right timing. I don’t have anything left in reserve so to try & cut 40kph off my speed inside 4 metres isn’t possible, so you really have to slow earlier to get past people. . . But then risk being passed by people breaking the rules, or at least lose enough momentum to lose the position.

I apologise if some people think I cut them up, have been accused of that before, but only when I’m being pursued by someone rapid with the same intent. Those that have raced with Jay will know what I’m talking about. Fishe & Bayden are just as rampant.

Then you get the backmarkers that try to defend their position against people lapping them. Grr!

The A & B grade has helped here but we need to make sure that the right people are graded correctly.

This is supposed to be fun, but it is also competitive esp in the A grade, I think some people would be a bit surprised how often they nearly get collided with.

[F5 Dave]

Cheers Korea. First pic is Drew on my 50.

[quallman1234]

I pulled a young lad up about it on sunday. . . Only to have to do it a couple of times myself later in the day.

It was me. Its a bit different tho when your on a bike with a shit load more power than other's its probabaly safer to just wait your turn to over take them on the straight's instead of flying passed them cutting corner's.

[Korea]

...but to go fast on that track you need to commit to a line at the edge of traction & the right timing. I don’t have anything left in reserve so to try & cut 40kph off my speed inside 4 metres isn’t possible, so you really have to slow earlier to get past people. . . But then risk being passed by people breaking the rules, or at least lose enough momentum to lose the position.

I apologise if some people think I cut them up, have been accused of that before, but only when I’m being pursued by someone rapid with the same intent. Those that have raced with Jay will know what I’m talking about. Fishe & Bayden are just as rampant.

Then you get the backmarkers that try to defend their position against people lapping them. Grr!

This is supposed to be fun, but it is also competitive esp in the A grade, I think some people would be a bit surprised how often they nearly get collided with.

Well that's racing init?
Definitely, if you're a back marker getting lapped - please straighten up and take to the outside. Er... don't change your line mid corner tho'
I would and would hope to receive the same in return (if I ever get that fast~!). Oh yeah, and stick to the 'track' I guess...

[Korea]

Shutter speed is probably a bit quick if you're trying to pan but you're right about the tripod, will help to eliminate vertical movement. I'll bring my 75-300 up next race day and you can use that if you want.

You use a Canon as well? Sweet - I'd be well keen to try the zoom lens.

Yeah, would have gone lower on the shutter speed for more motion blur effect but with hand-holding there was no way. I couldn't find the mount of my tripod that day but it's back again so next time will have tripod in tow.

[flame]

Like to add that these issues were not with me
Oh and B grade...

1st race: Moi, Malcolm, Hels, Trudy
2nd race: Hels, Malcolm, Moi, Trudy

Go girls AND Malcolm

Fargen AYEEEEeeeeee!!

[Slingshot]

You use a Canon as well? Sweet - I'd be well keen to try the zoom lens.

Yeah, would have gone lower on the shutter speed for more motion blur effect but with hand-holding there was no way. I couldn't find the mount of my tripod that day but it's back again so next time will have tripod in tow.

Yeah, 30D. Got a 17-85mm IS lens that I normally use but have an old EF75-300 from way back in the silver halide days.

[Kendog]

I'll need one of those 200mm+ lenses to compete with this lot - only got a 18-55mm right now (but it's what you do with it that counts!)

A tripod would have made for some sharper shots too - I was hand-holding at 1/100th of a second while panning. Pretty chuffed with some of the better results.

All in all, good practice.

Shutter speed is probably a bit quick if you're trying to pan but you're right about the tripod, will help to eliminate vertical movement. I'll bring my 75-300 up next race day and you can use that if you want.

Mono pod is the way to go for panning shots, a tripod is too restrictive. I have tried with a tripod and didn't like it, have not used a mono pod yet however.

Last month the slowest shutter speed I got to was 1/200 and I did not zoom past about 190. Got some pretty good shots with this set up last month.

[Her_C4]

Mono pod is the way to go for panning shots, .

Monopod or freehand (but my lens set up is too heavy for me to control effectively). There is a very good reason that you do not see tripods at motorsports events!!!

Regardless, I have a monopod if you want to borrow it for a day to see whether or not it works for you if you like?

[Skunk]

Got some pretty good shots with this set up last month.

I've nearly finished uploading your shots to my site... Every single one you gave me.

Here's a direct link.

[quallman1234]

Cheer's Andrew and Nigel!

[Grub]

I have tried with a tripod and didn't like it, have not used a mono pod yet however..

Try a rubber band (old bike tube) around the tripod legs if you don't have a mono - that works. Also only 1 leg extended with rubber band works too but feels a bit unbalanced

[Kendog]

Try a rubber band (old bike tube) around the tripod legs if you don't have a mono - that works. Also only 1 leg extended with rubber band works too but feels a bit unbalanced

Thats a good idea, cheers.

[ajturbo]

Monopod or freehand (but my lens set up is too heavy for me to control effectively). There is a very good reason that you do not see tripods at motorsports events!!!

Regardless, I have a monopod if you want to borrow it for a day to see whether or not it works for you if you like?

Shit.. i don't need any more photo's of me and that frigging scooter OK!