Daytona Int’l Speedway Fall Cycle Scene October 2016

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Behind the scences at a motorcycle endurance race.

True bike nuts, like me, also enjoy ‘behind the scenes’ images and stories.   For racers, family, friends, and pit crew, “behind-the-scenes” is where races are won and lost.

In racing, nothing is un-important.  Without ever type of spare part on hand, a ‘simple’ failure of an exhaust bracket will elminate any hope of finishing the endurance race.

Pit lane official keeping an eye on the Schwemmer/Ashmead team during refueling. 

www.CCSforum.com discuss everything race related.

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Supermotard Palm Beach International Raceway September 11, 2016

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Nascar will stop a race for rain if someone so much as spills a beer in the parking lot.  Motorcycle races are rarely delayed or cancelled due to weather.

Florida weather is a bit different than most of the U.S. of A.   Rainstorms can be so small (yet strong) that it is raining on a sunny day.  This makes an ideal situation to photograph rain.  Notice anything about the tires here? Read More

The 1984 Duquoin Mile

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The Duquoin Mile has always been a fascinating race to watch.  In 1984 I did not have a professional racing license, so, like every other year at that track, I was only a spectator.  But I was a spectator with a camera and a passion !

Tammy Kirk #57, Chuck Springsteen, and Fran Brown #50 headed into turn 1.  Note that the bottom of the chain is slack, illustrating that Tammy is “on the gas” going into the turn.

I was sitting in the turn one bleachers with an Olympus OM-10  and a cheap zoom lens.  (I can not remember the focal length or the brand.)   Using ISO 400 film I tried every lap to get this shot. Read More

Houston Short Track at the Astrodome 1982

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Motorcycle racing in the USA used to be a huge spectator sport.  Big enough that they held an ST and a TT race in one weekend at the Houston Astrodome.   According to memory, the engine limit for AMA Short Track (ST) races was 250cc for 2-strokes.

Houston Short Track 1982 #87 Jeff McDaniel #79 Randy Waldrop #86 Dough Ahn #28 Jeff Haney #17 Jimmy Filice

The fastest film I could find in those days was ASA 400 (ISO 400).  The color shots here were exposed at 400.  The B&W images were exposed for ISO 1600 and pushed in processing. Read More