British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

[timmypreston]

Spent an enjoyable day at the British Touring Cars at Oulton Park on Sunday, took my Dad as an early Fathers Day Present. The racing was close and competitive as always just a shame the weather was a little on the damp side.

Jason Plato the 2010 Champion in his Chevrolet Cruze. Winner of Race 2

Plato by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Matt Neal who controversially took out his team mate on the last bend of the last lap on race 2 costing his team 1st and 2nd place.

Neal by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Andrew Jordan in the Pirtek liveried Vauxhall Vectra, my favourite BTCC car.

Jordan by Tim J Preston
Jackson by Tim J Preston
Someone else's point of view by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Matt Neal entering Knickerbrock over the shoulder of the guy in front of me

Neal over the shoulder by Tim J Preston
Clio Trio by Tim J Preston

[Ulfric M Douglas]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

Hmm, these days all the cars look the same ... especially those three Clios.
Back in the day there were Volvo Estates, BMW RWD, etc etc.

[timmypreston]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

Your talking about the era of Cleland, Rydell and Soper etc. Even Mr Mansell had a go in a Mondeo!

[Zuiko]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

A great set and superb technique, Tim, really good to see. I just love the three Clio's - the middle one is half airborne and the last one seems about to be! Looks like it was a really exciting day's racing.

[timmypreston]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

Thanks John, I'm a bit more at home with these than the bugs I have been targeting lately!

[rsh1960]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

Great set of pictures, spent many a good day Oulton Pk.

Watched most of it on ITV4, Mr Plato was not a happy man when they interviewed him after the second race - even though he had won?.

[PeterBirder]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

Great shots Tim, you've certainly cracked motorsport shooting.
The three Clios is a brilliant shot.
Just a thought, would it look even more dramatic if you cropped out the crowd in the background? Hope you don't mind.

Thanks for sharing.

[Danny]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

Commented on flickr but they are worth a comment he too, lovely shots, great panning technique!

[timmypreston]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

Great set of pictures, spent many a good day Oulton Pk.

Watched most of it on ITV4, Mr Plato was not a happy man when they interviewed him after the second race - even though he had won?.

He only won by default really he was well off the pace. It is a great circuit and fortunately I only live about 40 minutes away.

Great shots Tim, you've certainly cracked motorsport shooting.
The three Clios is a brilliant shot.
Just a thought, would it look even more dramatic if you cropped out the crowd in the background? Hope you don't mind.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Peter, the 70-300 does motorsport too! Unfortunately the image wont stand cropping any further without losing the detail.

Commented on flickr but they are worth a comment he too, lovely shots, great panning technique!

Thanks Danny!

Here you go Peter, 2 more crops, foreground removed in one and the crowd removed in the other. Not as bad as I thought initially seem to have survived the cropping. Thoughts?


A Clio Trio (2) by Tim J Preston, on Flickr


A Clio Trio (3) by Tim J Preston, on Flickr
Off to process a few more, only 258 taken during the day!

[Greytop]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

You've certainly got that panning nailed Tim, a nice series.
My favourite... the three Clios in close formation

[Aquavit]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

I like the shot of the three Clios now you have cropped the crowd out - much better

Are you shooting these in shutter priority? Around 250/320??

[timmypreston]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

I like the shot of the three Clios now you have cropped the crowd out - much better

Are you shooting these in shutter priority? Around 250/320??

Most of these are shot using 1/160 the wheels and background blur alot better. Takes alot of practice to pan with the car. I tend to focus on a particular part of the track, pick a marker on the far side of the track eg on the 1st and 3rd shots the green and white boards on the armco and then release the shutter when the marker appears in the frame.

Obviously the quicker the car the better the blur, the marking on the tyre wall and spectators show it here. Marker point on this shot was the wind break in the back ground. As soon as it enters the frame, click!

Oliver Rowland Formula Renault

Oliver Rowland by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Exif Data
E400
70-300mm + EC14
F/7.1
286mm
ISO125
1/160

Josh Hill, son of Damon hence the helmet.

Two markers on this one. Can you Spot them?

Josh Hill Formula Renault by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Easily cropped out during processing.

[ashonen]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

great shots love the three clio I have just sold my alfa romeo 155 they won the touring cars a good few years ago

[timmypreston]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

great shots love the three clio I have just sold my alfa romeo 155 they won the touring cars a good few years ago

Won? They dominated in the time they were in it, Giovanardi wasn't it?

[Aquavit]

Re: British Touring Cars visit Oulton Park

Most of these are shot using 1/160 the wheels and background blur alot better. Takes alot of practice to pan with the car. I tend to focus on a particular part of the track, pick a marker on the far side of the track eg on the 1st and 3rd shots the green and white boards on the armco and then release the shutter when the marker appears in the frame.

Obviously the quicker the car the better the blur, the marking on the tyre wall and spectators show it here. Marker point on this shot was the wind break in the back ground. As soon as it enters the frame, click!

Oliver Rowland Formula Renault

Oliver Rowland by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Exif Data
E400
70-300mm + EC14
F/7.1
286mm
ISO125
1/160

Josh Hill, son of Damon hence the helmet.

Two markers on this one. Can you Spot them?

Josh Hill Formula Renault by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Easily cropped out during processing.

Thanks for the heads up on the technique Tim, so you are looking through the viewfinder for your markers (post box and loudspeaker!) whilst trying to hold the moving car in the frame with your panning. Crikey!

I have had one go at this with motorcycles at Mallory Park and whilst I was fairly happy with my results, for a first timer, I had an awful lot of rejects even shooting at 1/320 and not daring to go slower!