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SCDA 2020 - The Banner Images
Well, that’s that. My third track day season has come to an end. Of course, because of Covid, my workload in 2020 was quite a lot less than it was last year. I managed to squeeze in fourteen events this year at three different tracks: Lime Rock Park, Palmer Motorsports Park, and Thompson Speedway.
February 22 - Lime Rock Park
Well, that’s that. My third track day season has come to an end. Of course, because of Covid, my workload in 2020 was quite a lot less than it was in 2019. Still, I managed to squeeze in fourteen events working at three different racetracks: Lime Rock Park, Palmer Motorsports Park, and Thompson Speedway.
My season began way back in February at the SCDA Winter Driving Clinic at LRP. Cold, no snow but always good to get a little practice in during the “off-season.” Then, a couple of weeks later the lockdowns began, and with them came the uncertainty. All over the country, but especially here in the Northeast, states locked down businesses and asked people to stay home to stop the spread. Nobody knew how, or even if, the season would be salvaged. But, thanks to the hard work and creativity of the folks at SCDA, working with the race tracks who were, in turn, working with their state governments, we got the word in June that the season was back on. So, on June 12, nearly 4 months later, I found myself trackside at LRP. Once again pointing my camera at cars. Very grateful that 2020 was not going to be a total loss.
All that said, I want to send a very heartfelt thank you to Elivan, Sarah, Trevor, Katherine, Matt, the Prouts, and everyone else at SCDA for figuring out this unprecedented and difficult situation. Your ingenuity is a big reason Shawn Pierce Photography made it through 2020.
For each of the events I shoot, I choose one image to be the “banner image” of the day. One image to be the cover of the gallery that greets potential customers when they log into my ordering system.
This gallery is every banner image from 2020. They are presented in the order they were taken. Enjoy!
Gallery: 38th LRP Historic Festival and Sunday in the Park Concourse d'elegance
Over the Labor Day weekend, I spent 5 days at Lime Rock Park as the lead photographer for the 38th Lime Rock Historic Festival. The fact that there were no spectators allowed on race days made those days feel a bit, well, strange.
The winners of Sunday in the Park. Left: Best American, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray; Center: Best in Show 1930 Packard 745 Phaeton; Right: Best International 1967 Lancia Flaminia Convertible
Over the Labor Day weekend, I spent 5 days at Lime Rock Park as the lead photographer for the 38th Lime Rock Historic Festival. The fact that there were no spectators allowed on race days made those days feel a bit, well, strange. Adding to the strangeness was the lack of vendors on the midway and in the swap meet. Both of which would normally be bustling with activity during HIstoric Festival. While Sunday in the Park felt closer to normal; albeit on the small side with half as many cars in the concourse and a very limited number of spectators allowed through the gates.
That said, for those of us lucky enough to be there, the 38th Lime Rock Park Historic Festival did not disappoint.
I knew going in that my job was a little different than it was in years past. I wasn’t just there as part of LRP’s marketing team but as the eyes of those who weren’t there. I really took it upon myself to capture the event in the most vibrant and creative way I could in order to share it with the fans who couldn’t be there themselves.
What follows is a gallery of some of my favorite photos of the weekend. Some of these were posted to the Lime Rock Park Facebook page as part of my daily galleries while some of them hadn’t been posted until now. Enjoy!
Throwback Gallery: Lime Rock Historics 2012-2019
A major milestone on my journey to becoming a full-time professional motorsport photographer was the 2012 Lime Rock Park Historic Festival. This was the first time I was able to obtain media credentials and got to work inside the spectator fence.
A major milestone on my journey to becoming a full-time professional motorsport photographer was the 2012 Lime Rock Park Historic Festival. This was the first time I was able to obtain media credentials and got to work inside the spectator fence. This was one of my first goals achieved.
Since 2012 I haven’t missed a single Historic Festival. The first 6 (2012 - 2017) for Nobraking.com as a correspondent and the last 2 as a photographer working in Lime Rock Park’s marketing team.
With the 38th Lime Rock Park Historic Festival right around the corner, where I will once again be working for Lime Rock, I present to you a gallery of 100 of my favorite photos from the Historic Festivals I’ve covered.
Throwback Gallery: 2019 Trans Am Memorial Day Classic
Lime Rock Park and Memorial Day weekend. For gear heads in New England they just go together. For decades summer began at the Road Racing Center of the East with a weekend full of racing.
Lime Rock Park and Memorial Day weekend. For gear heads in New England they just go together. For decades summer began at the Road Racing Center of the East with a weekend full of racing. In 2020, however, things are different. Because of the global pandemic emergency sporting events of all kinds have been put on hold or flat out canceled. The 2020 Trans Am Memorial Day Classic is, unfortunately, among them. Thankfully it hasn’t been canceled. Instead it’s rescheduled to October 16-17 and is now known as the Trans Am Fall Classic.
In lieu of being trackside I have compiled a selection of photos from the 2019 Trans Am Memorial Day Classic. This gallery of course includes photos of on-track action, but also the spectators, officials, and drivers as well as photos from the Sunday Royals Car Show and the Farm to Table BBQ. This is such a great event and it’s a shame it won’t take place as scheduled. My heart goes out to everyone at Lime Rock Park who put in so much work to make it happen just to see it postponed. I hope scrolling through this gallery will bring you back to good times at Lime Rock and get you excited for the return of Trans Am and SVRA in October. See you then!
Throwback Gallery: 2017 Mount Washington Climb to the Clouds
When you think of the oldest, longest running motorsport events in North America you probably automatically think of the Indianapolis 500 (first run in 1911) or the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (1916). However, the Mount Washington Climb to the Clouds has them both beat with the first race up the Auto Road taking place in 1904.
What follows is the coverage I wrote for Motorsports Marketing Resources and a gallery of some of my favorite images from this unforgettable event.
When you think of the oldest, longest running motorsport events in North America you probably automatically think of the Indianapolis 500 (first run in 1911) or the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (1916). However, the Mount Washington Climb to the Clouds has them both beat with the first race up the Auto Road taking place in 1904. Harry Harkness, driving a Mercedes, set the initial benchmark up the 7.4 mile course in 24 minutes 37.6 seconds. Over the years that time has been reset many times and heading into the 2017 edition the record stood at 6 minutes 9.09 seconds.
David Higgins, the record holder coming into the weekend, and his Subaru Rally Team USA (SRTUSA) teammate, Travis Pastrana, each armed with a Subaru WRX STI rally car producing somewhere in the vicinity of 600-hp, were set to duke it out in a game of top trumps to see who could get up the mountain quickest. Sub six minutes were almost a given. Each driver would get two attempts to set a fast time, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Sadly, the back and forth chase for the record the fans were all hoping to see came to a shocking early end when Higgins, during his morning run, lost control at the Cragway spectator area, clipped a large rock at the edge of the course, and pirouetted off the road. Landing on the mountainside shrubbery. Higgins was unhurt in the crash, but the extensive damage to his Subaru WRX STi meant he was unable to continue.
"It was going really well up until it went really bad," said Higgins "It's one of those events that you put so much work into one small run, so the disappointment is massive. If you are going fast enough to win the event you are going fast enough to crash." This left Pastrana to go it alone and he did not disappoint. On his first run of the day, he shattered the old record by posting a blistering time of 5 minutes 46.28 seconds.
"I can't say enough how fun these cars are to drive, and thank Subaru for providing one to me. I hope this record can stand for a little while," said Pastrana, "On our first run I leaned on the tires too much on the bottom half, which made the top half very loose and scary but really fun, I was sideways a lot but I'm sure I lost some time. On the second run I conserved the tires and drove cleaner. I really didn't expect to drop the record further."
In the afternoon, with Higgins waving the green flag at the start line to persuade him on, Pastrana did drop the record further taking off an additional 1.56 seconds and finishing with a scantly believable time of 5:44.72.
Finishing second overall, and first in the Open Class, with a time of 6:26.75 was Dan November in the black #28 2016 November Special, a home built, open-wheeled hill climb special.
Rounding out the overall podium was Todd Cook in his blue #4 2000 Wells Coyote reaching the finish in 6:28.63.
Organizers stated the 2017 Climb to the Clouds featured the largest racing field in the history of the event with 75 entries coming from around the world to test their mettle on the Mount Washington Auto Road.
Pastrana summed up the draw, "This road is such a challenge; it's probably the toughest road to drive flat-out in the world."
Throwback Gallery: Ferrari F40
It’s not every day you get the opportunity to photograph a car that many people consider the greatest sports car ever conceived, the legendary Ferrari F40. But, on a beautiful October day in 2016, I got to do exactly that.
Welcome to my first Throwback Gallery. This is where I will occasionally look back at my career from before this website and blog existed. First up is a bucket-list shoot. I hope you enjoy it.
It’s not every day you get the opportunity to photograph a car that many people consider the greatest sports car ever conceived, the legendary Ferrari F40. But, on a beautiful October day in 2016, I got to do exactly that.
The day started with the following text exchange with my friend Doran.
Me: “Hey, man, what are you doing today? Can you help me with a shoot? I need a driver.”
Doran: “Sorry, I can’t do it today. I have a family gathering at my sister’s place.”
Me: “Does it matter if the subject is an F40?”
Doran: “What time? I’ll be there?”
We met up with Nick, the F40’s owner, at the Laconia airport where the car was being stored in one of the hangers with the rest of his impressive collection. In addition to the F40 he had, amongst other things, an Aston Martin DB5, a 427 Cobra, Colin Chapman’s Lotus Elite and a Jaguar E-Type tucked away. He has since moved his collection to a permanent location up the road known as the Vintage Racing Stable. Look it up. It’s pretty cool.
While the F40 warmed up I did some static photos and then, on Nick’s suggestion, we took the car to a retired runway for car-to-car motion shots. It was almost a spiritual experience hanging out the back of a Range Rover being chased by a Ferrari F40. I remember having the realization that this was probably a once in a lifetime experience. Take it all in.
We went up and down the runway a few times taking photos until Doran really did have to get back to his family. As we wrapped up the shoot Nick asked us if we’d like a dream to come true: “you guys want a ride?” I think we just turned to each other like a scene in a buddy film and, slack-jawed, just nodded, “yes, please.”
As a kid, I had a poster of an F40 on my wall and had a 1/18 diecast on the shelf. I didn’t get to see one in person until I was in my 20’s. Growing up in Northern Vermont is not exactly the ideal supercar spotting location. So, to me, the Ferrari F40 was a unicorn. It existed only in the pages of magazines. I never thought I’d get to photograph one let alone get to ride in one. And now, here I was, blasting down a runway in the passenger seat. Nick was only able to get to third gear before we ran out of runway and had to turn around. 115 mph in an F40. All I can say is that this was a visceral experience that barely scraped the surface of what this car is capable of.
This is a day that I will never forget. What follows is a small collection of the photos from this shoot. Enjoy!
A Lap of Lime Rock Park in Photos
At right around a mile and a half Lime Rock Park (LRP) is one of the shortest road courses in the country. It is also one of the oldest and most significant. LRP opened in 1957 and, even thought the facility has seen major upgrades through the years, the original track layout has remained largely unchanged. Over the years I have spent a lot of time at LRP. I attended my first race around 1985, began working on the editorial side of things in 2012, and 2020 will be my third season as a staff photographer. To say I know my around this gorgeous facility would be an understatement. So, just for fun, let’s take a virtual lap around the original (or classic) configuration of LRP.
At right around a mile and a half Lime Rock Park (LRP) is one of the shortest road courses in the country. It is also one of the oldest and most significant. LRP opened in 1957 and, even thought the facility has seen major upgrades through the years, the original track layout has remained largely unchanged. Over the years I have spent a lot of time at LRP. I attended my first race around 1985, began working on the editorial side of things in 2012, and 2020 will be my third season as a staff photographer. To say I know my way around this gorgeous facility would be an understatement. So, just for fun, let’s take a virtual lap around the original (or classic) configuration of LRP.
Gallery: 19 Faves from 2019
19 Favorites to celebrate and look back at 2019.
1. Chevron through the shadows during the Lime Rock Historic Festival.
Thank you to everyone who made 2019 such a successful year. With clients like Lime Rock Park, Sports Car Driving Association and Hooked on Driving, and partners like the Rochester Opera House, Moore Fight Moore Strong and the Greater Rochester Camera Club I couldn’t ask for much more. I couldn’t be more proud of what Shawn Pierce Photography has become over the last couple of years and the future is even brighter! Happy New Year everyone and welcome to the Roaring 20’s!
SCDA & HOD 2019 - The Banner Images
Well, that’s that. My first full season as a track day photographer has come to an end. Twenty-two events with SCDA and one with Hooked on Driving, covering five different race tracks in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey.
Well, that’s that. My first full season as a track day photographer has come to an end. Twenty-two events with SCDA and one with Hooked on Driving, covering five different race tracks in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey. The season began on January 26 at Lime Rock Park and ended on November 9, also at Lime Rock Park. All told the 23 events added up to 28 full days of shooting trackside, more than 8800 miles driven and 36 nights in hotels. For each of these events I choose one image to be the “banner image” of the day. One image to be the cover for the gallery that greets potential customers when they log into my ordering system.
This gallery is every banner image from each of the events. They are presented in the order they were taken. Enjoy!
The Details in Black & White
Can cars be considered art? It’s an interesting question. Some people insist that art has no other purpose than to be art. Cars, of course, have other purposes. So, by that definition, the answer is no, cars can not be art. However, I would argue differently. I would argue that cars are born of art and therefore can be considered art.
Can cars be considered art? It’s an interesting question. Some people insist that art has no other purpose than to be art. Cars, of course, have other purposes. So, by that definition, the answer is no, cars can not be art. However, I disagree. I would argue that cars are born of art and therefore can be considered art. If you know anything about automotive design you know that it all begins on a sheet of paper. A designer sketches out the shape using only his technical expertise and artistic ability. From there the basic shape is sculpted in clay where it gets further and further refined by some of the finest sculptors on the planet. Only after a number of iterations and failures is a finished design revealed to the public. Essentially my argument boils down to art begets art.
In the 1920s and 30s you could purchase a chassis and running gear from a car company like Packard or Duesenberg and have a bespoke body designed by coachbuilders. This meant that many cars from this era are one-offs. Truly rolling sculptures all pieces of art in their own right.
High-end marques like Ferrari, Bugatti and Aston Martin were hand forming their cars out of different metal alloys. If you look closely at these cars you can still see the hammer marks where a master craftsman banged out an iconic shape, one hammer strike at a time. These cars were also assembled by hand by highly skilled builders. Every bolt was hand tightened, every stitch in the interior hand stitched. This makes each of these cars one of a kind as well. No two are exactly alike.
I asked the question because I happen to consider cars, especially cars of these bygone eras, to be artistic in nature. Often, to make this point you have to look closely at the details and that is what the following gallery is all about. Sometimes it’s a certain shape that catches the light just right or the seemingly insignificant attention to detail paid to a specific part. For instance, the photo above depicting the textured “cosmetic cover” that is bolted to the top of the intake plenum on the Ferrari 599 GTB. It doesn’t need to be there, but the attention to detail afforded it, and its inclusion on the car, help raise the status of the 599 to something at least akin to art.
It’s said, “beauty is in the details.” I would argue that art is as well. And so, I present to you the following gallery: The Details in Black & White.
If you would like to purchase any of these photographs as finished art to hang in your home click here or contact Shawn directly to discuss custom options.
Gallery: 2011 Audi R8 V10 at Lime Rock Park
A selection of photos from my private shoot with a stunning 2011 Audi R8 V10 at Lime Rock Park. To book a photo session with your car contact me at shawn@shawnpiercephoto.com.
In August I was hired to photograph this absolutely stunning 2011 Audi R8 V10. We chose Lime Rock Park as the location for the shoot and I was able to make arrangements with the track for some after-hours start/finish line shots. The shoot took around 90 minutes. We started at the start/finish line, then we moved up to the autocross track. After that, it was to the areas around the Bailey Bridge and we finished on the exit road.
If you would like to book a private shoot of your car contact me here. I can’t promise Lime Rock Park as a location for the shoot, but I can promise beautiful photos.
What follows is a gallery of the photos I delivered to the client. Enjoy!
Gallery: 37th LRP Historic Festival and Sunday in the Park Concourse d'elegance
The Lime Rock Park Historic Festival is my favorite weekend of the year. It is five days long and is the equivalent of covering 3 events: a race car parade and street fair, 3 days of racing and a world-class concourse d’elegance.
Best in Show winners of the Sunday in the Park Concourse d'elegance.
Sport: Ralph Lauren's 1961 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (left)
Touring: Peter Kalikow's 1958 Ferrari 250 GT PF Cabriolet (right)
The Lime Rock Park Historic Festival is my favorite weekend of the year. It is five days long and is the equivalent of covering 3 events: a race car parade and street fair, 3 days of racing and a world-class concourse d’elegance.
It all starts on Thursday with a race car parade and street fair. The parade starts with all the participants lined up on the Sam Posey Straight. Race cars ranging from fairly common MGs to nearly priceless Aston Martins travels a 17-mile route, meandering down farm lined back roads, through the towns of Lime Rock, Lakeville, and Salisbury. The finish line is in Falls Village where the cars are all parked curbside for the enjoyment of all who came out for the street fair.
A beautiful Ferrari 250GT SWB in downtown Salisbury, CT during the race car parade.
The on-track action begins on Friday with practice and qualifying for all nine race groups. Saturday and Monday are race days with each group racing twice: once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Sandwiched in the middle of the weekend, on Sunday, the track goes quiet and is opened to one of the most premiere Concourse d’elegance and car shows in the country. The Sam Posey Straight is lined from end to end with the most exquisite examples of automotive art you may ever see and the rest of the track is lined with one of the coolest, most complete car shows.
If you have never been to the Lime Rock Park Historic Festival I can’t recommend it enough. Exquisite vintage race cars, priceless works of art and the most beautiful setting for a race track makes for one of the most unique automotive experiences in the country.
What follows is a small selection of some of my favorite photos from the 37th Lime Rock Historic Festival with a couple of behind the scenes photos thrown in. Enjoy!
ZERO SR/F Shoot
Check out the behind the scenes story of my most recent published work: the ZERO SR/F review on Jalopnik.
Automotive journalist Doran Dal Pra and I go back a ways at this point. We met in 2012 or 13 when we were both working for the ill-fated MedianMag magazine. When I needed a driver for my F40 shoot a few years ago I called Doran and we made Ferrari magic on the tarmac of Laconia Airport. So, when Doran called asking if I’d like to do the photos for the motorcycle review he was currently working on I was of course all in.
Rick’s most current build in the works is this Frakenstein of a rat rod. When it is completed it is going to be a screamer. This 1930 Ford is powered by a Hemi V8 pulled from a Chrysler 300 SRT8 and is bolted to a lightweight custom frame. Click the photo to check out the Horsepower Farm facebook page for more details and to follow the build.
We took the bike to my buddy Rick’s place, the aptly named Horsepower Farm in Deerfield, NH. Rick raises goats and chickens on his pristine lakeside property. He also builds badass hot rods and fabricates beautiful metal art. Horsepower Farm also provided the perfect backdrop to place the all-electric ZERO SR/F.
At the time of the shoot, Doran didn’t know where the review and accompanying photos would be published. He’d been in contact with a couple of motorcycle magazines and, although there were some promising prospects, he hadn’t been able to line up anything definitive. As is so often the case with Doran, though, hard work and determination paid off. On September 16 the full write-up was published on Jalopnik, which, if you are not familiar, is an outlet with a readership in the hundreds of thousands. It probably couldn’t have worked out better. It’s always cool to see my photos published. It doesn’t matter if it’s online or ink and paper, the feelings of accomplishment are the same.
Below is a gallery of some of the images we created that day and you should definitely check out Doran’s full review of the ZERO SR/F on Jalopnik! You will not be disappointed.
Gallery: 2019 Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park
A selection of my favorite images from an extremely hot and humid Northeast Grand Prix weekend.
The chaotic start of the Northeast Grand Prix.
A selection of my favorite images from an extremely hot and humid Northeast Grand Prix weekend.
July 18-20, 2019 | Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Connecticut
Scenes From the Track
When I tell people that I photograph motor sport and track days for a living they understandably think that it’s all about the cars.
When I tell people that I photograph motor sport and track days for a living they understandably think that it’s all about the cars. And, although the vast majority of the images I create are of cars, most of my favorite photos from working at the race track are photos of the people that make the sport go. Drivers, crew members, corner workers, spectators and fellow photographers make up this sub-category of what I do. Finding these moments can sometimes feel like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack, especially during busy race weekends. While other times the moment is the sea of humanity the haystack is made of.
The title image above is one of my favorite images of 2018. It reminds me of me, my dad and where it all began for me. I noticed the older gentleman overlooking The Downhill so I watched him for a couple of minutes, waiting for him to get closer to the fence. Then the younger guy, presumably his son, walked up and they just stood there and watched together. Right away I knew I had my story and my shot.
What it boils down to is that racing photography is more than photographing race cars. It's about the people. Drivers, crew, spectators etc. Without these people's involvement, there is no reason to race.
Below is a selection of photos that I think captures this sentiment and I hope they help bring you a little closer to a memory or make you want to attend your first race.
My Summer Shooting Trackside With SCDA
Back in the spring I received an email from Elivan Goulart, owner/CEO of Sports Car Driving Association (SCDA), regarding my interest in shooting his track day events this summer. After a couple of emails and phone calls I agreed to do one event with the possibility of more.
Back in the spring I received an email from Elivan Goulart, owner/CEO of Sports Car Driving Association (SCDA), regarding my interest in shooting his track day events this summer. After a couple of emails and phone calls I agreed to do one event with the possibility of more.
My first event with SCDA was on June 1 at Palmer Motorsports Park in Palmer, Massachusetts. It was such a positive experience that I went decided to take on as many SCDA events I could fit into my schedule. I was hooked. So far this year, I have photographed 7 SCDA track day events at 4 different race tracks, Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, Thompson Speedway, also in Connecticut, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and the aforementioned Palmer Motorsports Park. I still have 5 events to go. One more each at Palmer and Thompson and 3 more at Lime Rock Park.
What follows is a small selection of my favorite images from my summer with SCDA.
Title image: Lime Rock Park, June 28 [ 200mm | 1/640 | f/5 ]
![Lime Rock Park, July 23 [ 500mm | 1/500 | f/5.6 ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1536763860105-HZVHMBDWSIU8EWOV2WF2/SPP_SCDA_LRP_0723-4.jpg)
Lime Rock Park, July 23 [ 500mm | 1/500 | f/5.6 ]
![Thompson Speedway, August 25 [ 200mm | 1/125 | f/20 ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1536763300143-ZO93RKL5RGOBU6YCLU7D/SPP_SCDA_TMSP_8-25+LoRes-9.jpg)
Thompson Speedway, August 25 [ 200mm | 1/125 | f/20 ]
![Lime Rock Park, September 18 [ 500mm | 1/100 | f/6.3 ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1537536955775-BJI1A0PX2OVMKB7JUZWW/SPP_4028+2+blog.jpg)
Lime Rock Park, September 18 [ 500mm | 1/100 | f/6.3 ]
![New Hampshire Motorspeedway, August 6 [ 380mm | 1/800 | f/5.6 ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1536763601935-FHC8NPAKYL7U1OABOTI1/SPP_SCDA_NHMS_080618-58.jpg)
New Hampshire Motorspeedway, August 6 [ 380mm | 1/800 | f/5.6 ]
![Lime Rock Park, June 27 [ 390mm | 1/100 | f/11 ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1536763483971-HVWZPUJ2AQ432KBDNO7W/SPP_SCDA_LRP_0627-2.jpg)
Lime Rock Park, June 27 [ 390mm | 1/100 | f/11 ]
![Lime Rock Park, August 27 [ 350mm | 1/1000 | f/5.6 ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1536764033639-U7IJHFQI0YB48S54OBD7/SPP_SCDA_LRP_8-27-LoRes-67.jpg)
Lime Rock Park, August 27 [ 350mm | 1/1000 | f/5.6 ]
![Lime Rock Park, June 27 [ 500mm | 1/640 | f/5.6 ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1536764301177-70ZI9KQL743SF4E9V4ZS/SPP_SCDA_LRP_0627-35.jpg)
Lime Rock Park, June 27 [ 500mm | 1/640 | f/5.6 ]
![Thompson Speedway, August 25 [ 170mm | 1/125 | f/7.1 ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1536764478252-MF28CQ82A15FWM6Y7SA0/SPP_SCDA_TMSP_8-25+LoRes-116.jpg)
Thompson Speedway, August 25 [ 170mm | 1/125 | f/7.1 ]
![New Hampshire Motor Speedway, August 6 [200mm | 1/1000 | f/5.6]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1537535356822-ALLW2N8ODM4K5OUSGEJ1/SPP_3614+2+blog.jpg)
New Hampshire Motor Speedway, August 6 [200mm | 1/1000 | f/5.6]
![Lime Rock Park, August 27 [ 390mm | 1/640 | f/5.6 ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1536764762371-1BSNNJ25XXKXZ6OVU0NO/SPP_SCDA_LRP_8-27-LoRes-97.jpg)
Lime Rock Park, August 27 [ 390mm | 1/640 | f/5.6 ]
![Lime Rock Park, September 18 [500mm | 1/40 | f/16]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1537534245743-77BT8RFPPB9J83ZUK78P/SPP_4774+2+blog.jpg)
Lime Rock Park, September 18 [500mm | 1/40 | f/16]
![Palmer Motorsports Park, June 1 [ 200mm | 1/1250 | f/3.2 ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1536764184446-T8B14T7IFL13VQ4IUHYD/SPP_SCDA_Palmer_0601.-11.jpg)
Palmer Motorsports Park, June 1 [ 200mm | 1/1250 | f/3.2 ]
![Lime Rock Park, June 27 [ 380mm | 1/640 | f/5.6 ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1536764610273-EVMYKDS117BH8FKNCJ12/SPP_SCDA_LRP_June27_18-30.jpg)
Lime Rock Park, June 27 [ 380mm | 1/640 | f/5.6 ]
![Thompson Speedway, August 25 [ 460mm | 1/640 | f/6.3 ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a086381c027d8e184a1abea/1537536427315-QJ61AQ244289V718WEMI/SPP_6411+2+blog.jpg)
Thompson Speedway, August 25 [ 460mm | 1/640 | f/6.3 ]
2018 Pirelli World Challenge Lime Rock Grand Prix
Spending Memorial Day weekend at Lime Rock Park (LRP) is a tradition that extends back to my childhood and this year was no different as I spent 4 days on-site at LRP covering the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC).
Spending Memorial Day weekend at Lime Rock Park (LRP) is a tradition that extends back to my childhood and this year was no different. I spent the long 4 day weekend at LRP covering the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) Lime Rock Grand Prix.
PWC is a little unique where each of the classes have two races at each event. Add in two additional races for the Lime Rock Drivers Club and this jam-packed weekend amounted to covering 10 races, 2 autograph sessions, 2 fan walks, hot laps, a car show, a pig roast, a surprise USAF C-130 flyover, and literally everything else that was happening around the track. This was my first event working as a staff photographer for LRP. I had to hustle and clock watch more than I ever had before and I loved every second of it. I am already counting down the days to my next LRP event: The IMSA Northeast Grand Prix July 20-21.
What follows are a bunch of my favorite images from the weekend as well as a few behind the scenes cell phone snaps I was able to grab along the way.
Friday, May 25
This was mostly a day of practice and qualifying. Not a lot going on otherwise on this day which meant I got to spend a lot of time trackside.
Saturday, May 26
A busy day. Practice & qualifying for the GT and GTS machines and two races each for the TC/TCA and TCR classes, plus a LRDC race.
Sunday, May 27 (9th Annual Royals Garage Car Show & Farm to Track Pig Roast)
The weather, unfortunately, did not cooperate. Cool temps and drizzle plagued the entire day forcing things to be reorganized on the fly. The Farm to Track pig roast, which was supposed to be served on the front straight, had to be moved under the infield hospitality tent. And the awards ceremony, originally scheduled for 2pm had to be moved up to 12:30. The people who did show, however, were still in very good spirits and the day was a great success.
Monday, May 28 (Memorial Day)
The busiest day of them all. 2 races each for the two top PWC classes, GT and GTS, and the second LRDC race of the weekend. Thankfully the rain had moved out, but the clouds remained, providing beautiful, even light throughout the entire day.
Dream Job Achieved!
Since I was very little Lime Rock Park has been, without a doubt, my favorite place on earth.
Since I was very little Lime Rock Park has been, without a doubt, my favorite place on earth.
I attended my first race in the mid-80s and had my first experience with a camera inside of Big Bend shooting Trans Am in 1993.
Scott Sharp exiting Big Bend in 1993. One of my very first motorsports photos.
Since then I have attended dozens of races at LRP. In 2012 I started shooting credentialed for NoBraking, learning and growing trackside, always with an eye on something bigger. Well, I am excited to announce that something bigger has finally come. For 2018 (and hopefully beyond), I am going to be working for Lime Rock Park as an official track photographer at all the major events: Pirelli World Challenge, IMSA, and the LRP Historics. It's my dream job come true.
Gallery: Merrill Peiffer at Rochester Performance and Arts Center
A gallery of images from my coverage of the fabulous Merrill Peiffer at Rochester Performance & Arts Center.
I recently started working with the Rochester Opera House and it's affiliate, the Rochester Performance & Arts Center (RPAC). A couple weeks ago I was offered the opportunity to photograph the fantastically talented Merrill Peiffer during her third and final performance of her solo show, "Merrill Sings," at RPAC. It was a really cool and challenging change of pace to what I usually shoot.
Rochester Performance and Arts Center is located at 32 North Main St, Rochester, New Hampshire. For event calendar and booking information visit their website.
Lakes Region Ice Racing Club
Winter. I hate winter!! I don't ski, I don't snowshoe, I don't really like being out in the cold. But in the last couple of years I have found that being outside in sub-freezing temperatures isn't so bad if I also get to photograph race cars.
The sprint cars take the green flag for their heat race.
Winter. I hate winter!! I don't ski, I don't snowshoe, I don't really like being out in the cold. But in the last couple of years I have found that being outside in sub-freezing temperatures isn't so bad if I also get to photograph race cars.
Last winter I found the Lakes Region Ice Racing Club (LRIRC) on facebook and, on a whim one morning, made the hour long drive to Moultonborough to check out what they do. I loved it so much that I knew that I wanted to get up there at least once this winter. Well, Last Sunday (Feb 4) I finally found some time to spend the day "trackside" on Lee's Pond.
Right after the New Year we were hit with a long stretch of days with sub-zero temperatures. I knew at that time that the LRIRC would be racing once the ice got thick enough on the ponds. The LRIRC races every Sunday (and some Saturdays) from January to March, or as long as the ice is safe.
Modified points leader Jack Cook, sliding through.
On the mornings of race days the organizers check the condition of the ice and then broadcast out online whether or not the racing is on for that day. So, if you want to check out the LRIRC I would recommend following their facebook page to stay in the know.
Derek Jeanson (52) struggles to see in the icewash thrown up by Tunk Berry (11)
