motor

MartijnGizmo · 10-07-2005, 07:18 AM

So last sunday I went to the TT circuit in Assen to watch the Automaxx Streetpower Edition 5. Lots of ricers expected, but my main objective was to have a gooed time with a friend of mine. As we arrived, the action was just starting with an amateur dragrace. It was held on the main straight of the regular circuit, so burnouts weren't allowed. They were running for 1/8 of a mile and fastest cars were in the high 6's IIRC. Slowest car was a Seat Marbella with 70hp running high 13's. But since we don't get to see this kind of action every day, it was quite entertaining.

Our point of view on the main stage:

American Muscle:

After a C4 Corvette spit out all of it's oil, they cleaned the track with sand and brooms, how professional:

A German E30, running an Opel c20let engine with 750hp:

Modified Ford Capri with V8:

A custom buggy with a Subaru engine, loud and fast:

They also had a 125cc shifterkart competing, doing 0-60 in 4.7s:

Older Lancer Evo (2nd fastest in turbo-class) vs a LOUD CRX:

A rat-looking Opel Corsa, but with a c20xe-engine (GSi 16v, 150bhp). It placed 3rd in the N/A-class:

The pro-photographer that had access everywere, with a Canon 20D + €2000+ Canon EF 28-300/3.5-5.6 L IS USM:

After the official programm there were some motorcycles having fun on the track:

The competitors were seperated in 2 classes, turbo and N/A. Fastest cars of the day:

N/A:
1. C4 Corvette
2. VW Beetle (the old one)
3. Opel Corsa A with c20xe

turbo:
1. Impreza WRX (the old one)
2. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV
3. Opel Corsa B with c20let

Apart from the sprints, there was also a carshow on the grounds inside the racetrack.

Overview behind the paddock (only a part of the inner grounds can be seen):

Some enginerooms. An Opel Kadett GSi, Golf Mk1 Cabrio with 16v, Ford Escort RS turbo and a US-Eclipse with a modified 4G63:

Interiors. A Mitsubishi Colt covered with fur and an Eclipse with complete white interior (look at the reflections in the windscreen):

They also had a DB-drag for exhaust noise under a shelter:

The DB-meter:

Some competitors (look at the Corrado bouncing of the revlimiter):

stretched Hayabusa with big blue bottle:

ICE/Carputer in a Ford Escort (pc in the passenger footwell):

An (IMHO) gorgeous widebody RX7, lots of modifications and RHD:

A ricer in a Fiat Punto bouncing of the revlimiter for like 10 minutes (also note the blue tinted windows):

A nice widebody Opel Manta:

I can be short about the dancers: they seemed to be very low-budget and were boring

Nice color on this Celica:

Some older guy in his RX8, revving it like a madman:

An Audi S8 with airride and 20" wheels:

All in all there were too much ricers and there wasn't enough action, but we had a nice sunday nonetheless.....

bloeb · 10-07-2005, 07:51 AM

wooow very nice pics dude!(fish-eye ?)

MartijnGizmo · 10-07-2005, 07:55 AM

Pics were shot with a Canon EOS 350D, Canon EF-S 18-55, Canon EF 50 1.8, Peleng 8mm Fisheye and a Sigma 70-300 APO DG.

TT · 10-07-2005, 01:14 PM

Dude, you should post pics more often, the quality is stunning (what else when you talk about a 350D

) and fisheye pics are always interesting! But pretty weird, the picture quality with the fisheye is much worse than the other pics, normal?

MartijnGizmo · 10-07-2005, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by TT

Dude, you should post pics more often, the quality is stunning (what else when you talk about a 350D

) and fisheye pics are always interesting! But pretty weird, the picture quality with the fisheye is much worse than the other pics, normal?

Thanks, it was my first time photographing a car-event.

The fisheye is a Russian made Peleng, feels like it's hacked out of solid granite and it's fully manual (aperture and focus). But at F/8 and focus set to infinity, everything from 30cm till infinity is sharp. It does however suffer from vignetting and indeed it's not that sharp, especially at the corners. But on the other hand, it costed me €165 as opposed to the fullframe fisheyes from Canon and Sigma, wich cost upward of €600.....

I also didn't re-sharpen the pics after downsizing them to 1600x1200, so that might be a (partly) cause for the lesser quality.

TT · 10-07-2005, 01:46 PM

I see, actually I think it is just up to the lense quality. I know 165 is bargain, but usually you get what you paid. Usually when downsizing, quality and sharpness improve.

MartijnGizmo · 10-08-2005, 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by TT

I see, actually I think it is just up to the lense quality. I know 165 is bargain, but usually you get what you paid. Usually when downsizing, quality and sharpness improve.

The high contrast is also a problem. With only 8mm it's quite prone to lensflare etc, because of the enormous angle of view, over 180 degrees. It helped me take some of my better pictures however and the colors are very vivid so I'll keep it for sure. 8)