ALMS Round 9 at VIR Mega Gallery

"Nintondo-San" (Nintondo-San) 10/14/2013 at 11:04 • Filed to: alms oak tree grand prix, alms uscr uscc tudor patron rolex motor sports racing le mans

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So, it's been about a week since the Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR, but I have finally gathered some of my photos from October 4th, and 5th (race day) for my first post on oppo!

VIR was a 7.5 hour drive for me and my father, but I have no regrets at all. This was my first ALMS race (had to get one in before the series is dissolved), and the first time I had a real (DSLR) camera at a race track. The layout of the paddock at VIR was excellent, and allowed for great views of the track, as well as the ability to get right up next to the cars with unrestricted access (specifically the false grid where the cars lined up before going out was one of my favorite parts). Great photo opportunities all around. Also had the chance to meet Travis and Matt, as well as Leo from /DRIVE.

I used a Canon T3 (cheapest new Canon DSLR) with a 50mm f/1.8 (cheapest new Canon lens) for most of the paddock photos, and a 55-250mm IS for the shots on the track (tip to new track photogs: remember to check your white balance setting before shooting or all of your photos will turn out much too warm as did mine. Well, better than being a blue-ish tint!).

Anybody else attend the race and have any photos they'd like to share? I'd love to see them!

More available on my Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1008048…

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Nintondo-San 10/14/2013 at 11:06

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Welcome home, Mr. Anderson. Very nice pics.

EL_ULY > Nintondo-San 10/14/2013 at 11:12

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Nice pics sir, very well done. I got a chance to meet Leo also at COTA. Ran into Patrick Dempsy at a Porsche tent. Good times, cant wait til next year. "TUSC" lol, Leo doesn't want people to call it that :]

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > Nintondo-San 10/14/2013 at 11:18

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Nice shots.

How much were tickets for the VIR race?

Nintondo-San > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 10/14/2013 at 11:24

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Thank you!

Nintondo-San > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 10/14/2013 at 11:26

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Thanks! They were $80 online ($10 more at the gate) for the Friday and Saturday package, plus a $7.50 processing fee. Oh well, for ordering online I got a piece of the tree!

Nintondo-San > EL_ULY 10/14/2013 at 11:29

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Thank you, and yes Leo is a great guy. He made the thing about "TUSC" very clear to me as well LOL.

And it is very interesting to see how the celebrities like to spend their cash. I saw Dempsey here as well as Bruce Jenner (for the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series). I had no idea who he was, nor did I care, but my father gets star stuck very easily LOL.

EL_ULY > Nintondo-San 10/14/2013 at 11:36

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lol awesome. Im guessing he was in a suit also. Im glad you digged the whole event also. Counting the days til next year! :]

Nintondo-San > EL_ULY 10/14/2013 at 11:38

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To you as well; the new series seems promising with 3 endurance races on the schedule. Lets hope it delivers!

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > Nintondo-San 10/14/2013 at 12:01

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Cool. I'm about 7 hours away. I need to go!

Danger Zone! > Nintondo-San 10/14/2013 at 12:44

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Whoa, I missed something...what happened to the DeltaWing?? Chromed and closed cockpit? As if Monday doesn't already suck, now I have that train wreck fresh in my mind.

Nintondo-San > Danger Zone! 10/14/2013 at 12:59

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Yeah it was rather gaudy (maybe they thought its chrome and general ugliness would blind other drivers so they could win?). It disappeared entirely mid race, yet the drivers (one of whom was a woman) were on the podium for hats and champagne. Sorry about ruining your day!

CAcoalminer > Nintondo-San 10/14/2013 at 13:30

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Great photos. I always love actions shots like this one from your flickr account.

The Transporter > Nintondo-San 10/14/2013 at 15:10

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That Porsche Spider was even sexier in person and it was on sale for a mere $40k.

smallblock87 > Nintondo-San 10/14/2013 at 20:03

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Awesome pictures! That BMW dropping the rear wheel is fantastic. I was there as well and it was a blast. Here are a couple of my favorites.

Disclaimer: No idea what camera I have (Olympus megazoom?). Nor do I know what I'm doing. :)

Can't wait until next year...

Nintondo-San > smallblock87 10/14/2013 at 20:49

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Your shots came out very nice! I love the one of the Aston against the sky. Such a gorgeous car. Did you get to hear it as well?

smallblock87 > Nintondo-San 10/14/2013 at 21:11

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I was lucky enough to walk by as they were unloading it. The driver revved it up couple times on the way down and it sounded glorious.

quarterlifecrisis > Nintondo-San 10/15/2013 at 08:53

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Nice shots. You're ahead of me, I'm still sorting through "keeper vs. non-keeper" from the race with about 1000 images left to go through. Depending on how local you are to the track we should try and get a jaloppo photo thing of some sort when there's activity there.

Nintondo-San > quarterlifecrisis 10/15/2013 at 16:00

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I had around 4k shots. Was mostly just spray and pray the first day, but the second day I calmed down and took my time. :-) Looking forward to seeing yours, definitely do an oppo post with them! Perhaps you may have sniped me in one of them?

I'm in PA actually, so my closest track is NJMP, with Watkins Glen being the next closest major events track. Still though, I get what you're saying about a "jaloppo" photo thing. Maybe because we are farther apart we can still do it but just cover a wider scope across the U.S?

Though my ideal goal is to do the 24 Hours of Spa, Nuerburgring, and Le Mans after I graduate HS. Well, at least one of the three. ;-)