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April 9, 2007

See You at PhotoCamp on 4/21

If you are going to be in the Birmingham, Ala. area on Saturday, April 21st, stop by the Homewood Public Library and join us at Photocamp! Photocamp is one-day conference where everybody participates. You will hear some other great photographers talk about what they do and learn from others. If you have special interest or skill you can also give a presentation as well.

I will be giving presentations on work flow, action and sports photography, and possible more depending on the schedule.

See you all there!

Details:

Time: begins at 10 am, may last until 4 pm with a break for lunch
Date: Saturday, April 21st
Location: Homewood Public Library (via Google Maps)
Cost: FREE!!

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March 18, 2007

Acura Kicks Butt at Sebring

There is a philosophy in racing: the winner isn’t always the guy with the fastest car, but sometimes the team that is best prepared. Or, put another way, “Good fortune favors the prepared soul.”

This weekend marked the 55th Annual 12 Hours at Sebring. The inaugural race in the 2007 American Le Mans Series, the top-level sports car racing series in North America. There were a few new teams in the fold this year, but the one drawing the most attention was Acura.

Originally uploaded by All your picture are belong to us.

Acura only made the public announcement to compete this year in ALMS last fall. Unlike other Japanese auto makers, Honda has no real experience in sports car racing, although they have considerable experience in open wheel racing like Formula 1 and IRL and CART. Because of this Acura made a huge commitment to race in the ALMS choosing not one but three different teams to develop its new platform, Andretti/Green, Ferandez Racing, and Highcroft.

Each team took a different aspect of the project to develop a competitive car. Last November, Honda even rented the Sebring circuit to run a full, 12 hour, dress rehearsal complete with actual IMSA officials. Well, back in November the result of the dress rehearsal could have best been described as “not ready for prime-time.” Only one of the cars actually made it the full 12 hours.

Today, I think you can call the results of the dress rehearsal (and the whole program to this point) a brilliant success. The Andretti/Green Acura, driven by Tony Kannan, Dario Franchitti, and Bryan Herta, not only won the LMP2 category, but finished 2nd overall, ahead of only of the Jost Audi’s.

This remarkable finish was partly due because Audi, and Porsche had unexpected problems. The Audi team, run by Reinhold Jost, and the two Porsche teams lead by Roger Penske and Rob Dyson are also very well prepared and quick teams. But Acura was also prepared, so well prepared that when opportunity presented itself, they capitalized on it. That’s what being prepared is all about.

In two weeks, ALMS will be in St. Petersburg, Fla. and count on Audi and Porsche looking to even the score. Long-term the best thing that can happen for ALMS is for Acura to enjoy a wildly successful season. So much so that other makers (Toyota, I’m looking at you) will decide to similarly field teams with as much preparation as Acura.

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Filed under ALMS, Acura, Audi, Motorsports, Porsche, Sebring, cars

March 11, 2007

Watch Acura LMP Program

Being a fan of American Le Mans is frequently a matter of what will be coming down the road. This season is very much a matter of good news vs. bad news. Good news: Audi and Corvette will return with factory efforts. Both of the teams are great fun to watch and follow. Bad news: both of these teams will compete virtually alone in their respective classes.

The very good news will be in the second-level prototype class, LMP2. This year Porsche will return with two great race teams, Penske and Dyson. Both teams will compete in upgraded RS Spyders, and both teams know how to win. Just watching these two teams go at it will make for a great season, but the good news doesn’t end there. Honda will also enter the LMP2 ranks this year under its Acura brand. Acura will compete with three separate teams: Andretti/Green, Hernandez Racing, and Highcroft. Three great teams, all competing and collaborating to great a winning program for Honda.

I just happened to catch a show about Honda/Acura’s American Le Mans race program. It was a really great program about what Acura is doing to great a winning team. Honda has great history in open-wheel racing in Formula 1 and Indy Cars, but very little in sports car endurance racing. I am really impressed with the level of commitment Honda is making. It obvious that they want to win and they realize it won’t come easily or cheaply. Show check it out on Speed. It will be rebroadcast this weekend between telecasts from Sebring.

Acura: Project Le Mans Televised: Saturday, March 17th 8:30 am EDT

So, this year will be good in LMP2 and GT2 classes. Next year, hopefully it will be even better with better cars developed from Honda. Also, there have been some new super cars debuted in recent car shows. Hopefully some of those will make it to the track in 2008.

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Filed under ALMS, Acura, Motorsports, Porsche, cars

March 7, 2007

In Memoriam: Steve Deslich 1971-2007

I have learned recently that my old friend and fellow photographer Steve Deslich has passed away after battling cancer for many years. I knew Steve when I worked for Knight-Ridder/Tribune news services many years ago. I will aways remember his easy-going mid-western spirit and sense of humor. I am sure if he were still with us he would make a joke about today being 36th birthday.

Steve had brain surgery eight years ago. Surgeons removed a tumor the size of an egg from Steve’s head. He used to joke and say things like, “If I had half a brain,” or, “Jeff, do you know most people only use 10% of their brains? Well, I am now one of them.”

Steve loved his wife and his son, but also the Cleveland Indians and being on the water in his boat. Everybody else loved Steve.

Photographer and cancer survivor Thomas Graves has a very nice remembrance of Steve. Thomas recounts his visit to see Steve recently. I wasn’t able to visit with Steve because he lives in Maryland and I am in Alabama. I regret that, but I am thankful that Thomas and other friends and family of Steve were. Thomas writes that Steve was still the warm and funny person even when the end was near. I’ve never met Mr. Graves before, but I thank him for the post. Thomas Graves Cancer blog, visit with Steve Deslich.

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February 26, 2007

Corvette Races in a Class of its Own in 2007

The 2007 American Le Mans Series season is very much a good news / bad news deal. Good news: there are some great new teams entering the LMP2 class. Bad news: Audi will mostly compete uncontested this season in the top LMP1 category. Worse news: Corvette will be the only regular entry in GT1.

As a photographer of motorsports and a fan, the loss of competition in the GT1 category is particularly bad. Don’t get me wrong. I am thankful that Audi and Corvette have made the commitment to compete. I am a big fan of both of those teams. Photographing a big, fire belching, thundering V8 with brakes glowing red like molten steel is my favorite thing to do.

The Audis are beautiful and amazing works, like Lepizan stallions: agile, quick, nimble, and a little haughty. GT1 cars are like broncos, full of piss and vinegar and ready to stomp on somebody’s guts.
There are many discussions on the Internet about why there is this lack of competition this season. Some are probably more valid than others. Personally, I feel the cause is a lack of large-displacement coupes being produced. Many being produced, Viper, Aston-Martin, Jaguar, are owned by companies in financial dire-straits.

But there is hope on the horizon. Several makers have debuted new super-coupes at recent auto shows. The latest is the sleek and amazing Masserati GranTursimo.

Also debuted is the Audi R8. Another amazing car based on the legendary R8 LPM race car that dominated international sports car racing from 2000 to 2005. Accura is also at work on a new NSX.

There is a long way to go before we see the cars on a race track. They have to be made first and then homolgated by the ACO. But let’s all hope we will see them in 2008.

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Filed under ALMS, Corvette, Motorsports, Saleen, cars, maseratti