Castle Combe racetrack regulars

[Lenswork]

Hi all, i am going to Castle Combe on Saturday for their 'Rally Day'. I have never been to this track before and am looking for advice from the regular togs that go there on where to shoot at the trackside. I've had a look on the website but it doesn't clearly show where spectators are allowed. It seems that there are plenty of spots that look like they would be worth a pic or two but are there any restrictions to where you can and can't go.
Any advice will be appreciated.
Hope this is in the right section, if not could mods please move.

Thanks

 

[beardboy]

Quarry corner is good for accident photography, as that's where most seem to crash.

Other good spots i'm not sure, as i'm purely beginner and just point the DSLR and click the button and let the camera do all the jiggery. lol

 

[Lenswork]

Beardboy thanks for the reply.
Whats spectator access like around the track in general. Far to walk or are there plenty of car parks.

 

[dizz]

I have driven the track at Castle Combe and at Quarry corner there is a dip in the track, the stearing goes light and grip is greatly reduced, then the fun stars as your now not where you want to be on the track and the corner comes up fast!! resulting in cars spinning off towards the crowd.

Problem is there is now a high fence that gets in the way when taking shots but you wont get killed either

There is also a raised bank (no fence) on a straight with a chicane half way down it, this is open to the public and i got a few nice shots of the rear of the cars as they exited the chicane.

have fun and let us see the pics.

 

[beardboy]

Beardboy thanks for the reply.
Whats spectator access like around the track in general. Far to walk or are there plenty of car parks.

Spectator access isn't too bad TBH, but as dizz says, there are some high fences around the circuit in places. On actual race days, i believe there's only 1 car park, and you have to walk around the circuit if you want to get better views etc.

Dizz - i've driven the track a few times too, and know what you mean about the dip, just on the braking point too, so it all goes very light indeed!

 

[Lenswork]

Thanks dizz very helpful.
There are a few of us who are members on here going, so i'm sure you will see a few shots.

Len

 

[Lenswork]

Thanks beardboy, looks like we might be in for a bit of a walk then.

Len

 

[beardboy]

Indeed - but the actual track is only 1.85 miles if my memory is right - keeps you fit, but a bit of a drag if you're carrying a lot of kit.

I was hoping to get over there at the weekend, but apparently my gf only has 1 free weekend until her sisters wedding, so i've got to spend time with her.

 

[neil_g]

you can get all the way around combe so wherever you want really, i usually vary my time around the complete circuit.

good news is that youre always quite close to the track so you can just about get away with 200mm.

 

[Lenswork]

Indeed - but the actual track is only 1.85 miles if my memory is right - keeps you fit, but a bit of a drag if you're carrying a lot of kit.


I was hoping to get over there at the weekend, but apparently my gf only has 1 free weekend until her sisters wedding, so i've got to spend time with her.

Looking at where you're living, pop over for an hour with your g/f i'm sure she won't mind

you can get all the way around combe so wherever you want really, i usually vary my time around the complete circuit.

good news is that youre always quite close to the track so you can just about get away with 200mm.

Thanks neil, was hoping not to take all the gear so 70-200 it is then, maybe take the 1.4x extender just in case as well.

 

[Nod]

In the past, we've always done the walk round the whole track but this year (we only go once a year to the August BHM meeting) we only got from Quarry to just past the Esses. There's a good sized break in the fencing there and you can see the cars approaching from the exit of Quarry. TBH, I think anywhere around the Esses is pretty good for pics - got a great sequence of a Ferrari shifting the tyre barrier about 20 feet using the side of the car. Not sure that the rally days are held on the main track (but I'm probably wrong) - there's a cinder/gravel track behind the road that runs along from Quarry to Tower which looks more rallyish.
One last thing - it can get blinking cold so it may be worth packing an extra fleece in the car - you'll never be too far away from the car to walk back to get it if needed!

ETA... Spent most of the day with the 70-300 on the front of the D700 so a 70-200 on a crop sensor would be fine for most of the time.

 

[Byker28i]

castle Coombe is one of my local circuits. I've driven it a few times, plus photographed there lots.

For parking, the main carparks are, coming in from the A420, at Quarry, the Paddock/Folly's and then further on you can park up from Camp to Tower.

It's worth walking around the circuit to get different shots. Obviously starting at the paddock area you can get all the static shots, get drivers to pose with their cars etc

You can only get around the outside of the circuit, but it's all walkable.

I doubt you'll get on the pit wall as you can on track days, but there's gaps in the fencing for panning shots along the start/finish straight, plus there are bumps on the inside at follys which the cars get a little unsettled over. It's not unknown for cars to spin off inside the circuit there (yes I've been that way too).

Walking clockwise, there's high banking around folly's for shots down into the cars, i.e.

but from folly's to avon rise you can't really get close enough to the track for good shots.

The cars go very light as you go over Avon rise and you have to get the braking right there, maybe a little squirt of power before throwing it around Quarry. because of this there's always incident at Quarry, especially on the first few laps. If you walk just past Quarry there's a dip between the banking for the emergency vehicle access and that's a great place to get the cars through quarry, i.e.

Further clockwise, you have the esses, which a good viewing area on top of the banking and there's always some challenges here, so again a good spot.

Further around you have Old paddock bend near the skid pan school and again that's a great place to get good long shots.
Occaisionally cars lose it here:

Hope this helps

 

[Byker28i]

Part 2 - limited to 6 shots.


The next bit is Hammerdown into tower corner, well named as it's quick. Good trackside access here for panning shots:

Then you've Tower, again a good action place but fencing makes it difficult for photography so I prefer to walk onto the bahnking by the chicane, the esses. Always action here plus you get the long shot as they come out of Tower and there's usually some action here;

Finally you've the pit entrance and into Camp corner for back onto the start finish straight. Chance here to grab a few shots as the cars load up around the corner.

If you're really lucky you may be allowed to grab some shots from the trackside gate by the marshalls post

Great circuit, great marshalls and good racing. You'll enjoy it.
Use a circular polariser to cut down windscreen glare and you may be lucky and get some great driver faces.

Hope this helps

 

[Grandslammer]

http://www.rallyday.com/

 

[willbaroo]

I wouldn't call myself regular but I've been there about 5 or 6 times this year.

I would say Quarry, Old Padock Bend and Hammer Down is your best place if you are taking 200m.

Saying that though I don't thing the rally guys, WRC/Audi Quattro will be getting that far round as they close half the track of for that part of the show.

 

[phil633]

I went last year and most of the action apart from the WRC car was between Bobbies and Quarry the whole circuit was not used very much, hope this helps.

 

[spencer]

I went last year and most of the action apart from the WRC car was between Bobbies and Quarry the whole circuit was not used very much, hope this helps.

They actually double backed across the grass just passed quarry corner for a good part of if last year.

Spence

 

[Lenswork]

Just got in from work and had a look at this thread. I must say thanks to all that have replied, the info given is very much appreciated. Especially byker28i, the photos that you've posted have given me some idea as to what we might see trackwise.
I hope that i can put the info to good use on Saturday now.

Thanks

 

[G2EWS]

Hi Len,

As mentioned Quarry Corner is the best place, but go round the corner past the high fences:

This was from last years Mini Action Day which is on 26th September ie just over a weeks time.

If you go round on that day, check out West Country Minis who are on H1 - H4 just on the left of the competitor entrance from the B4039. You cannot miss my Mini:

Regards

Chris

 

[Laudrup]

I'm heading down from Scotland (near Glasgow) to come and see this. Can't wait, hope the weather stays good so I can use/show off the new lens I've bought

 

[Byker28i]

Chris,
if you walk a little further along from Quarry from where you took the shot, there's a dip between the banking and it's a great place for a 100-400 lens.

Oh and if you've a car with a sensitive immobiliser, watch where you park at Quarry. Don't park under/near the powerlines

 

[Lenswork]

Hi Len,

As mentioned Quarry Corner is the best place, but go round the corner past the high fences:

This was from last years Mini Action Day which is on 26th September ie just over a weeks time.

If you go round on that day, check out West Country Minis who are on H1 - H4 just on the left of the competitor entrance from the B4039. You cannot miss my Mini:

Regards

Chris

Hi Chris thanks for the info. Unfortunately i will not be able to make the mini day as i will be in sunny Bournemouth This rally day is the only day out for me till Rally GB.
I like your mini soft top though, looks nice. But i used to hate working on the bl***dy things when i was a mechanic. Ive had my fill of hydrolastic suspension fluid, ball joints and clutches! You're a braver man than me for keeping one A labour of love methinks.

Regards

 

[G2EWS]

Hi Len,

This one is a bit special. It was re-built from one of the last shells to come off the original factory and took two years to get where it is.

I virtually never use with the top up and keep it in a carcoon with the top down:

Which uses two fans that circulate air and dry it out.

Best regards

Chris

 

[G2EWS]

Chris,
if you walk a little further along from Quarry from where you took the shot, there's a dip between the banking and it's a great place for a 100-400 lens.

Oh and if you've a car with a sensitive immobiliser, watch where you park at Quarry. Don't park under/near the powerlines

Hi Byker,

Thanks for the tip. No worries about the parking I will be on the West Country Mini stand.

Will check out when I walk round, but will have a Nikon 70 - 200 VR on the D700 and can take the Nikon 2.0 convertor.

Best regards

Chris

 

[beardboy]

Nice Mini - looks like it's a cherished little thing too

What other motors you got? lol

 

[G2EWS]

Nice Mini - looks like it's a cherished little thing too

What other motors you got? lol

Hi beardboy,

The Mini is indeed my 'Toy' and is very much cherished. It was bought to travel on a trailer behind my Winnebago motorhome.

I also own a Discovery III and BMW 530

The 530 is soon to be replaced with a BMW 645 convertible.

Yes you hit the nail on the head, cars are my downfall. However, I find myself being more interested in keeping them for a long time rather than changing every six months which I did in my youth.

I would like a DB7 convertible but it only has two seats. Also very keen on the Bentley Continental which is unbelievably low in price when a few years old especially when you consider they sold new for about the £200K mark. By buying one a few years old the largest part of its depreciation has already gone so you are left with a lot of car for 'relatively' small money. Toying with the idea instead of the 645, but will probably stick with the BMW, because SWMBO likes it and it has taken me two years to convince her to replace the 530! So best strike whilst the irons hot eh!

Best regards

Chris

 

[beardboy]

Nice one and nice cars

That's a seriously big motorhome! Bet that's very plush inside. Where abouts in Devizes are you, as my old man used to have a house there, just off the dual carriageway to the right as you're going into devizes - can't remember the road names etc, but the house was called Larimar.

 

[G2EWS]

Hi Beardboy,

Everything in the motorhome from a glass walk in shower to aircon, 100 gallons of fresh water, 55 gallons tank for grey water (washing), 55 gallons of black water (toilet!!!) full size fridge freezer, walk around double bed. It just goes on! But only used it once this year so probably going to sell it soon, however we are looking at a villa in Southern Spain as a replacement!!

The Itasca is down as being an upmarket Winnebago and Winnebago are the upmarket RV's. This one is a few years old but still in superb condition.

Live outside of Devizes. I see you are in Bath. I occasionally go out with a friend if you are interested in joining us? Send pm with contact details and we will let you know the next time we go out. Probably going to do Westonbirt Arboretum very soon.

Best regards

Chris