Goodwood race track

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jimmy83

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I live quite close to Goodwood, and always keep meaning to head down for a morning or afternoon to see if there are any cars on the track.

Does anyone know if you can just turn up for a look around? There doesnt seem to be an info on the website regarding race/practices days :thinking:
 
I would imagine they allow spectators in, I mean, why not?
 
Give them a bell and ask or just arrive and see what they say if you are close ..
 
Most of the time, yes you can just rock up and wander about. There are some wide open bits where you're not supposed to wander into, but it isn't exactly clear so don't be surprised if an orange suited Marshall shouts at you.
 
I spend loads of time at Goodwood and have never been moved on.

Check out their web site for Saturday morning club practice days - great panning practice. Walk the pits and get close up to the cars, sit on the wall at the start and finish, pretty much wander anywhere.

When theres no race practice you can shoot some fabulous art. deco architecture, close up airplanes, helicopters. people, vintage cars and trucks.

Good fry up too.

Might see you there.

Regards
Neil.
 
Craft said:
This lot I think : http://www.mithril.co.uk/

You may find the pace a bit sedate.

I missed the South Downs Stages there this year, it was last weekend, weather was pretty horrible though.
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Looks like there will be loads of different types of cars there then :D

How do you mean sedate? Because guests will be driving and taking it easy? That would work better for me to try and get some good photos!
 
Me & the Mrs stopped off here for a walkaround one Sunday last month & like has already been said very nice relaxed place with plenty of things to point your camera at. the few people we saw wandering around in overalls just said a pleasant hello & carried on with what they were doing. :wave:
its pretty obvious if you're walking around taking pics that you're not up to any mischief :thumbs:

actually the first few pics on my flickr are from that visit...
not masterpeices by any stretch but wanted to try a couple of things.
 
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Flat racing seasons start near end of March until beginning of November.

There are some good Goodwood races in 3rd week of May, 3yo Predominate Stakes, and 3yo Lupe Fillies Stakes, but the main attraction will be the Glorious Goodwood week at end of July to beginning of August
 
GatoAzul1968 said:
Flat racing seasons start near end of March until beginning of November.

There are some good Goodwood races in 3rd week of May, 3yo Predominate Stakes, and 3yo Lupe Fillies Stakes, but the main attraction will be the Glorious Goodwood week at end of July to beginning of August
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The OP is talking about the motor racing circuit, not the horse racing circuit.
 
Been along once for a Lotus on Track Track Day to take some pictures and have a look round - was told basically to stick to the main straight as they didn't have marshals at every post so didn't want people wandering round.
 
Went to Goodwood yesterday for a play, things I learnt...

Panning cars at low speed, is b****y HARD! I think its actually FAR harder as I had to use a really low shutter speed to try and get some blurred motion It wasnt a race day, just a taster for general public. Oh well. Did have a quick play with the AF settings on the new 7d, but got abit lost if iam honest.

Can anyone offer any more advice?

Side note, met a women F1 photographer there, was kinda star-struck if iam honest! She seemed genuinely interested in what I was saying-could only stay for 5minutes as she was really busy and I had to go. Didnt get her details :( did pass on my card tho! Heres hoping! *dreams* :D
 
This was shot at 1/200 f8 at 235mm, shutter speeds of around 1/80 to 1/200 should give enough blur. Obviously if the background is further away from the subject it is less noticeable. If the wheels are blurred it implies motion. Practice is the answer. I shall be going up to the BTCC media day again shortly, you could give that a try.

IMG_G8546.jpg
 
I regularly do along to shoot my friend on track days. You can, indeed, wander around a lot of the track near the pits and the chicane. If you want to enter the pit lane you'll need a wristband.

Best places to shoot are:

The grassy bank near the toilet block - just across the track entry road from the pits. The cars will be accelerating away from the chicane, so not moving too fast (makes for easier panning). It's possible to find a location near the fence where you can get a clear view of the track.

The grassy bank on the outside of the track between the access road under the track and the Supershell huts. The section between Woodcote (the corner near Supershell) and the chicane is easy to access and you can get some good shots of cars cornering and then accelerating past.

I always shoot using manual exposure. I get a reading using spot metering on a bit of tarmac and use that to determine my shutter speed and aperture. I start with a fast shutter speed then as I get my eye in, slowly reduce it. By the end of a session I can get down quite low - this is 1/45s at 120mm using my 70-200f4

Goodwood_20110820_001.jpg
 
hollis_f said:
I regularly do along to shoot my friend on track days. You can, indeed, wander around a lot of the track near the pits and the chicane. If you want to enter the pit lane you'll need a wristband.

Best places to shoot are:

The grassy bank near the toilet block - just across the track entry road from the pits. The cars will be accelerating away from the chicane, so not moving too fast (makes for easier panning). It's possible to find a location near the fence where you can get a clear view of the track.

The grassy bank on the outside of the track between the access road under the track and the Supershell huts. The section between Woodcote (the corner near Supershell) and the chicane is easy to access and you can get some good shots of cars cornering and then accelerating past.

I always shoot using manual exposure. I get a reading using spot metering on a bit of tarmac and use that to determine my shutter speed and aperture. I start with a fast shutter speed then as I get my eye in, slowly reduce it. By the end of a session I can get down quite low - this is 1/45s at 120mm using my 70-200f4

Goodwood_20110820_001.jpg
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With a 7D?
 
hollis_f said:
Yup. All the info should be in the Exif.
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Ah yes, can you tell me what AF settings you used?
 
jimmy83 said:
Ah yes, can you tell me what AF settings you used?
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Almost certainly: AI Servo, Single Point, probably the centre point, possibly one of the centre-left points. From that position (between Woodcote and the Chicane) I try to get a couple of shots as the car takes the corner, take my finger off the shutter and pick it up again a second or two later. So by the time the car is passing my position the AF has had a second or two to track it before I start shooting.
 
hollis_f said:
Almost certainly: AI Servo, Single Point, probably the centre point, possibly one of the centre-left points. From that position (between Woodcote and the Chicane) I try to get a couple of shots as the car takes the corner, take my finger off the shutter and pick it up again a second or two later. So by the time the car is passing my position the AF has had a second or two to track it before I start shooting.
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Thanks. I used those settings too, but as said above the cars where just going really slow which didn't help me grrrr!

Did you use any of the custom functions?
 
jimmy83 said:
Can you share it with me? Please! :p
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The important ones are:

C.Fn III-1 - Slow
C.Fn III-2 - 0
C.Fn III-3 - 1
C.Fn III-3 - 0, although I have played with having it set to 1.

Many people would recommend that you switch to BBF - Back Button Focusing - however I really don't get on with it so I can't really offer any advice. But I can't see how it could help with this type of shooting.
 
All good advice here :thumbs:

I struggle to get a good shot on a slow moving car, for some reason I find it easier if its shifting along a bit!

The other thing to watch is if you are panning across a braking or acceleration area - its easier to pan if the car is moving at a constant rate (or close to it). If you try and pan in (for example) a braking area you have to sense the rate of deceleration which can make it a bit harder.

One of the supposed benefits of back button focus is that it splits metering from focus, this can be useful if the light around the car changes during the pan. I've got mine set to back button focus, but meter on the shutter button.

Personally I find back button focus better because I seem to hold the camera steadier for some reason.
 
Craft said:
One of the supposed benefits of back button focus is that it splits metering from focus, this can be useful if the light around the car changes during the pan.
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But not really relevant if one is using manual exposure. And this is a great example of when manual exposure is the best choice. Otherwise you have to change your exposure compensation as the colour of different cars changes. With spot metering, for example, a black car comes out grey and a white car comes out grey.
 
Quick edit, plenty more to come


8477803443_7ef7ba80c5_c.jpg
 
If anybody wants to see what it's like from inside the car, here's my pal doing a couple of laps - LINK
 
hollis_f said:
Best places to shoot are:

The grassy bank near the toilet block - just across the track entry road from the pits. The cars will be accelerating away from the chicane, so not moving too fast (makes for easier panning). It's possible to find a location near the fence where you can get a clear view of the track.
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That IS a very good place.

image001.jpg
 
HCB said:
That IS a very good place.

image001.jpg
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Yeah thats where I stood actually.

Dont suppose anyone know how to get in contact with the company that deals with the photo-stall that they have setup on site on track days?
 
jimmy83 said:
Yea

Dont suppose anyone know how to get in contact with the company that deals with the photo-stall that they have setup on site on track days?
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Doesn't that depend on who the TDO is on that particular day?

I've done a few track days at Goodwad but I've not been aware of an 'official' photographer at any of them, unlike days at most other circuits.
 
I have seen a bloke with a tabard labelled 'Photographer' taking shots that were for sale. He was allowed through the gate to get closer to the chicane. Which was essential for his shots, because he needed the car moving as slowly as possible.

That way, with a very fast shutter speed, he could get sharp images. The problem is, the cars looked as if they were parked. He got around that by tilting the images! My pal says mine were a zillion times better - at least they made the car look like it was moving. Still, I suppose you can't really take chances - you do want at least one saleable image of every car.
 
HCB said:
Doesn't that depend on who the TDO is on that particular day?

I've done a few track days at Goodwad but I've not been aware of an 'official' photographer at any of them, unlike days at most other circuits.
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TDO?
 
Bit of a heads up,

On Easter Monday there is a sprint at Goodwood circuit.

Free to spectate I understand there will be some interesting machinery about GT40s, original AC Cobras, C/D/E type jags, Porsche 911 RSRs etc.

Practice to start about 9am, timed runs from 11am, lunch 12:30-13:30 and they should finish by 5pm.

I will probably be heading over there, anyone else? make a mini meet of it ?
 
Craft said:
Bit of a heads up,

On Easter Monday there is a sprint at Goodwood circuit.

Free to spectate I understand there will be some interesting machinery about GT40s, original AC Cobras, C/D/E type jags, Porsche 911 RSRs etc.

Practice to start about 9am, timed runs from 11am, lunch 12:30-13:30 and they should finish by 5pm.

I will probably be heading over there, anyone else? make a mini meet of it ?
Click to expand...

Hey Craft, I might be upfor this!
 
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