Would like to shoot at a new BSB track – Which would you choose

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bdigital

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Hi all,

I am considering going to a new BSB track before the season ends and would like to know your opinions on which ones are good for shooting at.

Ive looked at the dates and my choices are:

- Oulten
- Donnington
- Assen ( Cautious about this one as I think the ferry alone is £200 each! So although I would LOVE to go to Assen, its at the bottom of my list unless someone can tell me how to do it cheaper!)

Il be using a 7D and can get to 600mm with a 2.0x TC on my lens so hopefully wont be limited on length.

Any locals about to let me know what the choices above are like?

Thank you.
 
Well, everyone raves about Oulton, so maybe that's the top pick here - I will say it doesn't have a lot of high catch fences, most fences I saw were the low four wire sort you see out the back of Brands.

Donny, its pretty pants from both sides of the fence. From what I've seen its Foggy Esses or nothing from the public side of the wire.

Assen - I love it, its Dutch, its sexy, its fun....trackside... most of the circuit has high catch fences round it, although it does have banking behind it which gets you over it. I think though unless you want high angle side on stuff its not that great. I can only think of a couple of places you could get head ons from.

Although its personally my least favourite circuit, think its got to be Oulton for you...
 
BSB was a bit more of a muted affair to the riot that is MotoGP there.

Last time at BSB there weren't any fireworks, belgian techno music or air raid sirens at 0400hrs.

I guess ze Germans forgot to turn up :)
 
I love Donington, but at the moment there are not a lot of great photographic locations (when the infield opens up more in 2014 there should be a lot more). Get there early for a good shot on the infield with no fencing, or head down to the outside of Old Hairpin where you can sit high on the banking and look over the fencing (large area, should be able to get a seat there without a 5am start). Will need happiness to crop as you are quite distant, but the shots of the bikes coming down Craner Curves are well worth it.

My 2012 SBK shots at Donington
http://www.flickr.com/photos/r-t-c/sets/72157630530872116/

As mentioned, Oulton is very good for lack of catch fencing, but get there very early for a good shot as for the BSB it gets full. I imagine a spot down at Knickerbrook would be the best. Not yet sorted my 2013 BSB shots from there yet but here are some shots from around the circuit earlier this year:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/r-t-c/sets/72157633340537625/


Don't forget Cadwell Park (Bank Holiday meeting) if you get a chance in future - similar to Oulton with minimal fencing, but big crowds and long queues to get out on small rural roads.
 
Never actually struggled to get out of Cadwell.... and this year Oulton Park #1 had monster record breaking crowds and monster matching traffic jams.

http://www.bsbforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18829

One tip I will give you all though, unless you want/need actual newsworthy race action, you get far more photo opportunities from Friday or Saturday with far fewer people to share elbow space with.

Particularly with Outlton #2 - this is a triple header, go on Saturday and get all the quali time plus a (BSB) race!
 
After BTCC or BSB I usually just spend ages packing up and then sit in the car and listen to music for a while until the bulk of fans have gone.

One plus with BSB is that half the fans are on bikes, so they do take up less road space.
 
It was a nightmare getting out of Snetterton this year. I don't know why it was so difficult!
 
Should have parked in the Coram gate/field.... piece of cake :)
 
For me its a no contest.

Donnie is not good from the speccy side, lack of places to shoot and fences most places.

Assen a lovely track, but for me if you going all that way go to the MotoGP, complete loons. A great weekend.

So its got to be Oulton just try to get there on the Friday and or Saturday. Lovely track lots of angles to shoot from.
 
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