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Okay, I’ve finally got the photo gallery back up to its old, error-free standard. I’m also pleased to announce that photos from Europe and photos for the 2005 Petit Le Mans have now all been posted.
Since everything works now, I hope to be working my way through the Europe photos and giving them the appropriate titles and descriptions.
I’ve been ignoring the blog recently, but I’ll make up for it: a few photos from the AJC International Auto Show and the Grand Prix Atlanta! Click either picture for a few more from each day.
Just finished watching the last hour of 2005 Dakar coverage on OLN, ten days after the race’s conclusion. First critique: get new commentators! Jerry Bernardo, who actually travelled with the rally was a New Yorker. Replace him with Nicky Grist. There’s something about having a British voice on the field that just makes the experience seem a little more refined. Jimmy Roberts, who did a little filming on American dunes (no, you’re not fooling me) and who, according to my suitemate Q, usually does golf, needs to go too. He was stiff, and his audible emotional detachment through the deaths of riders José Manuel Perez and Fabrizio Meoni made the memorials sound insincere.
The Dakar organizers always provide their affiliates with excellent cinematography, and this year was no exception. I liked the very hands-off stage coverage which let the terrain speak for itself, but the stories of each stage really did go untold, and a clear sense of the competitors’ strategies never emerged for the viewer. I think that OLN could have done a much better job of this, especially seeing that they decided to delay coverage until the race was completly over.
And that is my biggest complaint. Last year, Speed put on a half-hour of coverage, complete with British commentator, every night of the race. This year, that would have been a full eight hours of television time. OLN gave us only five, none of which was same-day. It was sad to see Meoni interviews in the first few episodes, knowing that he was already dead but the show making no mention of it despite the late air date.
I do have hope, however, based on my experience with OLN’s coverage of the Tour de France. In it’s first year, it had serious problems (though they did have same-day coverage), but every year thereafter it has been improving. As of last year, they got Sundays back from CBS, and it was their second year with live coverage of important mountain stages. I don’t want—or expect—live Dakar coverage, but a half-hour same day summary would be nice. Do a one-hour recap on the rest day and at the end of the rally, and show each of them the weekend which immediately follows. Get people who know things about racing. You need the Phil Liggett and Bob Roll of rally driving. Nicky Grist, with his WRC television experience will play the role of Phil, and I’m sure you could find an American race announcer who can handle rallies to be Bob.
Finally, Dakar is a race of almost certain tragedy. This year, two competitors died; many more were injured. The television coverage shouldn’t exploit the drama, but should make sure it is conveyed. I think that other than Jimmy Roberts’ tone and pacing, OLN handled this as well as could be expected.
They’ve got a six year contract. One down. Overall Score: Good enough, but needs improvement.
We continue with hot pit action, as Milka Duno climbs into the #30 Citgo Lola B2K/40, running in the LMP2 class.
ISO 64, f/5.6, 1/100 s
Okay, here it goes. I’m doing this in two posts just to keep from being overly long. One more Petit post will follow these two, then I’m finally done.
Preparing for the big event:
Posted for your convenience (and my sanity) without running commentary.
Except for this photo. This one needs explanation. Scott, driver of the #41 Panoz Esperante that appeared in the previous post, qualified second, then proceeded to have to swap transmissions. He was pretty exasperated back in the pits so we didn’t stay long and chat.
ISO 64, f/5.6, 1/40 s
After an uneventful night that consisted of not sleeping over the noise of the generator that parked itself (with attached motorhome) right in front of our campsite the previous day (before I arrived), we awoke to the sounds of good ol’ ‘Merican Ford engines powering racing versions of the Panoz Esperante, used for the Panoz Race Series.
No, who am I kidding? I was up earlier than that for some reason, having something to do with moving that motorhome…it’s all kinda blurry. Anyways, the first action of the day were the Panozes (Panoses? Panozen? Forget it.) running their second qualifying session.
One of them then proceeded to spin out pretty much right in front of us.
ISO 64, f/4.0, 1/200 s
I’ve finally got some race photos processed. I arrived on Thursday afternoon, in time for a few practice sessions (and that all-important night practice that is always a highlight of the prerace festivities).
ISO 64, f/5.6, 1/100 s
As with any good photographs, there’s a story behind The Renault. Before Sunday’s PRO-IT race, I was in the back of the course around Turns 6-7, when a minivan drove up. A family emerged, and a blank posterboard was removed from the back. Laying it down on the ground, a young lady began to sketch out the words “Go Unka John” and filling them in with a black marker.
“You’re obviously here for a particular reason,” I asked.
“Yeah, my uncle’s driving one of the cars,” she answered.
“Which one?”
“A Renault.”
I had seen the Renault back in the paddock, as well as during Saturday’s practice sessions. I reacted much as I did to the Volvo: “A Renault? Racing? I’ve gotta see this.”
Well, I started talking a bit to her father and asked if I could take a few photos of them supporting their driver. He said sure, and I offered to send him my photos of the Renault after the race was over. Most of them are boring shots of the car that will not be repeated here (well, except for one) but a few of the photos that I took of them came out pretty well.
ISO 64, 1/125 s, f/4.5
