Blog Archives - Terry McGraw Photography

Upcoming GLX Snocross Rapid Water Jet Blast

1/30/2014

This Saturday, I (Terry) will be at the GLX Snocross at the Golf Farm on Rt. 12 in Wauconda. GLX Snocross will be hosting the Rapid Water Jet Blast. Hot laps begin at 2:00 p.m. and the racing starts at 3:00 p.m. They are calling for temperatures in the 20's dropping to 4 degrees with a 60 % chance of snow. From a photography standpoint, the cool/cold temperatures aren't an issue, however the snow is problematic. It can cause some focusing issues, wet down the equipment and because of light reflection, reduces the ability to use flash. It is a similar issue to the flying mud at Team Demolition Derby. The Winter X Games were just completed and Brett Moist, a friend and one of the GLX Snocross photographers, was there to cover all the snowmobile action. Click here to see all the action that Brett recorded.

If you haven't experienced snocross racing, I would highly recommend you come out Saturday to see the action. Its the best of winter sports and motorsports racing.

Click here to see the action from races #2 and #3.

2013 Route 66 Raceway Awards Banquet

1/25/2014

The awards banquet went very well and I think a good time was had by all. From the Juniors to the Track Champion ,received their awards. Chaplain Bill paid tribute to the loss of several members of the team who passed this season. In his presentation, Track President Scott Paddock gave a State of the Health of Route 66 Raceway. There are some exciting things in store for the Raceway and the 2014 season.

To see all the happenings from tonight, click here.

For all the action of the past couple seasons of Route 66 racing, click here.

Annual Route 66 Raceway Awards Banquet

1/22/2014

On Saturday, Janet and I will be attending the Route 66 Awards Banquet. It will be fun to see everyone again, re-live the past season and talk about 2014. The schedule will be full of great racing, from Test & Tunes, Juniors, NMRA/NMCA, Lucas Oil Series, Rockett Brand ET Bracket Series, O'Reilly NHRA Nationals and probably my favorite the Route 66 Classic. It looks to be a great season.

Click here for the complete schedule.

To see some of the action from past seasons, click here.

Check back on Sunday for photographs from the banquet.

GLX Snocross-Chicago Communications Shootout

1/19/2014

Yesterday, Saturday, I attended GLX Snocross' Chicago Communications Shootout. While the on-track activity was hot, the weather posed a problem for the photographers. Bruce Palla , Austin Calderone and myself fought the falling snow for around half the event. During the second half the wind died down completely. This sounds like a good thing, however with the sleds running on the track, the snow just hung in the air like a fog. The shooting conditions were tough all day. With my gloves on, I accidentally hit my lens release button on the 70-200 lensed camera. The camera went flying into the snow. Fortunately, it hit LCD screen down and only a couple of small snowflakes hit the mirror. I was able to get it dry with no damage. Bruce caught his plastic bag camera cover on his lens which temporarily locked up his auto-focus. As I said, it was a tough photography day! On the track, however, the action was hot and heavy. On at least five occasions, there were incidents and riders were dislodged from their sleds. Fortunately there were no significant injuries. In the Pro Lite #1 final, two riders crashed going for the green, leaving only three competitive sleds. Tyler Adams won the final by over two seconds. Congratulations to all the heat and finals winners. Next Saturday, GLX Snocross will be in Plymouth, Wisconsin, home of the Great Northern Series for Round two of the Great Northern Showdown Shootout. Unfortunately, due to my still healing knee, I will not be able to travel to Plymouth. Good luck to the Great Lakes Series next week.

To see photos of Saturday's action and purchase photos, click here.

For our complete portfolio please click here.

GLX Snocross Gallery Page

1/16/2014

Today I added the GLX Snocross Gallery Page to the website. This Saturday, January 18th @ 3:00 pm, GLX hosts the Chicago Communications Shootout. The event will be at the Golf Farm on Rt. 12 in Wauconda. Come out and enjoy the fun. If you can't make it out, check back after the event for photos of all the action. I hope to see everybody there.

For photos of last weeks events, click here.

For Terry and Janet's complete portfolio, click here.

The Great Northern Snocross Showdown

1/11/2014

Today I shot the GLX Sncocross' Great Northern Snowcross Showdown. Being the first snocross event I ever shot, I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by all the staff of GLX Snocross. They could not have been more accommodating or helpful. Today's event was a combined event, thus Showdown, between the Great Lakes Series and the Great Northern Series. It was a great event, nothing like I had ever experienced. From the little kids through the Pros, the racing was quite unbelievable! Being my first racing event since my surgery, I couldn't stay til the end, but I had a great time. Covering this type of racing will definitely strengthen and extend my stamina. I recommend to all that they should come out an enjoy the snowmobile racing of GLX Snocross. The next race is Saturday, January 18th at the Golf Farm in Wauconda with the racing scheduled to start at 3:00 pm.

For photos from today's events, click here.

For more information on GLX Snocross, click here.

For our complete portfolio, click here.

GLX Snocross at the Golf Farm in Wauconda

1/10/2014

I just added GLX Snocross to my schedule. They will be racing (snowmobiles) tomorrow (Saturday) at Noon at the Golf Farm in Wauconda. Click here for more information and directions. This will be my first racing event this year. I have never covered a Snocross event, so this will be fun. Tomorrow's event is a combination event for two clubs called the Great Northern Snocross Showdown. If you are in the area come on out, enjoy the races and see me. We will have some fun.

NASCAR Testing-Cars Back on the Track

1/9/2014

It's an exciting day with the Sprint Cup Cars scheduled to start Pre-Season Thunder Testing. Unfortunately, it is raining in Daytona this morning. I'm still hoping to see cars on the track today.

Janet and I have been going over the race schedules from the tracks where we shoot. This year, I have been invited to add Grundy County Speedway to my schedule. My goal is to shoot the open wheel cars this year. I want to thank Phil Rider for his help in spearheading this effort.

My friend, Randy Simpson, has left his position with the Route 66 Raceway and has become the General Manager of the Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis (formerly IRP). Before he left, he invited Janet and I to come down for the US Nationals. They also have brought the ARCA Series back to the oval track. It looks to be an exciting year for Randy and Lucas Oil Raceway.

Speaking of Route 66, it looks like they have 34 events scheduled plus five Team Demolition Derbies. Add to that, the NASCAR weekends, it looks like our season is going to be very busy. It kicks off on April 5th at the Rockford Speedway with the Stone and Double T 200. On April 13th at the Rockford Speedway, the 37th annual Spring Classic will kick off. That is one of my favorite races of the season and we will see if Alex Papini can repeat. Overall, it looks to be the start of a great season.

To view the action from last season, click here. Check back often for schedule updates and new photo albums.