Race & Performance Expo and Rants

I have just posted a few more images from the Race & Performance Expo that was last weekend in St. Charles at the Pheasant Run Mega Center. Besides seeing some really nice cars, I interacted with representatives from several of the local short tracks. After my schedule is firmed up from Route 66, Phil Rider has extended an invitation to shoot at the Grundy County Speedway. I really want to shoot the open wheel Saturday program. I spoke with representatives of the Sycamore Speedway. They have a track photographer who has exclusive rights to all the photography and any outside photography is prohibited. That's unfortunate because I really would have liked the opportunity to shoot the dirt late models.

To view the additional images please click here.

On a different note or rant, at the Daytona 500 there were two crashes, primarily the Danica Patrick one, where cars hit concrete walls instead of the Safer Barriers. Danica's crash was eerily reminiscent of the Dale Earnhardt impact. If it hadn't been for the safer Gen 6 cars and the driver safety innovations (HANS, restraints and seats), that crash outcome might not have had a positive ending. DIS is currently in the process of the Daytona Rising renovation of the grandstand to provide better seating and hospitality areas for the fans. I would suggest that maybe some of those funds should be directed at making the racetrack safer for the competitors who should not be hitting bare concrete walls.

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