Over the last couple of months, I have been sitting back and enjoying my time away from the camera, but this doesn't mean I'm backing away from photographing motorsport events. My time away is needed to recharge, and figure out the direction I want to take with my photography.
For the first time in awhile, I found myself back at the fastest track on the west: Willow Springs International Raceway. Willow Springs brings back memories, especially the 3hr drive from San Diego and a little past the Angeles Forest. This will be my first GridLife event I've ever attended and I was definitely looking forward to photographing here once again.
Willow Springs International Raceway dates back to 1953 when the construction first began. The tracks elevation changes and high speeds, is one of the fastest and most challenging tracks in the country. During that time it has ran continuously, and hosted the first two NASCAR events west of the Mississippi, the first F.I.M. 500 Grand Prix motorcycle race in America. The venue consist of 7 different racing tracks from Big Willow, Horse Thief Mile, Streets of Willow, Walt James Stadium, Speedway, an autocross track/ skid pad, and a karting track.
Photographing here has it's limitations. First of all, most tracks here do not have an interior barrier which they only allow media with the necessary credentials to enter. For this event, there are only a few good locations at Big Willow where you can get close enough to action: Castrol Corner (turn 1), Budweiser Balcony (turn 4), Monroe Ridge (turn 5). These 3 in my opinion are the spots to photograph if it's your first time here. I will say without a doubt the venue is a little lack luster in terms of photo locations. I do find myself wondering why I come here when I know there are only a few good spots, but I try to make most of what I can do. Other locations around Big Willow have as much as hundreds of feet of buffer between the outside fence to the track. Most of these locations requires telephoto lenses equivalent of 400 - 500mm.
Gridlife founded in 2013 started out as a HPDE (high performance driving experience() event. Today it's shifted focus to time attack, drift, and touring cup as a part of its on track activities, and feels more like an actual motorsporting event awhile I was there. As it's more well known in the Midwest, tracks like Willow Springs is one of the few west coast events they host at with the recently added Laguna Seca on their calendar.
The morning atmosphere of the paddock is relax, and friendly. There's a sense of comradery between drivers, and teams as they prepare their cars for the day of racing ahead. During this time, there is plenty of time to explore and converse with the drivers. Most drivers I talked to come with the intention of getting on the podium. What's racing if you're not aiming to win.
As warm-up and races are about to start, competing cars will make their way to the pit lane. The road here is off-limits unless you are an accredited photographer, but pit lane here isn't obstructed by any buildings like most tracks are, so anyone behind the wall can capture the drivers and their cars before they head out.
Budweiser balcony (turn 4) is the closest part of the track where spectators, and media personal can view the racing. From up there you can see the tracks layout, landscape, and follow the race in real time. It's one of the hardest turns for drivers to get right as the turns leading up to it is awkward, and tricky.
They don't call Willow Springs the fastest track on the west for nothing. Some of the fastest drivers here are usually in the "in-between grip and drift" as I'd like to call it. Cornering speeds range from about 70 mph to over 170 mph. You can see how much the tires are trying to grip to the asphalt. It's an amazing sight to see up close.
Photographing here is different: it's quiet, and there aren't usually huge crowds watching the races. I enjoy it compared to most of the events I've been to. When you're there, it's nothing but the sounds of race cars passing by then silence. There's nothing quite like it.
Unplugged Performance's Craig Coker driving the Tesla Model S recorded the fastest lap for Gridlife with a time of 1:19:62. It's about 1 second off the fastest lap from the FXMD FX750 Acura NSX driven by Billy Johnson. I'll say that's fast as hell coming from an all electric vehicle. I can only imagine the heat this electric engine produces, and how they manage to keep it cool.
Photographing motorsport is something I enjoy and I'm passionate about. I know not knowing where it will take me is part of the journey, and I do hope see myself photographing for a high profile team, or doing PR work, but right now I'm focusing on myself and what I want out of my own work. I'm glad I came out to my first Gridlife. I hope to meet more of you all in future events.
Please feel free to download any of the photos here: https://erikmotomn.smugmug.com/2024/Willow-Springs-2024
Please tag me @erikmotomn
