Well it's that time again, the Formula Drift season kicked off it's inaugural event at the Streets of Long Beach street circuit. Always fun to see all the SoCal photographers, hang out and just have a good motorsport weekend. And it's always crazy. This weekend I'd be shooting a buddy's Mr2 for Mr2 Only Magazine (that'll be the next post) and Formula Drift. I skipped the Friday Formula Drift event and focused on the Saturday. Unfortunately I overslept and was still dead beat tired from being up for 36+ hours. Anywho, here's Formula Drift @ Long Beach.
The Long Beach street circuit is set up for the Long Beach Grand Prix the following week. That weekend comprises of the Indy Racing League and American LeMan Series. Both of which I've shot and god damn it they are awesome events. The Formula Drift series uses turns 9, 10 and 11 which are the final corners of the Long Beach circuit. This is probably the most difficult course to shoot. EVER. The entire circuit is lined with two layers of protective fencing and k-rails. You shoot through designated pre-cut photo holes, which of course will have 20 other photographers going for the same shot. It's difficult to get anything original or amazing unless you're really amp'd to do so. Which I wasn't.
Thanks to Kong and Jaime for getting basically all the pictures we'll be puting on Intuned Online. Mine are pretty much crap. I'll blame the focusing on my D200 this time.
Shot with :
Nikon D200
Sigma 100-300 f/4
Tokina 12-24 f/4
An incredible lack of sleep
Tyler McQuarrie of the Falken Motorsport team
Big ups to Joon Maeng. He was picked up by Bergenholtz Racing and sponsored by Full Tilt Poker. This guy is true grass roots drifting at its finest. One of the most humble and genuine guys ever. Really glad he's getting exposure and moving on up. Check him out at : www.joonmaeng.com
Tanner "Foxy" Foust, third place winner @ Long Beach
Ken Gushi in the freshly painted Scion Racing tC
Fredric Aasbo from Oslo, Norway. This guy entered the Formula Drift series last year as a rookie. He was on point for Long Beach taking out veteran drivers left and right. His Supra was dialed in and kickin ass.
2009 Champion Chris Forsberg returns with his NOS 350z going up against Kyle Mohan's Mazdatrix new purple schemed RX-8. Forsberg got knocked out a little earlier than I expected.
Mr. Rhys "Mad Skills" Millen took second place. This is the Hyundai Genesis he used to monster the Pike's Peak mountain run. Bad ass.
Dai Yoshihara in his S13. Totalled his IS350 last year and this car was built in nine days right before Infineon Raceway.
Kenji Yamanaka and his 5.6 Litre V8 Titan motor. With a supercharger. Yeah you can never really have enough power.
Rhys Millen sliding through the turn 11 hairpin.
Darren McNamara's new Falken livery scheme up against Falken's new guy James Deane. That's Calvin Wan's old Nissan S15 there. James Deane had an impressive run, making it to the top 8 eventually being beaten out by Tanner Foust.
Vaugh Gittin JR (winner this round) in his new Monster Energy Drink sponsored Mustang up against Tony Brakohiapa and his WWII P51 Mustang inspired livery.
Ryuji Miki still tearing up the Hankook/Apex-i Mazda RX-7.
And finally, here's a look at one of the bigger shooting zones at Long Beach. Yes we wear funny yellow vests. And yes the cloud of smoke covers us at the end of this shot.
Mr2 Only Magazine up next!
