rkkwan

Went to see the American Le Mans Series race in Houston on Saturday. Took a lot of pictures, mostly with my new Canon 70-300 IS lens. Very very sharp and contrasty, and IS work well till it was pretty dark.

rkkwan.zenfolio.com/f454563954

Enjoy.

AnnMarie_C

Very cool, Ray, and how exciting!

I am a big fan of auto racing. You captured some really terrific images. I didn't know Houston hosted a Grand Prix...San Antonio did many moons ago which still surprises me for some reason.

Beautiful cars--thank you so much for posting this!

rkkwan

Houston hosted CART for a few years in the early 90's in Downtown, outside the George R. Brown Convention Center.

The current setup only started last year. This was only the second time. I only went on Saturday to watch the ALMS race, and while it's not jam-packed, it still gets a pretty good crowd. The weather certainly helped too.

I bought the general admissions ticket for $20 (my colleague's son, 12, got in for free). It's very nice and relaxing to just wander around the grounds, watching the race at various corners, and then we sneaked up to one of the grandstands for the last 20 minutes.

Funny that I've driven on over a dozen race tracks around the US (and one in Canada), but this is the first time I went to watch a professional race.

I know the prototypes and GT1 cars are fast, but I'm most surprised how fast those GT2s are.

AnnMarie_C

You've driven race cars?!? Brat! ;-) I'm sorry that I didn't learn this about you at the GTG, I would love to hear more! Next time, okay?

Saw a clip in today's local paper about the winner of the Grand Prix--go Houston for hosting this event!

There's nothing better than the sights, sounds and smell of burning fuel at a race track, lol--I love it!

rkkwan

Ann Marie - I drive my own car on the racetrack. Started this hobby in 2001, and have driven on about a dozen tracks around the US and one in Canada:

Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, VIRginia International, Summit Point, New Hampshire, Barber, Pahrump, Willow Springs, Streets of Willow, Buttonwillow, Texas Motor Speedway, Texas World Speedway, MSR-Houston; and Mont-Tremblant in Canada.

I have not done real door-to-door racing, only track days and time-trials. Anybody can come to these events, as long as the car is safe; and you pay money.

Now, I usually just stay in Houston and go to MSR-Houston. And the organizer I now go with allows one passenger, so if you want to see what it feels like to be on a racetrack, I can let you know next time I go there.

BTW, there's a lot more about me that you don't know.

A_Traveller

rkkwan - you should go to racing school. I did (twice) and it was the biggest adrenelin rush of my life. Great fun - drove an Indy Car and topped out at a tick under 180mph.

OO

Great pictures, Ray!!

My brother used to be a flagger at Watkins Glen eons ago. That stuff does get in your blood. He did time trials with his little TR-3. Top down always, even in the western MA winters. This is 60's. Then he had a Porsche, then he had two...one for himself and one for his wife. Kept his priorities straight!

You know, I didn't care a thing about racing, but Dallas was looking at doing a Grand Prix, and part of it was to go through the bottom of my husband's hotel so we got to go out to Long Beach where they were doing the same thing, also around a Hyatt, to see how it worked and the hotel functioned with it.

I went just for the trip to CA, but got into my hotel room and heard those engines on the streets below. WOW...I was down there in a flash. It is a rush to hear, watch and be part of!!

rkkwan

Good point about racing school.

The thing is that I used to consider myself just a "track tourist" - try out various tracks in the country, and an excuse to travel.

But then I got a little bit more serious, and actually cared about my skills and time. I'm now a point that I feel like I can't really move to the next level with my own street car (a Subaru STi).

To progress, I think I need to actually learn how to race. Need to go to real racing school, and buy something like a race-prepped Miata so I can do SCCA or NASA events.

But I don't have room at my place for a Miata, a trailer and a truck. Or I have to rent space to put the Miata. Even though the Miata itself is cheap, the logistics is just too much. That's why I seem to be "stalled" at this moment.

AnnMarie_C

Speed Ray-cer,

Many moons ago I worked with a nurse who attached a roll bar to her car to race on weekends. The race may have been more along the lines of a rally, it's been so long ago I don't recall. Do you have a race car or convert your daily use vehicle to race? I suspect the former given the tracks you mention. Am I impressed!

Please feel free to keep the unmentionables to yourself, lol.

rkkwan

No, I just take my own daily driver to the track. Don't have a dedicated track car now. Which is why I was considering getting a Miata for track only.

I just put higher performance brake pads, different set of wheels with race tires, and have a 4-point harness. Don't have a rollbar - and the Subaru has a pretty strong roof so I'm not that concerned.

BTW, I don't really race. Just doing open track days and time myself with a stopwatch.

DebitNM

AnnMarie -- not to rub it in, but IF you had come to dinner with us, you would have seen Ray's little white beauty and heard about his driving. Seriously, We missed you at dinner, it would have been fun if you could have joined us. Personal note to AnnMarie - I don't have an email address for you so I will have to thank you here for the wonderful candle and sweet book. I have the candle on my nightstand [unlit of course] and it smells wonderful!

As always, nice pictures Ray. You do have a way with a camera! Ray, want to do lunch on 6/18? I am flying in for the day for office visit w/surgeon.

Debi

rkkwan

I just got that lens on Friday, the day before I take it to the race. Even I am surprised at the image quality, especially when it was getting dark towards the end.

It's pretty amazing what modern technology can do. That lens is not the cheapest (~$560), but not long ago, to get such image quality you're talking about $1,000 or more for a professional-grade lens. Now, even a total amateur like me can take pictures like that. Hm...

AnnMarie_C

Sounds like racing to me, Ray! ;-)


Hi Debi,

I hope you're settled back in at home and doing well. You're so sweet--I was pretty bummed we had a dinner to go to. You all were so much fun I could have danced all night!

So happy you like the candle and mini-book! If ever you need to email me feel free, [email protected]. Continue to take good care of yourself!

rkkwan

Hey, who are the two perverts here?

I have 19 visitors to the ALMS page, and 21 visitors to the "Miss GP of Houston" page.

Some of you are bad!