How to slow down at the end

**Stagecoach** · 25th January 2015, 10:32 AM

Today's challenge at the race track was to investigate air brakes (parachutes) and how I can best capture these with respect to positioning, panning, FLs and shutter speeds. Unfortunately there's only 3 of the 15 cars that have and need to use these so a slow learning curve.

So here's a couple of the captures from today just for fun.

No 1 - Release

No 2 - Hold tight and get shaken to bits

No 3 - For those without a parachute take hands off wheel and pray you can stop or did he just know I was there

Lots more stuff to sort through examine results and come to some conclusions.
Grahame

**Shadowman** · 25th January 2015, 01:16 PM

Nice efforts.

**Stagecoach** · 25th January 2015, 06:41 PM

Thanks John, I think it's going to be a fine balance between freezing, motion blur and positioning.

**Shadowman** · 25th January 2015, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Stagecoach

Thanks John, I think it's going to be a fine balance between freezing, motion blur and positioning.

Grahame,

So much harder the closer you are to your subject.

**IzzieK** · 25th January 2015, 08:04 PM

I like the first one -- by the looks of it, you've captured the back of the car before the shute got out...Great action #2 too. Adrenalin rush...must be exciting inside those cars...

**Stagecoach** · 25th January 2015, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by IzzieK

I like the first one -- by the looks of it, you've captured the back of the car before the shute got out...Great action #2 too. Adrenalin rush...must be exciting inside those cars...

Yes Izzie, quite an adrenalin rush and looking at the condition of the faster cars such as this one I think you need a fair amount of confidence in your gear to get to 150 mph in a quarter of a mile and then rely on air resistance to get you stopped before the end of the track.

As for the photographer stood there taking pics not sure if it's confidence, bravery or stupidity yet

Grahame

**flashback** · 25th January 2015, 09:19 PM

Last time I saw this was at the 1/4 mile drag strip years ago, funny cars and railers. Brings back memories, and ringing ears.
First one, great shot of the car as they toss out the anchor. Is the smoke burning rubber?
I like the third one two, was the driver stomping on the brake and doing a straight-line stop?

**Stagecoach** · 26th January 2015, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by flashback

Is the smoke burning rubber?

I suspect so Jack, this is one I captured three frames before the chute release shown in Post 1.

Whilst I can understand the burning rubber at the beginning seems a bit strange at the end or could it be something rubbing on that tyre?

**AlwaysOnAuto** · 26th January 2015, 08:55 PM

I'd say that's tire rub on the fender that he didn't anticipate. The tire 'grew' too much for the clearance he allowed.
Nice shots. Is the strip short on runoff room?

**Stagecoach** · 26th January 2015, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by AlwaysOnAuto

I'd say that's tire rub on the fender that he didn't anticipate. The tire 'grew' too much for the clearance he allowed.
Nice shots. Is the strip short on runoff room?

Thanks Alan, the total length of the strip is 0.42 miles, there's then a road and next the sea !

**Dave Humphries** · 26th January 2015, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Stagecoach

Thanks Alan, the total length of the strip is 0.42 miles, there's then a road and next the sea !

Hmmmm, stopping is desirable then

Good series Grahame, well done.

Cheers, Dave

**AlwaysOnAuto** · 27th January 2015, 12:29 AM

At least you guys are still doing a true 1/4 mile. I think everything here in the US has been cut back to 1000 feet due to the speeds the Top Fuel guys were reaching in 1320 ft.
Nice work on this series. Just don't stand too close 'cause you never know when 'stuff' is going to happen.

**Stagecoach** · 27th January 2015, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by Dave Humphries

Hmmmm, stopping is desirable then

Good series Grahame, well done.

Cheers, Dave

Thanks Dave, the best of the parachutes are below.

Grahame

**Stagecoach** · 27th January 2015, 09:13 AM

Well sorting through all the images from that little practice has finished. From my machine gunning of the ejection through full inflation by the air force to final collapse along with car positions I have a far better idea of where to be to get that shot I'm aiming for.

One of the problems is the length of the rig from the front of the car to end of the pilot chutes and with leaving room for framing errors means quite a significant crop. I'm suspecting manual pre-focusing is also on the cards so will do some DOF calcs to see.

Anyway, here's a few keepers, not the best but the drivers will be pleased.

No 1 - The Undefeated Champion

No 2

No 3

No 4

Grahame

**AlwaysOnAuto** · 27th January 2015, 04:28 PM

Nice set of keepers for sure Grahame.

**Stagecoach** · 27th January 2015, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by AlwaysOnAuto

Nice set of keepers for sure Grahame.

Thanks Alan.

I'll post a few of the 'standard' shots on another thread for the boy racers !

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