So I’m finally getting around to uploading the action shots that I took at Formula Drift Round 2: Atlanta.

I was out in Georgia two weeks ago or so for the race shooting for Falken Tire this time around. I was the only creative staff sent by Falken, which meant I would likely be on my own the majority of the time wandering the track and getting images out to the Falken team back home on the west coast for them to upload.
My flight to the east coast came just two days after my return from the east coast where I was attending my friends Aaron and Danielle’s wedding in Clearwater, Florida. I suppose I could have spoken to Falken about flying me direct from Orlando, but, that would have meant that I would need to bring even more gear with me to Florida on that trip since I would need different things at the race than I had brought to Florida for that trip.

Anyway, back in Georgia again, and it really didn’t seem as though it had already been over six months since I was there for Petit Le Mans at the end of the 2012 season.

This race I would be focussed on three drivers: Dai Yoshihara, Darren McNamara, and Justin Pawlak.
I was also able to continue my ongoing portrait series while out there, as you guys may have already caught in my last blog post.

Overall it was a great weekend. The weather was overcast and a bit rainy… which unfortunately makes for less-interesting Drift photos in my opinion. Colder track temperatures means colder tires means less smoke…. means boring photos. Hahaha

But… Vaughn DID run over a car on the track… that happened.

Haha, click past the break a ton of photos from the weekend. I decided to just upload a ton from the weekend. Enjoy. But sheer numbers alone you’re bound to at least dig one or two of them.

Got to sit in an hour and a half of traffic after getting off the plane in Atlanta.

 

Arriving on Friday morning at the track

Last minute photoshoot that morning for social media

The next morning after arriving at the track I needed to do a couple quick photos for the Falken Tire facebook page to be posted.

I always wonder why people keep the tires from the cars… It’s really confusing to me.
I can understand people paying the $20 for the used brake discs at ALMS… you can clean that up and make a clock or something for your garage at home. But a tire? Be honest, you’re not going to use it for anything and likely just leave it somewhere else on the track after you’re tired of carrying it around.

Piling on for the driver meeting

After the driver’s meeting everyone headed over to the autograph session

This was funny… Darren was looking at Dai’s new hero cards.

“Is that new?” -Darren
“Why, you jealous?” -Dai
“Well yeah, kinda… look at your photo compared to mine…” – Darren

It was funny to see them laugh and compare their action shots

Vaughn was chatting it up with his fans, too. Even saw me and BS’d a little bit about the weekend between autographs.

After bumping into the AEM guys I was told that AEM created a poster from the images I shot at Long Beach, and that Matt and Ryan were signing them that day. Cool, right?

Practice starting that afternoon…

Those Achilles tires create a TON of smoke

One thing I’m still VERY used to looking for at races is the K&N logo and bars. It still continues to stand out to me even though that was years ago for me. Plus I was really trying to get a good shot of Vaughn that I can ask him to sign at another race this season when I’m back out there.

Me and Narisa hanging out waiting for our respective teams that we were there shooting to come by during practice

It was finally getting warm enough for some smokey runs

But then the rain started… sadface

Night is setting in. One more practice session that night after dinner

Some surgery going on back at the Falken rig. Not one of our cars, just helping out another team

When the wind would die down, this is about as well as we could see the track. haha!

Still was trying to get a cool shot of Vaughn’s new design. I think I like this one

End of the night. Time to head home. Looks like most of the Falken crew already did

Arriving the next morning. Had to get a shot of the ladies for Instagram and Falken’s twitter.

Brittney

Julianna

Randyl – her hair is just always blowing in the wind, looking good, apparently

Doing some work on Justin’s car before practice starts that day

This little dude had a pretty awesome mohawk

Went over to Ryan’s paddock to ask him to sign a poster for me

Shortly after I went to Patrick’s rig and did a quick portrait shot of him for my series

The last time the media will be allowed at the driver’s meetings I’m told

Let’s be honest, you have to have some curves to rock these outfits Julianna and Brittney are wearing. Go Falken Girls! Way to look hot, nice work

Darren chatting with some fans during lunch

Gearing up to head out to practice for some shooting soon. Pretty sure Narisa is carrying her weight in gear.

Had to get a shot with the ladies! Love these girls, total sweethearts AND I’m special enough that I can come up during autographs for a photo and both Brittney and Randyl are more than happy to take a quick photo with me before I start wandering again.

It CAN’T feel good to hit these bumps with as stiff a suspension that everyone runs in their cars

I swear that all us photo people do actually work sometimes…

Back in the paddocks the ladies are still taking signups for the giveaways that afternoon

The rain was deterring fans from the paddocks. Dai was out meeting people and taking pictures.

Haha! Gordon makes a great umbrella girl, don’t you think?

Dai wears a “Help Japan” donation box around his neck. His fans are very willing to help support the relief effort from the tsunami, too.

Look at that crowd waiting for t-shirts…

People go nuts for free stuff… it’s kinda crazy, actually

Time for opening ceremonies

If you check D-Mac’s instagram feed he posted a selfie at the track with Julianna, hahaha!

Shortly after we were all back on the track for opening ceremonies. Justin (left) and Darren (center) both get out of their cars and walk around to open the door for the girls. Such gentlemen

So GoPro is the official camera sponsor of the series… and if you look closely, they’re all the official boob-cam sponsor as well. haha!

Time to get back in for the start of the competition!

Doing some donuts for the crowd! Really bummed the track was wet and they couldn’t get too much smoke going

Front row seats, with a side of cancer.
And people question why I wear a scarf around my face and look like some sort of bandit.

Matt Field, taking on Vaughn Gittin Jr.

It rained in between some of the runs, and when the guys would come out they’d be sliding into turns one and two

Unfortunately Justin kept breaking traction and lost out to Ryan

Easily the coolest, weirdest and best part of the race. Vaughn’s rear end broke loose, and as he re-gained control he slid into Aasbo approaching Turn 1.

While I was running a shutter a bit too slow for super-crisp shots of a hit, I still really dig this series of shots

I think the most amazing part though was that right after they both regained controlled they floored it through the rest of the track. Easily the most bitching run of the entire night

D-Mac takes second place! Vaughn takes third

I always feel bad for the girls on stage… lol

Darren ran offstage to spray all the Falken guys off to the side of the stage, then took a drink himself

Packin up to go home that night. I think I got out of there around 1am or so.

 

For those of you going to Florida this weekend for Round 3, have a great time! I won’t be there, so I’ll have to keep an eye for photos from my fellow photographers as they post about their trip.