Last weekend was the 2013 Formula Drift Finals in Irwindale.
I was out shooting for Falken Tire unexpectedly, which is always a great thing. They’re a fun to team to shoot for and work around. Unfortunately though we didn’t have a strong weekend. All three drivers qualified Top 32, however both Justin and Dai were knocked out before top 16.

Saturday was my only actual day there to shoot. However I showed up on Friday to get my media vest early. The biggest problem with the Drift Finals is that there are a TON of people that apply for media passes. And I’ll be completely honest, most of them have no business being there. They’re un-experienced and represent no major company, no team, nor driver. There are people that I’ve met at these events that simply have their own auto blog and were able to get credentialed in.
To be clear, I’m all for people learning and working hard to advance in a competitive industry. However these inexperienced people tend to be rude, don’t follow rules, and have no common curtesy nor professional respect I find when I shoot a series like American Le Mans.

So rather than deal with a ton of people in the media meeting on Saturday, I showed up on Friday to check in early and then spent most of the afternoon seeing a few friends on other teams and with various vendors.

Race day was busy, as is every Irwindale race.
So, read on, check out a bunch of the shots I’ve selected to upload, and maybe I’ll see you guys out during the 2014 season!

Click the break to read on:

 

 

Darren, during a practice run on Friday

Dai, gridded up and waiting

Patrick Mordaunt, A’PEXi team

Matt Field

Starting the morning off on Saturday, unloading the rigs

Backing the Mustang up onto the lift. There is very veryyy little room for error here

Checkin out the engine before practice starts that morning

Unloading the 240 for one last race weekend

Changing the plugs

KW stopped by to check the shocks

Discussing strategy that morning before practice starts

All the ladies have arrived for a long day of meeting fans

Julianna

Katie

Randyl

Jumped in to get a selfie with Julie while seh was waiting for actual photobooth setup to work

Then Ian offered to take an actual photo. haha

Pat Goodin won the Falken Cup, highest scoring privateer that season

Pretty cool view from up top

I’m going to miss the 240. Such an awesome looking car out on the track

Whoops! Needed that!

Finally get a cool angle shot of Pat’s car and the season is over. I’ll have to have him sign it in April at the next race. hahaha

Justin, waiting his turn to run

Patrick rides gangsta style… seat is on the floor apparently

 

Darren saw this and said “I look pissed”… I think he was just annoyed with his last run during practice. This was right after when they were discussing the car/etc.

Katie and I working hard… on our lunch break

Julie, busy signing posters

Down at the track waiting with Joyce and Randyl for Darren’s Top 32 run.

Danny George

Randyl, looking amazing as usual

DJ Peewee, still spinnin

Joyce, hanging at the paddocks making sure things are running smooth

Went to bug Sarah to see if I was on the list to get VIP entrance. hahaha

Dai is a total crowd pleaser. When he’s not in a meeting or on the track he’s signing autographs and meeting fans

As soon as Darren got back to the paddocks he joined Dai for meet & greet

Julianna, laughing with me about the massive group of fans

Poor Randyl. These girls have a ton of patience for all the guys that come to take their photos that always seem confused on how to use their camera

This guy was going around asking models to sign his arms. He had about 10 by the time he got to Falken

Katie, busy taking signups for the raffle

Dai was still busy with fans

Julianna, Ian and me waiting for the raffle to start

The crowd was getting bigger and bigger as soon as the raffle started

 

Randyl wasn’t too impressed with how loud people were

Dai came out for some raffle questions

Darren is the man… brings two models with him out to the track!

Katie went to the grid with Pat to support our Falken Cup winner!

Matt is always just chillin, it’s kinda funny. Like he’s just there sitting thinking “I’m just going to enjoy these moments rather then jump and wave”

Had to get a shot of Arley

Selfie time!

…he’s gettin close to that wall

I think he’s rubbing it..

Yep, he is

Waiting for the call on who won

Darren wasn’t happy with the call. Several people weren’t, actually. But despite a formal protest of it, the call stood.

I stayed one more run to get a shot of Vaughn’s Mustang. Despite being mostly black, it photographs really well

Me and Rex

Me and Rommel

Henry, Narisa, and me. Got to see these two at every race this year

Had to get a shot with Arley. It’s funny how you can know someone because of so many mutual friends/etc but not meet them for the longest time

Caught up to Vaughn as I was walking out so I got a shot with him, too

Sarah and I were laughing and joking as we were leaving the track and she stopped, posed, and said “this is my ‘I live in Hollywood’ pose, John. Don’t forget it”. hahaha! She’s the best

Overall I had a great day shooting the finals. It would have been great it the race went a little better for our team. And a little more wind to help push out the smoke from all the tires wouldn’t have hurt, either. But all in all, a good end to the season.

Hope to see some of these guys next year.
We’ll see how things turn out.