Who's Your Favorite Racer?

I saw Mladin do something interesting after the last race at Laguna in September.
I was working Turns 2 and 3, as I knew there would be a great dice between Spies and Mladin...


I finished the race shooting from the inside of Turn 2.


Spies eventually caught and passed Mladin, and went on to win, clinching his second AMA Superbike title. It was a close, hard-fought battle, Spies had to really ride hard to catch and pass Mat. After the race, as they rode down the track from turn 2 to 3, Mat reached out, shook Ben's hand, and was rubbing Ben's helmeted head in the same way a father might rub his son's head in an affectionate manner.




Seeing that, I began to think Mat might be a regular guy after all...

 

Those shots are fantastic, I would be very interested in getting with you on maybe seeing what would be required to get the last 2 shots from you on a disc that I could have digitally enlarged and then have the guys sign 'em. I will be able to see them both at the AMA Rounds at CA Speedway, Infineon, WSBK at Miller, MotoGP at Laguna, and again at the series finale at Laguna in September. I'm sure they would both have some great comments about the photos!

I have a pretty extensive collection of framed and autographed art in my home and it would be pretty cool to have that as an addition to my collection, especially since Ben is most likely on his way to MotoGP after this AMA season.

Mat really gets a bad rap, IMO, but then there are a lot of people beginning to take a disliking to Mr. Rossi these days also. Kinda funny how fickle race fans are, LOL!

 

Norcal, be happy to help out, but I should clarify some things first.

As a pro, I don't give away digital images, they are original content, so it would be like giving away slides or negs. I also don't give away photographs, either. A pro who gives away work places a value of zero on his work. Then other potental customers view it as having no value as well.

I am sure you understand.

But, I am willing to sell you prints at a reasonable price. I can make the prints for you; I can even put both prints on one piece of print paper if you like.

Given that these are fairly tight crops, I wouldn't probably print each of them larger than 8 X 10" per photo. Both could be printed on a single piece of 13 X 19" paper as a diptych. Or individually, whatever you prefer.

 

I fully understand that you can't just give that stuff away, I should have asked the question a little differently. I actually gave that very point some thought after posting the inquiry:redface:

I think the two together on the 13" x 19" is an awesome idea, not only that, I think it would be cool that the actual art was created by somebody from the forum. I think it lends a more exclusive touch to the piece, don't you?

Shoot me a PM Puma Cat and let's have a look at what you are proposing with regards to the fees for your services. I appreciate you offering your assistance.

Ron

 

Ron,
We can put both prints on 13" X 19" paper, and I can even print a "title" for the image in the border if you want, so that it looks fully professional. Kinda like this:



I am thinking that the panel might work better as a vertical rather than a horizontal layout, though.

I will send you a PM tomorrow...off to bed now.

Later.
-PC

 

GIACOMO AGOSTINI....15 grand prix championships, with 122 wins.

Take a look . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giacomo_Agostini

He's a class act, on or off the bike or as team manager.

 

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: STONER!!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

 

Mike Baldwin. Watching him at Loudon on the old track was freakin' scary. He would pass six other bikes out in the grass coming into turn six. Headshake, wobble, big slides... the guy never flinched. And I never saw him fall off. ever.

FWS V-four Honda was a big, heavy, handful to ride. And evolved into our beloved VFRs.

 

Classic choice Bob! Giacomo was a hell of a rider...back in the day with Hailwood too!

The only thing that upset me with Giacomo was his attacks on the Isle of Man. The course helped make him and he turned around after his race career and ripped the course for it dangers?!

That left a bad taste in my mouth.

BZ

 

As a former racer I can really see where Ago was coming from.

I would have to agree with him and many other GP riders at the time.

In my opinion I think he and the other GP riders made the right decision.

There have been way too many deaths on that island.

I think there have been 223 people who died there since 1907.

But it is an amazing race, rich with lots of motor history and brave racers.

 

death tole

The death toll being 225 since 1907 is a little misleading they did not start to rack up till after the 1950 where 6 to 8 rider a year where being killed . that is like 60 to 80 top riders in one decade plus the other races like the north west 200 and the Ulster GP they had to do somthing.Rider safty in general motorcycle racing in the 50's and 60 's was not somthing the higher ups took sereous till Kenny Robert got involved in the 70's and 80's.

 

There is only one King,and his name is Kenny Roberts.Kevin Schwantz wasn't bad either,both pushed hard to win.I also liked Lang Hindle.Lately find myself cheering for Neil Hodgson and on a Honda bike this year to boot.

 

I love Haga's hang-off style!

BZ

 

Kevin Schwantz
Mike Hailwood
Mick Doohan
Kenny Roberts
Barry Sheene
Max Biaggi

 

I agree, but Carl Fogerty might have a thing or 10 to say about that. LOL

 

Nitro Nori is the Man! I met him at Laguna in 1997 at the WSBK race when he rode for Yamaha. I happened to notice him eating at a stand at Fishermans Wharf in Monterey the night before the race, so I stopped and chatted with him for an hour our so and had a bite to eat with him. Haga Sans english at that time was equal to my ability to speak Japanese, marginal at best. We both laughed about that fact! From that point on I've always followed his career.

It cracked me up when he said, in an interview, that his preferred method of training was shagging chicks, this was very early in his career though. He's changed quite a bit since then.

I look for him to be THE threat for the WSBK title in 2008. I could care less if Bayliss has a new bike or not. Bayliss is always fast in testing, just as he was last year and at the first test this year in Qatar, but we'll see when it comes to racing. Poor Nori lost the 2007 WSBK campaign by 2 points - heartbreaking. Haga San Rocks!

 

Also curious Mick Doohan wasn't mentioned also although press of the time complained his style was too clinical and his post race personality restrained, something Rossi's natural flamboyance on or off track does well.

Casey Stoner has to be my current rider of choice but have a soft spot for Wayne Gardner who as a young kid then age 12 I watched lapping everyone else on the dirt track behind the local High School.

 

I'm with Puma on this one Eddie Lawson is definately one of the all time best and a really upstanding person on top of that.

 

Top 5 of road Racing & MX in my book

Road Racing
1. Kenny "King" Roberts
2. Joey Dunlop
3. Freddie Sencer
4. Bubba Shubert
5. Miguel Duhamel

MX
1. Roger DeCoster
2. Ricky Johnson
3. Bob Hannah
4. Ricky Carmichel
5. Jeff Ward

I could go on in different facets of M/C racing but Road Racing & MX seem to be the most populer on here.