Behind the lens

I've been shooting motor sports for a few years now, figured I'd pump my brakes and blog about why I'm behind the lens . Although I've never really thought about it , because as of now I realize it just came so naturally...don't know exactly why,don't care haha. The love of speed ,fast cars and the need for more just blended together at a time when camera was in hand. Those first few captures up on the hill at Paradise Dragstrip just made me feel behind the wheel you could say , and it steadily grew from shot to shot. I remember taking 200+ shots from the bleachers on Sunday and hurrying home to view them on the computer to see what awesome shots I caught. Most was total crap haha , but a few...maybe 5 just had to be my desktop screen-saver slide show for all to see when they came in the house.
                                      (Below- My 1st awesome shot haha)

But now here I am , behind the guard rail...behind the lens with these beast unleashing all their brute power right in front of me. The rush of anticipating the launch, just waiting for that mean machine to stand up like a nightmarish monster , only one thing on my mind for that 1/500th of a second...capture it ! And then as the shutter clicks and the build up peaks I get a ear full of raw power as these machines rip by me at the 60' mark and leave me with the scent of high octane or some nice smelling (but eye burning) alcohol lol . Ahh how I love the first 60' , such a rush for a photographer.
                            (Below- In my "high end" point & shoot days haha)

Now , although I might look comfortable or over confident leaning on the guardrail I assure you my feet are not positioned for the best angle , but for the quick escape in case the oil pan puts a target on me haha. I found myself in the habit (good one) of taking the shot and smoothly leaning away as if I'm about to run away in a direction of some safety , so if you witness me looking like a drunk all but falling on my butt grabbing the guardrail to keep myself up...well that must have been a real mean machine and my instincts out weighed my balance haha.
But all in all I just simply love being a part of the scene, this "scene" of controlled bombs , untamed beast and chest pounding power. Let it be w.o.t in a straight line or full lock out of a turn, it's all about catching the sight of man and machine in controlled chaos. So the answer to why I'm behind the lens...... the same reason you're behind the wheel .
                            (Below- Running my Fairlane 500 on street tires)

Yes...I lost this race ;)