What's Castle Combe like now for photography?

[G_Ilott]

I use to post quite regularly on these forums a couple of years ago and if any of you were around then you'll remember I was always on about Combe, tiresomely so in many cases.

I'm now thinking of returning to motorsport photography after brushing up my skills in other genres and wondering if Combe has been wrecked in the meantime vis catch fencing, etc.

Thanks for any comments.

Toodle-oo.

[Steve Wood]

Been there twice, for the last 2 F3/GT meetings.
Lots of unobstructed photo opportunities.
Camp Corner, by the fence, overlooking the pit-lane entrance.
Avon Rise, stand at the top of the spectator banking, pan for high-speed shots.
Quarry Corner, again, at the top of the spectator banking (everybody in front of you will be sitting down).

Good Luck.

[stefan]

Hello Graham - good to hear from you again, it's been a while. Have you been doing anything exciting?

I haven't been to CC this year but it was still fine last year. I actually got to drive 'round it too - which was nice. Here's a pic...

http://www.pbase.com/image/4910236

and others at...

http://www.pbase.com/smarjoram/root&page=2

I'm hoping to go on the 21st June for the GT races - could be fun.

[G_Ilott]

Hello again bloke,

Depends what you mean by exciting. If your pulse starts to race at the thought of an aching back, wet grass-strained knees, a whirring machine and the visual caress of a svelte and sexy, glistening, pouting, posing, promiscuous, full-bodied native .................. orchid then yes. Excitement. Yes.

Depending on whether I've bought a new lens by then I shall probably hop along to Combe. Aren't the Tivs there?

[stefan]

Have you been feeding endangered plants into shredders again?

Looks like there are a couple of 400r's in the championship - I haven't seen them race before. Although by then I will have seen some at Le Mans - hopefully doing better than they did in pre-qualifying.

[G_Ilott]

I'm afraid you've lost me. You've strode on ahead paying no heed to my gammy suppurating leg. The one that's shorter than the other. The one sprouting from my hips. At the back. I can kick myself in the arse. Which I do to try and catch up with you. Kick, kick, kick. Like a jockey urging on his steed, but I'm in tweed and I'm getting funny looks from the horsey brigade lah-de-dahing around their Land Rovers by the pub. You passed by several minutes ago, nodding acknowledgement to them in your inimitable jaunty manner but secretly loathing their foul hides. I mean, pallets?! Why build a hide out of pallets? Hiding from their whinnying horses and wives.

I call urgently to you but you're deaf to my foaming shouts, which are turning to curses, then to threats and now reach determination to cause your end.... to flare up and be painful, red raw, like bacon slapped on a butcher's counter with all his hair-netted might and fury.

Ere, mate, what's a 400R?


Stumbling along as usual....

Graham

[stefan]

Some very disturbing imagery you've conjoured up there, was it something I said?

The 400R is the Tuscan estate (for the wellie brigade)...
http://www.tvrcc.com/home/home_tvr_lemans.htm

[G_Ilott]

Ah, my old site...

By eck! I wasn't aware of that. And me a keen Tivver! Oh, what a world.

[G_Ilott]

So where are the catch fences now? Did they actually put some in?

[G Tanner]

There are debris fences at Quarry, Camp to Startline, Folly and Old Paddock. Still plenty of photo op's though.

[G_Ilott]

Sounds like all the good corners have been wrecked for photography. Are the fences high like Donington or Silverstone? Is Quarry a complete loss for good shots?

[G Tanner]

They are not like the super tall ones at Silverstone. Just standard size if there is such a thing. Depends on the type of shots you want as to whether Quarry is a no-photo area. I would imagine head on would be diffcult but side shots or Quarry exit would be ok.

[G_Ilott]

I should have made more of it in the late 90's. I fear Combe will now have lost my complete devotion.

Does anyone have pics of the fencing? In the background is fine.

[darcym]

did you go ??

share your work

[stefan]

Just had a look at mine from last year. You can see it in a few...

http://www.pbase.com/image/4910241

http://www.pbase.com/image/4910236

and here's a link to my other galleries...

http://www.pbase.com/smarjoram/root&page=2

[G_Ilott]

I didn't go, no. I couldn't afford to waste film with my crappy 300 lens. I stayed here and shot some macro in the garden. Resting damselflies mostly. I'll almost definitely be at the next meeting. Hopefully.

[G_Ilott]

Stefan, I see the catch fencing and it doesn't seem too bad. Are there any more that have been put up since?

[stefan]

I haven't been this year but I didn't find it too intrusive last time.

Also, whenever you see footage on tv of cars having massive crashes it's usually at castle combe so perhaps it was time some went up.

[G_Ilott]

Catch fencing is a good thing, unless you're a photographer. Then you want to rip it down and make the organiser's eat the scrap metal. Or is it just me?

[Jeff]

Hi Graham,

Catch fencing is at Camp, a short part at the kink in the rise up to Quarry and at Quarry itself.

With your lovely new 300 with convertors you can still get good shots at Quarry just after the fencing finishes. Camp not so good. Check out Tower though, still no catch fencing and good photo oppurtunities as the cars come down from Old Paddock.

[G_Ilott]

Jeffrey Gendall, as I live and breathe.....

That's migh-tee good of you, sir. I see from Stefan's shots that the Quarry fencing seems to only go about half way around the corner, not reaching the place where I've stood ever since I first became a Combehead in, er, 1992. Have they added any this year?

I tried Tower after you suggested it a couple of years ago and liked it, though the number of crashes didn't meet my expectations. Ghoul? Me?

Damn, what was the name of the 'new' chicane. Is it Bobbies? Anyway, there, I quite liked - any fencing or banking changes?

Now how about posting some of your shots right here that were taken with the 100-400, pref this year. Go on. Make me regret my deposit.