It's March and the NASCAR circus is in Atlanta for their spring event, and it is starting out like any typical NASCAR weekend in Atlanta. You always have issues with the weather and security.
The weather is always cold and it almost always rains. Some of us were trying to remember back to the last race that had warm and dry weather. It had to be back in '94 or '95. I remember getting sunburned as I shot pit road action before the track was reconfigured. It was in the mid sixties on Friday, but it threatened to rain all day.
We got qualifying in and the rain didn't show it's nasty little head until there was twenty to go in the truck race. It was not much rain and by the time NASCAR red flagged the race, the rain had stopped and the track was dry.
I also stated that it was a typical Atlanta race because of security. Most in security do a good job, but a few dumbasses like to exert their authority, but they have no clue as to who can enter some areas and who cannot.
This weekend I was turned away from shooting in an area that I and many others have been using since I started working Atlanta. OK, no big deal right? Just go to other location and shoot. Friday night after the truck race, I toted my camera gear from the roof of the third turn tower to the gate at the tunnel, where the night guard was locking the gate. I asked him if I could go through it because I had to walk all the way back to the media center. He just gave me a stupid look then told me it was a long way around the track back to the media center, then turned and walked away. I was shocked. So were the other track workers standing around. Luckily, some lady in a golf cart gave me a ride back to the media center.
After Saturday's Nationwide race, as I was walking back from the turn three tower, I was carrying my 400/2.8 across my shoulder, my belt pack loaded with extra lenses and flashes, scanner and headset, and other assorted paraphanalia, some dumbass state trooper just had to check MY credentials to be sure I waas allowed to be walking the access road that leads to the Legends Garage. He didn't check the people on golf carts riding by, or the other people walking by on the access road. He just wanted to check MY credentials to make sure I was not trying to sneak into the track AFTER the race while carrying what seemed like an extra 75 pounds of camera gear. I shifted my gear around, showed him my credentials, told him he was a smartass and walked off.
Do all dumbasses wear black shirts with the word 'SECURITY' embroidered on it?
Sunday, about a hundred or so laps into the race, someone tapped me on the shoulder as I was shooting from the roof of the third turn tower, as I was doing all weekend, and as I have for the past three or four years, and told me no one was allowed on the roof. FOX Sports had a crew up there, along with about a dozen track workers, and me, were the only ones on the roof. I showed him my credentials that NASCAR and Atlanta Motor Speedway had approved for shooting from the roof and photo towers. He said that "didn't mean shit to him". He called someone on his cell phone and gave them my name and affiliation. Then I pretended to make a call on my cell phone. When I asked him his name, thats when he decided that I was properly credentialed. He also was wearing a black shirt.
After the race, some of us were sitting out in the foyer of the media center. Wouldn't you know it, but there was a new guard manning the doors. He was a fifty-ish year old man who looked to be in decent shape, with his chest all pumped out, wearing SWAT pants and a black shirt. Yep, he didn't have a clue. NASCAR/track/PR personnel escorting drivers to press conferences and who have hardcards were the ones he tried to turn away. We watched him walk back to his position with his tail tucked between his legs many times.
Oh well, so much for the typical stuff, here's other thoughts and sights from this weekend.
I'm still trying to figure out what Sam Hornish jr is doing.
After turning this in to the photo editor after Saturdays race, during our assignment meeting Sunday, we were told to "leave your inner Getty at home", but he was looking a me when he said it.
This is the only action I saw Saturday while I was freezing my ass off on the roof of the photo tower.
This is the FOX Sports camera pointer that was on the roof of the third turn tower all bundled up Saturday. Did I mention that I was freezing my ass off?
The track catered breakfast Sunday morning. Fruit and danishes. I have to eat a real breakfast. Skip grabbed me, we got our cameras, and headed out to shoot scenes in the VIP village. Here is Skip talking one of the servers out of some real breakfast.
We were in the Dupont area. They were serving sausage, cheese omlettes, and french toast. It sure was good.
We made our way throughout the VIP village, hoping to score some SWAG, when we came upon the Chevrolet area. They were serving steak and eggs. I wish we had stopped here first.
Robby Gordon's fan club sits on top of his custom trailer.
The new junior colors were flying everywhere. I even noticed old converted schoolbusses with the new paint job on them.
Have you ever wondered what network camera pointers do during caution periods? They watch TV, just like you do.
At last, another successful weekend in Atlanta. At least the weather ended a lot better than it started.
