Don't Fall In Love With Your Monkey

OK......I'll go ahead and admit it up front. The title does not have anything to do with the content of my latest post.
It was one of those "You had to be there" moments that I had earlier this evening.
It's the weekend. I'm going to Jamaica next week, so I'm in a very good mood.
I've been attacked by about a half dozen LandSharks. I'm listening to my XM / Sirius satellite radio.
And then, as I'm driving over the mountain, some local, low frequency radio station bleeds over my satellite radio.
It only lasted for a few seconds. The only phrase I heard was "Don't fall in love with your Monkey!"
For some reason, it's still bouncing around inside my empty noggin'.


Last week, I had the opportunity to shoot the NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta.
I enjoy all types of motor sports, and each different series has it's own unique set of circumstances. It's such a pleasure to shoot at a laid back, easy going event that the NHRA puts on. Some of the other series have got too big for their britches.


All of the crews, drivers, and owners spend their time working on their cars and not hiding from the media. Drag racing legend and car owner Connie Kalitta sat on the track wall just a few feet away from me for about 10 minutes, and watched as his competion made their runs. He never turned away from me or never tried to hide.


I arrived on Friday evening, just before qualifying began. I wanted to get there in time for the 'Night of Fire".
I got a few decent frames during the night session.
I got a few more during the rest of the weekend.

Enjoy.



NHRA Champion Kenny Burnstein watches his son Brandon during an early qualifying run.













During Sunday's first elimination round, Steve Torrence scatters an engine against eventual winner Larry Dixon.




Funny Car driver Robert Hight wins the weekends event for John Force racing. His win left John Force Racing claiming the top three spots in the point standings.


Larry Dixon took the top spot for the Al-Anabi Top Fuel team.


You don't have to look too far at a drag strip to find something interesting. Bob Chandler and the original monster truck 'Big Foot' made an appearance.


As I was satching Ashley Force Hood getting ready for a qualifying run, I caught her looking in the mirror....errrr, or at least staring at the reflection in the glass on the crew car.


During some down time during Saturdays qualifying rounds, Tony Shumacher and Antron Brown shoot tee-shirts into the grandstands.


Al-Anabi Pro Stock Motorcycle driver Matt Smith watches his wife, Angie, during her qualifying run.


And finally, it's hard to believe some people would exchange money on the outcome of a drag race.
Maybe next time, they can exchange something like souviner tee shirts.
Just remember "Don't fall in love with your monkey".

I Keep Getting Rocks

It was one of the better races at Talladega in a very long time.
Unless you were where I was.
The race from my vantage point was pretty boring.
Packs of cars rode around me for 812 miles. Plus overtime.
Remember my last Talladega post from the 'Hallow Dega" weekend?
My Charlie Brown feeling was still hangin' around, like a big ol dark cloud hangin over my head.
Like our favorite blockhead, all I keep getting is rocks!


When nothing happens in your little corner of the world, you have to learn to entertain yourself.
This guy was havin about as much fun as I was.


Just a pack of cars.




How bored can you get to be takin pictures of couples on scooters?


And pictures of people sleeping in lawn chairs?



I got a little excited when the boys started bumping into each other down in turn 3.


I got a little more excited when Jimmie Johnson got crossed up. Even if it was from behind, I was hoping he would bump into a few more cars.



Two races. 812 miles. No wrecks in front of me.
Oh yeah....they had some big un's, but not in front of me.
So I have to look for something different and interesting.
Late afternoon sun and dark clouds. Almost that classic 'Old Testament' light that looks so good. Don't understand what 'Old Testament' light is? Look at the dramatic lighting in the pictures in the older version Bibles.


My only action came during the fly-over after the National Anthem.
I watched a great race from Talladega, but I was hired to shoot wrecks.
Didn't get the first one. Again.
I getting tired of it. In fact, I couldn't decide if I wanted to post anything from that event. As you can see, I got NOTHING!!!!!!
I hate it when that happens.

But........I will be posting images from next weeks Southern Nationals NHRA event from Atlanta.

Stay tuned.........