We had been told of a jump in the forest and got to the location to find the road had been re-graded so only a few were actually getting some air, gave me the opportunity to try some different angles of photography while the stage ran – off camera flash and a 10mm super wide angle lens!!

Headed to a nice sweeping bend for the second run of the stage and managed to find a nice safe spot, not only from the cars but also from the snowballs that were flying about all over the place

Besides all the snow and ice on the ground, the weather stayed mild with the sun trying to pop out and say hello – but the overall chill made the curry taste so much better when we got home!

Mine and Sarah’s galleries should be online tonight once we have processed all the files, and Kevin’s will be online in the next few days

cheers

Mark

Seems the rally season has well and truly got under way now, second weekend in a row where we’ve been up and out before the birds start singing, and parked at the stages as the sun rises…

The Bill Cammack Rally hosted at the old Manby airfield was a cracking event with last minute entries making the seeded list all the more fun – I’m sure one Corsa driver didn’t expect a 6R4 to be chasing him down the frozen straights, oh yes I did just say frozen – all the favourite water spots were sheer ice!!

It was a gloriously sunny day, and that combined with many layers of clothing made for a rather comfortable days rallying – now we’ve just got to sort out a rather large amount of images…

Have to say that this event was really great fun, all ran to schedule, everyone was chatty, infact you could just sense that everyone was happy to be out in the woods again being able to watch some pretty amazing driving in rather varied conditions.

Spent the afternoon stage in one of the designated spectator areas, which offered a fantastic view down hill into oncoming traffic and to be fair is one of the best viewing spots I’ve seen in a while.

Well done Ripon MC and all involved in this rally, I know it’s a bit cliché to say but you really did a great job

“Well as we’re here we might as well stay…”

Not really, she’s well aware that after what seems a massive break, the 2010 rally season is about to get started… the hats, gloves, waterproofs are out and ready, the flasks are waiting to be filled up and the sandwich menu has been drawn up (Cumberland and black pudding sausages in ciabatta!!)

Really looking forward to this rally, the Riponian was the first rally I ever went to back in 2001, so the event does have a special meaning to me – the start of the addiction, and also the start of the early mornings

Depending on what time we get back home, the images might not appear online until Monday (we’re heading out to a gig in town on Sunday night – well we’ve got to do something lovey-dovey on Valentines!)

Have a good one

Mark

The Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally saw in the New Year with the event running on the 2^nd of January 2010 rather than the traditional back end of December. Certainly didn’t stop the huge numbers of rally fans taking on the winter elements to watch some fantastic motorsport action though.

Northallerton Motor Club and numerous volunteers worked so hard to get the event to run and clear as much snow and ice from the Croft Circuit complex, it was easy to see how much time and effort they all put in, and it was greatly appreciated.

The stages were still pretty slippy with most cars having a little nudge into a tyre wall here and there.

The MPPIX car of Dave Hemingway was on full attack, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that committed and full on, bearing in mind the wintery conditions he was flat out on the straights and full opposite lock on the corners – big smiles all round.. And he finished 3^rd Overall!

There was really some fantastic driving on the stages and there was plenty of moments where I wasn’t looking through the camera as it was simply just too enjoyable to step back and just watch the skill and determination of the drivers

Loved it….

Really looking forward to this event, traditionally it blows away the last remains of the Christmas turkey, but with a date change it will hopefully clear our any lingering bits of hangover from the New Years Eve party

See you there

Mark

Due to family commitments we won’t be attending any events until the Christmas Stages on the 2nd of January, so we’ll take this moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

2010 is looking to be a busy year for Team MPPIX, the calendar is nicely filling out and we are all looking forward to getting out there and shooting some high octane motorsport action.

Sarah and I got a taste for the BTCC and British Superbikes this year so will definitely be getting to a few more rounds in 2010; I’ll also be introducing Sarah to some Rallycross action too.

See you there

Mark, Sarah, Ben, and Kevin

Hi, Ben here.

Just writing to let you know that my photos from this years Grizedale Stages are now online. Please go to http://mppix.zenfolio.com/grizedale-stages-09-bh

Thanks

Ben

Well, I am back in Berkshire now after a day on the M6, what fun. Was a great weekend as usual though a bit quieter and more sensible than usual, mainly due to drinking less… we’ll say no more.

Saturday was an early start for me and one look out of the window and I instantly knew what sort of day it was going to be, it was chucking it down. Soph didn’t even make it out of the bed before deciding to give it a miss, don’t blame her really…

Anyway, off I went to the usual Moor Top though this time I ended up somewhere completely different and new and worth a visit next year I’d say as I think myself and Mark have exhausted the usual bit. Found myself in a night little sequence of bends and it proved to be alright, shame the weather was so bad – in the end the fog was so thick I couldn’t even see the bloody rally cars – see the pic of Mike Winfield above!!The day was a mixture of rain, fog, rain, fog, rain, rain, rain, fog and more rain but, it was a rally so I don’t really mind. I have over 1000 photos to sort through so I really better get on with it.

Here is a photo of the eventual winner of the event Paul Bird