Erik Seo Photography Blog

 Chelsea DeNova in Qualifying at round 7 of the 2012 Formula Drift series at Irwindale Speedway, CA

Round 7 of the 2012 Formula Drift series ended once again at Irwindale Speedway, CA.  After being at the Vegas event, I was pretty pumped to be out there for this round, and to have more time to shoot during the day since the Vegas event was primarily a night event.  Access at Irwindale was pretty awesome.  With the whole perimeter, finish line flagging tower, roof of the grandstands, the two corrals mid-course, and of course, the remote cameras super clamped to the fencing, there were a lot of great spots to shoot from.  The setup there is pretty damn awesome and user friendly for us media.  There was a TON of carnage at this stop, I think even more than at the Vegas event, which was a lot!  This time around I was closer to the crashes, a lot closer.  Running away from the K-rails instead of sticking with it to get the close up crash shot may not have been the best idea for getting the shot, but was the best idea for avoiding random flying parts coming off the cars!  All and all it was awesome, fun, a great crowd, some surprise upsets, and as usual, some absolutely amazing driving.  I’m really stoked to have been a part of this one, and hope I get to make it for a few more next year!

Breakdancing contest?  What, am I in Jr. High in 1990?

Ken Gushi at qualifiers for round 7 of the 2012 Formula Drift series at Irwindale Speedway, CA

The beginning of the carnage at round 7 of the 2012 Formula Drift series at Irwindale Speedway, CA

The sun beginning to fall into the haze at Round 7 of the 2012 Formula Drift series at Irwindale Speedway, CA

Sunset Drift

The pits during the halftime break at round 7 of the 2012 Formula Drift series at Irwindale Speedway, CA

The amount of models sticking their ass out for anyone with a camera at these motorsports events just keep me laughing.

The pits during the halftime break at round 7 of the 2012 Formula Drift series at Irwindale Speedway, CA

The peanut gallery taking back the free worn tires during the halftime break at round 7 of the 2012 Formula Drift series at Irwindale Speedway, CA

The best way to go home with some free tires, have your homey roll you around in them!

The opening ceremonies for round 7 of the 2012 Formula Drift series at Irwindale Speedway, CA

The grid during the finals of round 7 of the 2012 Formula Drift series at Irwindale Speedway, CA

The Falken Tire girls lined up at the starting line during the finals of round 7 of the 2012 Formula Drift series at Irwindale Speedway, CA

The media frenzy near the start line at the finals of round 7 of the 2012 Formula Drift series at Irwindale Speedway, CA

Here’s before we get the shot with these cars drifting by about 2 feet away from our faces.

The aftermath, photographers trying to get out of the way of the tire cloud with the cars on the way out.

The last bit of carnage

If you’ve seen my twitter posts in the past week, I spent a few days on the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah shooting the FIA Bonneville Shootout land speed record attempt with 400+mph cars!  For those that don’t know, the FIA is the governing body for race series like F1 (Formula 1) and the WRC (World Rally Championship).  I ran across all sorts of people, but the mechanics seemed to be the most colorful out of all that was there.  This guy (I can’t remember his name for the life of me) was pretty cool and with that beard, I had to take a few photos.  What you see is what you get out there on the salt.  Salt, lots of it.  Wide open nothingness.