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{"id":23587,"date":"2020-10-08T13:48:34","date_gmt":"2020-10-08T13:48:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/?p=23587"},"modified":"2020-10-08T13:48:36","modified_gmt":"2020-10-08T13:48:36","slug":"my-big-year-the-prologue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/?p=23587","title":{"rendered":"My Big Year – The Prologue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DDC is a broad church with its congregation drawn together by a common interest in motoring and motor sport. It has given a pulpit to many fine preachers over the past decade, the latest to join this roll of honour is our old friend, Julian Roberts. Back in 2007 he fell from grace and joined the media circus. Over the next few weeks he will recount his path to redemption.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From my first roll of film. Developed by my friend, son of Autosport photographer George Phillips – Derek Warwick, BP Super Visco British F3 Championship – Donington Park April 1978<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I have been a keen amateur motor racing photographer since 1978 when I bought my first SLR camera, a Nikkormat FT3 with a Vivitar 135mm lens. The first race I attended with my camera was the Easter round of the BP Super Visco British Formula 3 Championship held at Donington Park. As a favour, my close friend Clive offered to develop my film allowing me to see my precious negatives that night, before having them professionally printed the next day. He knew a little about processing as he used to help his father in the darkroom. His father was George Phillips, the chief photographer with Autosport when it was first published in 1950. He had also been as successful racing driver, developing and driving his own MGs at Le Mans in 1949\/50\/51. George was a lovely old chap with a caustic wit that equally amused or terrified his victims \u2013 often me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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British Grand Prix, Brands Hatch, July 1978. Andretti and Peterson obscured by the startline gantry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I attended every British Grand Prix and 6 Hour race plus as many \u2018clubbies\u2019 as I could get to, usually at Silverstone which is only 40 minutes away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Kenny Acheson, Bernard Devaney & David Sears – Esso Formula Ford Championship – Silverstone June 1978<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
But despite loving Grand Prix racing and devouring Motoring News and Autosport every week and Motor Sport once a month, I was already an Endurance racing fan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Jochen Mass at the wheel of the works Porsche 935-78 he shared with Jacky Ickx – Silverstone 6 Hour race May 1978<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Formula One was great, but a Martini Porsche 935-78 was greater. As soon as I could just, possibly, afford the new Canon A1, I upgraded and also bought Tamron 300mm f5.6 lens. This was a much better combination than my faithful Nikkormat, though I did keep that as a second body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari 312 T5 at La Rascasse Monaco 1980<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In 1980 as a ridiculously generous twenty-first birthday present, my father paid my share for a two week trip to the French Riviera which included attending the Monaco Grand Prix. Two friends and I rented a villa in the hills above Menton and I found a hospitality package offering grandstand seats just beyond Ste. Devote and lunch in the Restaurant Quicksilver which was located beneath, near Tabac corner, I think it was \u00a350 each! We missed Thursday practice and watched Qualifying from the grandstand opposite the swimming pool. I shot three rolls of film from there and another roll from our grandstand during the Sunday morning warm up. I have some excellent images from that weekend, but I think my favourite is one I literally snatched on the way to the boat taxi which would take us across the harbour to the swimming pool grandstand. In a gap between two buildings there was an aerial view of La Rascasse. Being hurried along I hastily snapped five shots and left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Rothmans Porsche 956s to the fore at the start of the 1982 Le Mans 24 Hours – June 1982<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In 1982 I finally got to visit Le Mans and began a love affair which is still as strong today after 23 events. Incidentally, this is the first photo I ever took at Le Mans, spoiled somewhat by the chap in front holding his camera at arms length above his head, though I mustn\u2019t complain as I doing exactly the same thing! I had arrived at the first corner too late to get a clear view and held my camera aloft finger on the shutter and hoping. With the motordrive I managed 10 shots, but this was the best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Christian Bussi, Bernard de Dryver & Pascal Witmeur – Bussi Team Rondeau M382 Le Mans June 1982<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell acknowledge the crowd after winning the 1982 Le Mans 24 Hour race – June 1982<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I stayed trackside for 18 hours and although I only shot three rolls of film all weekend I am still very pleased with my results shooting from the Tribunes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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David & Godfrey Jones JWR – Preci Spark Porsche 996 GT3 R lead the DRM Racing Ferrari 360 Modena of Ni Amorim & Adam Wilcox – British GT Championship – Snetterton May 2004<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
By 2004 used digital SLR cameras were becoming affordable and with some trepidation, and against all advice, I ordered a year old Canon EOS 10D and 28-135mm kit lens from an American seller on ebay. I also added a new Canon EF300 F4 L IS USM together with a Canon X1.4 extender from Digitalrev (again via ebay) in Hong Kong – back in 2004 it was by no means usual to pay hundreds and hundreds pounds, in advance, to unknown foreign sellers hoping they\u2019ll do their stuff.\u00a0 They both did, in fact I still buy from Digitalrev today. What became of my faithful friend of 26 years the Canon A1?\u00a0 I sold it and all my analogue gear immediately and without a qualm ! The 10D (not forgetting my beautiful L lens) was a game changer. \u00a0I was now able to produce very good work consistently. Because I was able to critique my shots on the go, I quickly learnt much more about proper exposure and to alter ISO as and when required (remember on film I was stuck with the film’s ISO and never beyond 800). My first time out with the 10D was a round of the British GT Championship at Snetterton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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David Leslie prepares to leave the pit garage in the Championship winning GTS Motorsport BMW M3 he shared with Harry Handkammer, Britcar – Silverstone March 2005<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As my photography improved so did my desire to share my photos with a larger audience. I had been an early convert to Malcolm Cracknell\u2019s excellent websites SportsCarWorld.com and TotalMotorSport.com and then DailySportsCar.com. So in 2005 decided to go to the opening Britcar meeting at Silverstone and \u2018pretend\u2019 I had received a commission from him to cover the event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Beechdean Mini of Nigel Greensall and Aaron Scott leaving the pits – Britcar – Silverstone March 2005<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
My intention being to submit my photo\u2019s as a sort of visual c.v. I spent a lot of time in the paddock and pit garages and eventually the pitlane as I could take better photos there than through the tall fences synonymous with Stalag Silverstone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Bruno Senna – British F3 Championship – Donington April 2006<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I selected a dozen of what I considered to be the best and emailed them to Malcolm. He was very pleased and used some of my images in his report. He also asked me to go the Donington for the opening round of the British GT Championship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Neil Cunningham – Embassy Racing Porsche 996 GT3 RSR – British GT Championship – Donington April 2005<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Arriving at Media Accreditation bursting with anticipation I was quickly brought back to earth with a bump; there was no media pass and I was expected to pay for my entry ticket! Hmmm. Oh well, I hadn\u2019t driven 90 miles to turn around so I paid up and went to find my contact, Graham Goodwin.\u00a0GG gave me a quick tour of the pitlane pointing out favoured teams to pay extra attention to and that was it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Allan Simonsen – British GT Championship – Donington April 2006<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I made myself busy and, as usual, roamed the pitlane as if it were my own. To my wife\u2019s irritation I arrived home about 7pm and spent the next 4 hours editing photo\u2019s for submission to DailySportsCar.com. I got a few more gigs from DSC but in every case I had to contact them and offer my services for free rather than be asked. So I continued as an amateur snapper peering through the fence, a totally free agent, photographing what I liked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In late 2006 my employers (a North African oil producer) announced they were to close all European operations and I was to be made redundant in 2007 after 20 years. By now I was 48 and (thankfully) financially stable. So on a bit of a whim I decided to give myself a redundancy present and take a year discovering whether I had what it takes to be a freelance motorsport photographer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Nick Whale, Ian Guest BMW 3.0CSL & Christian Traber BMW M1 – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I knew of Martin Krejci\u2019s superb website RacingSportCars.com and had been contributing my images to him for a number of years. With this in mind I had the idea to contact him and suggest I apply for media accreditation acting as his photographer, he agreed. In early 2007 I applied to the FIA GT Championship, the Le Mans Series and, heart in mouth, the ACO. After a bit of form filling, a lot of emails, and supplying website traffic statistics to the ACO, all three accepted me. WOW !<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No longer would my humble EOS 10D cut it as my main camera, so I bought a year old Canon EOS1D MkIIN and a new Canon EF400 DO IS USM plus a Pelicase to cart it all around Europe in safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Paul Knapfield – Charles Pozzi Ferrari 512 BB LM – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The first race for me was the 2007 Monza 1000kms. The media representative for the LMS was a French lady. She had confirmed my acceptance via email and I was given details of how to collect my media pass from a school in suburban Monza (why not at the circuit I have no idea).\u00a0In my job as a Client Procurement Co-ordinator I had many contacts worldwide and one in particular with whom I was on very good terms lived and worked in Milan. He found me a small but classy hotel on the edge of the Parco di\u00a0Monza, roughly opposite the circuit, but a few kilometres away, plus he arranged a taxi to meet me from the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Green Flag lap – Perazzini, Tavano & Cioci – Racing Box Saleen S7-R – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The flight was incident free and I easily found my taxi. Once I\u2019d checked into the hotel, with numerous signed Ferrari driver portraits behind the desk, the driver took me to collect my passes. We eventually found the school and I followed the signs downstairs to a small room with a table and dozens of envelopes containing passes.\u00a0I announced myself and the young lady searched her list and with a look of genuine regret said \u201cnon\u201d. I almost dropped to my knees!\u00a0I really couldn\u2019t believe it.\u00a0I recovered my composure and asked to borrow her phone so I could speak to the LMS Media representative. I have to say she was very offhand with me, initially denying I had been accepted (fortunately I had printed copies of all emails and forms so my case was watertight). She eventually agreed to permit me access; she would see me in the Media Centre.\u00a0Note; only whilst writing this have I realised this all occurred on Friday the 13^{th<\/sup>!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
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The victorious Team Peugeot Total – Peugeot 908 HDi FAP of Nicholas Minassian & Marc Gen\u00e9 – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Back to the car and my willing driver.\u00a0He drove to the circuit and to my joy blagged us through the main gate then into the Paddock itself, not bad going without a ticket between us. I climbed the stairs to the Media Centre and found my target. I won\u2019t go into too much detail but I made it clear I was extremely unhappy and she made it equally clear she couldn\u2019t care less.\u00a0My Media Pass ? Nothing doing, I was given a \u2018Guest Pass\u2019!\u00a0We didn\u2019t part as friends and I still haven\u2019t sent or received a Christmas card. I then went to speak with the local media representative on the front desk, a charming Italian lady who on hearing my tale of woe arranged everything I would need to make my visit a success. Bless her heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Neil Cunningham. Embassy Racing Radical SR9 – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019d missed the entire morning so I bade my driver farewell (with a fat tip) and walked out to the track. I\u2019d been to Monza once before in 1994 to see the Italian Grand Prix so I had a reasonable idea of the layout, and knew exactly where I wanted to go first, the Variante Ascari. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Jan Lammers Racing for Holland Dome S101 – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The first group out on track after lunch were the Classic Endurance Series or CER.\u00a0Lola and Chevron prototypes, Ferrari Boxer, Porsche 911, 935, 908, BMW M1 and so many more. I\u2019d never seen such a group of cars in England. I was in my element and was *almost<\/em> disappointed when the session ended and the LMS cars came out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n*
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I remained blissfully happy at the Variante Ascari until the end of the day. I\u2019d asked the hotel receptionist to arrange for a taxi to collect me from outside the main gate at 6pm.\u00a0 After 90 minutes (during which time I\u2019d declined two lifts from kindly Brits) no taxi had arrived so I elected to walk back across the park. The walk was much further than I anticipated, taking over an hour, and by the time I reached my hotel, having been on the go since 5 a.m., I was exhausted. I had a quick shower, a restorative beer or three, followed by dinner and bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Peter Hall’s Opel Commodore GS-E chases Martin Carroll and Graham ‘Skid’ Scarborough (both Ford Capri 3.0S) Monroe Production Saloon Car Championship – Silverstone – July 1981 <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The next morning, during breakfast I noticed an English registered car with an historic racer on a trailer. There was another English couple in the dining room so assuming it was theirs I introduced myself. I was wrong, but it was a happy mistake as the gentleman was former British Touring Car ace, Peter Hall. He and his wife were there to support their son Stuart who was driving Martin Short\u2019s Rollcentre Racing LM P1 Pescarolo 01. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Benetton B194 passes beneath the F1 media atop the photographers box, Italian Grand Prix – Monza September 1994<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Back at the circuit bright and early on Saturday morning, the next item on my Monza bucket list was the raised photographers box above the turn-in point for the Curva Parabolica. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Marc Devis Porsche 935 K3 – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Louis Zurstrassen Osella PA 4 – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Once again the first cars out were the Classics, and I had a classic view of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Gilles Gibier and the McInnerney brothers BMW M1 Procars – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I had in mind the classic image of two Gulf Porsche 917s line astern turning in and wanted to try and recreate it, albeit without a pair of 917s. The best I could manage was a pair of BMW M1s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Raymond Narac, Richard Leitz – IMSA Performance Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tom Kimber-Smith, Danny Watts – Team LNT Panoz Esperante GTLM – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I remained in the box throughout the morning CER and LMS sessions having the time of my life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Monza Paddock bar\/caf\u00e9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Afterwards I made my way back to the paddock for a quick lunch – not quite Silverstone\u2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Herv\u00e9 Dumas – Chevrolet Corvette – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Porsche 908-4 Jean-Marc Luco’s driver point of view – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Then I couldn\u2019t resist a wander through the CER enclosure and admire, what to me at least, were becoming the stars of the show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Gianni Morbidelli Audi RS4 – Campionato Italiano Superstars – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
My vantage point for the afternoon was the first chicane; the Variante del Rettifilo. First was a qualifying session for the Campionato Italiano Superstars, the highlight of which was Gianni Morbidelli driving an Audi RS4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Jo\u00e3o Barbosa retires the Rollcentre Racing Pescarolo at the beginning of Qualifying – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Next up was LMS qualifying. Based on my brief chat with Peter Hall and his wife I was now Rollcentre Racing\u2019s number one fan and I was disappointed to see Jo\u00e3o Barbosa roll to halt in front of me destined to take no further part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Gianni Lavaggi & Marcello Puglisi Lavaggi LS1 exits stage left during qualifying – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One notable entrant was ex-Pacific & Minardi Formula One driver Gianni Lavaggi, affectionately known as *Johnny Carwash<\/em>. He was sharing the eponymous Lavaggi LS1 with Marcello Puglisi , the LS1 qualified poorly and looked a handful to drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n*
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Christian Ried, Horst Felbermayr Jnr. & Thomas Gr\u00fcber – Felbermayr Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being a totally unprofessional in every sense of the word, I always select a favourite car which my camera is unfailingly drawn to. This time it was three; the trio of Felbermayr Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSRs, such a pretty car with a simple but eye-catching paint scheme. It seemed the session was over moments after it began. Predictably the Peugeots were in a class of their own almost two seconds faster than their nearest rival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Clivio Piccione overtakes Guillaume Moreau as Giedo van der Garde looks on – Formula Renault 3.5 Series – Monza – April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As the LMS\u00a0 field were being put away for the day there was the first race of the weekend, the opening round of the Formula Renault 3.5 Series.\u00a0This wasn\u2019t a championship I was familiar with and I didn\u2019t recognise any of the drivers, but cynically knowing that young chargers and the first chicane at Monza are seldom a good mix, I made my way across the track (oh the access !) to give me a view almost straight down the circuit towards the start. Then I pre-focussed on the braking point and selected 1,000ths of a second. The start was uneventful, but later there was an incident which brought out the Safety Car. At the restart Clivio Piccione lying in about 10^{th<\/sup> place, misjudged his braking and slammed into the rear of Guillaume Moreau \u00a0launching himself skywards like a Eurofighter on reheat. I had focus lock and rammed the shutter button into the body as hard as I could, just following the red plane plane on its wild ride. I fired off 33 frames before the car came to a halt upside down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n}
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Totally unhurt, Piccione exits his stricken car – Formula Renault 3.5 Series – Monza – April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Thankfully, with help from the marshals, Piccione was able to clamber out unhurt. Looking back at the entry list, bearing in mind I\u2019d never heard of any of the drivers, I had just watched future Grand Prix drivers Sebastian Vettel and Giedo van der Garde.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Peter Garrod – Porsche 935 – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
After some tracking sweeping and the collection of abandoned cars it was time for me to enjoy the Classic Endurance Series race.\u00a0As always I was drawn to the Porsches like a moth to a candle,\u00a0I cannot resist them.\u00a0There was a 908-4, two fire snorting 935s, four RSRs, three RS, two Group 4 911s and a 906; Porsche heaven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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St\u00e9phane Gutzwiller driving the wooden monocoque Astra FVC RNR 2 – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One particularly interesting car was the wooden monocoque design Astra RNR2 FVC designed by Roger Nathan and driven by St\u00e9phane Gutzwiller. Seeking to check the details on the Astra, I reached up and left (I am surrounded by books on three sides in my tiny study) for my copy of Roger Nathan\u2019s autobiography \u201cAn Adventurous Life\u201d. It\u2019s pleasing to note the above mentioned St\u00e9phane Gutzwiller was Nathan\u2019s co-writer for this project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Christophe Schwartz in the Dodge Charger – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Apart from the Porsches my favourite classic had to be Christophe Schwartz\u2019 Dodge Charger, I had never heard a louder race engine, it was magnificent.\u00a0Starting life as a road car, this was a ground-up recreation of father and son Hershel and Doug McGriff\u2019s 1976 Le Mans entry. The ACO were keen to form an alliance with the Daytona 24 Hours and contacted Bill France, the head of NASCAR, inviting some American iron over to La Sarthe.\u00a0Two IMSA specification Chevrolets, John Greenwood’s Corvette and Michael Keyser’s Monza made the trip as did two NASCAR stock cars. A Ford Torino and McGriff\u2019s four year old Dodge also took up the invitation. At Le Mans it weighed 1,660kgs, had four forward gears, drum brakes and a live rear axle on leaf springs. Oh, and the McGriff\u2019s only fitted mirrors following concerns brought to the ACO by the prototype drivers.\u00a0It wasn\u2019t a fairy tale ending. The car was designed to run on high octane fuel not the 80 octane essence<\/em> available at the circuit and destroyed two engines in practice. The race engine did not even last two laps. This recreation now using decent fuel runs consistently well and, like the original, is a crowd favourite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Jean-Marc Luco Martini Porsche 908-4 – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The race lasted an hour and I gleefully fired off another 400 shots! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Cockpit of Pedro Lamy & St\u00e9phane Sarrazin’s Peugeot 908 Hdi FAP – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sunday dawned, no more preamble, time for the main event.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Spyker C8 Spyder GT2R of Peter Kox and Jaroslav Jani\u0161 being manoeuvred on dollies in the pitlane – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Not being blessed with the \u2018access all areas\u2019 photographers vest I had to grab my pitlane shots during the morning pit walkabout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Larbre Comp\u00e9tition’s Aston Martin DBR9s being readied for the start – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Not to worry, make the best of it, you\u2019re at Monza ! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Stuart Hall and his displaced co-driver Phil Keen – pitlane before the race – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
My new favourite driver Stuart Hall posed for me looking very ‘*eff wun<\/em>‘ in his graduated shades, behind, in civvies, stands his erstwhile team mate Phil Keen.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n*
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Phil Keen exits his Rollcentre Racing Pescarolo 01 having beached it in the gravel outside the Parabolica – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007 <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I was told, that Rollcentre boss Martin Short had stood Keen down as he was driving the heavy prototype \u201clike a Formula 3 car\u201d<\/em>. Also beaching it in the Parabolica gravel trap on his first flying lap during Practice, leaving the team unable to set further times in the session, can\u2019t have helped. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R of Luc Alphand, J\u00e9r\u00f4me Policand & Patrice Gouselard to victory in GT1 – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
By now the cars were leaving the pits and I needed to get moving if I was to catch the start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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First lap, first chicane. Peugeots to the fore – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I chose to stand in the raised photographers enclosure overlooking the Variante Alta. This was a mistake. It has a perfect view over the chicane with the cars coming straight towards the camera after the initial turn in.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Opening lap, the Lavaggi LS1 being bullied by the GT1s – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Without thinking I\u2019d selected my 300mm lens and while it was fine for picking out a single car, it was too long to the capture the melee of the opening lap. I shot the 2 Peugeots braking for the chicane, thereafter my images of the start are a colourful collage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Biscione, the Visconti family coat of arms – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Abandoning my lofty perch I returned to ground level and crossed the infield to the Variante Ascari and began a slow anti-clockwise, lap of the circuit via the Curva del Serraglio, the Lesmos and Variante del Roggia and finally, my favourite spot, the photographers\u2019 platform above the Parabolica.\u00a0On one of the service roads inside the circuit there\u2019s a small old quite old looking building which had a familiar moulding of a snake on a shield.\u00a0Familiar because reversed it is the Alfa Romeo symbol. Following a little research I learn it is called a Biscione and is generally the symbol for Milan and particularly it\u2019s the eleventh-century Milanese Visconti family coat of arms. The origin of the serpent devouring the human (some say child) isn\u2019t certain and there are a number of theories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Speedy Racing Team Spyker C8 Spyder flashes through the Curva del Serraglio. Driven by Andrea Belicchi, Andrea Chiesa & Jonny Kane they finished 20th overall 14th in GT2 – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
My day was just about perfect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Another from the Curva del Serraglio, the Virgo Motorsport Ferrari F430 GTC Modena of Rob Bell and Allan Simonsen – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I was in warm autumn sunshine watching THE Monza 1000kms with full trackside access. Pausing at Curva del Serraglio which is the bend between Lesmo Two and the old banking I crouched behind the Armco barrier and had a great view back up the track towards Lesmo Two and then lay down in the access to shoot the cars going away under the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Thierry Perrier Porsche 997 GT3 RSR of Anthony Beltoise, Philippe Hesnault and Nigel Smith entering Lesmo Two – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Next was Lesmo Two and I was surprised just how close I was permitted to stand to the tarmac, now the cars weren\u2019t just an aural sensation, I could physically feel them too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Larbre Comp\u00e9tition Aston Martin DBR9 in the Second Lesmo. Christophe Bouchut, Gabriele Gardel and Fabrizio Gollin finished 2nd in GT1 – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I stayed about half an hour switching between my 300mm lens to catch them head on and a wide angle angle lens panning with the cars as they swept through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Antonio Garcia & Liz Halliday – Team Modena Aston Martin DBR9 braking hard for Variante del Roggia – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Spoiled for choice I made another bucket list tick and walked alongside the track to the Variante del Roggia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Mike Newton in his MG EX264 through the Variante del Roggia – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Here the cars come storming into view from the Curve Grande then hard on the brakes for this fast left right left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Felbermeyr Porsche exiting the Variante Ascari – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Next was the Variante Ascari once more on my way to my favourite perch in the photographers\u2019 box at the Parabolica. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The media corps!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Space was at a premium as the prime spots were occupied by three young boys wielding tiny point and shoot digital cameras. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Porsche, Saleen, Porsche, Porsche – the Parabolica – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Elbows out I took up my position and lost myself in overhead photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Didier Theys in the Horag Racing Lola B05\/41 and the Charouz Racing Lola B07\/17 of Stefan M\u00fccke<\/em> – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Suddenly it was very quiet. The race had ended, to the surprise of absolutely no one, Peugeot won, though it was first and third for the 908 Diesels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The lead Pescarolo Sport car of Jean-Christophe Boullion and Emmanuel Collard finished a fine second in front of one of the Peugeots –– Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This allowed the Pescarolo Sport team some well-deserved glory grabbing second place, and their second car finished fourth.\u00a0 Back in the paddock I bumped into Mr & Mrs Hall who were pleased with Stuart\u2019s result \u2013 starting in dead last he and Jo\u00e3o Barbosa had climbed through the field to finish in seventh place. Better still they offered me a lift back and we arranged to meet for dinner at the hotel. Sadly being a Sunday, the restaurant was closed, but the receptionist directed us to a local pizzeria where we gorged ourselves on wood fired pizza and cheap red wine talking about motor racing and in particular (at my insistence) his time in the BTCC and his association with Andy Rouse. A fitting end to a terrific weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019d booked a lunchtime flight home so there was no hurry over breakfast. Taxi to the airport, back to Stansted, an hour\u2019s drive home and that was it, back to work and reality tomorrow. Already I was having doubts at my ability to make a living out of this, but I was certainly going to enjoy myself !<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next stop, round two of the FIA GT Championship at Silverstone in May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
**Julian Roberts, October 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"**
DDC is a broad church with its congregation drawn together by a common interest in motoring and motor sport. It has given a pulpit to many fine preachers over the past decade, the latest to join this roll of honour is our old friend, Julian Roberts. Back in 2007 he fell from grace and joined […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1669],"tags":[1564,406,1686,1683,1675,1592,1676,1684,1680,632,215,1687,1674,566,1689,1685,1670,154,274,1314,33,342,30,1691,1692,1454,1671,100,1678,1677,1682,1690,1679,544,1672,1681,1688],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23587"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23587"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23662,"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23587\/revisions\/23662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

From my first roll of film. Developed by my friend, son of Autosport photographer George Phillips – Derek Warwick, BP Super Visco British F3 Championship – Donington Park April 1978<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I have been a keen amateur motor racing photographer since 1978 when I bought my first SLR camera, a Nikkormat FT3 with a Vivitar 135mm lens. The first race I attended with my camera was the Easter round of the BP Super Visco British Formula 3 Championship held at Donington Park. As a favour, my close friend Clive offered to develop my film allowing me to see my precious negatives that night, before having them professionally printed the next day. He knew a little about processing as he used to help his father in the darkroom. His father was George Phillips, the chief photographer with Autosport when it was first published in 1950. He had also been as successful racing driver, developing and driving his own MGs at Le Mans in 1949\/50\/51. George was a lovely old chap with a caustic wit that equally amused or terrified his victims \u2013 often me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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British Grand Prix, Brands Hatch, July 1978. Andretti and Peterson obscured by the startline gantry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I attended every British Grand Prix and 6 Hour race plus as many \u2018clubbies\u2019 as I could get to, usually at Silverstone which is only 40 minutes away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Kenny Acheson, Bernard Devaney & David Sears – Esso Formula Ford Championship – Silverstone June 1978<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
But despite loving Grand Prix racing and devouring Motoring News and Autosport every week and Motor Sport once a month, I was already an Endurance racing fan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Jochen Mass at the wheel of the works Porsche 935-78 he shared with Jacky Ickx – Silverstone 6 Hour race May 1978<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Formula One was great, but a Martini Porsche 935-78 was greater. As soon as I could just, possibly, afford the new Canon A1, I upgraded and also bought Tamron 300mm f5.6 lens. This was a much better combination than my faithful Nikkormat, though I did keep that as a second body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari 312 T5 at La Rascasse Monaco 1980<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In 1980 as a ridiculously generous twenty-first birthday present, my father paid my share for a two week trip to the French Riviera which included attending the Monaco Grand Prix. Two friends and I rented a villa in the hills above Menton and I found a hospitality package offering grandstand seats just beyond Ste. Devote and lunch in the Restaurant Quicksilver which was located beneath, near Tabac corner, I think it was \u00a350 each! We missed Thursday practice and watched Qualifying from the grandstand opposite the swimming pool. I shot three rolls of film from there and another roll from our grandstand during the Sunday morning warm up. I have some excellent images from that weekend, but I think my favourite is one I literally snatched on the way to the boat taxi which would take us across the harbour to the swimming pool grandstand. In a gap between two buildings there was an aerial view of La Rascasse. Being hurried along I hastily snapped five shots and left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Rothmans Porsche 956s to the fore at the start of the 1982 Le Mans 24 Hours – June 1982<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In 1982 I finally got to visit Le Mans and began a love affair which is still as strong today after 23 events. Incidentally, this is the first photo I ever took at Le Mans, spoiled somewhat by the chap in front holding his camera at arms length above his head, though I mustn\u2019t complain as I doing exactly the same thing! I had arrived at the first corner too late to get a clear view and held my camera aloft finger on the shutter and hoping. With the motordrive I managed 10 shots, but this was the best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Christian Bussi, Bernard de Dryver & Pascal Witmeur – Bussi Team Rondeau M382 Le Mans June 1982<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell acknowledge the crowd after winning the 1982 Le Mans 24 Hour race – June 1982<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I stayed trackside for 18 hours and although I only shot three rolls of film all weekend I am still very pleased with my results shooting from the Tribunes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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David & Godfrey Jones JWR – Preci Spark Porsche 996 GT3 R lead the DRM Racing Ferrari 360 Modena of Ni Amorim & Adam Wilcox – British GT Championship – Snetterton May 2004<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
By 2004 used digital SLR cameras were becoming affordable and with some trepidation, and against all advice, I ordered a year old Canon EOS 10D and 28-135mm kit lens from an American seller on ebay. I also added a new Canon EF300 F4 L IS USM together with a Canon X1.4 extender from Digitalrev (again via ebay) in Hong Kong – back in 2004 it was by no means usual to pay hundreds and hundreds pounds, in advance, to unknown foreign sellers hoping they\u2019ll do their stuff.\u00a0 They both did, in fact I still buy from Digitalrev today. What became of my faithful friend of 26 years the Canon A1?\u00a0 I sold it and all my analogue gear immediately and without a qualm ! The 10D (not forgetting my beautiful L lens) was a game changer. \u00a0I was now able to produce very good work consistently. Because I was able to critique my shots on the go, I quickly learnt much more about proper exposure and to alter ISO as and when required (remember on film I was stuck with the film’s ISO and never beyond 800). My first time out with the 10D was a round of the British GT Championship at Snetterton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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David Leslie prepares to leave the pit garage in the Championship winning GTS Motorsport BMW M3 he shared with Harry Handkammer, Britcar – Silverstone March 2005<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As my photography improved so did my desire to share my photos with a larger audience. I had been an early convert to Malcolm Cracknell\u2019s excellent websites SportsCarWorld.com and TotalMotorSport.com and then DailySportsCar.com. So in 2005 decided to go to the opening Britcar meeting at Silverstone and \u2018pretend\u2019 I had received a commission from him to cover the event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Beechdean Mini of Nigel Greensall and Aaron Scott leaving the pits – Britcar – Silverstone March 2005<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
My intention being to submit my photo\u2019s as a sort of visual c.v. I spent a lot of time in the paddock and pit garages and eventually the pitlane as I could take better photos there than through the tall fences synonymous with Stalag Silverstone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Bruno Senna – British F3 Championship – Donington April 2006<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I selected a dozen of what I considered to be the best and emailed them to Malcolm. He was very pleased and used some of my images in his report. He also asked me to go the Donington for the opening round of the British GT Championship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Neil Cunningham – Embassy Racing Porsche 996 GT3 RSR – British GT Championship – Donington April 2005<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Arriving at Media Accreditation bursting with anticipation I was quickly brought back to earth with a bump; there was no media pass and I was expected to pay for my entry ticket! Hmmm. Oh well, I hadn\u2019t driven 90 miles to turn around so I paid up and went to find my contact, Graham Goodwin.\u00a0GG gave me a quick tour of the pitlane pointing out favoured teams to pay extra attention to and that was it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Allan Simonsen – British GT Championship – Donington April 2006<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I made myself busy and, as usual, roamed the pitlane as if it were my own. To my wife\u2019s irritation I arrived home about 7pm and spent the next 4 hours editing photo\u2019s for submission to DailySportsCar.com. I got a few more gigs from DSC but in every case I had to contact them and offer my services for free rather than be asked. So I continued as an amateur snapper peering through the fence, a totally free agent, photographing what I liked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In late 2006 my employers (a North African oil producer) announced they were to close all European operations and I was to be made redundant in 2007 after 20 years. By now I was 48 and (thankfully) financially stable. So on a bit of a whim I decided to give myself a redundancy present and take a year discovering whether I had what it takes to be a freelance motorsport photographer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Nick Whale, Ian Guest BMW 3.0CSL & Christian Traber BMW M1 – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I knew of Martin Krejci\u2019s superb website RacingSportCars.com and had been contributing my images to him for a number of years. With this in mind I had the idea to contact him and suggest I apply for media accreditation acting as his photographer, he agreed. In early 2007 I applied to the FIA GT Championship, the Le Mans Series and, heart in mouth, the ACO. After a bit of form filling, a lot of emails, and supplying website traffic statistics to the ACO, all three accepted me. WOW !<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No longer would my humble EOS 10D cut it as my main camera, so I bought a year old Canon EOS1D MkIIN and a new Canon EF400 DO IS USM plus a Pelicase to cart it all around Europe in safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Paul Knapfield – Charles Pozzi Ferrari 512 BB LM – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The first race for me was the 2007 Monza 1000kms. The media representative for the LMS was a French lady. She had confirmed my acceptance via email and I was given details of how to collect my media pass from a school in suburban Monza (why not at the circuit I have no idea).\u00a0In my job as a Client Procurement Co-ordinator I had many contacts worldwide and one in particular with whom I was on very good terms lived and worked in Milan. He found me a small but classy hotel on the edge of the Parco di\u00a0Monza, roughly opposite the circuit, but a few kilometres away, plus he arranged a taxi to meet me from the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Green Flag lap – Perazzini, Tavano & Cioci – Racing Box Saleen S7-R – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The flight was incident free and I easily found my taxi. Once I\u2019d checked into the hotel, with numerous signed Ferrari driver portraits behind the desk, the driver took me to collect my passes. We eventually found the school and I followed the signs downstairs to a small room with a table and dozens of envelopes containing passes.\u00a0I announced myself and the young lady searched her list and with a look of genuine regret said \u201cnon\u201d. I almost dropped to my knees!\u00a0I really couldn\u2019t believe it.\u00a0I recovered my composure and asked to borrow her phone so I could speak to the LMS Media representative. I have to say she was very offhand with me, initially denying I had been accepted (fortunately I had printed copies of all emails and forms so my case was watertight). She eventually agreed to permit me access; she would see me in the Media Centre.\u00a0Note; only whilst writing this have I realised this all occurred on Friday the 13^{th<\/sup>!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
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The victorious Team Peugeot Total – Peugeot 908 HDi FAP of Nicholas Minassian & Marc Gen\u00e9 – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Back to the car and my willing driver.\u00a0He drove to the circuit and to my joy blagged us through the main gate then into the Paddock itself, not bad going without a ticket between us. I climbed the stairs to the Media Centre and found my target. I won\u2019t go into too much detail but I made it clear I was extremely unhappy and she made it equally clear she couldn\u2019t care less.\u00a0My Media Pass ? Nothing doing, I was given a \u2018Guest Pass\u2019!\u00a0We didn\u2019t part as friends and I still haven\u2019t sent or received a Christmas card. I then went to speak with the local media representative on the front desk, a charming Italian lady who on hearing my tale of woe arranged everything I would need to make my visit a success. Bless her heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Neil Cunningham. Embassy Racing Radical SR9 – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019d missed the entire morning so I bade my driver farewell (with a fat tip) and walked out to the track. I\u2019d been to Monza once before in 1994 to see the Italian Grand Prix so I had a reasonable idea of the layout, and knew exactly where I wanted to go first, the Variante Ascari. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Jan Lammers Racing for Holland Dome S101 – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The first group out on track after lunch were the Classic Endurance Series or CER.\u00a0Lola and Chevron prototypes, Ferrari Boxer, Porsche 911, 935, 908, BMW M1 and so many more. I\u2019d never seen such a group of cars in England. I was in my element and was *almost<\/em> disappointed when the session ended and the LMS cars came out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n*
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I remained blissfully happy at the Variante Ascari until the end of the day. I\u2019d asked the hotel receptionist to arrange for a taxi to collect me from outside the main gate at 6pm.\u00a0 After 90 minutes (during which time I\u2019d declined two lifts from kindly Brits) no taxi had arrived so I elected to walk back across the park. The walk was much further than I anticipated, taking over an hour, and by the time I reached my hotel, having been on the go since 5 a.m., I was exhausted. I had a quick shower, a restorative beer or three, followed by dinner and bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Peter Hall’s Opel Commodore GS-E chases Martin Carroll and Graham ‘Skid’ Scarborough (both Ford Capri 3.0S) Monroe Production Saloon Car Championship – Silverstone – July 1981 <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The next morning, during breakfast I noticed an English registered car with an historic racer on a trailer. There was another English couple in the dining room so assuming it was theirs I introduced myself. I was wrong, but it was a happy mistake as the gentleman was former British Touring Car ace, Peter Hall. He and his wife were there to support their son Stuart who was driving Martin Short\u2019s Rollcentre Racing LM P1 Pescarolo 01. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Benetton B194 passes beneath the F1 media atop the photographers box, Italian Grand Prix – Monza September 1994<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Back at the circuit bright and early on Saturday morning, the next item on my Monza bucket list was the raised photographers box above the turn-in point for the Curva Parabolica. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Marc Devis Porsche 935 K3 – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Louis Zurstrassen Osella PA 4 – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Once again the first cars out were the Classics, and I had a classic view of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Gilles Gibier and the McInnerney brothers BMW M1 Procars – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I had in mind the classic image of two Gulf Porsche 917s line astern turning in and wanted to try and recreate it, albeit without a pair of 917s. The best I could manage was a pair of BMW M1s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Raymond Narac, Richard Leitz – IMSA Performance Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tom Kimber-Smith, Danny Watts – Team LNT Panoz Esperante GTLM – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I remained in the box throughout the morning CER and LMS sessions having the time of my life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Monza Paddock bar\/caf\u00e9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Afterwards I made my way back to the paddock for a quick lunch – not quite Silverstone\u2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Herv\u00e9 Dumas – Chevrolet Corvette – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Porsche 908-4 Jean-Marc Luco’s driver point of view – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Then I couldn\u2019t resist a wander through the CER enclosure and admire, what to me at least, were becoming the stars of the show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Gianni Morbidelli Audi RS4 – Campionato Italiano Superstars – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
My vantage point for the afternoon was the first chicane; the Variante del Rettifilo. First was a qualifying session for the Campionato Italiano Superstars, the highlight of which was Gianni Morbidelli driving an Audi RS4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Jo\u00e3o Barbosa retires the Rollcentre Racing Pescarolo at the beginning of Qualifying – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Next up was LMS qualifying. Based on my brief chat with Peter Hall and his wife I was now Rollcentre Racing\u2019s number one fan and I was disappointed to see Jo\u00e3o Barbosa roll to halt in front of me destined to take no further part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Gianni Lavaggi & Marcello Puglisi Lavaggi LS1 exits stage left during qualifying – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One notable entrant was ex-Pacific & Minardi Formula One driver Gianni Lavaggi, affectionately known as *Johnny Carwash<\/em>. He was sharing the eponymous Lavaggi LS1 with Marcello Puglisi , the LS1 qualified poorly and looked a handful to drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n*
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Christian Ried, Horst Felbermayr Jnr. & Thomas Gr\u00fcber – Felbermayr Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being a totally unprofessional in every sense of the word, I always select a favourite car which my camera is unfailingly drawn to. This time it was three; the trio of Felbermayr Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSRs, such a pretty car with a simple but eye-catching paint scheme. It seemed the session was over moments after it began. Predictably the Peugeots were in a class of their own almost two seconds faster than their nearest rival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Clivio Piccione overtakes Guillaume Moreau as Giedo van der Garde looks on – Formula Renault 3.5 Series – Monza – April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As the LMS\u00a0 field were being put away for the day there was the first race of the weekend, the opening round of the Formula Renault 3.5 Series.\u00a0This wasn\u2019t a championship I was familiar with and I didn\u2019t recognise any of the drivers, but cynically knowing that young chargers and the first chicane at Monza are seldom a good mix, I made my way across the track (oh the access !) to give me a view almost straight down the circuit towards the start. Then I pre-focussed on the braking point and selected 1,000ths of a second. The start was uneventful, but later there was an incident which brought out the Safety Car. At the restart Clivio Piccione lying in about 10^{th<\/sup> place, misjudged his braking and slammed into the rear of Guillaume Moreau \u00a0launching himself skywards like a Eurofighter on reheat. I had focus lock and rammed the shutter button into the body as hard as I could, just following the red plane plane on its wild ride. I fired off 33 frames before the car came to a halt upside down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n}
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Totally unhurt, Piccione exits his stricken car – Formula Renault 3.5 Series – Monza – April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Thankfully, with help from the marshals, Piccione was able to clamber out unhurt. Looking back at the entry list, bearing in mind I\u2019d never heard of any of the drivers, I had just watched future Grand Prix drivers Sebastian Vettel and Giedo van der Garde.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Peter Garrod – Porsche 935 – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
After some tracking sweeping and the collection of abandoned cars it was time for me to enjoy the Classic Endurance Series race.\u00a0As always I was drawn to the Porsches like a moth to a candle,\u00a0I cannot resist them.\u00a0There was a 908-4, two fire snorting 935s, four RSRs, three RS, two Group 4 911s and a 906; Porsche heaven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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St\u00e9phane Gutzwiller driving the wooden monocoque Astra FVC RNR 2 – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One particularly interesting car was the wooden monocoque design Astra RNR2 FVC designed by Roger Nathan and driven by St\u00e9phane Gutzwiller. Seeking to check the details on the Astra, I reached up and left (I am surrounded by books on three sides in my tiny study) for my copy of Roger Nathan\u2019s autobiography \u201cAn Adventurous Life\u201d. It\u2019s pleasing to note the above mentioned St\u00e9phane Gutzwiller was Nathan\u2019s co-writer for this project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Christophe Schwartz in the Dodge Charger – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Apart from the Porsches my favourite classic had to be Christophe Schwartz\u2019 Dodge Charger, I had never heard a louder race engine, it was magnificent.\u00a0Starting life as a road car, this was a ground-up recreation of father and son Hershel and Doug McGriff\u2019s 1976 Le Mans entry. The ACO were keen to form an alliance with the Daytona 24 Hours and contacted Bill France, the head of NASCAR, inviting some American iron over to La Sarthe.\u00a0Two IMSA specification Chevrolets, John Greenwood’s Corvette and Michael Keyser’s Monza made the trip as did two NASCAR stock cars. A Ford Torino and McGriff\u2019s four year old Dodge also took up the invitation. At Le Mans it weighed 1,660kgs, had four forward gears, drum brakes and a live rear axle on leaf springs. Oh, and the McGriff\u2019s only fitted mirrors following concerns brought to the ACO by the prototype drivers.\u00a0It wasn\u2019t a fairy tale ending. The car was designed to run on high octane fuel not the 80 octane essence<\/em> available at the circuit and destroyed two engines in practice. The race engine did not even last two laps. This recreation now using decent fuel runs consistently well and, like the original, is a crowd favourite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Jean-Marc Luco Martini Porsche 908-4 – Classic Endurance Racing – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The race lasted an hour and I gleefully fired off another 400 shots! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Cockpit of Pedro Lamy & St\u00e9phane Sarrazin’s Peugeot 908 Hdi FAP – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sunday dawned, no more preamble, time for the main event.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Spyker C8 Spyder GT2R of Peter Kox and Jaroslav Jani\u0161 being manoeuvred on dollies in the pitlane – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Not being blessed with the \u2018access all areas\u2019 photographers vest I had to grab my pitlane shots during the morning pit walkabout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Larbre Comp\u00e9tition’s Aston Martin DBR9s being readied for the start – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Not to worry, make the best of it, you\u2019re at Monza ! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Stuart Hall and his displaced co-driver Phil Keen – pitlane before the race – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
My new favourite driver Stuart Hall posed for me looking very ‘*eff wun<\/em>‘ in his graduated shades, behind, in civvies, stands his erstwhile team mate Phil Keen.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n*
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Phil Keen exits his Rollcentre Racing Pescarolo 01 having beached it in the gravel outside the Parabolica – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007 <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I was told, that Rollcentre boss Martin Short had stood Keen down as he was driving the heavy prototype \u201clike a Formula 3 car\u201d<\/em>. Also beaching it in the Parabolica gravel trap on his first flying lap during Practice, leaving the team unable to set further times in the session, can\u2019t have helped. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
The Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R of Luc Alphand, J\u00e9r\u00f4me Policand & Patrice Gouselard to victory in GT1 – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
By now the cars were leaving the pits and I needed to get moving if I was to catch the start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
First lap, first chicane. Peugeots to the fore – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I chose to stand in the raised photographers enclosure overlooking the Variante Alta. This was a mistake. It has a perfect view over the chicane with the cars coming straight towards the camera after the initial turn in.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Opening lap, the Lavaggi LS1 being bullied by the GT1s – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Without thinking I\u2019d selected my 300mm lens and while it was fine for picking out a single car, it was too long to the capture the melee of the opening lap. I shot the 2 Peugeots braking for the chicane, thereafter my images of the start are a colourful collage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
The Biscione, the Visconti family coat of arms – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Abandoning my lofty perch I returned to ground level and crossed the infield to the Variante Ascari and began a slow anti-clockwise, lap of the circuit via the Curva del Serraglio, the Lesmos and Variante del Roggia and finally, my favourite spot, the photographers\u2019 platform above the Parabolica.\u00a0On one of the service roads inside the circuit there\u2019s a small old quite old looking building which had a familiar moulding of a snake on a shield.\u00a0Familiar because reversed it is the Alfa Romeo symbol. Following a little research I learn it is called a Biscione and is generally the symbol for Milan and particularly it\u2019s the eleventh-century Milanese Visconti family coat of arms. The origin of the serpent devouring the human (some say child) isn\u2019t certain and there are a number of theories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
The Speedy Racing Team Spyker C8 Spyder flashes through the Curva del Serraglio. Driven by Andrea Belicchi, Andrea Chiesa & Jonny Kane they finished 20th overall 14th in GT2 – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
My day was just about perfect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
Another from the Curva del Serraglio, the Virgo Motorsport Ferrari F430 GTC Modena of Rob Bell and Allan Simonsen – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I was in warm autumn sunshine watching THE Monza 1000kms with full trackside access. Pausing at Curva del Serraglio which is the bend between Lesmo Two and the old banking I crouched behind the Armco barrier and had a great view back up the track towards Lesmo Two and then lay down in the access to shoot the cars going away under the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
The Thierry Perrier Porsche 997 GT3 RSR of Anthony Beltoise, Philippe Hesnault and Nigel Smith entering Lesmo Two – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Next was Lesmo Two and I was surprised just how close I was permitted to stand to the tarmac, now the cars weren\u2019t just an aural sensation, I could physically feel them too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
Larbre Comp\u00e9tition Aston Martin DBR9 in the Second Lesmo. Christophe Bouchut, Gabriele Gardel and Fabrizio Gollin finished 2nd in GT1 – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I stayed about half an hour switching between my 300mm lens to catch them head on and a wide angle angle lens panning with the cars as they swept through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
Antonio Garcia & Liz Halliday – Team Modena Aston Martin DBR9 braking hard for Variante del Roggia – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Spoiled for choice I made another bucket list tick and walked alongside the track to the Variante del Roggia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
Mike Newton in his MG EX264 through the Variante del Roggia – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Here the cars come storming into view from the Curve Grande then hard on the brakes for this fast left right left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
Felbermeyr Porsche exiting the Variante Ascari – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Next was the Variante Ascari once more on my way to my favourite perch in the photographers\u2019 box at the Parabolica. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
The media corps!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Space was at a premium as the prime spots were occupied by three young boys wielding tiny point and shoot digital cameras. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
Porsche, Saleen, Porsche, Porsche – the Parabolica – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Elbows out I took up my position and lost myself in overhead photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
Didier Theys in the Horag Racing Lola B05\/41 and the Charouz Racing Lola B07\/17 of Stefan M\u00fccke<\/em> – Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Suddenly it was very quiet. The race had ended, to the surprise of absolutely no one, Peugeot won, though it was first and third for the 908 Diesels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
The lead Pescarolo Sport car of Jean-Christophe Boullion and Emmanuel Collard finished a fine second in front of one of the Peugeots –– Le Mans Series – Monza April 2007<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This allowed the Pescarolo Sport team some well-deserved glory grabbing second place, and their second car finished fourth.\u00a0 Back in the paddock I bumped into Mr & Mrs Hall who were pleased with Stuart\u2019s result \u2013 starting in dead last he and Jo\u00e3o Barbosa had climbed through the field to finish in seventh place. Better still they offered me a lift back and we arranged to meet for dinner at the hotel. Sadly being a Sunday, the restaurant was closed, but the receptionist directed us to a local pizzeria where we gorged ourselves on wood fired pizza and cheap red wine talking about motor racing and in particular (at my insistence) his time in the BTCC and his association with Andy Rouse. A fitting end to a terrific weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019d booked a lunchtime flight home so there was no hurry over breakfast. Taxi to the airport, back to Stansted, an hour\u2019s drive home and that was it, back to work and reality tomorrow. Already I was having doubts at my ability to make a living out of this, but I was certainly going to enjoy myself !<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next stop, round two of the FIA GT Championship at Silverstone in May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
**Julian Roberts, October 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"**
DDC is a broad church with its congregation drawn together by a common interest in motoring and motor sport. It has given a pulpit to many fine preachers over the past decade, the latest to join this roll of honour is our old friend, Julian Roberts. Back in 2007 he fell from grace and joined […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1669],"tags":[1564,406,1686,1683,1675,1592,1676,1684,1680,632,215,1687,1674,566,1689,1685,1670,154,274,1314,33,342,30,1691,1692,1454,1671,100,1678,1677,1682,1690,1679,544,1672,1681,1688],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23587"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23587"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23662,"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23587\/revisions\/23662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}