SEL pass (cold pass), cameras, etc ... newbie ...

T

twvette

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My company sponsors NASCAR so I managed to find the proper contacts to get me some free tickets and was told I would also get pit and garage access. Today I received my Single Event License (SEL ... cold pass) forms and they seem like really "special" access passes. Are these the standard Pit and Garage passes that anyone can buy or are these something better ??? I have not been to a NASCAR event (although I watch frequently on TV) so I just want to make sure I know what to expect and what special priveledges these passes really give me to make the most of it. Can someone fill me in on this and maybe what priveledges to take advantage of with these passes ??? When do I arrive at the race to make the most of this ???

Also, I am kinda a camera buff so I would like to get some good pics and hope the SEL passes with offer me some unique opportunities for photos. Is this wishfull thinking or will I really be able to get close to the drivers, cars, etc. ??? Its me and my wife going and I read that we can only take a single small bag into the races and cameras should be worn around the neck. So, I have one of these fairly large SLR cameras and also a big lens I would like to take in. Wearing this around my neck with lens attached equals about a 20in unit. I was thinking I would just wear the camera with another very small lens attached and my wife would carry the big lens not attached to a camera for access ... think this will work or do you think they will turn me away ??? Do you see people in the stands with big honkin cameras ??? Also, do you know if flash can be used and/or is appropriate (its a night race) ???

Complete newbie / first timer .... thanks in advance for any input, tips, etc. to make the most of this ...
 
A cold pass enables you to get into the garage area when the cars are NOT on the track --- in other words, the cars will not be moving from garage to track.

Only a hot pass gets you in when the serious work is going on.

A pit pass allows you to walk behind the pit areas. You could probably get pics of cars and drivers there --- especially during q'ing.

As far as the amount of stuff to take into the track --- be sure to check the track's website. Put as much as you can into fanny packs that are worn around the waist -- makes carrying heavy lenses much easier. I usually carry a Canon Eos with a 300-1000 zoom lens.

Flash really isn't necessary for good pics during a night race. All the flash really lights up is the immediate area in front of you. The cars are too far away for a flash to make any difference. Just use a good, high-speed film.
 
Hey Twvette........welcome to the board. :) I can't speak much to pit passes, garage passes etc. My wife and I tried that last September at California but we take the Metrolink (Amtrak) charter to and from the races and the train got to the track about 30 mins before they close the pits to the public.........it takes 15 mins to get through security. It was a bust for us.

I can tell you a little about what you can take in and how it is carried if you are going to an ISC track. Cutie (my wife) usually takes a small handbag/fanny pack worn around her waist, and I take a fanny pack worn around my waist. Any camera we take I wear around my neck (ours is digital and pretty small). But, California (an ISC track) allows one clear plastic bag 12 x 14 x 4 inches to be taken in along with the fanny pack and camera. That's a pretty big bag to take incidentals into the track. Your idea of you wearing the camera with your normal wide angle lens and your wife wearing the telephoto lens should work.........I don't see any reason it wouldn't. I don't think the tracks are trying to be restrictive but they are being fairly security conscious..........don't forget to leave your pocket knife (no matter how small) at home. They'll make you take it all the way off the property......no trash can to simply toss it in. The first couple of years we went before 9-11 you could take as much as you could lug in as long as it was not a hard sided cooler.......and I must say the restricting to what you can wear around your neck and hips along with one plastic bag has made it a little nicer in the stands. No tripping and stumbling to get to your seats.

On the picture taking........man, are you in for a surprise!! :D I don't know what track you are going to but if it's one of the cookie cutters (Chicago, KC, California, Texas, or the like) you better be prepared for a lot of pictures of asphalt or big blurs!! :) Those suckers are going fast when they pass you!! Pretty hard to get a decent picture so take plenty of film. I have a old Canon A1 100% manual SLR with an 80-210 zoom that I took the first couple of years. I used ISO 400 film and did manage to get a few shots that were decent.........a lot of "what the heck is this?" pictures though!! :D I found that if I pre-focused a spot on the track ahead of time and waited for the cars to come to me I was a little more successful. But to try to get a picture of a car broad side at speed is nearly impossible but I try all the time....someday I'll get lucky is my thinking!! :) We sit row 10 just out of turn 4........pretty close which is why it's really hard to get a picture as they pass by. But it does give great angles for the cars entering turn 4. And I'm sure you know if you zoom too tight your field of vision is very narrow........I found about 80 mm (minimum on my lens) worked best. But cautions and parade laps are great for tight shots. The race being run at night shouldn't give you much problems...........the track is pretty bright. You might have to open your aperture a little more and maybe slow the shutter speed a tad.

Hope you have fun.........it's worth the effort. And you'll be hooked for life on going to the races!! :beerbang:
 
I get the same passes at Las Vegas becuase a friend's sister works for the company that does the NASCAR cake decorating stuff.

What race are you going to?

The big thing here is that those passes are cold passes for the CUP GARAGE. You can be in the BUSCH GARAGE or TRUCK GARAGE without restrictions.

You will most likely get your best photos in the BUSCH or TRUCK GARAGE. You'll have to leave the CUP GARAGE when the lights start flashing, which is 1 hour before scheuled track activity, so don't plan on a lot of close ups of the CUP drivers in the CUP GARAGE. But you can get up close and personal with the drivers in the BUSCH or TRUCK GARAGE, depending on the track you are going to and which series are running companion.
 
Oh. I left out....

Your rest opportunity to get up close and personal isn't going to be on CUP race day. It is going to be on whatever day the companion series qualifies.

On CUP race day, we usually don't even bother to go to the garage.
 
UUUuuuurrrggghhh !!!!

Nobody told me you had to wear pants for garage access !!!! ... they kicked me out .!!! ... what a bummer. It doesnt tell you that anywhere on the PIR book either. It only mentions that your feet must be covered and to wear a shirt that covers your shoulders anf long pants are recommended. A large percentage of the people had on sandles and tank tops but it wasnt being enforced ... only the pants rule in garage are was being enforced ... just my luck.

For any other newbies that read this there are different types of "pit" passes. I think the public is generally able to get the passes that get you into the pits. However, you need contacts to get the pass that gets you into the garage area and then of coarse there are media, etc. passes that gets you into other areas. Atleast thats what I concluded ... feel free to correct me.
 
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