Spectating STPR with a camera.

I've been itching to shoot a motorsports event and suddenly realized I made back to back plans within one weekend.  Lets start with Waste Management Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (STPR)

Due to work, I couldn't make the entire first day of STPR, but I did catch some fun in service and the Super Special at the end of the day.

Anyone remember my friend Matt Peterson that I co-drove for last year at the New England Forester Rally (NEFR)?  Well, his K20 powered EG Civic is back up and running!  Co-driving this time, Ian Kessler from New York.

Anyone catch that "Behind the Scenes" video that FY Racing put up on YouTube?  Do yourself a favor and have a laugh. Behind the Scene at STPR.  Chris Duplessis even gets in front of the camera for a bit!  

Any rally truck fans?  Here we have Gary De Masi in his 5L V8 Rally Ranger.  Just under 400hp of RWD awesome.

Of the years I've been to the Tioga Fairgrounds in PA, I don't think I've ever seen it THIS dusty before!  But despite drivers getting caught in each other's, and even their own dust!  It didn't stop these EGs from going full out for the fans!

I can't share rally photos without throwing Brakim Racing in there!  Of the teams running out there, these guys really seem to be big fans of MY work!  If any of you out there were able to get yours hands on their last poster, of their purple digi cam Beemer, it was a shot of mine from LSPR.  These guys are always entertaining and their car development is constantly moving forward.

Some of the bigger names couldn't make it to STPR this year, that being Antoine L'Estage, Travis Pastrana and Ken Block This left the playing field much more open for teams like Fy Racing to close up any gaps they can for the series so far.  

 Sometimes people don't realize simple differences between "Factory Sponsored" and "Grassroots rally teams".  Obviously the cars are at a pretty different level.  But most people don't realize the difference in crew and gear.  Here you have David Higgins' car with a man on every corner and a couple others floating about, fancy hard cases of tools, etc.

Here at the grassroots end of the spectrum, we have one flood light and only a few guys on two cars, maybe three.  No big tents, scattered tools... it's pretty limited in comparison, but these smaller teams are still out here making it happen!

There's nothing better than staying at a friend's place for a rally, who's crewing for a friend who's competing.  Let me tell you all about the most expensive, but awesome alarm clock!

Into the town of Wellsboro, PA we find all our competitors lined up for parc expose.  Did you know that in 1900, 2,945 people lived in this town?  Now there's about 3,291... Do you think rally had anything to do with this? I hope so!

Speaking of the Wellsboro population... Here we have Reaper Motorsports' 2.5RS driven by local, Jeremy Keck.  Running in open light, Jeremy might have a bit of home town advantage.  After all, he did grow up enjoying these roads/stages.

One of my favorite things about STPR, is just the fact that the town's folk here all seem to be 100% welcoming to everyone involved in the rally.  Parc expose is usually held at "The Green" in Wellsboro, which is a small park right in the heart of the town.  The "Start" of the day's rally, to the first stage, is right on Main Street.  It's always a beautiful display of the town and it's people along with rally teams and fans all together to cheer on their favorite teams.

Well this is bit of a switch... It looks as if the V8 Rally Ranger's co-driver, Matthew James, caught me on camera with his phone!  I'm shooting! Get back to your transit notes!

Unfortunately I was only able to make it to Stage 9, Lebo 1, due to friends becoming separated from their crew and other friends competing having offs.  I ended up taking the time to stay with friends in service while waiting to get word on those who were on their way to the hospital.  Onto Stage 9.

I was fortunate enough to not get lost this year, on my way to a stage!  I was actually able to find a spot just in time to see Higgins come blasting through this R4.  As figured, by most, without Pastrana or Block there to fight for first place, Higgins stays consistent for a relatively easy victory.

Nick Roberts Rally coming through in his 21 day built Super Production STI.  It was unfortunately to see he lost his last car in a fire at 100 Acre Wood, but glad to know that he and his co-driver, Rhianon Gelsomino were able to get out without too serious injuries.  Keeping the car from catching fire this time around means we'll see Roberts on the podium for 3rd.

Speaking of Super Production, did you know that Mark Piatkowski, of MAP Rally Team sold his open light RS last year to built this '04 STI Super Production car?!  Same color scheme as before, but what a whole new world of competitive speeds!  I had a chance to chat with co-driver Robert Maciejski about the new car and from the sounds of it, as much as it will take some getting used to, it sure is fast and they seem to be loving it.  Taking 5th place in their first event with a totally different beast of a car?  Not too shabby.

Let's not forget my friends Matt Peterson and Ian Kessler in the green EG!  up to Stage 9 and still running strong!  It's a shame to find out later that either stage 10 or 11, I forget for sure, they had an off into a ditch putting the car on it's passenger side.  Luckily some small trees stopped the car from completely flipping and only suffered minor cosmetic damage.  They ended up DNF-ing because they motor wouldn't start.  

Here is easily my favorite story of this year's STPR.  Driver Charli Tameris and co-driver Tony Zanni, in their Porsche 944 had blown their head gasket on day 1.  They were able to find a shop with new gaskets about 2 hours away into New York!!!  Stayed up all night to rebuild and made it back for day 2!  Not only did they make it back, they completed the rally!

Flying Frog Rally keeping it consistent after an off earlier in the stages.  Brian and Amber had a good lead in their class before spinning out and just missing a tree before putting the rear end into a ditch and starring up at the sky.  Unfortunately they lost their lead since they couldn't drive out of the ditch.  Luckily, once towed out, they did find that there was just about no damage to their car.

Another unfortunate rally car casualty of this year's STPR, the Belmont Motoring bugeye WRX.  I had talked to co-driver Alice Von Denes and she informed me that they were completely fine, just a bit shaken up after hitting a tree, which has totaled their car.  No worries though!  There are already plans for a new car to get them back on stage!

And so ends STPR for me.  Time to gather my friends and our gear, get some photos uploaded and edited, pack my gear, sleep for 3-4 hours and head home only to head right back out!

Drive to STPR after work on Friday night and Saturday, back to New York for a total of 3 hours, then out to New Jersey Motorsport Park with 240 240 240's Pat Lapp for an open track day in his Nissan 240 S13 race car.  Stay tuned...

As always be sure to "Like" and share my Facebook page, Facebook.com/MCampbellPhoto

And don't forget to visit some of the links below and check out the work of friends who inspire me.

BerryFaveThings.blogspot.com
CarrsAreLife.blogspot.com/
Facebook.com/Emotive-Image
LifeBlasters.com