SUDDEN IMPACT

There comes a time in every photographers life, when you press that shutter button, and you see a result that is simply breath taking. On the 1st of May 2011 at 10:37 for me that moment was realised.
I was fortunate to be a guest of Bob Harnett and the W.A. Sporting Car Club at Barbagallo Raceway for the V8 Supercar season return to Western Australia. As I do, I had my trusty Nikon with me to capture some moments from the weekend. Race one on day two we were ready for the start. Everyone on their feet, cars on the grid all hit the rev limiter, everything around us is shaking from the heart pounding sound of thousands of horsepower about to erupt. The lights go green and all systems are go .... well almost. Karl Reindler's car had a clutch failure. He was stranded in the middle of a pack of angry V8 Supercars, who were all prepared to take no prisoners. Everyone evaded him .... Russell Ingall went left then David Reynolds went right which left Steve Owen with nowhere to go except straight into the back of the stationary Reindler's car. Hitting him at over 140 km/h and with a force of over 30G's. With 75 litres of racing fuel on board that is now spraying from the back of the car with the force of a fire hose straight back at Steve Owen.
Next ..................... BOOM!!!
The fuel ignites into the fireball from hell. The car is totally engulfed in flames. Will either driver get out alive?
20 seconds after impact the fire brigade swing into action and the flames are gone.
Remarkably .... both drivers walk away from the incident with what you would have to say are minor injuries.
This goes to show how amazing the safety equipment is in these cars.
To get a better idea of what transpired, have a look at my gallery of images, that leave nothing to the imagination.
Click on the thumbnails below to see what I mean. Get in quick and purchase the images before the price rise.