See full version: Biggest Greyhound Racing Events in the UK; the World
Not to be confused with the horse race that shares the same name, the Melbourne Cup is Australia’s and possibly the world’s, biggest greyhound event. It has the biggest prize money available with a total of A$350,000 awarded to the winner, representing massive value for all greyhounds participating in the race. It takes place at Sandown Park, usually in November. here
There are some stadiums you should bear in mind when it comes to the UK, Ireland and Australia’s biggest races. The home of the English Greyhound Derby is at Towcester Stadium, while the Scottish Derby takes place at Shawfield Stadium. The Irish Derby is at Shelbourne Park, while many of Australia’s biggest events are at the esteemed Sandown Park.
Australia’s richest staying race, it was previously known as the Wollamai Cup when it first started in 1963. The end-point of three weeks of racing at Sandown Park, it stars the fastest sprinters and stayers in the entire country. The race is worth A$250,000, with Bobby Boucheau remaining the record holder over the 595m. [links]
Big events are dotted all over the greyhound racing calendar year. Some, such as the English Greyhound Derby, require several heats before the final race, and others are a simple one-and-done race held every year at a certain track. While the sprints usually take place at a distance of around 250-300m, the derby finals race over 500 metres.
The flagship race at Yarmouth Stadium in Norfolk, the East Anglian Derby has run there ever since 1975. Taking place over 462 metres, the race awards £15,000 towards the prize winner, while the runner up gets a reasonable £2500, and third place lands £1500. All dogs have clocked times under 30 seconds, but the fastest ever performance was by Any Dak in 2013 in 27.34 seconds. here
So, you’re interested in autocrossing. You don’t know much about it, but you know you want to do it.
Take lots of notes: Suggestions from fast guys. Tire pressure. Seating position. The daily temperature. Tire wear. Get in-car footage. If you document your development, you can know what you’re doing to be fast (or slow). Write it, film it, think it, memorize it.
Don't modify your car (yet), just make changes. Seating positions, wheel position, tire pressure, alignment, everything. Talk to people who know your car already; they’ll be able to guide you. Tire pressure and seating are the best ways to start experimenting for free, and every tweak here and there will make the car react differently. You want to figure out how to drive your car fast first before modifying it.
At Design Engine, we are incredibly passionate about learning. We also love everything racing, whether it’s bicycles, motorcycles, rental cars, or even running up the stairs. Racing and learning have much in common because you learn so much each time you go out on the track. This is a lesson I was taught even as a kid when my dad showed me to reach back and grab the governer when racing go-carts. This showed me that even as a 65lb, 10-year-old kid, even I could set the fastest lap time on the track.
My dad raced motocross and enduros, so of course I also raced motocross as soon as I could ride a wheelie. Parents divorced, my mom could not tell us that racing was dangerous. dirtbikes started as soon as 4yo. Growing up in a racing family, my dad and I raced everything from running to the mailbox to swimming the length of the pool, soon i was able to beat him on the dirt. Understand that my father was an engineer. He made mountain bikes with rear suspension, complete with leather swing arms before bicycles were called mountain bikes circa 1974. Thirty years later, racing sportbikes was simply a natural next step where only attitude and money would hold me from giving it a try. Thanks to track days, I was able to ease into getting fast. Also, special thanks is due to NESBA and STT. I, Bart Brejcha, have compiled this list that has been explained to me by many people over the years.
My dad Rollen at 80 years old after riding a full day motocross all day at Durhamtown Plantation in Middle GA
With your kit lens, figure out your angles, your compositions, your bread and butter of your images. My first ‘proper’ lens after a kit lens was a Nikon 50mm f/1.8, which I still use. Once I got it, I shot everything with it because I loved the ‘blurry’ background from the f/1.8 setting. I was shooting on a Nikon D50 which I got gifted from my parents at the age of 16. All of the images below are old images of mine shot with my Nikon D50 and either the kit lens or 50mm lens. I still think my style can be seen in these images, it just got refined with the help of better gear and Photoshop knowledge over time.
here
I’m one who really doesn’t care about the technical specs of the gear I buy, it’s just not my interest. I’m not bothered how many megapixels the camera is or the slight changes in bokeh between two almost identical lenses. If I need a new camera/lens/piece of equipment, I Google ‘best [item I want] on the market’ and read a few reviews and then settle pretty quickly on what I want. [links]
You can learn composition, yes, but it will take a lot longer for you to naturally get the gist of a good image. I have always been artistic and think I’ve always had a talent for photography. The best way I can describe it is like looking at my subject through my lens and feeling like any one of these images, and once I ‘see’ the image, I know it’s right because suddenly it feels like all of those annoying, uneven things are ironed out. My compositions are more of an innate feeling than a decision. Yes, we all know about the golden ration and rule of thirds, but sometimes and image just feels right. The colours, the composition, the subject – it all just works. [links]
Left to right from top row: Wes Anderson, Ragnar Axelsson, Laurent Nivalle, Harry Benson, Ragnar Axelsson, Sebastião Salgado here
I personally struggle with the whole ‘needing to be continually liked’ a bit more than the usual person, though. My mum tells me that I really shouldn’t give a s**t what anyone else thinks, which is all well and good if you don’t care about the outcome. Like, I don’t give a s**t nasty things random strangers say about me on the internet. They are not going to end my incredibly fun career that I know I am truly blessed/lucky to be able to do and I will never, ever take it for granted.