by
genevh » Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:19 pm
Hey Rusty....
No, I haven't tried carrying a monopod in to a Nascar race yet. The stands tend to be bit crowded since they try to jam as much humanity into as small a space as possible. I could probably do it, but would have to be really careful with it. And I try to be real careful with my camera anyway. I don't want to be bumping in to people with my lens and I always tell the person beside me to elbow me if I get in the way of their seeing the race. So far I have not been elbowed and would like to keep it that way.
Most of the tracks we have been to try to limit you on what you can carry in. The first race we went to at Martinsville, I had walked in carrying my camera back pack, to find they only allowed clear backpacks in. We had parked a bit of a ways away, and going in was downhill. You can only imagine my frustration at having to lug that thing all the way back to the car. I was told I could have left it at the gate and take my chances, but there was no way in hades I was going to do that! I missed the first 120 laps of the race because of that. Now I make it a point to check their rules, but we also invested in a set of clear back packs. I can carry a spare lens in with me, but changing lenses under race conditions is not that advisable and I have not mastered changing a lens with the camera inside a plastic bag, especially if I can't see what I'm doing.
But then, I could always use a large garbage bag and put it over my head. That may not improve my view any, but would improve the view of those around me.