Browse Tag

crosscountry

2014 NEPG Sandlapper Enduro

It’s finally race season. I’m really happy to be out shooting again after what seems like a very, very long Winter. This past weekend I traveled with the crew from Outlaw Motorsports of Morgantown, WV. We hit the road for the NEPG Sandlapper Enduro in Salley, SC with two trucks loaded with gear and dirt bikes. Check out a selection of shots below from the pits, the tests, and some new graphics on the Team Outlaw bikes.

William "Cody" Ruckle at the 2014 Sandlapper Enduro in Salley, SC
William “Cody” Ruckle at the 2014 Sandlapper Enduro in Salley, SC

State Line NECXC Race

It was a quick ride from Morgantown to Mount Morris, PA this past Sunday to shoot at the race. It was definitely a beautiful day to be out racing or shooting.

As nice as the day was, the weather was still being a pain in the ass. A whole slew of a photographer’s favorite enemies were at play including harsh overhead sun, splotchy light through trees, and very dark wooded areas. I was shooting one minute at ISO 50 and the next at 1600. I did have two happy accidents though. One of the shots below looks like I was shooting through a huge scrim at camera right. The light was just soft compared to other moments. You can tell by looking at the shadow on the ground to the right of the rider. The other was the light being reflected off the water up into the riders helmet to light his face. Two neat lighting effects we try to do with gear at times, but nature did it on its own. Just had to see it happening and take the shots.

The riders never have it easy. They dealt with it all including hill climbs, mud holes, and some very, very slippery bridges. I’ve posted a shot of one very frustrated rider picking up a steaming bike after not making it over the crest of a hill climb. I felt bad for the dude but it’s a peek at the less glamorous side of these races. Most of photos we see are of riders moving fast and pitching the bike with wicked form. If only it was always like that; there would certainly be a lot less cussing. I didn’t have the heart (or the perfect focus) to post the shot of the dude wiping out on one of the bridges and falling down into the creek. Get back up, brush off, pick up the bike, and keep going.

Here are some of my favorites from the day.

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NEPG Foggy Mountain National Enduro

Well, there’s nothing foggy about Foggy Mountain. I got to travel to Blain, PA in the mountains outside of Harrisburg for a NEPG AMA/Rekluse National Enduro Series cross-country dirt bike race. The weather was hot, humid, and not foggy. Maybe that’s a different time of the year. I was traveling in the Team Outlaw chase vehicle and snagged some shots at one of the areas in which the brush wasn’t too thick to wade through. Here are a few of my favorites even though they’re all from the same spot.

Some of the shots include pro class riders Grant Baylor, Ian Blythe, Kyle McDonal, Paddy Holloway, WV’s own Thad Duvall, Ryder Lafferty, and Nick Davis. From Morgantown, WV, Cody Ruckle, Ryan Inmon, Andy Thorn, and Be Thorn.

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NECXC 2013 Round 2

Off to the higher elevations of West Virginia with Team Outlaw yesterday for Round 2 of the New East Coast XC series. Another chilly day but certainly great dirt bike racing. The highlights for this race, at least in terms of interesting photos, would be the mud holes. Some of my favorites are below. If you want to see a bunch more or purchase prints of shots that I snagged while out there, go to http://shop.marcseery.com

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NECXC 2013 Race 1

Brrrr. That’s what I have to say about today. Imagine being on a motorcycle for 2 hours in the freezing Pennsylvania weather, racing through the woods! I spent the day with Team Outlaw shooting the first race for the New East Coast XC series. This was a fun one. Lots and lots of mud without all the rain. There’s even a little bit of snow sprinkled in a few shots.

The way the wooded parts of the track were cut, there was a good bit of low hanging brush. This made shooting a bit interesting but if you were a spectator, that’s how you’d see it. I even heard a few mentions of scratched helmets; nothing a little wax won’t cure. Shots from these races can get really repetitive if you don’t access a lot of different spots. I was able to get to a few. Certainly made it to more than possible at an enduro. Here are some of my personal favorites without being too, too repetitive. Enjoy. –M

SNCC Cross Country Race, Summersville, WV

 

In the Spring, when weeks upon weeks of rain make the ground muddy and sloppy, you’re guaranteed some messy and slippery cross country dirt bike races. Until summer, the lack of leaves on the trees in these forests that are the home of the races in West Virginia create a stark contrast next to bright colored graphics and flashy riding gear; until they’re all covered in mud. Here are a few shots from an SNCC race last year in Summersville, WV.