Well, after a few years away due to the Covid 19 pandemic and also personally suffering a heart attack and double bypass surgery in May of 2020, I finally made it back trackside to do one of the things I love most. Motorsport photography. Fortunately, through some good luck, I was able to get a media-pass to the Gridlife Alpine event, and boy what an event.

First off let me say that I have shot other smaller time-attack (Super Lap Battle) and HDPE events, but nothing compares to a Gridlife event. What a weekend full of the love of motorsport. I met so many wonderful people and witnessed so many amazing cars. It’s one thing to visit a F1, GT, or NASCAR level race, but to go to an event mainly consisting of individuals without giant racing budgets, who put their sweat and time into these vehicles, and then go race them just for the fun and glory, well… nothing really beats that feeling of being surrounded by those passionate people.

Gridlife Alpine Horizon Festival at Pikes Peak International Raceway was also my first opportunity to shoot on-track drifting (versus cones in a lot). Man, was that fun! Aside from the small chunk of rubber that taught me a lesson, lol, shooting cars drifting and in the smoke is a whole different challenge than track racing. I feel I got some really great shots, but was really just a learning experience

Ford Mustang drift car at Gridlife Alpine Horizon Festival, Pikes Peak International Raceway, 2022

BMW drift car at Gridlife Alpine Horizon Festival, Pikes Peak International Raceway, 2022

BMW drift car "Drift Doctor" at Gridlife Alpine Horizon Festival, Pikes Peak International Raceway, 2022

Subaru BRZ drift car at Gridlife Alpine Horizon Festival, Pikes Peak International Raceway, 2022

Nissan Maxima drift car at Gridlife Alpine Horizon Festival, Pikes Peak International Raceway, 2022

Arriving early on Friday I was able to catch the driver’s meeting and have a nice leisurely walk around the paddocks. It’s really amazing what people can do when they love something and make it their own. Got to see lots of wonderfully done-up track cars, insane drifting machines, to guys just out to put down the best time they can in their stock sports car. The wide variety of vehicles was truly inspiring. Definitely lots of head turners around the paddock. Here’s just a few.

Trying to keep up as a solo photographer at this event was definitely challenging, but I was glad that PPIR was a small track and was easy to get about; unlike shooting at COTA which requires having a golf cart to get around the track effectively. Friday was wonderfully sunny and I was glad I stayed into the evening that night to shoot the nighttime drifting. Unfortunately, Saturday was utterly grey and filled with mist on and off all day. I did my best to tough it out, but once the heavy misting started around 6 pm I had to call it a day. Since the heart surgery I get cold easily, and while I did my best to tough it out cold and wet makes for an unhappy photographer.

Sunday morning I headed out to the rally stage area and met the wonderful guys at Rally Ready. I wish I had headed out there on Friday to catch the early action and all the dust before the rain, but was able to grab a few good snaps on Sunday morning. The rest of Sunday I made sure to catch as much as I could of the track action.

All in all, I can’t wait to go to another Gridlife event. Please make sure to visit the gallery as there is a lot of material there for your viewing enjoyment. If you’re a driver or team and would like to get images please use the contact page or email me.

Willful Photoblog

Gridlife Alpine Horizon Festival 2022