Using a Superzoom Lens Trackside - Sigma 150-600mm lens 

British Racing and Sports Car Club 

Cadwell Park

Report by David Gowshall

8 Aug 2020

The coronavirus outbreak has brought lots of hardship and restrictions but since the “lockdown” was introduced I found myself being in the very fortunate position of being able to take Boris’s advice and work from home.  As a consequence I have no further requirement, for the foreseeable future, to make the daily 120 mile commute to my office in Leeds every day. 

The two obvious benefits of this are that I have far more energy at the weekend and I am financially better off for not having to fill up the car with fuel twice a week.



After many long dog walks and gardening initially, as motorsport has eventually been opened up to visitors, photography has provided me with an outlet for that excess energy, (believe me you need it walking around the undulations of Cadwell Park). 

What’s more, with some extra cash available I decided to take the plunge and purchase the telephoto zoom lens I’ve been wanting for some time.

My Sigma 150-600mm lens arrived in the post two weeks ago and like a child with a new toy I was unable to resist the temptation to try it out at the last two meetings at my local track, just twenty minutes drive away.

I’ve taken many thousands of shots at Cadwell Park over many years but I have to admit they were generally, although not exclusively, around the “woodland” part of the circuit. 



However, all the best spots highlighted in this section of the track and described in Pistonclick’s extensive Circuit Guide are out of bounds to spectators as a result of the pandemic , so I found myself with the challenge of finding some new spots on the quicker and more open  “parkland” section of Lincolnshire’s mini-Nurburgring. 

On this section of the circuit, which was opened up in 1961, initially with a bike meeting on August Bank Holiday, and then with the first car meeting in May 1962, spectators are much further away from the action, and a zoom lens, although not essential, opens up more opportunities.

This weekend’s BRSCC two-day meeting focused on a wide selection of Caterhams (not regular visitors to the Wolds circuit), Mazda MX-5s and Fiestas, and a new concept, the Clubsport Trophy, a mini-endurance event featuring cars, over 5 classes, as diverse as a Lotus Exise and a Porsche Boxster to a Suzuki Swift. 



To add to a huge grid that formed all the way back to Barn Corner, the inaugural running of the Citycar Cup, featuring a number of Peugeot 107s, Citroen C1s and Toyota Aygos were taking to the circuit at the same time.  The format also required a mandatory pit stop for all cars, providing an opportunity for a second driver to take the wheel, to take place during the race.

My visits to the circuit over the weekend, which is just twenty minutes from my home, were restricted to Saturday morning, which mainly included qualifying sessions, and the second half of Sunday afternoon, after I became bored watching the Safety Car lead Lewis Hamilton round Silverstone for lap after lap.



Little did I know of the drama that was to come in the later stages of the Grand Prix or the fact that those races I watched on Sunday afternoon would almost all end behind another Safety Car !!!

Caterham and Mazda MX-5 racing is well known for close and competitive action, but the marshals were kept very busy, waving flags of various colours, and clearing up broken cars and debris throughout the two days of action, as drivers seem to find it very difficult to stay on the “black stuff”.  

Some did, however, and they provided lots of close and exciting action enabling me try out my new toy. 

Being able to fill the frame whilst standing 100+ metres away provided a new experience for me and I must admit left me with a big smile on my face.



I’m really looking forward to using it at some other circuits over the remainder of the summer.

Finally, my views on the Clubsport Trophy and the City Car Cup, both in their very early days of development. 



Wide and diverse car types provided lots of variety in terms of getting images as a photographer, but from a spectator’s view, and commentators for that matter, who did their best to keep track and communicate what was going on, it was all very confusing.

The huge disparity in car performance meant the City Car drivers, who were surely fed up at blue flags being waved at them by the already overworked marshals, must have been very dispirited being constantly lapped and must have spent virtually all the race, like me when I’m travelling on my commute on the M62, pre-lockdown, looking in their mirrors to make sure they didn’t slow down or hamper faster drivers wanting to overtake

The idea is to be applauded as a way to get drivers involved in the sport but surely they deserve their own race, with cars of similar performance, to promote this low-cost formula (apparently a fully kitted out car can be acquired for less than £7K), to build up some self-confidence and let them give 100% concentration on what’s in front of them.

Next weekend, government permitting, I’m back at Cadwell for some BEMSEE motor cycle action, which will extend to a bumper 37 races over the two days, when Pistonclick’s adopted “grass roots” rider, the “Northern Monkey” Mick Pennell, will be in action on his 350 Yamaha, hoping to open his championship points tally after a disastrous 1^st round at Brands Hatch.

There will also be the chance to take in some sidecar action as local crew and current British champions, Todd Ellis and Charlie Richardson, will be taking part in two championship races on their home circuit, as part of the annual Sidecar Revival. 

Photographic Post Script



The superzoom lens is fast becoming the go-to lens for automotive sports photographers, and with good reason. It’s relatively light, relatively cheap and gives very good results even when pushed out to its maximum zoom, well mine does. Myself and Rob were both shooting with the Nikon 200 – 500mm lens at this meeting and have used it for some time. 

Previously we have used large prime lenses which will give you a better-quality image and are much, much better in low light but there are draw backs to long focal length primes.

Firstly, the weight - if you have had to lug a 500mm f2.8 around all day you will know what I’m talking about. Second is the cost - a top end Nikon prime will be up to 10x the cost of these versatile lenses. That brings me on to the main point why every amateur and semi-pro should have one of these in their kit bag - its versatility. 

On many occasions it’s the only lens I’ve taken to the track as it means I’m not swapping lenses and missing that shot / getting dust on my sensor / lugging around a heavy bag all day.

The ability to shoot at a long focal length then quickly select a shorter focal length has enabled me to capture a shot I would have missed with a fixed focal length. This is the main reason I why I use a super zoom, its versatility. 



You can see more of David Gowshall's work here