Today we are going back, back to last century, back before children, two lifetimes ago you could even say. The other day I saw an ad for the Australian Moto GP 2023. I thought about it, but I have a bit on this year so I wont be heading down. I did go and dig out the rolls that I shot at the 1999 event though. I must just preface this post by saying that I am not a great sports photographer. It is not something that I do a lot of and so if practice makes perfect, lack of practice makes far far from perfect. Rather than subject you to the unedited stream of bad photos I'll just show you three things. Mick Doohan had been injured for most of the 99 season and was going to retire. They gave him the opportunity to do a lap of honor, so he climbed on his mighty NSR500 for a last lap of the island. Being really bad at listening to the announcers crapping on, I of course missed the important bit and could not get anywhere near the fence to get a pic as he roared past what is now Doohan corner. Here is a bad, far away view of the marshalls lining the track at Honda corner to wish him well, shot from behind all the people who had gotten to the fence first because they were listening.
Second thing. There was a lot of talk about a certain young Italian who was impressing in the 250s after winning the 125 World Championship in 97. I took many bad photos of the about to become legendary number 46. Only one was anywhere near worth showing. The doctor, of course, won the 250 race and went on to win the 250 championship that year and then another seven championships once he moved to the main game.
The main photos that I was happy with (lucked out on), were of the fabulous Taddy Okada who won the 500 race. After taking the checkered flag, Taddy slowed and stopped after Doohan corner and waved a couple of young Japanese guys waving the rising sun out onto the track. They were wrapped and charged out, more than happy to offer up their flag to Taddy. It was a super joyous moment for the fans. I reeled off some shots until the end of the roll. Taddy -- legend, those young guys will remember that FOREVER.
That is it for this post, I will return to the present day. A final note for interest sake, film in the camera that day was Kodak Gold 400 generation 6. It was pretty good, easy to scan and not terribly grainy. The only real advance in film since the 1990's has been the Portra series of emulsions which I think borrow tech from the Vision motion picture films. The point being that even though the quality of the film is not much different, I was still able to go to the filing cabinet, pull out the negs from Oct 1999, scan then and put them up on my website. I dont have my computer from 1999, film is a time machine. Get into it people!
Back soon with more thoughts and photos!
