AN INTRODUCTION

Welcome to what is an idea that I’ve toyed with for some time, essentially an automotive blog site created by myself, to put my photography work out for all to see, accompanied by words and thoughts from myself to hopefully, create something that isn’t completely tedious to read.

So, a little about me to give you an idea of background up to this point.

I’ve been in and out of the car scene for some years now, probably since 2009 or so? (wow I’m old!) my main interest over the years I guess as far as the automotive scene goes was Volkswagens, the stance movement I guess you’d call it? and the like. I’ve owned various cars over the years, a few of them what would be deemed show cars I suppose? the most well known being a Volkswagen Corrado I owned for 5 years, pictured here.

In the last few years my attention turned to Drifting and motorsport. Drifting was something I first came across from a local event, Perran Drift. Take one airfield on the cliff tops of a cold and windy north Cornish coast, a cart load of BMW’s, the odd S Body, and you’ve got Perran.

Perran introduced me (from memory) to drifting as a whole. At around the same time live streaming of things like the Irish Drift Championship and the British Drift Championship had gained momentum and had certainly caught my eye, and my interest. Drifting quickly became a massive interest of mine.

2018, still regularly heading to car shows with the Corrado and the local car club, I’d toyed previously to this the idea of getting a camera, Ultimate Dubs was coming up in March, I enjoyed taking photos but was sick of seeing my camera phone photos looking so dreadful.

Side note, the above is a massive pointer to something about myself… I am my own worst critic, and I’m extremely particular!

Anyway, where were we? Ultimate Dubs 2018! I’d bought a Canon 1200d with a kit lens, and off I went. 200 pounds spent and I was walking around the show using an actual camera taking photos of show cars. Looking back at those photos, shot on auto, I literally cringe! However… it was the start of something. Little did I know how far that would go…

Skip a few steps so that this isn’t effectively a really boring diary of my life… over the next couple of years my gear changed over and over again, I spent 95% of my spare time either reading Speed Hunters photography guides written by the man himself Paddy McGrath (who I’ve since met, and he’s not only an incredible photographer, but a thoroughly nice guy) or editing photos I’d taken at shows, local meets, and at Perran Drift.

So effectively what started out as a purchase for myself for taking better photos of shows, purely for my own viewing, had then picked up some local momentum, and I was really starting to enjoy what I did, whilst constantly not feeling like anything I did was good enough, obviously.

The years from 2018 through to 2020 saw all sorts go on, not to mention the pandemic that must not be named… I ended up going to Poland for the Raceism show, various Perran Drift events, did some individual shoots for people, got my first ever magazine feature for Hayburner magazine of a local split window VW bus, it really had been a cracking couple of years.

However, I’d always fancied the idea of not only going to a bigger drifting event, but getting Media access for one. Come the end of 2020 I’d in my head set myself a goal, get myself media for the British Drift Championship for one event by the end of the year. Now I want to make it clear here… I REALLY thought this was an ambitious target to set myself! I was going to do what I could to make it happen.

Come 2021 events even going ahead was questionable, however through social media I’d got word of an event happening at Three Sisters in Wigan, Drift League GB (formerly Retro Drift Challenge). I was aware of this in the past through a friend who competed, Matt Smith. Matt is fairly local to myself and had been a big supporter for me going to do media at something bigger than Perran.

One media application sent to my now good friend Kai, and I found myself at Three Sisters Circuit.

Arriving at Drift League was, quite frankly, terrifying! I didn't really know anyone, I’d never been to something of this scale even as a spectator, I’d never been to this track, and I had one day to give it my best go.

I was quietly determined, I knew there were people at this event that could help me get further, so if anything I felt I had something to prove. I always feel pretty poorly about my own work, but regardless of that I kind of felt like I just had to do my thing and see what’s what.

One thing I will say is if anyone has ever thought about doing media work at something like BDC etc, then do something like this first, 110%. It was an eye opener, but it also opened doors for me that I never thought even remotely possible, not to mention I got to be around drivers who I’d only seen on social media or on live stream.

At Drift League I first met another person who I now consider to be a good friend, Matthew Bease. Matts been head of BDC media for a few years now, I knew he was there on the morning but truth be told I didn’t really know who was who on the day! But by the end of the day we’d chatted a fair bit (despite him having a fairly savage hang over) and we’d got on really well, not to mention he gave me plenty of advice.

The first round of the British Drift Championship was approaching… I didn’t believe in a million years that I could get media access there, I was fairly late to the party with it so to speak, and I naturally felt like I was nowhere near that level. I’d booked hotels to go and spectate, as I wanted to get an idea of what’s what at that level, not to mention the event was due to be pretty huge.

So you can probably imagine at this point my reaction when I got the invite to be on the media team for Round one of BDC 2021…

So at this point, the goal (that I thought was un realistic) that I had set myself for the end of 2021 had been achieved at the very first BDC round.

If Drift League was a major step up the ladder, then this was quadruple that. Suddenly I find myself on the media team for the UK’s biggest Drifting championship, having never even spectated at an event, surrounded by people who I’ve idolised for years. A mixture of terrified, anxious, yet excited is probably the best description of emotions at that point.

3 days of the BDC round 1 at Teesside autodrome and I was absolutely loving it, it was definitely a challenge being surrounded by some of the best media in the UK who I was working alongside of, but it was such an incredible experience.

I’m not going to go into detail on the full BDC season, as I’m going to pop up a blog post summarising that. What I will say is Round 1 opened the door for me to a whole new world. Since then I’ve been at every BDC round this year, Battle Royale, the Foundation event, another round of Drift League, shooting for the Drift Outlaws at BHP fuel fest down here, multiple Perrans, and some individual shoots, and the year Isn't over yet.

So as I write this towards to middle of October 2021, I’ve had what’s been a pretty incredible time, I’ve worked hard, and I’ve already achieved so much more than I thought I would. Moving forward I’m hoping to go even further…

So, to summarise… (If you’ve made it this far fair play to you!)

I’m using my website here to hopefully post some of my work in a blog type format moving forward. I’ll have work on my socials but I’d like to try and use this to effectively put some words to images. I’m going to be using this as reference and information for anyone who would like to work with me in whatever way, and I’m always open to ideas, near or far.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of wonderful people from so many different areas, teams, backgrounds etc. I can’t be thankful enough for all of it.

So anyway, have a browse here, see what you think, and lets see what the future brings!

Peace out,
George.