Sharkman's Lucky Shot

by Sharkman

Jens Nybo loses a wing on the top end as Barry Sheavills marches. Photo by Sharkman

This is called the lucky shot simply because it had no right to come out, let alone be sharp and have everything in it! It was taken handheld, at the long end of a 75-300mm lens from the spectator banking with a shutter speed of about 1/30th of a second! It should have been camera shake city; all the others I took were, apart from this one. It was taken back in '98 at the European Finals at Santa Pod and captures what for many was the moment that decided the '98 top fuel championship. 

Coming into the event, it was between Barry Sheavills and Jens Nybo for the title. This shot was taken during Nybo's second qualifier and captures the moment that his rear wing collapsed after the car suffered violent tyre shake. The team had to sit out all of the final days qualifying sessions to fix the chassis and wing and got no chance to get a baseline tune up. Barry's team made the most of the qualifying to sort the tune up out and went on to clinch the FIA title and also record Britain's first 4 second pass that weekend.

Canon EOS 50e, Canon 75-300mm USM Lens 

Sharkman
http://www.eurodragster.com/sharkman