Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
Moderators: StuDeedooo

send them a picture of that constitution!

you might bring this up with MSPA???

I'm not 16 so therefore my opinion is of no 
consequence...

To show what has been a significant loyalty not just to Paul but to his Father Julian who was a photographer for many years at Kings Speedway and a mentor to me as well as selling me some of my best camera equipment I must say that I am alarmed by this. I'm pretty close to being willing to say that my trip to the Cotton Classic as part of the Calendar Fundraiser could be in question as a sign of support for Paul unless some significant legitimate reason for this can be presented. Please tell us it is more than simply sending a photo to a competing track. I'd be surprised since Paul Trevino is one of the most honest and easy going people I have ever met. I'm anxious to see how this unfolds.

In my opinion this weekend's "Tachi Open Wheel" event as well as the Cotton Classic in October are both events that will be critical in the future of Kings Speedway. This makes it crucial for them to welcome any and all press/media that come down so I think it's bad move what they are doing to you Paul. Kings Speedway needs some positive press and the upcoming winged sprint car shows need to be promoted and marketed. With some of the names I heard that are going to be there this weekend, it's crucial to get some kind of good press out.

Having Kings Speedway prosper will only help sprint car racing in the Central Valley. I've never understood any reason why there would be a fued between the Central CA tracks because the fans aren't the only ones that suffer. The tracks in the Central Valley have lost a significant amount of the fan base they used to have, but I really believe that if we can have two great tracks offering up some great sprint car racing, we will all win out in the end.

I know that I look forward to getting down to Hanford for the Cotton Classic to see my buddy Daveyboy and the gang. Good luck to Kings Speedway this weekend and we'll be having fun over at the Thunderbowl with the US Western Modified Nationals.

GT Promotions
http://www.mbracingteam.com/Gary_Thomas.html

It really does not suprise me at all. Since the age of the internet seems everyone wants to lay claim to the work of the photographers as if it were there own. Many of you know of my fued with Infineon Raceway and the public relations director that openly states the internet is not a legitimate media outlet. I have also made my feelings known about the way Watsonville conducts itself with regards to press media. That and the large percentage of "stars" that feel they deserve a portion of the proceeds a photographer makes all the way to the sponsor who thinks that you are infringing on their trademark if you sell (advertise their product) photos of the car with their name on it. All of these folks could do well to read copyright law and the first amendment rights of photographers(artists).

In fairness to the tracks and sanctioning bodies, I realize that there has been a 10 fold increase in the last two years. Seems that anyone with an extra 1k for a DSLR kit from CostCo is an immediate photographer. 25% of those are exceptionally good or even great photographers right out of the box. The rest not so much. Most are not willing to take the time to learn how their camera works, become a member of a professional organization or provide anything back to the people who provide them the press credentials in the first place. I do not blame the tracks for their attempts to weed out the ones that do not give back. Don't get me wrong, everyone has to start somewhere. But everyone needs to start out with the basics and work there way up.

Paul is far from that. As he states, his work is published in more places than most tracks are mentioned. In the case of Hanford, had he not provided press images of this year of winners to Speed Sport, Hoseheads or other media outlets, who would have. In addition to those photos for media outlets he provides a service to the teams. I hear from teams all the time of how they would like photos of a win or at speed from different tracks. Then they tell me they don't see anyone taking photos or the folks that are taking them just are not doing that good of job. Most of the time it is a track that shafts media people or the track photographer is someone they could get to do it for free and had their own camera. Paul is as close to a track photographer King's is going to get. They certainly are not going to get anyone better to come there every weekend. And as a credentialed professional, he can provide them with a level of media outlets that the snack bar person can not.

US Copyright law views photographic images, both film and digital, as art. As such they fall under the same laws as artwork and are protected by copyright law. In recent years digital photography has come under attack as not to be considered artwork because it can be manipulated. Again and again, copyright law has stated, the image no matter how minipulated it is, is still an image. Editing in photoshop is no different in their eyes than editing in a dark room. From Title 17: When an individual author’s ownership of a copyright, or of any of the exclusive rights under a copyright, has not previously been transferred voluntarily by that individual author, no action by any governmental body or other official or organization purporting to seize, expropriate, transfer, or exercise rights of ownership with respect to the copyright, or any of the exclusive rights under a copyright, shall be given effect under this title.

Here is the catch. Sanctioning bodies such as NBA, NFL and even IRL (nascar gave up a long time ago) will try to tell you what you can and can not do with regards to the use and sale of your photos. Bottom line is they can not. However, not many photographers can withstand the court costs associated with fighting that battle. Most of us have to be employed by someone else to be able to bring the images to media and fans alike.

Enough of my rant. Support the track or support Paul. Hard to do both.

Paul - Come join me at Tulare.

ATTENTION KINGS SPEEDWAY ! Instead of eliminating Paul Trevino, why not eliminate those that do you no good or don't supply you photos when needed? I have agreat list of Photogs that have already furnished Gold Cup photos and then I have several who have not supplied anything through out the year, so they will not be back. Heck I have Paul's disk already..I thought Kings needed all the GOOD PR they could get? Why would he give a Ra&$ A$%! if he supplied to another message board? JMO

Hey Robbie - Do you happen to have my memory stick? I think I just remembered what happened to it.

Many promoters could take a page out of the Pagen promoters book. While I don't agree with everything they do, more often than not they are spot on as in this issue.

Attention car owners and fellow drivers:

I'm not a photographer, but this is still something that needs to be said about Kings Speedway. I won the NCMA Wingless sprint race there nearly 2 weeks ago on Sept 15 and still haven't been paid. I've talked to the people at NCMA and it is because they haven't been paid by the speedway yet. It's a great race track and I had a blast racing there but they need to pull their heads out of their ass take car of the racers and the press cause we're the ones that really make a track what it is.

Nick Green

I have been to Kings 3 times this year covering the Western All Stars for National Dirt Digest. Each time I was there my name did not appear on the media list, even though I had received conformation from my editor each time. The girls in the office would handle it each time for me because by June they at least remembered me. I haven't been back since the remaining WAS shows were pulled from Kings and won't be covering the Western Dirt Track Nationals next month either.

John's right, there are tracks here in the Western US that "get it". I look forward to going to places like Bakersfield, Chico, Fernley, Casa Grande and Vegas because of how good those places are and how easy people there are to work with. And then there are places like Watsonville and Santa Maria, one I won't go to because of their media policy and the other because of how I have been treated in the past.

To follow up what Nick Green posted, there have been way to many stories from drivers I have talked to personally this season who had not been paid in a timely manner all season from Kings. That problem, in the end, is what is really going to hurt Kings Speedway.

http://www.raceimages.net

John, you mentioned a "ten fold increase" in the number of shooters in the past couple of years... I'm thinking that number is kind of low.

There were so many photogs in the infield at Gold Cup, I was looking around to see if Britney Spears was stepping out of a car with no panties!!!

And Art Spaulding wasn't even one of them. Remember the days when there was a "Track Photographer"? Maybe two, one for each end of the track.

I'm not justifying what is going on with Paul by any means, but man, short track infields are sure a busy place these days.

How many times have you been in the infield during Gold Cup Jim? I'm betting not that many. I never felt comfortable in the infield during the Gold Cup and I really only shot a couple. It always seemed there were WAY too many people in the turns when compared to any other event at Silver Dollar. Are there more now? I can't say. Back when I did the photog gig I had to fight a number of battles just to earn my spot in the infield and it wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't at least a little easier now since most of the folks that wanted to politicize everything have either retired or simply moved on. Even in the digital age there is still work involved if you are going to be legitimate and if you don't REALLY love it you won't last long. It's kinda like making your own beer with the idea you can make beer cheaper than you can buy it. Um...yeah...sure.....if you really don't value your time much I guess that would be true but it takes a month to make a batch of beer. Oh - also - if you're gonna last long as a racing photographer don't do your ROI (return on investment) analysis on a profit or loss basis because it also won't keep you at it for long (kinda like racing when you think about it). As for catching Britney Spears without any panties just take my word when I say that is one coochie I can honestly say I could have lived without seeing. Google and look at your own risk but the woman really needs to keep that thing covered :-)....

I never will understand why tracks, teams, sponsors, etc. have a problem with photographers taking shots of their "property". WTF! Like John said, It's free advertising! HELLO! Any kind of exposure is usually good for the parties involved! (except Britney LOL) At the tracks that I shoot at, I always give them a photo CD of what I 've shot at their track. It doesn't cost me much,(except my time which is minimal) and it not only helps them out in promoting, advertising, etc. but it gives me exposure too! It's a win win situation! Chris at Reno-Fernley, Judi at American Valley in Quincy, and Les at the now defunct Champion Speedway in Carson City understand this and are more than happy to accomodate me, and for that I am extremely grateful and proud to shoot for them. Our sport needs as much exposure as can be given, but I guess some people just don't get it.........

"RED EYES, WHITE KNUCKLES, and DIRTY BRITCHES!" 

I still dont know after all these years, who took this. Still my fav, if anyone knows, please shoot me an email. Thanks to Tahoe Mike for making me the interm care taker.

I'm not 16 so therefore my opinion is of no 
consequence...

Man I've always wanted to get into racing photography,but with all this drama I'm not too sure anymore!

Hey Stu...is that Rescino!? Man I used to hate that guy...I grew being a Mike Sargent fan!

Good luck Paul and everyone in dealing with the people at kings.

http://www.myspace.com/bkfan69

Man, That's a cool shot of Rescino! Check out how cool the supers were! To bad the cars don't have that kinda individual beauty now.......man I miss those days..............

"RED EYES, WHITE KNUCKLES, and DIRTY BRITCHES!"