{"id":17803,"date":"2012-10-22T12:42:35","date_gmt":"2012-10-22T16:42:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/?p=17803"},"modified":"2024-05-15T19:24:54","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T23:24:54","slug":"petit-le-mans-2002-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/petit-le-mans-2002-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"Petit Le Mans 2002 \/ 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Corvette C5R photographed from Spectator Hill, from the 2002 Petit Le Mans weekend at Road Atlanta.<\/p><\/div>\n

We went to our first Petit Le Mans in 2002\u2026ten years ago.\u00a0 Having a chance to go check it out again this past Saturday, I couldn’t help but reflect on how things have changed in the past decade.\u00a0 Maybe not so much for myself, but definitely for others in my life.<\/p>\n

I went back into the archive and found these photos from a decade ago.\u00a0 We had digital cameras back then, but the good ones were prohibitively expensive.\u00a0 I thought it would be cool to shoot film most of the weekend, back in October of 2002.\u00a0 I didn’t have any serious gear at the time, still getting by with an old Minolta Maxxum and a standard zoom.\u00a0 To this day, I might have been the only guy out there shooting black and white film of race cars–loud, gas devouring things that just go round and round.\u00a0 Not that the outcome of the race had any real effect on the happiness in my life, but for some odd reason, motorsports just has that pull on so many people.\u00a0 That was partly why we went, but you know, it’s always more about the people than the place.\u00a0 Grabbing some food to go, parking the car up on the hill and just talking and watching the traffic go by.<\/p>\n

I remember one race day, the topic of girls came up, and I blurted out to a friend, “Whatever, you’ll be the first to get married.”\u00a0 And it was true.\u00a0 I guess at some points in my life I have been prophetic, and lots of times not in a good way.\u00a0 That was ten years ago\u2026looking back and thinking about my own mental state, we were about as far as you could get from the “marrying type.”\u00a0 Still just kids really.<\/p>\n

In critiquing my old pictures here, it seems like I might have been a better “photographer” ten years ago.\u00a0 At least in the whole spirit of it all, of why we did it to begin with.\u00a0 It was honest back then.\u00a0 Even when it came to the meeting of people and stumbling into friendships and even crushes.\u00a0 It was a little more real then, the belief of chance meetings and serendipity.\u00a0 10 years ahead though, most everyone is already connected in some way, points to be collected.\u00a0 Not as many delightful surprises it seems, of falling head over heels for girls with four letter names.<\/p>\n

Like the slowest car, it seems like I’ve been lapped and lapped many times over.\u00a0 Would I personally change the last decade?\u00a0 Some days yes, some days no.\u00a0 While living humbly and trying to be content is the way so many great people throughout history taught, it’s hard to not be caught up in the competitive nature of modern life.<\/p>\n

Why am I wired to think like this, even when the sounds of race cars is deafening?\u00a0 I don’t know, it really is me.\u00a0 When you’re a spectator in a spectator sport, you pretty much end up taking the same pictures as the next guy, even if you’re sporting a 400mm lens worth as much as a used car.\u00a0 No need to compete, why bother.\u00a0 Standing there perhaps a better use of oxygen is to figure out what, if anything went right in the last ten years.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

2012 Petit Le Mans<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bookends of 10 Years at Road Atlanta.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17805,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[7,260],"tags":[131,160],"class_list":{"0":"post-17803","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-photos","8":"category-writing","9":"tag-black-and-white-film","10":"tag-film","12":"post-with-thumbnail","13":"post-with-thumbnail-large"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pelE0-4D9","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":120275,"url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/petit-le-mans-kickoff-2025-suwanee\/","url_meta":{"origin":17803,"position":0},"title":"Petit Le Mans Kickoff 2025 – Suwanee","author":"Boon.Vong","date":"October 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Petit Le Mans Kickoff 2025 Photos Suwanee Town Center | Oct 7, 2025 Another fun night in downtown Suwanee with these crazy race cars! Thanks to the drivers and teams for bringing the impressive machines and the lovely models for posing!\u00a0 The RA tent had a lot of good free\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Photos"","block_context":{"text":"Photos","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/category\/photos\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Petit-Le-Mans-Kickoff-Suwanee-2025-10-07-002_Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Petit-Le-Mans-Kickoff-Suwanee-2025-10-07-002_Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Petit-Le-Mans-Kickoff-Suwanee-2025-10-07-002_Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Petit-Le-Mans-Kickoff-Suwanee-2025-10-07-002_Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Petit-Le-Mans-Kickoff-Suwanee-2025-10-07-002_Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Petit-Le-Mans-Kickoff-Suwanee-2025-10-07-002_Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44235,"url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/2021-petit-le-mans-fri-photo-blog\/","url_meta":{"origin":17803,"position":1},"title":"2021 Petit Le Mans – Fri Photo Blog","author":"Boon.Vong","date":"November 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Motul Petit Le Mans - 2021-11-12 Fri Photo BlogMichelin Raceway Road Atlanta - Braselton, GA Hello everyone here are some of my photos from a lovely brisk morning at Road Atlanta for this year's Petit Le Mans.\u00a0 Similar to cars, there are just too many cameras and lenses to pick\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Photos"","block_context":{"text":"Photos","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/category\/photos\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2021_11_12_123_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2021_11_12_123_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2021_11_12_123_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2021_11_12_123_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2021_11_12_123_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58110,"url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/petit-le-mans-kickoff-suwanee-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":17803,"position":2},"title":"Petit Le Mans Kickoff Suwanee 2022","author":"Boon.Vong","date":"September 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In "Photos"","block_context":{"text":"Photos","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/category\/photos\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Petit_Le_Mans_Kickoff_Suwanee_2022_09_27_017_b-vong.com_Boon_Vong.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Petit_Le_Mans_Kickoff_Suwanee_2022_09_27_017_b-vong.com_Boon_Vong.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Petit_Le_Mans_Kickoff_Suwanee_2022_09_27_017_b-vong.com_Boon_Vong.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Petit_Le_Mans_Kickoff_Suwanee_2022_09_27_017_b-vong.com_Boon_Vong.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Petit_Le_Mans_Kickoff_Suwanee_2022_09_27_017_b-vong.com_Boon_Vong.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Petit_Le_Mans_Kickoff_Suwanee_2022_09_27_017_b-vong.com_Boon_Vong.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45024,"url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/anamorphic-petit-le-mans-2021\/","url_meta":{"origin":17803,"position":3},"title":"Anamorphic: Petit Le Mans 2021","author":"Boon.Vong","date":"December 9, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are my photos from a quick stay at Petit Le Mans this year.\u00a0 Had the normal gear for regular pictures, but I thought it would be neat to mostly shoot with the anamorphic ISCO taking lens combo.\u00a0 It definitely has an Xpan type of look.","rel":"","context":"In "Photos"","block_context":{"text":"Photos","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/category\/photos\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2021_11_13_027_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2021_11_13_027_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2021_11_13_027_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2021_11_13_027_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2021_11_13_027_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2021_11_13_027_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44187,"url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/petit-le-mans-kickoff-suwanee-ga-11-09-2021\/","url_meta":{"origin":17803,"position":4},"title":"Petit Le Mans Kickoff: Suwanee, GA – 11-09-2021","author":"Boon.Vong","date":"November 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Road Atlanta had their Petit Le Mans Kickoff right in our backyard of Suwanee, so I headed there with my random gear.\u00a0 It was good to try out the possible kit that I'm still deciding on for this weekend's race.\u00a0 I shot my normal Nikon 35\/105mm combo, but also wanted\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Photos"","block_context":{"text":"Photos","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/category\/photos\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2021_11_09_062t_b-vong.com_petit-le-mans.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2021_11_09_062t_b-vong.com_petit-le-mans.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2021_11_09_062t_b-vong.com_petit-le-mans.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2021_11_09_062t_b-vong.com_petit-le-mans.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2021_11_09_062t_b-vong.com_petit-le-mans.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2021_11_09_062t_b-vong.com_petit-le-mans.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":71220,"url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/petit-le-mans-kickoff-2023-suwanee-ga\/","url_meta":{"origin":17803,"position":5},"title":"Petit Le Mans Kickoff 2023 Photos – Suwanee, GA","author":"Boon.Vong","date":"October 11, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Road Atlanta PLM Kickoff | October 10, 2023 The kind folks at Road Atlanta brought race cars to our backyard once again!\u00a0 Thanks to everyone for the hard work.\u00a0 Above is a short video I cut.\u00a0 Since the event was so close I brought lots of different gear to goof\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Photos"","block_context":{"text":"Photos","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/category\/photos\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2023-10-10-Petit-Le-Mans-Kickoff-Suwanee-28-b-vong.com-Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2023-10-10-Petit-Le-Mans-Kickoff-Suwanee-28-b-vong.com-Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2023-10-10-Petit-Le-Mans-Kickoff-Suwanee-28-b-vong.com-Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2023-10-10-Petit-Le-Mans-Kickoff-Suwanee-28-b-vong.com-Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2023-10-10-Petit-Le-Mans-Kickoff-Suwanee-28-b-vong.com-Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"medium":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"large":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"vantage-thumbnail-no-sidebar":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"vantage-slide":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"vantage-carousel":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f-272x182.jpg",272,182,true],"vantage-grid-loop":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f-290x272.jpg",290,272,true],"yarpp-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f-120x120.jpg",120,120,true],"sow-carousel-default":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f-272x182.jpg",272,182,true],"sow-blog-portfolio":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"sow-blog-grid":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false],"sow-blog-alternate":["https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/05f.jpg",290,290,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Boon.Vong","author_link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/author\/admin\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Photos<\/a> Writing<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Bookends of 10 Years at Road Atlanta.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17803"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17803\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}