No idea, sorry. I'll try to find out.

Possibly a half-baked idea, this, but quite a few Pentax aficionados are gathering in Leicestershire on March 9, to do some farmland photography, and I thought this might be a natural extension for anybody who wants to spend their whole weekend burning through SD cards.

On Sunday March 10, Mallory Park (near Hinckley) hosts its first motorsport meeting of the year - opening round of several regional motorcycle championships. I usually have the unfair advantage of a media tabard at race meetings, but you really don't need one at Mallory. The following were all taken from general spectator enclosures.

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Motorcycle%20racing/WilliamsHondaetal1-1_zpsed3a4a90.jpg[/IMG] 1 - 150mm

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Motorcycle%20racing/ThundersportGP1group1-1_zps10c2711c.jpg[/IMG] 2 - 300mm

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Motorcycle%20racing/HeatonDucati1-1_zps405352e2.jpg[/IMG] 3 - 70mm

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Motorcycle%20racing/bike41_zpsccdee418.jpg[/IMG] 4 - 230mm

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Motorcycle%20racing/McNeilSuzuki1-1_zps61f1c82d.jpg[/IMG]5 - 100mm

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Motorcycle%20racing/sidecar14_zpsd3236e41.jpg[/IMG] 6 - 290mm

And, sometimes, this happens in the field adjacent to the pit straight (although I can't guarantee as much on this occasion)...

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Motorcycle%20racing/mx40_zps7cfb6765.jpg[/IMG] 7 - 70mm

I'll be there and two other Pentax folk have so far expressed an interest. We'll probably meet in the paddock café circa 8.00-8.15 (egg, beans, mushrooms, hash browns and a pint of tea for about a fiver). The website quotes running time as 8am-5pm: practice doesn't usually start until 9am but there is always plenty of interesting mechanical clutter around the paddock.

Tickets are £13 on the gate, or £11 if purchased in advance through the official website link. I should point out that I have no official connection with the circuit, but sometimes have to go there for work-related reasons and absolutely love the place...

I've just received a message from one of my contacts at the circuit: March 10 is definitely the first scheduled race meeting. I don't want to hijack the original thread, so will start something fresh later on, with sample photos and details of the Mallory event. There has been a smattering of interest, so anybody who fancies a photographic double-header in Leicestershire will be more than welcome to join us.

Thanks, chaps. Yes, the second Battersea shot is a little weird - I mucked around with Topaz Adjust 5 and obtained a couple of fairly extreme results I quite liked, even though they were several steps away from reality. The original (shot as a jpeg with very mild contrast adjustments in PSE10) lurks below. Not sure this really works either, mind...

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/simonarron%202/BPS5_zpsc838ebb7.jpg[/IMG]

According to the Mallory website, Vic, there's a track day on the 9th and a race meeting on the 10th. I'll double-check with the circuit.

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/simonarron%202/BPS2_zpscd055eca.jpg[/IMG] 1 - Battersea Power Station by morning

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/simonarron%202/KentHouse1-1_zps3a105767.jpg[/IMG] 2 - "The train approaching Platform 3 calls at Stockholm, Godthaab and all stations to Orpington..."

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/simonarron%202/bike1-1_zps79467b7f.jpg[/IMG] 3 - Not bothered

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/simonarron%202/Piccadilly1-1_zps5246109a.jpg[/IMG] 4 - Piccadilly Circus

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/simonarron%202/BMWcrash2-1_zps351f34f5.jpg[/IMG] 5- Electronic stability programs are all very well, but the laws of physics still apply. And besides, jogging is quicker...

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/simonarron%202/Thames1-1_zpsaacda52a.jpg[/IMG] 6 - Albert Bridge

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/simonarron%202/BPS3_zps2cad658d.jpg[/IMG] 7 - Battersea Power Station by evening

I can't do March 9, sadly, but if any of you fancied making it a full-on, Pentaxians-run-riot-in-Leicestershire weekend, there is a motorcycle race meeting scheduled at Mallory Park, near Hinckley, on March 10. And Mallory is one of the UK's best circuits in terms of photo access from public areas.

Just a thought.

Got up at 4am with the best of intentions, but have opted to put discretion before a 400-mile return trip because my back still hurts like hell and seems to require more than a couple of Paracetamol. I might pop out to take a few snaps locally, but would prefer to be in the Peak District. Have a wonderful day, all.

Yes, but mooching around the corner from Glossop involves the Snake Pass, which was closed for all but about 20 minutes a year when I lived in Sheffield. I can be reasonably certain that the M1 will have at least one open lane...

Looking a little less good for me - I've somehow contrived to tweak my back (not sure how, since I've done nothing to trigger it) and have been in significant discomfort for a few hours. I'll rise at daft o'clock with the intention of driving to Castleton, then see how I feel. As my irreversible stupidity is well established, I'll doubtless give it a go...