There are some great pics from him in that Gallery. Shout out to the Pentax k1000!
With another Pikes Peak Hill Climb in the books, GRM photographer Rupert Berrington celebrates 35 years covering the event. Rupert has been part of the GRM family for decades, regularly shooting the SCCA championship events for road racing, autocross and rallycross. Then add in all of the regional events.
It all started with a chance trip to the 1981 Austrian Grand Prix. Rupert was in Europe to celebrate his high school graduation. “I bought my first SLR camera for this trip, a Pentax K1000,” he tells us. “Since the age of 7, I had a Kodak Instamatic.”
"Jaques Laffite won,” he continues. “$10 general admission ticket. I camped overnight in a sleeping bag on the track and could hear them working on the cars to midnight. Saw Gilles Villeneuve lead the first lap. Hooked for life!”
“My dad had his own darkroom when I was young, so I learned all the basics from him. Over the next few years, I learned about other forms of racing and really started to like rally.”
Then he found out that the Pikes Peak Hillclimb took place not too far from his Colorado home.
“One year I had bought the annual Automobile Year and I read a big article about Pikes Peak and I was amazed that there was such a cool race an hour from where I lived,” he recalls. “I finally made it up there in 1987 and have been hooked ever since.”
What keeps bringing him back? “PPIHC has some of the best photographic opportunities with sunrises and amazing backgrounds that makes it one of the best races on the planet to photograph.”
He’s a competitor, too, as his Subaru WRX also doubles as his rallycross car. “I usually only do a couple events a year because of the conflicts with my working schedule,” he notes, “Last year was the first time in 14 years I did a whole season because many of my jobs got cancelled. I won my first championship in 14 years: Colorado Region Stock AWD Class–two wins, two seconds and a fourth.”
So, he adds, now a five-time champion with Colorado SCCA. Plus two ice racing titles. “Nineteen career wins, but who is counting,” he notes.
There are some great pics from him in that Gallery. Shout out to the Pentax k1000!
In reply to CrustyRedXpress :
Yes, terrific photos, and the K1000 rules. We used them in high school photo class: simple and durable. Plus you can still take photos if the battery goes dead--you just lose the light meter.
I'd love to pick up one. I know they're out there. Just need to get one.
And I just checked K1000 prices on Etsy--dang. Some people are asking $300+ for one with lens. I should see what our local guy gets for one. (We actually a vintage camera shop here in Daytona.)
I have some of Rupert's great photos from SCCA Solo Nationals over the years. Thanks, Rupert, you have made our world a little more special.
Hey David, I have my whole K1000 setup on my shelf of stuff that I will probably never use again. Case, manual, three lenses, two ancient light meters. Needs a new home.
In reply to Danny Shields (Forum Supporter) :
I should say yes, please, shouldn't I?
Displaying 1-5 of 5 commentsView all comments on the GRM forums
You'll need to log in to post.
