Any tips for photographing track and car show?

[wong]

I am going to a Porsche China event ( http://www.porsche-event.cn/fp2010/en/main.html ) where there will be two rounds of the Porsche cup races on a track and I presume a car show. I have a 993C4S and Porsche HK have invited a few air cooled owners if they can borrow the cars for ~ 4 weeks (shipping to and from Hong Kong and Beijing). They are providing flights , accomodation, service and detail in return.

I have a Nikon D40, the 18-200 lens, 18-55 kit lens and a Sigma 30, F1.4 lens. Usually I only use it for holiday pics and the kids pics. So, probably aim your responses at the enthusiastic beginner level.

Any tips for photographing cars on track ? Probably big telephoto, panning
Do people use polarizers for car pics?

[Felters]

there's quite a few threads on this... but in summary for the track shots when the car is passing in front of you - turn the camera to speed priority ("S" on the mode dial) and set the speed to 125th second. Set it to continuous shooting and pan the camera on the car, shooting as it passes. Done proper;y this will give a blurred background, wheel rotation etc. and a sense of speed. Use the 18-200 lens.