In Part 1 I showed you guys my picks for the most visually appealing photos from the past year. Now, on to my most impactful and best story-telling photos of the year.

(Above) Formula Drift Las Vegas, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nevada, United States

In this photo, Rhys may be thanking a higher power, or perhaps he is just grateful of the Formula Drift judges decision to give him the win. Either way this picture shows a winner, and his uncontrollable expression of celebration.

Formula Drift Palm Beach, Palm Beach International Raceway, Florida, United States

How do you decide who to spray first when you are on the 1st place step? In this case, Vaughn decided to spray Justin Palwak, who sprayed Darren McNamara, who sprayed an unsuspecting Falken Tire spokesmodel. It’s like a Champagne spray-tipede.

Oslo, Norway

I didn’t actually believe Fredric Aabso when he said he built his entire car in his mom’s basement. That was until I actually saw his mom’s basement, which had been converted into a fully fledged shop. However, Fredric could not explain why he had a machete on his wall of tools.

Undisclosed location, Belgium

Somehow this guy knew the AE86 would become a future classic. He was right, and now he owns arguably the most original AE86 in the world.

Global Time Attack New Jersey, New Jersey Motor Sports Park, New Jersey, United States

Chris Rado’s time attack cars are like his drag cars. They are insane, and it’s such a huge feat to control that insanity. All he needs is one or two hot laps to break a track record.

Global Time Attack Sonoma, Infineon Raceway, California, United States

“Slick” and “Philly” keep Chris sane at the track, as well as at home. The interaction between the bunch is like watching a proud father with his two children. It shows the softer side of an otherwise hardened race car driver.

Global Time Attack New Jersey, New Jersey Motor Sports Park, New Jersey, United States

Mike “peeweezy Fosheezy” Alejos, looked like he was about to lay a stiff hand on Gandolf “the grey mechanic.” Of course, they were just having a friendly conversation. That night, Gandolf quit the team indefinitely.

Formula Drift Palm Beach, Palm Beach International Raceway, Florida, United States

This year I had a chance to spend quite a bit of time with drivers outside the track.

Formula Drift Palm Beach, Palm Beach International Raceway, Florida, United States

This allowed me to photograph them relaxing and having fun. Matt Powers hit the east coast surf before qualifying. What a great way to release stress.

World Drift Series Tianjin, China

I love documenting people going through culture shock. I had a chance to snap this photo of team America, as we were heading to our hotel from the airport. The bus we hired got rear ended and we sat on the freeway during rush hour for more than 30 minutes.

World Drift Series Tianjin, China

I like hearing how different people reproduce engine sounds with their mouths. This was Ross Petty making rotary sounds, while talking about Kyle Mohan’s FC RX-7.

World Drift Series Hang Zhou, China

Photo and video journalists just never seem able to separate from their work. We are always shooting. These two video guys and the very fashionable photographer were about to embark on a 14 hour plane ride.

World Drift Series Hang Zhou, China

Manpower is quite cheap in China. It’s much easier for a group of guys to pull cars off trailers than to use a wench.

World Drift Series Hang Zhou, China

As most of you know, the unsung heroes of racing are the mechanics. On many occasions I’ve seen guys work all night til daybreak, with a short stop at the hotel for food and a quick shower before heading back out to the track for another day of wrenching.

World Drift Series Tianjin, China

One of the things I always look forward to photographing during a drift competition are the top 16 introductions.

World Drift Series Hang Zhou, China

Some drivers wave to the crowd awkwardly, but others have a patented move they do every time.

World Drift Series Hang Zhou, China

This is my favorite “uh oh” story telling photo of the year. The fact that Kyle Mohan has his hand up like that makes me wonder. Was he was trying to touch Vaughn’s car? Maybe he was jokingly gesturing that if the Mustang fell, he could catch it. Either way, this moment was just nuts.

World Drift Series Hang Zhou, China

In drifting, you can call for five minutes to fix your car in between tandem battles. It’s rare that I get to be in the pits when a 5 minute call runs out of time. Vaughn’s face, and body language really shows what he is feeling at this moment in time

Formula Drift Irwindale, Irwindale Speedway, United States

This is what it looks like when the voice of Formula Drift, Jarod DeAnda, throws an all beef burrito, full speed at your face.

Formula Drift Irwindale, Irwindale Speedway, United States

Team Need for Speed DJ, Miki Taka, learned quite a bit about “photo stance” this year.  She was practicing taking photos of hood pins with my moon-maker lens.

Formula Drift New Jersey, Wall Speedway, New Jersey, United States

The life of a race car driver can be very glamorous. I am the first one to admit the jealously that comes out every now and then when I follow these guys around. However, it’s not all fun and games.

Formula Drift Irwindale, Irwindale Speedway, United States

There is an expectation to perform well at all times, no matter what is going on in your life. You have to become an emotionless robot. Some drivers can do it, and some drivers can’t help but be human.

Formula Drift Palm Beach, Palm Beach International Raceway, Florida, United States

This year Team Need for Speed team-mates, Matt and Fredric, had to face off two times in competition.

Formula Drift Las Vegas, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nevada, United States

Matt would come out victorious on both occasions, but neither win came easy. I was torn between the two both times. It was hard to decide whether to photograph Matt and his team celebrating, or to capture the instant grief that was brought upon Fredric’s team.

Gymkhana 4, Universal Studios Backlot, California, United States

Real explosions were used during the shooting of Ken Block’s Gymkhana 4. I found myself twitching everytime they went off. I don’t know how Ken stays so still, considering how close he had to stand to the explosions.

Formula Drift Seattle, Evergreen Speedway, Seattle, United States

When I first met Steffen, he was not photogenic at all. Now, whenever I’m around he is a regular ham in front of the camera.

Gatebil, Rudskogen, Norway

One of the things I loved about Gatebil is the uniqueness of the cars that were being driven to the limit.

Gatebil, Rudskogen, Norway

This year I got to practice taking self portraits. How often do you get strapped in to a 4 rotor RX-7 by a big Norwegien dude?

Gatebil, Rudskogen, Norway

This photo pretty much sums up Gatebil in a nutshell. Sipping on your beverage of choice, on your living room couch, while cars drifted and helicopters flew overhead. What a life.

Formula Drift New Jersey, Wall Speedway, New Jersey, United States

The doors on drift cars don’t do much besides keep the wind out. I’ve never seen a door smashed into so many pieces.

Formula Drift Palm Beach, Palm Beach International Raceway, Florida, United States

Fredric is always a kid in a candy store when he is at the track. I bet he drifted his Big Wheel when he was little.

Formula Drift Palm Beach, Palm Beach International Raceway, Florida, United States

I consider Rhys Millen the most serious out of all the drivers on the current Formula Drift grid, but everyone, including Rhys, lets loose once in a while.

Oslo, Norway

This was my second time to a real radio station. I could not understand a single word of banter between Fredric, and the disc jockies. Although I think they really liked their hometown hero.

SPA 24HR, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium

This scene seriously blew my mind. That was steam rising off Edward Sandstrom’s back, from driving an extra long stint at the 24 hours of Spa. I’m guessing it gets pretty hot in that BMW Z4.

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Pikes Peak, Colorado, United States

It’s great to see how much pride Japanese race car drivers have in their own country. Many fans waited an hour for Monster Tajima to come back down the mountain, just for a hand shake.

Formula Drift Irwindale, Irwindale Speedway, United States

I have to hand it to Dai for helping out his country in time of need. He heavily pushed a fundraiser to provide relief to those affected by the earthquakes in Japan. I think we need more selfless people like him in the world.

Formula Drift New Jersey, Wall Speedway, New Jersey, United States

Linhbergh wanted to know what it is like to change tires for a race team. I don’t think he lasted very long.

Formula Drift New Jersey, Wall Speedway, New Jersey, United States

2011 was the year of rain for Formula Drift. Four out of the seven stops had some sort of rain storm come by.

Formula Drift New Jersey, Wall Speedway, New Jersey, United States

I like seeing that the staff are still fans of the sport. It’s hard to do your job well when you lose the passion for it.

Formula Drift New Jersey, Wall Speedway, New Jersey, United States

Matt seems to have a pretty consistent ritual during the top 16 introductions now. Throw a T-shirt, and if it is safe, climb a fence.

Formula Drift New Jersey, Wall Speedway, New Jersey, United States

Conrad Grunewald was at the forefront of the backwards entry style at FD. I was happy to see him on top for one of the rounds this year.

Formula Drift New Jersey, Wall Speedway, New Jersey, United States

I am always on the road, so unfortunately I can’t have any pets. I certainly get my fix when I see my friend’s pets at the track. This was a great moment between Ceaser and Jarod.

Formula Drift New Jersey, Wall Speedway, New Jersey, United States

Sometimes finding a different angle on things is as simple as getting behind your subject.

Ultimate drift, Texas Motor Speedway, Texas, United States

I swear, Fredric is the king of drift demonstrations.

Ultimate drift, Texas Motor Speedway, Texas, United States

It was hard for me this year to keep the Back to the Future references to a minimum.

Formula Drift Atlanta, Road Atlanta, Georgia, United States

There were just too many occasions when I was reminded of a certain Delorean.

Just Drift Top Drift, Willow Springs International Raceway, California, United States

Although, im sure the owners of the cars probably didn’t think it was too funny. But what’s not funny about time travel?

Formula Drift Long Beach, Streets of Long Beach, California, United States

FD safety steward, Doug Artus, was probably wondering how that wing would look on his mantle. If we could only keep the souvenirs we find trackside.

Formula Drift New Jersey, Wall Speedway, New Jersey, United States

One of my favorite action photos of the year is of Kenneth Moen scraping the guardrails of the tiny bowl course. There would have been some projectiles for sure if someone had left their camera gear on the rail.

Formula Drift Atlanta, Road Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Introducing Darth Powers.

Formula Drift Atlanta, Road Atlanta, Georgia, United States

One of the Speedhunters Facebook users said it best: “and not a single care was given that day.” A perfect example of the lighter side of the paddock.

Formula Drift Atlanta, Road Atlanta, Georgia, United States

If this was a scene out of an action movie, the VK56 powered 370z would explode as soon as Chris touched his hat. He would also continue to walk forward in slow motion, never looking back at the awesome explosion behind him.

Global Rally Cross, Irwindale Speedway, California, United States

Cars jumping over cars is such a simple idea, but it rarely happens in racing. You better believe I went out of my way to get that perfect jump shot.

Scion tC test day, Willow Springs International Raceway, California, United States

I think Fredric approved of his brand new drift car. One of the very unique things about drifting is the little tiny pocket of smoke that develops from the rear tires coming in contact with the track surface. You know there is some insane wheel speed going on when that bulge of smoke appears.

Formula Drift Atlanta, Road Atlanta, Georgia, United States

I’ve been lucky enough to ride with some of the professional drifters on the FD circuit, and it always amazes me how busy they are with their arms and legs when they are drifting. They are shifting, using the e-brake, kicking or slipping the clutch, throwing the steering wheel and on occasion waving to the crowd.

Formula Drift Long Beach, Streets of Long Beach, California, United States

I decided to become the resident Long Beach spider monkey, climbing the catch fence to mount a couple of my remote cameras for a overhead view of the action.

Formula Drift Long Beach, Streets of Long Beach, California, United States

From this angle, you can really see how close Matt got to Chris, as they came out of turn 10 on the famous street course.

Formula Drift Long Beach, Streets of Long Beach, California, United States

Privateers can sometimes lose scope of what is important in life when they get into racing. I’ve seen guys spend their life savings on a single season, just to end up with nothing at all. Jeff Abbot keeps his family in mind, even as he is waiting on grid. As John Morton would say: “After all, there is more to life than winning races.”

Formula Drift Long Beach, Streets of Long Beach, California, United States

Some people don’t actually realize how dangerous being trackside really is. Santa Claus won’t be able to deliver gifts to millions of children, if a carbon fiber wing decided to give him a kiss.

Formula Drift Long Beach, Streets of Long Beach, California, United States

Team photos don’t always have to be taken so seriously. Like peas in a pod, the Megan Racing drivers sat together at every autograph session.

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Pikes Peak, Colorado, United States

Well that’s it for 2011. I can’t wait to hunt more speed in 2012 with even crazier shooting methods. You guys just wait and see…

Larry

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