When I’m Photographing the beach racing at Mabelthorpe or any motorsports event there are many things that I consider, helping me ensure the event is a success, well for me anyway. Camera kit, clothing and even the basics like food are taken into account.

The one thing I can’t affect is the weather. On occasion I can decide not to go at all if the weather is going to be bad. So I was a little hesitant for the planned trip to the beach racing at Mabelthorpe. Last weekends forecast wasn’t that good.

I’ve made the trip to the Lincolnshire seaside town dozens of times, watching and photographing the winter beach racing. When the weather is bad it’s really not worth getting the camera out. Being quite far away from the action and the low winter light are not a great combination for photography. However, it’s racing and very entertaining. Jumping in the car with my shooting buddy we headed for a day out watching sand racing at the seaside.

Mablethorpe Sand Racing club

The Mablethorpe Sand Racing club have been holding racing on the beach for years. From the early 1970s the oval track has been marked on the drying sand as soon as the tide goes out. Racing starts as soon as the track is clear of sea water.

The start time depends on the tide, last weekend it was a 09:30 start. The next race is 19th January 2025 starting at 12:30. It’s a good idea to check the club’s website or Facebook page if you are planning a visit. This is a free event to spectate at and is promoted by the local council to attract visitors to the town in the off season. This works as there is usually a good sized crowd along the promenade. 

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The beach racing at Mabelthorpe only takes place during the colder months. From October to March there are usually two meetings a month. During the summer the beach is full of tourists so obviously no racing is allowed. 

Mabelthorpe Sand Racing Classes

The races feature a variety of motorcycle classes, allowing different types of bikes to compete. Entries include modified motocross, enduro, classic and custom built motorcycles prepared to handle the rigours of sand racing. A few of the machines are loosely based on flat track bikes, with some not having a front brake.

Riders often make specific adjustments depending on the conditions to improve traction and control on the loose, shifting surface. Such as lowering tire pressure or using special ‘paddle’ tires designed for sand.

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What this gives you is loads of different machines to watch and photograph, if that is your aim for the day. Juniors on small capacity bikes to 1000cc machine and if you are lucky quad bikes can all be seen racing during the day. Occasionally full fat speedway bikes will turn up, but not on the day we attended.

Competitors at Mablethorpe’s beach races range from amateur enthusiasts to seasoned racers. Many riders return year after year, drawn by the unique challenges and the camaraderie among the tight-knit racing community.

The atmosphere at these events is often friendly and supportive, with participants exchanging tips and stories about their experiences on the sand. Racing royalty do turn up from time to time to test their skills on the sand. I didn’t spot any racing last weekend but Emmanuelle Clément, the side car world champion was chatting to the racers in the paddock.

Beach racing challenges

One of the challenges of beach racing is the sand itself. Unlike traditional tracks with consistent surfaces, the shifting sands can change dramatically within a single race, leading to unexpected difficulties in traction and control. I’m no sand expert but it did look very wet and therefore soft at a few areas from my vantage point. It was quite clear to me that the conditions were going to be challenging for the racers.

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On the first few laps you could clearly see the bikes sliding then gripping pitching the riders upright. With only the experienced riders making the most of the unpredictable surface.

Tricky conditions

There were more fallers than usual in the tricky conditions with most bouncing off the sand in dramatic style. They all got up and walked away except for one who went down hard right in front of us. I will photograph a crash, it so engrained into my muscle memory that I do it automatically now. I won’t publish pictures if anyone is hurt badly. All of the riders below got up and walked away.

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However, the rider who crashed on the first corner required immediate medical aid and got it. The air ambulance was called as well as the coast guard to secure a helicopter landing spot. I have subsequently found out he is recovering at home and is hoping to race at the next event. The guys and girls racing on the beach are made of sterner stuff than me!

Safety

The riders welfare and safety was paramount, as he was in the middle of the track all racing was suspended and quite rightly so. We decided it was better not to watch so headed to the paddock. Via the must do seaside tradition of eating fish and chips. However, this was denied to us, I should have known. Last time we were here the chip shop we went to had run out of chips! This time the main complaint was lack of available open chip shops, most were closed. The emergency boiled sweets I carry in my rucksack and a cup of coffee would have to do.

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After the delay and excitement of a helicopter landing on the beach, a few more races were run before racing was stopped for the day as the tide turned. We, as always, enjoyed our trip out to photographing the beach racing at Mabelthorpe. The racing is good, the spectators are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, some are ex racers who are happy to chat about their experiences from years ago. 

In closing, the beach racing at Mabelthorpe is run by volunteers and is free to spectate, but not to host. I enjoyed the event and if you did consider supporting the team running the racing so it continues for years to come. You can find more information on the Mablethorpe Beach Racing Website.

Photographic Post Script Photographing the beach racing at Mabelthorpe

My camera kit used for photographing the beach racing at Mabelthorpe was the Nikon D500 matched to a Nikon 200-400 f4 VR2 lens. Combined with a 1.4 teleconverter giving me a maximum focal length of 825mm. 

My shooting buddy was also using a Nikon D500 with a 70-200mm f2.8 with a x2 teleconverter. This gave him a focal length on his DX camera of 600mm. This is just enough to get close to the action at Mabelthorpe. You are not allowed to enter the paddock but with a medium sized telephoto lens you can get some decent shots.   

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We will be back at Photographing the beach racing at Mabelthorpe in the new year.

Here are some of our previous reports from the Mablethorpe Sand Racing. Click the image for more.