Published: June 05, 2008 11:20 pm         

Track photographer passionate about job

Everyone works for a living, but David Neilson is one of a rare breed that is truly passionate about his weekend profession as the new track photographer at Enid Speedway Park.

“I’m lucky to get paid to do something I love,” said Neilson.

When he was approached by track promoter Lonnie Colville at the start of the season about the job, Neilson said it felt good to be asked and he walked around smiling for more than a week.

“I love doing it and it is something I get to do every weekend,” said Neilson.

Neilson, a graphic artist, began his career at PDQ Printing during the summer of 2002. During his training in the Graphic Arts program at Autry Technology Center, Neilson became familiar with digital photography when he took on the project of producing the Kremlin-Hillsdale football programs.

According to Neilson, he journeyed to the high school where he took group photos of all the teams. Neilson went on to become a national SkillsUSA Champion with a promotional bulletin board entry featuring a collage of photographs.

Neilson attributes his interest in photography to his mentor, Mike Hoffman, who was the official track photographer for over two decades.

“When I was in high school, I remember standing next to Hoffman in the pits taking action photos,” said Neilson. “I have to give credit where credit is due. I wasn’t all that interested in photography until Mike asked me to build his Web site and I saw the quality of photos that he did. That turned into helping him with the Corvette show for the past six years.”

When asked if it was difficult to follow a legend like Hoffman, Neilson said he has endeavored to find something novel to do.

“I’m just trying to shoot things at different angles,” said Neilson. “I climb on top of things. get on my knees to shoot action photos, just whatever it takes to give the customers something they haven’t seen before.

“The drivers and fans have been receptive. I’ve even gotten compliments from the people at Cliff’s Camera who prints our photos.”

Colville is pleased with Neilson’s efforts.

“David is doing a great job,” said Colville. “He’s getting some nice action shots and some great night shots. We are really lucky to have him, in fact, I’m as pleased as punch with him.”

Neilson is no stranger to stock car racing. His father, Marvin Neilson, was a racing legend winning races and championships.

“I’ve been around the races all my life, in fact, I was practically raised at the race track,” said Neilson. “I grew up around my dad and drivers like Earl Whitley, David Fisher and Timmy Gardner.

“My dad has always been my hero. He had an uncanny ability to take a bad handling car and make it get around the track and win. My parents divorced when I was six and racing was something I could always count on doing with my dad on the weekends and always looked forward to it.”

Neilson is genuinely enjoying his stint as track photographer and is looking forward to reaching his goal of getting a photographic series of a roll over.

“So far, I’ve always been at the wrong end of the track,” said Neilson. “It is a matter of luck and being in the right place at the right time, but one of these days I’ll get my series. If I can get six shots of a car flipping through the air, I’ll die happy.”



Licklider is the News & Eagle racing writer.