Shane Walters - Photography, Blogs from the Founder of RacingNews.co

Shane Walters is the founder of RacingNews.co. Click here to view the latest motorsports photography are racing blogs directly from the editor's desk.

Set of 3 Oil Paintings 2016-2 (16)

July 28, 2016 by Shane Walters

Click here to purchase or learn more about the set of 3 oil paintings shown above.

Modern oil on canvas painting by St. Louis based artist Shane Walters.

This is a set of 3 oil paintings sized at 36″ x 12″ each. The oil painting features a mostly colorless design with tiny specks of red and blue.

This artwork was created using only the highest level of oil paints and professional grade canvases available.

The art should last more than a lifetime when handled, displayed and preserved correctly.

MEDIUM
Oil Paint

SIZE
36″ x 12″ (x3)

DEPTH
1.5″

AUTHENTICITY
Each painting is signed on the front by the artist. The back of each piece of art is also labeled and finger printed to ensure authenticity of the art.

OIL PAINT
Only UV resistant professional high grade pigment inks used on the artwork.

CANVAS
Only the highest level of professional grade canvases available for purchase were used on this artwork. This helps ensure the artwork is protected and prepared to last a lifetime.

PROTECTION LAYER
Several layers of matte varnish have already been applied to this painting. The varnish layers protect the painting from UV light, dust and dirt. It helps the painting maintain it’s original color and allows for easy cleaning without damage to the painting under the varnish.

CLEANING
To clean your canvas product, use a clean dry cloth to remove any dust, do not use any abrasive materials or cleaning fluids as this may cause damage and discoloration to the oil paint.

PLACEMENT
The product has been designed for display in a dry covered environment. Items should not be left outdoors. Do not expose to water or very humid atmospheres. It is okay to hang the product in direct sunlight, however you may wish to avoid long periods of sunlight exposure.

SHIPPING
Orders will ship within 1-5 days. US shipping can take up to 5 business days. If purchasing from outside the USA, you may be subject to local import taxes and duty fees.

SHANE WALTERS ART
I strongly believe in quality not quantity. I use nothing but the best products and materials in every aspect of my artwork. Most art you’ll find from other stores or artist’s are mass produced products using machines and the cheapest available supplies and paints. The costs on my end when producing each piece of art are significantly increased when going the high-quality artwork route. However, I’m only interested in offering you the highest quality of luxury art available, no matter the costs on my end.

Monaco is Not a Racing Circuit

May 25, 2016 by Shane Walters

When was the Last Successful On Track Pass for the Lead at the Monaco GP?

Monaco is not a racing circuit. By definition a F1 racing circuit requires passes or at least some side by side racing. Following the leader, it’s more along the lines of a high speed traffic jam.

Monaco is a narrow stone-age, street circuit traffic jam. I think you have to go back to the 80’s or 90’s to find the last on track pass for the lead. In 20-30 years, we have not seen as pass for the top spot on the podium at the biggest event on the F1 calendar, that’s crazy.

Despite all the technology advancements to improve passing in recent years, it hasn’t helped at Monaco. We’ve added DRS, KERS and increased passing by some 300% at the other tracks, yet drivers still can’t get by at Monaco. In order to make a pass you need to touch, touching is a sin punished by fire in the world of F1.

It’s not just the top spot either. In the last 10 years I honestly don’t believe I’ve seen a single on track pass in the top 5 positions, not one pass. Sure, I’ve seen many passes during pit stops. I guess that’s the only way to pass in Monaco.

Qualifying is the peak of excitement for me this weekend. The race is won in qualifying. As a racing fan, I’m far less entertained from that point on.

You risk your car and your life to make a pass at Monaco. The barriers are right next to the track, “the drink” is just on the other side of that. Safety was brought to our attention in the last decade or two of F1, but Monaco has no room for improvements. It’s truly an unsafe place to drop in some rocket ships on wheels.

I’m not sure why F1 goes to Monaco. It’s not good for the sport. It’s the most watched race of the race, which means the Monaco GP catches the eyes of many people who watch casually as well as many first time viewers.

Monaco doesn’t help at all for retaining these viewers and converting them to fans. They must think we just watch cars follow each other in circles. I’m a huge fan but this race is my least favorite on the F1 schedule.

It’s more of an off track show. A-list celebrities walk the paddock with sunglasses. Camera’s flash as the celebrities gaze at the “Indycar’s”. Or so they think. After all, they aren’t racing fans, for all they know it’s an Indycar. Most of them are there for the press and the party.

The wow and glamour factor of the Monaco GP doesn’t impress me. I’m not into celebrities, I’m into motorsports.

Change or die. The track is a Dinosaur, virtually unchanged in decades. It’s time to move on. The track can’t by modified and F1 has no business on a one line hillside road.

I’m a racing fan, where’s the racing?

Written By: Shane Walters

Modern Minimalist Oil Painting 2016-1 (15)

Shane Walters Art Modern Minimalist Painting Detail Photo 15 3026

May 22, 2016 by Shane Walters

Click here to purchase or learn more about the modern minimalist painting shown above.

Modern minimalist oil on canvas line painting by St. Louis based artist Shane Walters.

This small 36″ x 12″ oil on canvas painting features a colorless design of graphite angled lines.

This artwork was created using only the highest level of oil paints and professional grade canvases available.

The art should last more than a lifetime when handled, displayed and preserved correctly.

MEDIUM
Oil Paint

SIZE
36″ x 12″

DEPTH
1.5″

AUTHENTICITY
Each painting is signed on the front by the artist. The back of each piece of art is also labeled and finger printed to ensure authenticity of the art.

OIL PAINT
Only UV resistant professional high grade pigment inks used on the artwork.

CANVAS
Only the highest level of professional grade canvases available for purchase were used on this artwork. This helps ensure the artwork is protected and prepared to last a lifetime.

PROTECTION LAYER
Several layers of high gloss varnish have already been applied to this painting. The varnish layers protect the painting from UV light, dust and dirt. It helps the painting maintain it’s original color and allows for easy cleaning without damage to the painting under the varnish.

CLEANING
To clean your canvas product, use a clean dry cloth to remove any dust, do not use any abrasive materials or cleaning fluids as this may cause damage and discoloration to the oil paint.

SHIPPING
Orders will ship within 1-5 days. US shipping can take up to 5 business days. If purchasing from outside the USA, you may be subject to local import taxes and duty fees.

Mercedes F1 Inspired Oil Painting 2015-4 (14)

May 22, 2016 by Shane Walters

Modern minimalist Mercedes F1 inspired oil on Canvas painting by St. Louis based artist Shane Walters. This large 30″ x 48″ oil on canvas painting features all the colors of the Mercedes Formula 1 car in the style of motion blur.

This artwork was created using only the highest level of oil paints and professional grade canvases available. The art should last more than a lifetime when handled, displayed and preserved correctly.

MEDIUM
Oil Paint

SIZE
30″ x 48″

DEPTH
1.5″

Click here to purchase or learn more about the modern triangle painting shown above.

Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I55 Flood Water Photos

December 30, 2015 by Shane Walters

Flood Water near Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I55

Get out the boats and lets go racing! I took some Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I55 flood water photos for you to view. The water levels have been slowly rising near the fan favorite dirt track and now the track is surrounded.

Missouri and Illinois have been hit with record flood levels this week. The Mississippi River now surrounds the dirt racing track in Pevely, MO.

I took these flood water photos from outside Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I55 just today. The album of photos from the flooded dirt track have been posted below.

Other than floating race tracks… A lot of crazy things have been happening regarding the St. Louis flooding. Today, I saw an entire house just floating down the river. On my way to the track I saw Meramec River water nearly swallowing the entire I-55 highway, just 1 foot short of it.

Valley Park which is 30 min from I-55 Raceway saw a mandatory evacuation as the waters reached 40 feet. The water levels were projected to reach 43 feet.

Valley park is near where I took most of these Fenton, MO photos in 2008.

Most of the water in St. Louis, near the racetrack, is at it’s crest point. Meaning this is the highest the water levels are planned to rise in the area.

It’s looks as though Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I55 is safe from the flood waters. Track workers have already planned ahead. As you can see from the photos below all the I-55 Raceway vehicles and track excavating equipment have been moved. They are all placed at the highest level of the complex.

The dirt track itself has not been effected, other than the parking lot and pit entrance booth. However, The SLKA track is completely underwater. The St Louis Karting Association is located in a section of the parking lot of Federated Auto Parts Raceway. It’s a section of land rented for the karting facility.

The roads are buried in water in all directions entering the track. The only way to the speedway is directly from the I55 highway.

The track flooding photos were all taken from outside the facility. I called the track office to try and get permission to walk amongst the raceway grounds for some better photos. I was denied.

Unfortunately, the filthy dirty lawyers of America have stripped that from you. I was told I could take photos from outside the complex but I couldn’t walk free from inside the fence. I understand completely, I was told they didn’t have the insurance for it if I was to somehow get hurt. Valid point.

I will say that Federated Auto Parts Raceway owner Ray Marler didn’t like the idea of me posting these. His concern was that if people see the photos they would think that the track was always like that.

So, in fairness to Ray… I’ll say I’ve lived in St. Louis my entire life. I can only remember one time where the waters were this high near the track. That was the Flood of 1993 and nearly everything in the midwest was below river current.

I can’t think of another time the track was closed due to water, usually it’s only covered in dirt late models and other things on 4 wheels. Though I could be wrong. However, it’s not closed today either, the dirt racing season ended a few months ago so it wasn’t open with proper cause.

I come from the school of thought that all publicity is good publicity. So, for the sake of dirt racing I hope you saw these photos and then circled a few of the Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I55 events for 2016.

Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I55 Flood Water Photos

Photos: Shane Walters Twitter