Allchorn Design

I watched a movie the other day (Office Space) in which two guys were discussing what they wanted to do with their lives. The one said that if you want to know what you should be doing, think about what you’d do if you had enough money not to ever have to worry about it.

That thing, be it skiing, writing a book, climbing a mountain, designing the next Facebook or cooking & eating every exotic meat in the world, thats what you should be basing your life on. I must admit, it makes sense.

There was the counter argument that it’s an invalid concept as the world would suffer a shortage of janitors, street sweepers and whatever other job you couldn’t imagine anybody ever “wanting” to do. Valid point, but if you want to live the life you want to live, you should be able to get your foot in the right door if you’re passionate about something!

Living the dream

I am an absolute motorsport nut! I love screaming engines, and the thrill of the race. I’d wanted to swing my leg over a race bike and put my skills to the test against equally as tenacious competitors ever since I first went on the back of my father in law’s Yamaha FZR750.

The last 2 and a half years have given me that opportunity and through a channel most people might not have considered a viable route… I became a motorsport photographer. Did I mention I love photography too?

I won’t go into the whole wheeling and dealing I had to pull to get onto the track with my camera, and the great expense of the equipment, but suffice to say, I got there. Published in some top motoring magazines to boot.

After some marketing my name and using my website circuitchaser.com as a conduit for selling photos online, I soon had a medium in which I could offer advertising space. I cashed that in as money, or goods that went into racing. It effectively paid for my bike, suspension, leathers, helmet, boots, back protector and a lot of consumables like tyres, brake pads, race entry, fuel and oil.

Keeping things realistic

I have no delusions of grandeur. My name is Ross Allchorn, and although I race with the number 46, I am not Valentino Rossi, nor will I ever be. I’ve done the better part of a full season already, already won a race and claimed two second overall placings for the day. I hope things grow from here, but I’m a happy man.

I’m not making a living as a racer (far from it) as it’s a hellishly expensive sport, but it does provide some pocket money, and just taking pictures (as unprofitable as it is) has been great fun.

One day, in some way, I hope I can mix my passion for motorsport, photography and computers into one thing, or share them all equally with some form of synergy at least.