1 Measure Graves determines focus distance with a laser rangefinder. He then uses real-time stats from the Web to match the camera motor's speed with that of the racers — too slow and the cars appear stretched, too fast and they compress (like numbers 2 and 38, above).

2 Do Some Quick Math Using a dozen formulas he has stored on his Treo, Graves figures the aperture of his telescopic lens, frame width, and motor speed. Then he aims his camera at the 4- to 6-inch slice of pavement that the cars will pass over.

3 Load the Film and Cross Your Fingers Graves waits until the cars are tightly bunched before attempting a shot. He triggers the motor just before the first car enters the frame (adding a fraction of a second to let the film motor hit top speed).