Ahhhh....yeah, an SLR is a definate advantage.

Quote from 5haz :

Obviously I can adjust the 'depth of field' just like any other good camera, buts its incredibly fiddly on the LCD viewfinder (Its not a proper SLR) to see what it is focussing on, so i end up with perhaps the grass infront of the car in focus.

Focus on the spot you know they are going to be occupying before they get there (somewhere on the racing line). Then lock your focus so it doesn't change.

Have you ever shot trap or skeet with a shotgun? You have to follow through after you pull the trigger. Same applies with a pan shot of a moving subject. Pick them up in your viewfinder before the spot you picked, move your camera at the same speed they are traveling (keeping them centered in the view finder) and continue "panning" after you have pressed the shutter button. This should help keep your subjects sharp and your backgrounds full of motion.

The picture below was taken at 1/20 second @ 2.8, 1600iso
The bike was only moving about 20mph and, obviously, it was dark out so I used a very slow shutter. During the day you might try 1/125 or even 1/200 if the subject is moving very fast.

Well thanks for the help everyone, its the numbers that I needed to know the most.

Don't mean to be rude but is the quality of the photo a bit blurry or is it my eye's ?

Quote from 11SuLLy11 :

Don't mean to be rude but is the quality of the photo a bit blurry or is it my eye's ?

Looks like the tail of the bike is a little motion blurry.

It's because it's not perfectly centred.

Just had another thought - how about CafePress or Spreadshirt? They do clothing, but also pictures, keyrings, stickers and things. Even if the shot isn't quite perfect, scaled down to fit a keyring it wouldn't show up quite as much. And the store functionality is built in.

Quote from 11SuLLy11 :

Don't mean to be rude but is the quality of the photo a bit blurry or is it my eye's ?

Quote from wheel4hummer :

Looks like the tail of the bike is a little motion blurry.

It was taken at 1/20th of a second shutter speed and taken at night. It's an incredible shot that it came out as sharp as it is.

Panning and getting the subject can be difficult during the day, let alone at night.

I'm impressed! Very nice shot for the conditions it was shot in.

I must be looking at the wrong pictures ?? I didn't see a night pic. well anyway sorry

Quote from 11SuLLy11 :

I must be looking at the wrong pictures ?? I didn't see a night pic. well anyway sorry

People are talking about the picture of the bike lower down the thread, not the OPs rather blurry attempts

Quote from ajp71 :

People are talking about the picture of the bike lower down the thread, not the OPs rather blurry attempts

I'll do the honours :bananadea Yeah Dans photography is neat