[Dascamel]

Anyone have any tips for making a track day video, my friends and family are asking for one.

I've got at my disposal a Canon PowerShot SD800 IS, and a decent Sony DV camcorder with zoom.

I don't have a tripod, but I guess I can pick one up tomorrow or other equipment. Main thing is how do most people mount their cameras/keep them stable.

Thanks
Das

[JackMac]

Here is one solution: http://www.stickypod.com/race_camera_mount.html

Not sure if you are looking for in-car camera, or spectator?

[jon@themshop]

Originally Posted by Dascamel

Anyone have any tips for making a track day video, my friends and family are asking for one.

I've got at my disposal a Canon PowerShot SD800 IS, and a decent Sony DV camcorder with zoom.

I don't have a tripod, but I guess I can pick one up tomorrow or other equipment. Main thing is how do most people mount their cameras/keep them stable.

Thanks
Das

Das,

You're going to need a camera mount that will attach to the head rest of either the drivers or passenger seat.

Like this one
http://www.soloperformance.com/Shopp...t/Default.aspx

[JackMac]

Yes, headrest cam is better so you can see the driver and guages

[shimshimhada]

If you're going to use a headrest camera mount, you'll need a .3x ultra wide angle lens to capture your steering inputs, gauges, footwork, and the whole windshield. I've been messing around with different mounts and locations for about a year now trying to find the best config for myself.

First thing I tried was fabricating a custom aluminum bar mount that has the bolt drilled in to attach to the cam. The bar itself was mounted with zipties to the rear child safety hooks.

Video looked like this: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...81745619&hl=en

It was cheap and stable, but a pita to install and remove.

So, later I bought the ChaseCam Window Suction Mount with the extension, and tried mounting the suction mount upside down on the sunroof glass and angled it back and slightly downwards. I needed to use a .3x wide angle attachment (For your sony cam, you should get the .3x Raynox Semi-Fisheye lens).

That produced a video like this:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...34970694&hl=en

Since my rear is stripped now, currently I use the bolt from my aluminum bar mount to bolt directly on the chassis from the rear, but instead of screwing the cam directly on that bolt, I removed the height/angle adjuster (i think you can remove it from any tripod too) and screwed that on to the bolt, making an easy install/removal.
Vid: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...16010494&hl=en

Once I get a rollbar in, I'll just get a rollbar mount (the most stable picture and best angle bar-none).

If you want to avoid wasting time like I did, I would get the ChaseCam headrest mount that Jon recommended and pick up that wide angle lens.

[Dascamel]

Nice, thanks for the leads. Going to look at some of them after work!!

edit: Head rest cam looks simple and perfect. Thanks.

[2e9x's]

I use the Cruisecam and have been very happy with the results.

http://www.cruisecam.com/Mount_new.pdf

[S4to335]

I have made a lot of videos of races in my race car..but I now lost my camera mount when I sold the car. I need to find something good for the 335i that mounts to the passenger headrest posts. I have seen really nice ones..that worked fantastically..but I cant remember where. I still have my camera...Sony mini DV.

[2e9x's]

Here are some videos of the Cruisecam at work...I think it is a nice piece, reasonably priced and seemingly pretty safe!

That last one was with the mount on the rear seat headrest posts...a BAD choice. The first two had the mount on the passenger seat headrest posts. There was ONE slight problem with this...See, at one point my instructor got comfortable and decided to fully recline the passenger seat. After that I got great video of the sunroof

[Dascamel]

Cruisecam for $50 looks good. Missed my chance to overnight order it though...