In car camera how to??

[Jagarang]

While on the Power Tour I'm hoping to run a few trips at the track in Gainsville along with any oportunities for road courses or auto X's.

My question is how to go about mounting a camera in the car?

Tthe car has no roll bar or anything of the sort to mount to, so that's out.

The first things that come to mind for good mounting points are the sunvisor attachements and the rear view mirror attachement.

I know that we've got guys that have run videos in their cars before and would like to pick your brains!(CamaroBoy, Tony Huntimer, Katz, etc)

Anybody have any ideas or thoughts on how they've done it?

How do you get good video quality with good sound?

I also don't have a video recorder, but might be able to borrow one.

Are there "special" cameras that have various mounts and the like to compensate for the lack of optimal mounting points?

Cash is at a mega premium now and I can't afford to buy all sorts of niffty gadgets to do this, but might be able to come up with a few hundred to get what I need, if thats possible.

[scogin918]

there is a company that sells in-car camera systems. They do other Extreme sports cameras as well. i just can't think of the name off of the top of my head.

[Larry Callahan]

I'm looking for a better mount myself. While I don't think this would be that good on a race track it might work. Maybe there are some reviews on it?

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/cruisecam.html

Here are others

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/succupmoun.html

It's a bit much but I like this one.

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/wimoupkit.html

I have used this one and it's just o.k.

http://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CMHama&Category_Code=CM

Also, make sure to cover the mic with foam to block the wind noise.

[Damn True]

Do a "google" for lipstick cameras. You can use a bit of hook/loop or tape to affix it to any number of cool places inside or outside of the car then just tape down the cable into the cabin.

[CAMAROBOY69]

Kevin,
I use a $30.00 tripod and strap it in with tie downs. I am sure you have seen my videos by now and they turn our real nice. The benefit of the tripod is that you can move the location up, down, left, right, anywhere to your liking.

[Mean 69]

Here's an alternative question. I did a mount to the cross bar on my roll cage in the 69. I chopped up a cheapy tripod so that I could get the "global" ball mount and screw that bolts in to the bottom of the camera. It is pretty rigid, it doesn't flop around at all, but the issue I have is with the camera shutting off. I have a Sony DVD type camera, it's a nice one. Running around the pits is fine, but as soon as I entered the track at Willow Springs, the video stopped recording. About eight different sessions. I am guessing that the increased vibrations of the engine and car on track put it into some sort of safety shutdown. Anyone else seen this, and have you found a cure? I had some cool video on track of a new Ford GT, and one of the Vision Motorsport Porsche Cup race cars (both of which passed me, by the way), I was bummed to have not been able to watch it.

Mark

[Jagarang]

I actually have a tripod already, but didn't think about actually strapping it into the car.

Where do you sit it Adam? I suppose you can stradle the trans tunnel with it and perhaps strap it to the seat belt mounting points.

[CAMAROBOY69]

This year I set it between the 2 rear bucket seats shooting out the center. Last year when I didnt have passengers I set it shooting over the passenger seat. That worked real well. I have never had a problem with any of the videos. The camera stays on the entire time. I need to get my videos posted from the April 14th event that we just got done with.
I use 3 straps to hold it in. 2 rear ones to the rear seat belts. Then 1 to the driver mounting point. I can usually mount it within 2-3 minutes. 1 leg of the tripod goes into the rear pass bucket, the other one goes into the rear driver bucket, then the final leg sets right in the cupholder of my 4th gen console. :)

[MoeBawlz]

A few days ago I came up with a design for the exact same thing, I planned on some incar video for autox myself and heres what I came up with. It looks damn near close to some of the other designs already out there and I intended on using a tripod head at the end to make it more adjustable for the camera angle. I just made mine yesterday and it works out pretty nicely too if you want I can post pics of the finished product.

So you know the blue posts are the headrest posts and the part clamps in on the posts.

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/4865/cameramountassy18qo.jpg
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8112/cameramountassy20hl.jpg
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/7733/cameramountassy37oe.jpg

[scogin918]

Do you guys remember the video of the '67 Camaro that took a right turn into the guardrail at the dragstrip? That's the company I'm talking about. Why can't I remember their name? :banghead:

[Steve Chryssos]

http://www.chasecam.com/

[2Slow4U]

I've used a "helmet cam" with good results for my two-wheel track days. The main camera is bubble wrapped in the tail cowl and the pen/helmet cam is pretty much anywhere I want it.

For your car I've used a suction cup model. I know your thinking "suction cup". This thing has a 6 or 8 inch cup that has a mini pump attached. It has a gimbal? setup for any angle. I usually put it on the windshield with no problems from vibration or LOS issues.

I can't find a link to the mount for the full size camera, but here's the link for a helmet cam if your interested. I used these for my helmet while in the military and for my bike/car when I got out. Pretty good res.

http://www.helmetcamera.com/

[Steve Chryssos]

By the way, Suction mounts can be highly effective. For our paddle shifter video, we had a camera (one of 3) suction mounted to the passenger side rear corner of my hood. Speeds exceeded 100mph (but don't tell my wife) That camera was "sync'd" with the other two. The camera man held the second in the passenger seat and the 3rd was suction mounted to my rear firewall panel. One recommendation: Get an external mic and stash it in the trunk or under a seat to pick up exhaust noise without catching wind noise.

I'll have a fresh paddle shifter video as soon as Jimmy Mulvey's red 69 Camaro is complete--which is very soon. The old video can be seen on my website.

[David Sloan]

The mount that Larry has works good!!
I think it was from I Port or something!! It stayed put for a good 30 mins. of balls to the walls, around Road Atlanta. oh an a 360deg. spin. LOL!!!

[Larry Callahan]

By the way, Suction mounts can be highly effective. For our paddle shifter video, we had a camera (one of 3) suction mounted to the passenger side rear corner of my hood. Speeds exceeded 100mph (but don't tell my wife) That camera was "sync'd" with the other two. The camera man held the second in the passenger seat and the 3rd was suction mounted to my rear firewall panel. One recommendation: Get an external mic and stash it in the trunk or under a seat to pick up exhaust noise without catching wind noise.

I'll have a fresh paddle shifter video as soon as Jimmy Mulvey's red 69 Camaro is complete--which is very soon. The old video can be seen on my website.

Steve, who makes that? I think I remember you posting a link a while back?