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Camcorder For Racing

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blkcorvair

Jedi Knight
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Well my wifes baby shower is coming up and they asked me what camcorder she wants..... Hmmm.. Dont ask the guy with race car cause now it's becoming what I need....

I'm not too savy with these things but I am looking to mount a camcorder in the car now and than. I dont have the slightest clue!

I like the idea of a mini DVD cause I figure its easy to run in the dvd player or on the computer, but if they skip like old ones do it may be bad for racing and such.

Help. Whats everyone using?

Also while were here whats a good mount? Was looking at this one from IO seems pretty generic, I could also fab something pretty easy I suppose and save $100......what to do... what to do....

https://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant2/me...egory_Code=IOPP
 
I have used a IOport mount for my SONY mini DV recorder and it has been fine...I only hate that the thing is, heavy, bulky and if it gets a rock i it, I lose the whole thing...so...

I just ordered a Lipstick camera from Race Optics and a remote SD card recorder...it arrives this Friday so that I can install it. Do a search for them and see..It was them or Traqmate but I didn't need all the data gathering stuff.
 
My camera mount is the "U" part of a muffler clamp and flat piece of 1/4" aluminum plate (about 2" X 4") with three holes in it. Two holes for the U clamp and one for the 1/4-20 bolt that holds the camcorder. Free. Made out of scrap that I had around. I also secure the camcorder with a bungy cord just in case. It clamps to the horizontal bar behind my shoulders.

I use a JVC mini-DV camcorder. I've had this since last year. It cost $199 in Wal-Mart. The only "problem" (and this is a common one) is that it does not do "USB streaming", which means you cannot hook it up to your computer via the USB port. Mine needs a Firewire port which I added to my computer along with a special cable (not supplied by JVC). The extra stuff cost me about $100 (but you can do better if you know what you're looking for). There are lots of other brand camcorders that are similar to mine in terms of quality and price.

The advantage of USB streaming on a camcorder is that it can be hooked up to most any computer (with a USB port) and controlled through Windows Movie Maker (or similar video software). In my case, I can only download the DV files to one of my home computers and not, for example, to my laptop.
Camcorders that are capable of video streaming are fairly expensive ($500 to $600).

Some of the digital camcorders have hard drives and will "burn" CDs. The race car environment is too bumpy for these units....the mini-DV tape works better.

The lipstick cameras with solid state SD recorders are great but they are really intended for dedicated application. I was looking for a camcorder that I could use for birthdays and holidays as well as race car stuff (and my camcorder looks through a windshield, so it's pretty well protected in both race cars).

Here's some video I did last Sunday at a NASA open track event at Pocono. They are each about 2.5 minutes long.

~Chasing a Jeep!~ (yes...a Jeep, but with a Hemi).

~More Jeep~ plus other cars...they murder my Escort on the NASCAR track but I catch them on the infield section.

~Passing a Civic~ and then getting passed by a 400 HP Misubishi Evo.
 
I found a nice Sony Mini dvd that like. HD with mini 3" discs. $629. Seems reasonable for the quality. Your muffler clamp with flat stock is very simlar to the idea I was thinking about. I was even considering some golf car bushings to dampen it and give it some up and down adjustment... Really like the idea of the mini dvd. Take it out and snap it in the dvd player or the computer.. Just worried that a mini dvd may skip and mess up the burning process. Also has a built in usb port. I really Like them Hard drive cameras to but they run upwards of $1000.

I think Ill check out the mini DV's. Thanks guys.
 
Scott,
A couple weeks ago I took the plunge and bought a Sony Handycam DCR-SR220; you can find information on it at:

https://reviews.photographyreview.com/blog/sony-dcr-sr220-dcr-sr85-dcr-sr65-dcr-sr45-hdd-camcorders/

and prices/specs at:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8679799&type=product&id=1197678618750

The 60 gig hard drive was overkill for the recording I'll do, but the SR220 model also provides 4 megapixel stills and that means I can get by for a day or week with one camera. More expensive on the front end, but should be better than having to lug two cameras.

Mine will be mounted in my street car using a "VS Billet Camera Mount" from Rivergate Restorations:

https://www.rivergate5speed.com/vs_camera_mount.html

Ray
 
Take a look at;

goprocamera.com

get the Motorsport Hero unit at $179 msrp comes with a big suction cup mount as well as an assortment of hard mounts.

the resolution is very good.....not quite as good as a $800 deck and lipstick camera tho but very adaquate for what we do and better than most.

You will need a NiMH (2) AAA chargable batteries, a charger ( prox $20) at the electronics store....and a Sandisc or two....1 gig plays 30 min 2 gig plays 1 hour.....prox 12 buks a gig.

You can playback on a computer, laptop or...or a TV set with AV input. You can also take stills or triple stills automatically.
 
Very cool guys. I am thinking Im going for the new sony Hard drive 60 gb camcorder. $650 on sale, very compact and replaces both a camcorder and a digital camera. Just have to get a dvd-rw drive for my comp to make discs. But the dvd-r are cheaper than the mini dvd and the drive for th ecomp is only $50 or so now.
 
I think you'll be happy with that decision, Scott...I am.

From the reviews I read prior to purchasing the "SteadyShot" feature and low light capabilities make it a good choice.

Also, it comes with a small remote that will allow you to preset the camera and then click it on with the remote without having to fumble around with the controls on the camera.

I was also concerned about the wind noise messing with the built in mic; there is an optional (pricey) remote/wireless mike that is available. Velcro it in the passenger footwell and the engine and shifting sound should be much better.

Oh...be sure you pick up the a UV filter set for it when you buy...I think I paid about $15 for it. There's a clear UV filter and two additional mounting rings...one of which will screw right into the Handycam lens. It will save your camera lens (bugs, dust, sand, small stones).

Ray
 
For inexpensive video, search for "ATC2K" { by Oregon Scientific}, on Google and Youtube. Shop hard {Ebay}, they can be had for $100 shipped.

2gb card give 1 hour record time at max resolution. 2 AA batteries, and waterproof.

The camera isnt broadcast quality obviously, its $100... Want a little better view from the camera, Google "ATC2K modifications" and check out the lens mod from the Utah trike guys. $40 and a little time. The waterproof gasket that covers the mic makes audio abit muffled, remove it and it is quite strong. I will end up with some felt/foam to tone it down some, and lose the waterproof aspect {although the placement of the mic is such that rain or spray would not easily get in}

Outputs to computer and TV/VCR as well {NTSC and PAL} Comes with both cables and an array of mounting options.
 
I recently got the Traqmate Plus system with data acquisition and bullet cam.

The camera is really wonderful--it comes with its own mount and gives a high-quality picture and great sound as well. Plus the software slices and dices the session in great detail and you can play back both the track info and video at same time. There's no more lying about having been trapped in traffic, etc. The camera does NOT lie even if the driver does.

I don't know what the focal length of the lens is--I think there are options--but the one on mine has a wide enough angle to take in both mirrors with no distortion. The sound is good too. I have an 8 gig card which will hold about two hours of video time and it is very easy to download both the session info and video onto a laptop and view it there.

The system is not cheap--cost me about $1700 for the whole thing--and the cam is "dedicated" but this is a lot more than just a video cam, and since I have no grandchildren to take pictures of it is just fine with me.

I'm now down at VIR for a VDCA event and have some pretty good sessions on video. The car is not running particularly great but watching the videos it seems as if I am flying! If I could figure out how to post to YouTube or the like I would be happy to share them.
 
Micheal, I think that's what my buddy Fred has, I'm no camera expert, but he uses his regular recorder, and the only thing in air in danger's way is a little bulllit lens the size of a magic marker, very cool.
 
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