Cameras and Safety

[Kurt Rahn]

One finger or two?

[Mari Clements]

Hey, that's my husband you are talking about!

Our set up for the video camera in the MR2 (which, BTW, he wants to sell now that he has been bitten by the karting bug. Matt's 18, so that means we've had a kart in the family for 9 1/2 years, so it's kind of surprising that it took so long), was actually a mount with holes drilled in it. Take off the headrest of the passenger seat, slip the mount over both poles, replace headrest. The camera then screwed to the mount, and yes, it had a tether. However, it wasn't an ounces-light bullet, it was a videocamera with a flip out screen to allow easy and instantaneous playback of the run. One semi-local safety steward did take issue with it once, but we've never been asked to remove it. OTOH, we really only use it at national events.

[Kurt Rahn]

That sounds like a pretty cool setup. Did you guys fab it yourselves, or is there someplace that sells them?

[Mako Koiwai]

I've got one of these for cheap ... used only a couple of times ... needs head rests like in the photos:

http://www.filmtools.com/cruisecam.html

Note the included Tether.

[Tom Tanquary]

needs head rests like in the photos:

This is actually an example of a bad mount. Attached to the headrest is not a good attachment point. The flex in the seat adds way too much vibration/sway to the camera. Any good mounting point needs to be attached to a rigid body part like the dash, windows, body panels, or pillars. Unless it's a racing seat, an OEM seat is not rigid. Some OEMs might be more stable than others but if you can wiggle them with your hand, they are too loose for a good camera mount. That flexing is what can cause undo stress on a camera mounting screw. The bottom of the seat stops at (x)feet/sec but the top stops at (XxY) feet/sec.( pathetic attempt at explaining the whiplash effect). Mounting to the seat should require extra safety measures because of the poor nature of the attachment point.

[Mako Koiwai]

I withdraw my mount from sales consideration.

[Kurt Rahn]

This is actually an example of a bad mount. Attached to the headrest is not a good attachment point. The flex in the seat adds way too much vibration/sway to the camera. Any good mounting point needs to be attached to a rigid body part like the dash, windows, body panels, or pillars. Unless it's a racing seat, an OEM seat is not rigid. Some OEMs might be more stable than others but if you can wiggle them with your hand, they are too loose for a good camera mount. That flexing is what can cause undo stress on a camera mounting screw. The bottom of the seat stops at (x)feet/sec but the top stops at (XxY) feet/sec.( pathetic attempt at explaining the whiplash effect). Mounting to the seat should require extra safety measures because of the poor nature of the attachment point.

That makes sense. When I was screwing around, the times I mounted the cam to the headrest yielded the shakiest shots. Thanks for all your insights, Tom.

[Steve Ekstrand]

On my truck I made a homemade mount that screwed into the holes for the "Oh Sh*t" handle. Pretty stable. Couldn't see the driver, but gave a nice view of the course over the hood mounted high on the A pillar.

[Tom Tanquary]

I made a homemade mount that screwed into the holes for the "Oh Sh*t" handle. Pretty stable.

Good example of a rigid mount. If the camera can only move at the same rate as the car body, you have a safe mount. This is what I'd look for in tech. If you can't move the camera at all by tugging hard on it, you are in the safety zone. If it wiggles, you need a tether.

t

[Tito Sar]

Hey, that's my husband you are talking about!

Our set up for the video camera in the MR2 (which, BTW, he wants to sell now that he has been bitten by the karting bug. Matt's 18, so that means we've had a kart in the family for 9 1/2 years, so it's kind of surprising that it took so long), was actually a mount with holes drilled in it. Take off the headrest of the passenger seat, slip the mount over both poles, replace headrest. The camera then screwed to the mount, and yes, it had a tether. However, it wasn't an ounces-light bullet, it was a videocamera with a flip out screen to allow easy and instantaneous playback of the run. One semi-local safety steward did take issue with it once, but we've never been asked to remove it. OTOH, we really only use it at national events.

I'm also planning to do the same setup, although I am new with everything, and I'll probably have to purchase a tether also just to be safe. Plus my camcorder looks like a phone, I hope the setup can pass Tech for 11th event.

[Tom Tanquary]

I'm also planning to do the same setup

If you read through this obtuse discussion you may have picked up on the fact that the how and where the camera is mounted is the important part. The part that screws to the camera may be solid but where does that part get attached? If the answer is a seat, or the headrest rods, that's not a very rigid structure. Just grab the back of the seat and give it a good pull back and forth. It moves a lot. So, not a good place to attach a camera. If that's all you have, that's all you have. But in that position you will subject the camera's mounting point to undue stress. It's like putting the camera at the end of a whip. So you will need to tether the camera. (and you don't want your video looking like Cloverfield) You should consider another mounting method in a more stable place. Take a look at other mounts while you're out there on the weekend.

[Kurt Rahn]

It's like putting the camera at the end of a whip.

Good visual.

[Randy Chase]

One more tip...
The MR2 is pretty stable compared to most cars, but most people really don't realize how much an empty seat moves. We used to sell that exact same headrest mount years ago and I used it for a few years on my old MR2.

One way to make it more stable, is to use a small ratcheting cable. Attach one end to the headrest. The other end to the floor (seat belt attachment or ?) and then apply some tension to it. You don't need a lot.

Now back to your talking past each other.

[Mako Koiwai]

Randy ... are you talking about the "CruiseCam" headrest mount that I have?

[Randy Chase]

Randy ... are you talking about the "CruiseCam" headrest mount that I have?

Yes. Some seats when empty move a lot.

Tom keeps talking about adequate mounting points and spreading the load, etc. Which is true.

Then there is the issue of cheaper camcorders that use a molded in threaded insert, that can easily break out under shock or vibration, which is also true.

Then the thread is about headrest mounts. As you know, we sold CruiseCams. Good mounts for the price.

[Mako Koiwai]

I thought so ... thanks for the tie down tip

[Sebastian Rios]

On my truck I made a homemade mount that screwed into the holes for the "Oh Sh*t" handle. Pretty stable. Couldn't see the driver, but gave a nice view of the course over the hood mounted high on the A pillar.

Ummm why do you want in car video from your truck?