GoPro advice

[JohnsOldMercurySite]

we at JohnsOldMercurySite.com are sponsoring 3 kids in Juniors APBA and are currently setting the kids up with gear & supplies for next season, I want to buy GoPro's for each of the kids..
what & where is the best way to mount these for best viewing , I have noticed that some "helmet mounted" videos bob and weave enough to make me dizzy
I know some of you guys are already using these cams, what your experience?

thanks for looking
Michael

[Guest]

As per information requested, Snell Foundation DOES NOT recommend camera mounted to helmet.
US Title Series has a rule based on the recommendation, Camera can not be mounted to helmet.

[DiGia54D]

Michael,

Helmet mounts can only be used in NBRA..... Not in USTS or APBA..... But for mounted on boat I would say some of the best videos I have seen have been mounted on the top of the engine cowl. You get a good view of driver and race course. Just make sure use safety wire that baby on so it doesn't sink if it comes off

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATWTDLw4B1Q

all of these are mounted to the back of the boats.

[JohnsOldMercurySite]

As per information requested, Snell Foundation DOES NOT recommend camera mounted to helmet.
US Title Series has a rule based on the recommendation, Camera can not be mounted to helmet.

thanks.... I wouldnt reccomend them either

[JohnsOldMercurySite]

thanks DiGia54D
are the guys using the suction cup styleor is there a specific mount that you guys find better

thanks again for looking
Michael

[DiGia54D]

We also use the suction cup.. But safety wire it to the boat...very short lead wire.

[BabcockBros38A]

Michael,
when I purchased my GoPro2 a few years back it came with 2 curved mounting bases, for helmet, and 2 flat mounting bases, as well as a strap- bracket that would go on a whitewater or biking helmet, it also has a silicon insert that prevents the mount release from opening. There also is a float ring that attaches to the back that's optional.
Pete

[bmitch1]

We mount ours on the cowl (see attached photo) using the sticky flat GoPro mount - the camera can be placed facing forward or backward using this method. The position gives a great angle for watching what the driver is doing. Sample video links below:

Looking forward

Looking backward

Some things we have learned...

1) The nylon/monofiliment safety tether that comes with the GoPro is mostly useless - we've shredded two of them (one on a rolled JR and the other on a flipped AXH). Later on I switched to using 2 heavier Zip-ties - some of them are 18lb and the others are 40lb - wrapping one around the camera base and a longer one through the tether tie down shown in the pic. It's tougher than the fishing line core they use in the stock tether and you can leave a little extra length as a 'shock cord',

2) Get the GoPro "Floaty Back Door" - the orange floater sticks to the back of the camera and will save a camera from sinking. So long as it doesn't get hit by a following boat...lol.

3) We have a suction cup mount but have never used it.

4) GoPro sells 6 levels of GoPro - our first one was a fancy one with 4K video and wi-fi. We lost in the JR accident when the patrol boat didn't realize what the floating orange thing was...and noone saw it after. We replaced it with the basic $129 model and learned it does everything a boat racer needs for taking great onboard HD video. The drawback is the battery isn't user-replaceable like the fancier ones so you just need to be prepared to keep it on a USB charger - even the cell-phone backup/emergency battery chargers work for this.

5) You can use all the GoPro mounting arms to get really creative with a higher mounting angle but all that does is make a wiggly video. Use one short arm and it's rock solid.

6) The mounting position on the top of the motor cowl is convenient, gives a great angle and allows 360 degree vision for however you want to face the camera. But in a flip it's also exposed and can get ripped off. It helped to allow a little bit of give in the mounting screw to allow the camera to adjust back in the event of a water impact. I've seen folks mount them on the front of the motor which would offer better protection but we've never done this.

7) Use a coat of car wax on the camera lense to get the water drops off the lense for better video. Be careful using Rain-X unless you're 100% confident the GoPro face on your camera is glass because regular Rain-X is not plastic compatible.

Hope it helps!

[charlieblackwoodt47]

41Sj6yURHuL._SY355_.jpg GoPro_Tripod_Mount.jpg
Use the go pro tripod mount. you can bolt it anywhere you want and also use a bolt to tighten the gopro at the angle you want. its what I use and have had no problems at all.

[Fastjack]

You would have needed 6 Go pros at Tabor City to eliminate your problems !!!

[runabout333]

Edwin Watts Golf sells Go-Pro.

[3autility]

Is there an attachment so you can hand hold the camera or do they always have to be attached to something?

[blueskyracer]

You can buy hand held devices that even have gimbals to record while walking..

[JohnsOldMercurySite]

Thanks guys that just about covers it
cheers