GoPro setup for car track days & motorsport - complete guide

#gopro #actioncamera #trackdays #motorsport
Every track driver loves in-car footage, and it's a good idea to record it for personal development or in the event of an incident. But setting up a camera takes a little thought and effort, so I put this video together to explain how I use a GoPro in a variety of cars to record my in-car footage. Here's what's covered:
00:00 introduction & the 3 things you need
00:34 mounts
01:56 mounts - Lotus Elise / GoPro example
03:02 mounts - Toyota 86 / GoPro / headrest example
04:01 mounts - window, Toyota 86, Hyundai N
04:52 mounts - external suction
05:24 helmet mount
06:39 power to your GoPro
07:20 important GoPro settings
11:43 GoPro app - what it is, when to use
13:22 camera setup; field of view
15:48 GoPro exposure for track cars; VERY important!
17:54 which GoPro to buy?
19:02 which SD card to buy?
19:20 solving the USB power access issue on later GoPros
20:40 the GoPro Media Mod
23:14 resetting a GoPro
23:41 overlaying car & track data onto your GoPro video
24:02 other options & summary
Post questions as comments!
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[@Backyard_Motorsports]

This is really quite an exhaustive video showing everything you need to prepare for track day video. Thank you for sharing.

[@L2SFBC]

You're very welcome! Please share :-)

[@danpettersen1]

Really appreciate this video, what a great guide! I've got a new Hero 11 for my Nürburgring-trip next week, this answered all my questions about setting my new camera up. Plus, I also need to bring my camera fov further forward in my car, so I just ordered the same ram-mounts so that I can replicate you setup in the Lotus. Think that will make a much better onboard-experience. Cheers mate, awesome job! 👍

[@L2SFBC]

Thanks Dan, very glad it helped, big investment for a 'Ring session so you want to capture everything!

[@auszooker]

Gopro labs firmware and QR codes are a good way to use them when they are hard to access, you can make cards for various setting combos and just show it to the camera to change it.

[@L2SFBC]

Great tip didn't know that!!

[@ed40lew]

just curious, when you have the ram mount / arm from the roll cage sticking out, have you recorded with hypers mooth/stabilization off? mine seems abit shakey & done the exact set up as yours - all tightened etc. was trying to have the gopro view just mounted looking at the screen, no turning when i go round a bend as such

[@L2SFBC]

Hypersmooth varies from GoPro to GoPro. My advice is try all settings and choose the best.

[@KuyaPow626]

Awesome video! I'm very excited for my track day now :D I hope you have other videos on how to do more of the track overlay video edits, those are sUper cool!

[@L2SFBC]

Not yet, will if there's demand. Check this out which may help - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWSse3ade8Z5gbM

[@user-gq2el4yr7d]

I have a problem with my GoPro 12. On turns, the video floats horizontally when HyperSmooth is turned on and terrible video shaking when HyperSmooth is turned off. Do you know how to fix this?

[@L2SFBC]

Yes set it to the mid setting

[@darthnatas953]

Excellent. Thank you sir.

[@grippgoat]

Awesome summary! Thanks! 👍 My only question is how to avoid the panning effect I see on a lot of videos. I'll be using a GoPro Hero 8. It doesn't seem bad in your sample videos. Is it related to video stabilization? Is it a newer GoPro thing?

[@L2SFBC]

It's really annoying! Yes it is stabilisation. Depending on the GoPro on how bad it is and which mode to select. The later models, 10 and beyond, are better.

[@cayman9815]

great info. thank you Sir

[@L2SFBC]

You are welcome

[@cayman9815]

@@L2SFBC question: I will soon buy a gt86 automatic sec gen for mainly driving trackdays the cayman is too expensive for tracking so that car becomes my daily (see my channel) what do you recommend I have to change on the gt86 ? what maintenance routine? oil changes in gearbox & differential needed ? rgs

[@douglashornell-scott5126]

Robert - very informative thanks. I'm introducing cameras into the cars for advanced (non track) driver training that I run. In addition to a camera pointing forwards, there may be occasions and training modules that will require additional cameras (in the same car) ie. pointing inwards to monitor the driver's actions, pointing rearwards to see other vehicle positioning behind the car. How would one control these additional cameras? Currently using Go Pro 10 but I'm having reliability issues so looking at AKASO or DJI Osmo Action 3.

[@L2SFBC]

Multi-cameras is a pain! Best to use a dashcam with front and rear views, or an in-vehicle monitoring system. Otherwise, extra GoPros, they're pretty good at interior shots with SuperView. However, interior mounts facing the driver often mean on the windscreen where heat is a problem - that may be your reliability issue? To solve that, reduce the frame rate and resolution; GoPros can't handle 4k @ 60fps for long, I just found this when doing a helicopter video, and for interior shots you don't really need 4k and high frame rates. To sync the resulting videos, switch on all the cameras and clap 2-3 times then you can easily sync by audio.

[@russellsmith5278]

Can you do one on audio next?

[@L2SFBC]

No plans to, it's not super critical in my view. You could use the Media Mod and place a mic somewhere else than the cockpit.

[@Hutchnike]

What size mount did you buy for the harness bar, couldn't find on big enough on Ram mount website 😢

[@L2SFBC]

B

[@danielsoto_toronto]

Hi where did you buy that aluminium bar for the go pro on the 86?!

[@L2SFBC]

Made it...

[@BenMitro]

Sorry about my ears. :)

[@L2SFBC]

I don't understand?

[@BenMitro]

@@L2SFBC The audio on the video went from tinny to bassy and back to normal several times. Probably something to do with the camera/mic you were using at the time?

[@L2SFBC]

Yes, I used maybe 4 different mics in that one depending on the shot.

[@auszooker]

@@L2SFBC I have found at times your audio will move left to right to center on different shots, good way to make people pay attention.

[@L2SFBC]

think I've fixed that now!