"Watch how you drive" takes on whole new meaning
You have the
opportunity of a lifetime to drive a 400-horsepower CTS-V on a major track at full speed. Or you've rented a Mazda RX-8
for the weekend and have to tackle the twistiest mountain roads to visit your parents in an adjacent state. Ultimately
you know, as you start that M5, all you'll have to share with friends and family is just a memory of the driving
experience.Not if Randy Chase has anything to say about it. A former engineering manager for a company that developed security video equipment, he now offers the 'Chase camera', an on-board video recording system hooked to a camera on the hood of a car.
Chase developed the equipment to withstand being within a missile as it flies towards its target. As an amateur sports car driver he adapted the technology to his cars so he could replay his journeys. Other racers saw his videos and clamored for their own.
The Chase camera costs between $500 to $1,200 depending upon the level of recording sophistication desired by the customer. Many buyers simply purchase the camera and cables and hook to their camcorders.
Further information on the camera and order information can be found at the link.
[Source: Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
OLivier 5:48PM (3/30/2006)
And for $150 you can get an iSight which you can hook up to your laptop for 640*480 @30fps glory.
Just need one of those suction tripods or the in the box stand with a suction mount will do fine.
My isight works great for my in-car dashs around the nurburgring, should be fine on the american roads.
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Finished.Law.School 6:32PM (3/30/2006)
About 2 weeks ago I saw a really nice Audi S4 with small cameras sticking out of and attached to the rear windows.
They were pointed forward in a manner that would provide a nice driving perspective if someone was bored enough to want to watch such a thing...
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Robert Aitchison 6:35PM (3/30/2006)
BTW this is awesome for recording video of your autocross or other racing runs. Randy is a local autocrosser so I've known about his stuff for years.
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Speed Racer 7:03PM (3/30/2006)
We love Randy. We use his camera all the time for our Video Podcast: http://www.vodcars.com
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JayP 8:44PM (3/30/2006)
A kit instead of hacking one up would be nice, dunno if I'd spend $500 on it though.
I'd have to see if the suction cup mounts would pass spec with my organization. It would pass with a tether.
Or 40 feet of duct tape.
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Shoeman 10:50AM (3/31/2006)
Haven't these been around for AGES? Or mayb everyone in the auto-enthusiast community just knows about them!
They pass SCCA-Solo tech easily, and perform admirably. I have yet to hear of a suction cup failing and sending the camera flying!
While this is fun to watch, most folks also use an in-camera mount, usually fabricated/adjusted to fit the headrest stalks. Much better if you want to watch yourself drive & improve from the learning experience. But not as excitnig as a cleverly placed suction camera, of course ;)
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