Z4 roadster GoPro mounting advice for trackday

J

JSz4

Member
I'm doing my first trackday in the Z4 in a few weeks and have borrowed a GoPro Hero8 but just trying to work out the best way to mount it.

I don't think the suction mount will work as there'll be too much movement from the soft top rear screen and I'd find it distracting on the windscreen and would lose the view of the cabin.

I was thinking of using one of the slightly curved 3M mounts to stick the mount to the centre console between the seats at shoulder height or at the top of the console between the roll hoops (although this may be too high). Has anyone mounted it like this and does it work?

Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers Jeremy
 
JSz4 said:
I was thinking of using one of the slightly curved 3M mounts to stick the mount to the centre console between the seats at shoulder height or at the top of the console between the roll hoops (although this may be too high). Has anyone mounted it like this and does it work?
Click to expand...

I’ve not got an E85/6 but was on a forum run in N Wales recently and an E85 had one of those 3M centre console mounts. I got sent the video and quality, sound, stabilisation was all good. Don’t know the model of GoPro but it was at least a couple of years old.

The other option, if you’re confident of not rubbing the car in front, is BMW do a mount for the GoPro that screws into the towing eye. I’ve got one for a brand new one E89 but sold the car before I got to use it :lol:
 
Check with the track whether a single point of attachment is enough, or whether you need a 2nd (usually a cable tie or tether).

In the past I've used a RAM Mount kit suction-mounted to my piano black dash trim, to the passenger side of the windscreen, to the passenger window, and (all with a secondary tether kit for GoPros). I've also suction-mounted them to the roof (I've got a coupe) and to the rear passenger wing (on the top/side) for action shots...but again, I used a secondary sticky tether.

I've also see some cars using a number-plate mount to position the GoPro just above or below the number plate.

I've also used a head strap around my helmet - but watching that view back makes me feel sick :P

Tethers (for smooth surfaces) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/GoPro-ATBKT-005-Camera-Tethers/dp/B007WSNXY8
(there are larger ones to stick to textured surfaces)

Ram-Mount - https://www.rammount.com/consumer/brands/gopro + https://www.rammount.com/consumer/device-mounts/camera-mounts

This is what's in my kit...
IMG_5401.jpg

There is another item which I can't find, which is a squishy (like slime) dash-top base with a smooth plate inside to affix a suction cup to. Never found it was secure enough to use on track though (not even for the small GPS unit I used for better accuracy than the phone/gopro - not needed on newer GoPros of course), and has only been used on road trips.

Similar dashboard 'mat' to mine - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332584619139
 
Jeremy.

I used exactly the type of GoPro mount you described at shoulder height for my recent trip to the Pryrenees, and it worked a treat. I prefer that to a dashboard or windscreen mounts as IMO the in-cockpit view gives a better perspective.

Regarding suction mounts - I suggest you contact the track day organisers, as they might fail scrutineering.

Cheers.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies and advice.

Argyll Andy, that's good to know that the 3M mount is stable enough, haven't done a trackday before in the Z so definitely not confident for towing eye mounts but bet they give great sensation of speed though!

Thanks mmm-five, I hadn't thought a second tether would be necessary as I'll have the roof up and keeping the camera within the cabin but worth checking with the track as you say, not the sort of thing you want flying around in an accident! The ram mounts look good option and if I get a camera after this trackday I'll probably look in to one.

Cheers Conrod, I think I'll go with the 3M sticker curved mount on the centre console as want to see the cabin if possible. Have you got a pic or can you describe where on the centre console you stuck yours, was it on the opening door, curved section above or on the top?
 
Bit of a bugger to fit a camera in the Roadster for a track day, just have to be a bit creative.

Just be aware almost all organisers will stipulate in the briefing that a sticky or suction mount has a secondary tether as mentioned above. It's not so much for it coming out the car as what it can do inside the car in an accident if it comes loose. It'll come down to who's at the end of the pitlane on the day as to whether you'll be allowed out with it as your proposing or not.

I fit mine with a C-clamp on top of the wind deflector and then cable tie it around the deflector, never had an issue yet with that set up, though it almost always get's a comment from the pitlane marshal as a bit of an unorthodox set up! :lol: But it's tethered so all good.

Also, you've got a Roadster, get the top down on track! Much better experience! 8)
 
Photos as promised.

The mount (GoPro curved):

Mount.jpg

With the camera fitted:

Mount & GoPro.jpg

Frame capture from video - Hero 4 in linear mode (rather than wideangle):

Screenshot.jpg

My Hero 4s have no image stabilisation, but the footage from my recent Pyrenees trip was rock solid.

I also used an external microphone, which I clipped to the ashtray lid. There it's out of the wind, and it also nicely picks up the induction roar from the sound generator behind the passenger footwell.

Hope this helps, and enjoy your track day! :thumbsup:
 
Conrod said:
Photos as promised.

The mount (GoPro curved):

Mount.jpg

With the camera fitted:

Mount & GoPro.jpg

Frame capture from video - Hero 4 in linear mode (rather than wideangle):

Screenshot.jpg

My Hero 4s have no image stabilisation, but the footage from my recent Pyrenees trip was rock solid.

I also used an external microphone, which I clipped to the ashtray lid. There it's out of the wind, and it also nicely picks up the induction roar from the sound generator behind the passenger footwell.

Hope this helps, and enjoy your track day! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot, that's really helpful. I'll try to mount it in the same place as that gives a great perspective. That's a good idea with the external microphone to get the best of the induction growl.

Cheers, hopefully will get some good footage and keep car in one piece!
 
By far the best place for it is [ref]Conrod[/ref]'s method (if you don't mind sticking the mount to your trim). I've done this one before and its solid. I was told by a TDO that I needed a secondary tether even with a 3M mount. I used a thin piece of rope from the GoPro case to the passenger headrest which they were fine with.

Also, if you didn't know already, make sure it is set to spot metering (should be default) so that the outside view is correctly exposed (not the inside of the car). Its worth checking halfway through the day to see what it looks like and you can always turn the exposure down a few clicks if its still too bright.
 
I've mounted mine exactly the same as Conrod's above on both my Zeds (past and current). Both have done multiple trackdays with no issues in terms of image quality/stability, camera coming loose or falling off, or TDO rules. My only advice if you're filming either in a coupe, or with the roof up is to make sure you set the camera up properly - if the camera is to make sure spot-metering is on so it doesn't adjusting brightness based on the cabin light level, or you'll see nothing but white out of the windows! The other bit of advice is to use your phone to check the location of the camera to make sure it's not right in line with the rear view mirror, that will be annoying. Do a proper trial run in the car before you go on track too, you don't want to get there and realise it's all set up wrong - or even worse get back at the end of your trackday and realise all your footage is impossible to see!

External mic is also a must for a go-pro - the internal ones are a bit rubbish and you'll only end up hearing the gopro squeaking and rattling! I used a cheapo one from Amazon for a tenner for most of mine, but have recently upgraded to a rode one, which I'm kinda tempted to route next to the induction kit so no one can hear me squawking in the cabin :lol:

Enjoy the trackday, and do post the videos up afterward!

EDIT:

dredged up an old video from a trackday in my old 3.0si coupe at Goodwood, using the 3M Curved mount mounted as above, and an external mic (I think my camera is a Hero4 Silver but can't remember!) - please just ignore the absolute bobbins coming out of my mouth - It was a few years ago when I was a bit younger and me and my mate were somewhat overexcited :lol: www.youtube.com/watch?v=55xgJWBDTDM
 
TheDan said:
By far the best place for it is [ref]Conrod[/ref]'s method (if you don't mind sticking the mount to your trim). I've done this one before and its solid. I was told by a TDO that I needed a secondary tether even with a 3M mount. I used a thin piece of rope from the GoPro case to the passenger headrest which they were fine with.

Also, if you didn't know already, make sure it is set to spot metering (should be default) so that the outside view is correctly exposed (not the inside of the car). Its worth checking halfway through the day to see what it looks like and you can always turn the exposure down a few clicks if its still too bright.
Click to expand...


Thanks that's reassuring, did you mount it in the same spot as Conrod or slightly higher/lower? I'll make sure I tether it just in case, cheers.

That's useful to know about the spot metering, I've checked and Hero8 doesn't have a simple spot metering setting but instead 'Exposure Control' whereby you have to tap on the screen the section that's relevant (eg the windscreen) which I think you can 'lock' but since you can't touch the screen when the camera is within protective plastic case it's not straightforward unless I'm missing something!

I'd planned to have it set to 16:9 1080p and 30fps as only have one memory card and assuming I can just leave it on 1.0x zoom. There's a 'boost' mode that crops the image and stabilises further but not sure it'll be necessary
 
Ed Doe said:
I've mounted mine exactly the same as Conrod's above on both my Zeds (past and current). Both have done multiple trackdays with no issues in terms of image quality/stability, camera coming loose or falling off, or TDO rules. My only advice if you're filming either in a coupe, or with the roof up is to make sure you set the camera up properly - if the camera is to make sure spot-metering is on so it doesn't adjusting brightness based on the cabin light level, or you'll see nothing but white out of the windows! The other bit of advice is to use your phone to check the location of the camera to make sure it's not right in line with the rear view mirror, that will be annoying. Do a proper trial run in the car before you go on track too, you don't want to get there and realise it's all set up wrong - or even worse get back at the end of your trackday and realise all your footage is impossible to see!

External mic is also a must for a go-pro - the internal ones are a bit rubbish and you'll only end up hearing the gopro squeaking and rattling! I used a cheapo one from Amazon for a tenner for most of mine, but have recently upgraded to a rode one, which I'm kinda tempted to route next to the induction kit so no one can hear me squawking in the cabin :lol:

Enjoy the trackday, and do post the videos up afterward!

EDIT:

dredged up an old video from a trackday in my old 3.0si coupe at Goodwood, using the 3M Curved mount mounted as above, and an external mic (I think my camera is a Hero4 Silver but can't remember!) - please just ignore the absolute bobbins coming out of my mouth - It was a few years ago when I was a bit younger and me and my mate were somewhat overexcited :lol: www.youtube.com/watch?v=55xgJWBDTDM
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, did you attach the 3M mount in the same spot as Conrod or higher/lower? I'll try and set it up over the weekend and do some test drives. I'm not sure if you can 'lock' the 'Exposure Control' or if it is something you have to mess around with every time you try to use it.

It seems to go through batteries very quickly, is there any advantage to leaving GPS on or best to turn it off and safe power?

Will have a look for an external mic, didn't realise the sound recording quality was so bad from them. Haha thanks for the vid, looks like camera is mounted in perfect position and nice driving. Don't blame you being overexcited, did Goodwood many years ago and amazing circuit, nearly every corner is fast and challenging and so much history and character
 
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