I've been looking into mounting a video camera in my Touring model, as I take my car to track a few times per year. I'm thinking of a harness guide bar that mounts in the shoulder belt anchors that will not disrupt the shoulder belts operation. Does anyone have a set up like that in their Z?

Thanks

 

I used to have a link to another forum for a headrest mount. PM member KENGRAY as he bought one and could help you out.

 

pm jtree007, he makes and sells them.

 

I use this in my Touring and it has been through an awful lot of ups and downs and on Z runs from California to New Hampshire and is solid as a rock. I have almost 50,000 miles on my car and much of this was w/video mounted as you see here.
It is a Gitzo 2220 tripod and a Giotto 3000 ballhead w/Velbon QR plate. Any (solid) tripod and ballhead will do the job tho. Regards, Jim

 

That would NEVER, EVER, EVER stay in place on a track. Do you even have that secured somehow?

 

I guess that I didn't make it clear enough in my original post. YES! It is rock solid! I think you think it is just setting on the tripod on the seat. It is not. It is well wedged at 4 points and very tightly I might add. The first tripod leg is wedged under the emer. brake handle. Second leg is down to the floor with the tripod leg extended fully to the floorboard and then pushed against the opposite point of the seatback. Thirdly, the other tripod leg/foot is securely wedged up against the door so as to be against the leg wedged under the brake handle. And, lastly, the entire tripod and ballhead/camera is tightly wedged against the seatback and the seatback is released and pushed against the leg extended to the floor. Believe me, it has been thru many, many miles and much more repeated stresses and pitch/yaw then even the track would afford it. This setup rode coast to coast on one run and never flinched even tho it involved many a "race" situation through mountains for hours while being pitched awfully hard. It is solid and not just sitting on a tripod on a seat as it may appear to the casual observer. Regards, Jim

 

Jim, I respect you, man, but the forces generated on the street are simply no comparision to those experienced on the track. Not even close. Until you do a track day, you have no idea. It was an eye-opening experience for me.

Besides, as well as the mount works for you, it would never pass tech inspection.

 

Hi Jim. I like your setup (+ I like your wheels too), It looks pretty stable, but it's too big for what I had in mind. I use my Z at the track when I instruct with the Audi Club. That means I frequently have a student in my passenger seat during my track sessions. I'm looking for an unobtrusive mount that either attaches to the headrest (and extends out between the two seats) or a harness guide bar that mounts between the shoulder belt anchors. jtree 007 gave me a nice lead on a headrest mount that I'm going to certainly follow up on. I've also talked to Brey-Knause, who makes harness guide bars for German cars and Vettes. They seemed somewhat interested in fabricating a harness guide bar for a 350z..

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

Let us know what you come up with and perhaps some pix too? I understand my tripod setup would not work in your scenario, especially with a passenger!
Let us know who will step up and fabricate something like this for our cars. Cost?
Regards, Jim

 

Gentlemen, please refer to the following. I couldn't find the link yesterday.

Camera Mount

 

Oh that is a great gadget. I have also been trying to figure out a way to easily mount my camera. Thanks for the link.

 

They got some mounts here.

http://store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/succupmoun.html

 

Or you could use the mount I make that Will pass SCCA Tech Inspection... Has been used in my car in Auto-x and Track days... survived a accident at 70+ in to a wall at Road Atlanta

http://www.350zfrenzy.com/forum/show...&threadid=2832

 

FYI guys, I'm ordering one from jtree007. The suction cup mounts and tripod mounts look like they'd work great for street use, but unfortuantely neither of them will not pass tech to get onto a track. jtree007's bolt-on seatback mount will not only pass tech, it'll also allow you to bring a passenger. Thank you all for your help. Regards.

 

Bubba,

How did that mount work out?

 

Great!. I want to announce jtree007 is 'da man. His mount fit perfectly and installed in a just a couple of minutes. The camera fit on it fine, and I'm happy to report it does not obstruct the view to the rear at all. I took it for a test drive this past week and it worked very well. My first track test with it is not until April at VIR. I'm looking forward to it. Thank you all for your input.

 

Joel, could you post a photo of it in your car? I'm curious to see if it obstructs your visibility out of the rear via the rearview mirror. Oh, and thanks again for instructing me at VIR earlier this month.

 

Hi John. Great hearing from you. Sure. I'll take a couple of shots tomorrow and try to post them. That rear view was a big concern of mine too. From my driving position, I do see the lens in the rear view mirror, but it really didn't obstruct my view. jtree007 drilled some extra holes in it to so the mount could moved over if it does obstruct. Very nice little mount.
Regards.

 

Hmmm. I've got two shots but they're too big to fit here. I'm not sure how to shrink them. I could email them to you if you pm me your email address. Or perhaps someone has a way to host them?

 

Good to hear that you like it...

How big are the vids.. I might be able to host them