Using a flat-surface, a stick-on...
Using a flat-surface, a stick-on mount, and a standard quick-release buckle, we positioned the Motorsports Hero in the lower part of our project '86 T-top coupe's front bumper cover (arrow). The adhesive on the kit's four included mounts--two flat and two curved for helmets and other slightly rounded surfaces--is super strong, but we used rubbing alcohol and cleaned the mounting area before affixing the mount on the cover. Clean surfaces promote bonds that won't fail under high-performance driving conditions.
We receive heads-up calls and e-mails about new products all the time. Unfortunately, some parts and accessories don't fit into the Mustang mix too well. Thankfully, most of the cool new gear we hear about does relate to our collective main interest, so you better believe we don't hesitate when it comes to following up on leads.
A few weeks prior to the '07 SEMA show, Nick Woodman and his team at GoPro hipped us to their wickedly cool Motorsports Hero ($179.99)--a wireless, mini digital video camera system for in-car and all-over-the-car images.
With motorsports photography being a key element of our work, we made a point of stopping by the GoPro booth to get a closer look at the Hero. It's also no secret that video of 'Stangs in action on the race track and in the street is becoming more and more popular on the Internet, thanks to Web sites such as Streetfire.net, YouTube, and PowerTV. When we saw the images this rad setup produces, we knew we would be telling you more about it right here.
For the most part, it seems the universal mounting point for video cameras is behind the driver, on the crossbar, or on the main hoop of the rollcage. The vantage point offers a view of what the driver sees when the Mustang is being driven, but because of this unofficial standard camera location, a lot of the motorsports clips we spend hours watching look similar.
The GoPro Motorsports Hero...
The GoPro Motorsports Hero is a true example of something big that comes in a small package. The wireless palm-size camera is capable of capturing 30 frames per second of TV-quality video/audio (NTSC or PAL playback), as well as 3-megapixel still photos.
This is where GoPro's Motorsports Hero shines. The Hero is a small (2.5x1.5x0.75 inches), 30-frame-per-second, 3-megapixel, digital video/still camera that's designed to capture amazingly cool, first-hand footage from just about anywhere on or in a 'Stang while the car is traveling at any speed. There's no need for duct tape, clamp-style rollcage mounts, or any other form of jury-rigged camera stand. The unit is easy for one person to use, which spares friends from having to ride along with wide-open drivers and attempt to hold a camera steady as a 'Stang is being put through its paces at high speed.
The intent of this particular Tech Inspection is twofold. While we wanted to give the Motorsports Hero a try for our magazine's and Web site's benefit, it's more important that we give you all the 411 here and now, as we realize many racers and enthusiasts are looking for an easy way to capture high-quality video and still images of their 'Stangs in action while they're driving their 'Stangs.
The following collection of photos, captions, and video clips detail our quick installation and testing of GoPro's Motorsports Hero. The kit is all-inclusive, and setting up the camera literally takes 10 minutes.
The Hero isn't a part that will make your 'Stang run faster or handle better, but we definitely think this new camera system's high level of cool makes it an accessory that should be in every 'Stangbanger's ride.
What you see is what you get....
What you see is what you get. Each Motorsports Hero kit includes a camera and housing, flat- and curved-surface stick-on mounts, standard and vertical quick-release buckles, a high-grip suction cup, and a USB/RCA cable used for downloading images and video to a computer or viewing material on your television.
Although the kit includes...
Although the kit includes two AAA alkaline batteries, GoPro recommends stepping up to Lithium or NiMH rechargeable cells such as the Energizers (preferred brand) shown here, as either type of battery performs well under the stresses of in/on the moving vehicle motorsports photography. The Motorsports Hero features a miniscule 16 megabytes of internal memory (approximately 25 seconds of video), so a 2-gigabyte SD memory card is a must for expanding the unit's recording capability to two hours.
Once the batteries and memory...
Once the batteries and memory card are installed, the Motorsports Hero is placed inside its polycarbonate housing. The air-tight case is strong, road-durable, and waterproof up to 100 feet.
After reading the detailed...
After reading the detailed instructions and dialing in various operating settings, taking photos or recording video is as simple as pressing the shutter button. The Motorsports Hero features a self-timer, triple-shot sequencing, photos in 5-second intervals, upside-down still/video image capture, HI and LO audio recording, and more.
This high-grip suction cup...
This high-grip suction cup mount is perfect for in-car and on-car photography. We experimented with ours by sticking it to the inside of the coupe's windshield. The camera didn't budge at any time during a quick test spin, which included several hard throttle mashes. Having multiple Motorsports Heros mounted all over a 'Stang will probably produce some cool footage.
Here's a sample image captured...
Here's a sample image captured by our bumper-mounted GoPro Motorsports Hero. While this shot was taken during a quick spin on the street, we're sure exciting, crystal-clear photos and video will be your result when the Hero is used to show viewpoints from the front, rear, sides, or cockpit of a Mustang wailing at speed around a race track or bombing down a winding road.