Indy Car on car cameras....

[Munter]

Just seen a few clips from an indy car race on tv. And the cameras on the top of the roll bar can spin around and allow the camera controller to follow the action around the car.

Why dont we have that on the F1 cars? Too Bulky?

[stephen300o]

I think it is more that we are a long way behind America in showing motorsport as entertainment. Over there they have these ideas and give it a go. Over here we um and ah a lot more, though I think This is sometimes a good thing.
Gopher cam has limited appeal.

[FunkyNige]

Don't Indy cars just go in ovals? I suspect it's rather more difficult to keep an F1 car in shot as it's ducking and diving about behind the 'camera car' compared to an Indy car.

[stephen300o]

FunkyNige said:

Don't Indy cars just go in ovals? I suspect it's rather more difficult to keep an F1 car in shot as it's ducking and diving about behind the 'camera car' compared to an Indy car.

No, they have road courses as well now that their series have merged. But yes I suspect that for a "drafting" type race this type of camera is more suitable.

[entropy]

Have to thank the Aussies for those cameras! They've been working on those cameras since the early 80s.

Works well in IRL, ALMS, FIA GTs, Aussie V8s.

I think there's limited scope in F1. Most of the action is blink a you'll miss it.

I think FOM should just let the Americans produce/direct the feed. They're the best in live racing.

[Munter]

stephen300o said:

FunkyNige said:

Don't Indy cars just go in ovals? I suspect it's rather more difficult to keep an F1 car in shot as it's ducking and diving about behind the 'camera car' compared to an Indy car.

No, they have road courses as well now that their series have merged. But yes I suspect that for a "drafting" type race this type of camera is more suitable.

It was a street course I saw it used on.

Watch the car catch you on the brakes, watch it come up the inside and watch the back of it vanish off into the distance after the corner. All in one smooth panning motion. It gave a really good shot of the entire overtaking manover from the car.

[FourWheelDrift]

They're normally on sportscars and touring cars. First time I ever saw panning cameras on cars was with the Bathurst 1000 in the 1980s. We've had them in the BTCC here as well but I can't recall if they have been used recently.

[acf8181]

I don't like rotating cameras....always confuses the footage to me.

I do however, really like the helmet cams (inside visor) they used to use in champ cars

[llewop]

FourWheelDrift said:

They're normally on sportscars and touring cars. First time I ever saw panning cameras on cars was with the Bathurst 1000 in the 1980s. We've had them in the BTCC here as well but I can't recall if they have been used recently.

I remember seeing them first there too! even I think spinning them to face the driver!?

[FourWheelDrift]

Whilst the driver was also talking to the commentary guys live during the race.

Here you go, Win Percy during the 1987 race

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEKj0QVZKOw

[Northern Munkee]

acf8181 said:

I do however, really like the helmet cams (inside visor) they used to use in champ cars

Coulthard tried one in F1, where was it? Can't remember, was terrible, as i recall it couldn't see over the steering wheel (although neither can the drivers!). Setting up helmet cameras is tricky business.

A1GP are fairly adventurous with incar camera positions under the front wing, etc but its probably the australians, with their Bathurst coverage that pioneered cameras in wheel arches looking at suspensions or brake discs, as well as the incar rotating cameras, puts me in mind of ITV World of Sport, and Dickie Davies, you've probably got someone like Kerry Packer to thank for breaking the mould on how to present cricket for TV and its spin offs into other sports.

[EDLT]

FourWheelDrift said:

Here you go, Win Percy during the 1987 race

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEKj0QVZKOw

Best name EVER.

The BTCC talk to drivers during safety cars, which is probably a better idea and it happens a couple of times every race.