General Advice

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Motor Racing Guide

We get asked regularly about what sort of mount is or isn’t legal for a particular race series. Having looked into this, we have to say that their isn’t a concrete rule, as each car, race series and individual scrutineers will be slightly different. Having looked at various race series regulations from around the world, spoken to the MSA www.msauk.org and consulted the all important MSA blue book we can give the following general advice.

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Mounting

A clamp mount is a necessity, we have yet to find a series that allows suction mounts EXCEPT for sprinting and hillclimbing.

You DON’T need an ‘approved’ race mount, you simply need to ensure the mount is safe and secure and follows the rules of the race series. Most rules I have seen require a secondary method of fixing the camera, which can’t be plastic or elastic. Nylon straps seem the most likely solution.

If using a bullet camera, you will also need to give consideration to the location of the camcorder or digital recording device. A strong, padded bag is usually preferable, giving protection from the elements and vibration. This bag will also need to be well secured into the car, again, nylon straps are one of the best solutions. All cabling, remote control and microphone should be well secured, using cable ties.

We are using this method filming for Steve Rance in the 2007 Porsche Open race series, and have passed scrutineering with no issues. We have two bullet cameras, one picture in picture box, a camcorder and various other equipment all housed in one of our padded bags. This is then strapped into the roll cage at three locations to secure.

Location - Locating the camera inside the car is most common, so you can see the driver and the action outside the car. A bullet camera outside may also be possible i.e. on roll cages, through the grille etc. It needs to be positioned in a place where it cannot come into contact with the driver in the event of an accident.

Camera - A bullet camera is preferable and more likely to be allowed due to less weight/risk of injury, besides, a bullet camera is usually more resistant to vibration and can give better results.

Communication - In a conversation I have had with the MSA they prefer each racer to contact the series organiser regarding filming before the events. They mentioned that it may be necessary to provide details of the mount to the race organiser, this may include measurements, a description or photos.

At The Track - Ensure you have your camera and mount in place at scrutineering.
Please get in touch with us for our recommendations on equipment to use that will suit your needs.

Below you will find extracts taken from various international racing regulations, these are freely available online to view in full. I would really appreciate your assistance in adding to or changing the content of this racing guide. Some of what is written below will be of little practical use, but it is included for interest.

MSA competitors yearbook 2006 (Blue Book) Section E Common regulations for competitors, page 71, 12.19.5.
Be prohibited from carrying cameras/videos unless authorised by the Chief Scrutineer and Event Organiser.

F1 regulations 2006 FIA Article 20 Television cameras and timing transponders

20.1 Presence of cameras and camera housings:
All cars must be fitted with either two cameras, two camera housings or one of each at all times throughout the Event.
20.2 Location of camera housings:
Camera housings, when used, must be fitted in the same location as cameras. Details concerning the size and weight of all camera housings may be found in the Appendix to these regulations.
20.3 Location and fitting of camera equipment:
20.3.1 All cars must be equipped with six positions in which cameras or camera housings can be fitted. Referring to Drawing 6, all cars must carry a camera or camera housing in position 4, the position of the remaining camera or camera housing will be determined by the FIA after consultation with the relevant Competitor.
Once positions are determined in the above manner, any decision as to whether a camera or camera housing is fitted in those positions will rest solely with the relevant Competitor.
20.3.2 Any camera or dummy camera fitted in positions 1, 2 or 3 shown in Drawing 6 must be mounted in order that its major axis does not subtend an angle greater than 5° to the reference plane.

Dakar 2006
Heavy restrictions on use of footage.

Time Attack 2006
Vehicle modifications 3/28. Video, film and photographic, including performance related test equipment is prohibited from all vehicles unless expressly authorised by the Time Attack Series officials in advance.

FIA European Touring car regulations 2004 Weighing page 8, section 66 6f
A car must carry either an on-board camera or equivalent ballast that is situated in the same location as the camera would have been.

Nasa rally sport (National Auto Sport Association) (Rallying) 2004 3.6.21 Camera and Camera Mounts

Camera mounts and their attachment to the vehicle shall be of a safe and secure design which would prevent either driver from being able to strike any part of the mount. As well, the camera shall be secured at a minimum of two different points and neither attachment may be elastic or plastic.

Manx Rally 2006 Article 21 Additional Information.

1. (i) Photography: ‘In-car’ video cameras may only be fitted with the written permission of the Clark of the Course E12.19.5. Any such cameras must be installed prior to scrutineering and mounted to the satisfaction of the Scrutineers, who may refuse to carry out scrutineering or order the removal of such camera if the necessary approval cannot be produced upon request.

(ii) It is conditional that a copy of any video images or compilation video of which this event forms a part is supplied free of charge to the Organisers within six months of the event by the Entrant/Competitor otherwise a fee of £250.00 will be imposed.

(iii) Competitors who fit ‘on-board cameras’ must display centrally on the dashboard the Event and Sponsors logo as supplied so as to be visible through the camera lens.

(iv) Competitors who fail to produce the necessary written approval at Scrutineering, MC1 or any other subsequent Control upon request will be fined £100.00 and may have any such cameras removed from their vehicle. Any time lost as a result will count toward overall lateness.

 
IOMTT (Isle of Man TT) 06. 21 Onboard Cameras and Global Positioning Systems

Only authorised competitors will be permitted to film from on board cameras or to carry GPS on their machines.
Applications must be made on the official ‘application to the clerk of the course’ form. Where such approval is granted, the installation of the camera, GPS and associated equipment is further subject to the approval of the chief technical officer.

CASC (Canadian Automobile Sports Clubs) 2004 regs page 60, section 26

Video Equipment – In car camera or videotape recording equipment is permitted provided the installation is approved by the Event Chief Scrutineer and subject to the provision that the stewards of the event may impound any photographic film or videotape recording made during a track session.

ASN Canada FIA CACCAutosport (confederation of autosport car clubs) 2005 race competition regulations page 36, section 10 In car cameras/radios. 10.1 General

1. In car camera or videotape recording equipment is permitted provided the installation is approved by the scrutineers and subject to the provision that any photographic film or videotape recording made during the track session may be impounded by the Steward.

 
EMRA Rules (Eastern Motor Racing Association) Allowable exceptions 2.6

Mounts for video/photographic cameras shall be of a safe and secure design. The body of the camera (recording unit) shall be secured at a minimum of two (2) mounting points on different sides of the camera body, neither of the attachments being plastic or elastic. If a tether is used to restrain the camera, the tether length shall be limited so that the camera cannot come into contact with the driver. These rules of attachment do not apply to the remote lens of ‘lipstick’ cameras that weigh approximately two ounces. The remote lenses of these cameras may be secured with items such as cable ties and/or racer’s tape.