I've been looking for some kind of simple in-car solution for video and datalogging at the track for several years. My wish list looks like this...

• Solid-state video recorder (no tapes or discs)
• Multi-camera
• Integrated hardware
• GPS speed/position logging
• OBD II data input
• Easy to set up and use

For a long time I couldn't really find a package that would do all this. Some of the products COULD do it, but they were not well-integrated, and/or the video overlay process was cumbersome and time-consuming.

Then I went to Audi School (see this thread for my report on that), and I got to keep an on-track DVD of my own driving that was very cool. I started looking for the manufacturer of the hardware the Audi school uses, and found that they were right in the same town as my shop! Woot!

One thing led to another, and we got a Race-Keeper package bolted into our track car. (Sorry, it's not my MINI.) We used it for a two-day track event a couple of weeks ago, and I was delighted. It was very simple to install -- took about 20 minutes. It checks off all my wish-list items, and the software is easy to use. We even set it to automatically switch recording on when the car is rolling, and off when the car is stationary.



It got to where we were getting back to the pits, immediately popping the CF card into the laptop sitting on the roof of the car, and watching the laps we just did, minutes after getting off the track. We had a crowd gathered a few times. And of course there were TWO of us driving, so we've had a lot of interesting discussions about our two different driving styles.

So anyway, I really like the system, and we've picked up the product as something we're going to sell. But I'm just happy that finally someone put a video recorder/logger that's all integrated and isn't a bunch of piled-together pieces that are messy/difficult to use.

Here's a one-lap video I took. This is me driving at Summit Point, WV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR2_nYfS1Cc

If you want more information about Race-Keeper, find it HERE.

Thanks,

Dan
Mach V

 

Nice Vid, does the system include 3 cameras, I will check it out at your link.

 

very cool! suspicious that's a video game.

 

The basic system includes one camera; we added two more. It can accept up to four cameras in total.

Ha! You're not the first person to say that! "Looks like Forza!"

--Dan
Mach V

 

Isn't technology amazing? Race-Keeper just announced a $500 price drop.

--Dan
Mach V