Track Day/Race Video And Data Recording

Published: May 9, 2017

Here are various video cameras I've tried or otherwise had experience with, and how they stack up against each other.

AiM SmartyCam HD 2 GP

Cost: $1100 + $150 GPS receiver + $70 mount + $70 power cable

Pros:

  • Sound is very good, even in a convertible.
  • Video quality is also good, though only 720p is available.
  • Data is overlaid on the video by the camera.
  • Additional GPS receiver yields track map, car position on track, speed, acceleration, G ball.
  • Can be attached to an AiM dash or a Solo DL and show most (but not all) data channels on video, including RPM, pressure/temperature, etc.
  • Control box can be placed within reach of belted in driver.
  • Bullet camera is easy to mount.
  • Camera can be powered by a 12v source.
  • Build as motorsports equipment, vibration and water-resistant design. Video shows no waviness/tearing.

Cons:

  • It's a single camera system.
  • Camera automatically splits video files at roughly 4 GB mark, losing 10-15 seconds of video in the process. This is about 1 hour of video, meaning a typical 1.5 hour endurance stint is split into two files.
  • Requires a separate GPS receiver module (or a connection to an AiM dash) for track map/lap time.
  • Built-in battery is good for less than 20 minutes of recording with the optional GPS module, maybe 30 minutes without the GPS module.
  • No way to overlay predictive lap time or realtime delta on the video. Even though AiM Solo and AiM dashes have this functionality they do not export it via CAN channels, thus a SmartyCam hooked up to an AiM dash still will not be able to overlay realtime delta on the video.

AiM SmartyCam HD

Cost: used

Pros:

  • Sound quality is good, even in a convertible.
  • Data is overlaid on the video by the camera.
  • Camera can be powered by a 12v source.
  • Vibration and water-resistant design.

Cons:

  • Sound quality is worse than SmartyCam HD 2 GP, though it's not bad in absolute terms.
  • Camera body is larger than SmartyCam HD 2 GP. For a roll bar mount this is unlikely to be an issue, however the full bodied SmartyCam will not fit into tight spots very well.
  • The camera is generally not reachable by the belted in driver (to force a start/stop, for example).
  • It's a single camera system.
  • While I personally have not experienced them, I expect all of the SmartyCam HD GP's cons to apply: automatic video file splitting, low working time on the internal battery, external GPS receiver required for lap times and track mapping.

GoPro

Cost: $150-400

Pros:

  • Good video and audio quality in the recent versions.
  • Camera is mounted in a rugged case for impact protection.
  • 720p and 1080p recording options.

Cons:

  • Video only, no data overlay.
  • Camera automatically splits video files at roughly 4 GB mark.
  • At $400 for higher end editions, I would look at a SmartyCam instead.
  • There are sub-$50 Chinese knockoffs that some say work very well.

Replay XD 720p

Cost: $125

Pros:

  • Relatively inexpensive.
  • Bullet camera is small and lightweight and can be mounted in a variety of locations.
  • Battery life is good, can almost turn the camera on and not worry about it running out of battery.
  • Can be attached to car power via a USB cable.

Cons:

  • Sound quality is atrocious, even inside a closed car. I bought two Replay XDs and they both had this property. The windbreaker strips that come with the cameras did nothing for reducing wind noise, nor did anything else I've tried make a difference. However there is an option to attach an external microphone.
  • Using a USB cable for power means leaving the rear cap off the camera, meaning the camera should not be exposed to elements in that configuration.
  • Video only, no data overlay.