Interior camera mounted to headrest

[GTP]

I mounted my interior camera to the track-day headrest using three rod connectors sourced from McMaster.

After optimizing the left/right and up/down position for the best view of my digital dash, I can now see RPM, speed, and the 3 center gauges for axle-cht-trans temps. My left hand blocks the gear number, but that becomes visible as I steer.

The two headrest posts measure 0.500". I had a length of 1/2" plastic rod lying around which also measured exactly 0.500", and then I found these connectors on McMaster. (1/2" poplar dowel rod from the home improvement store would have also worked.)

I made the camera platform from a scrap piece of PVC board. I cross-drilled and then tapped a hole for 1/4-20 thread, and used a cap screw to secure it to the vertical post. That was before using a 3" hole saw to make the platform round.

I re-routed the cable from the right-rear upper windshield to the new location. It runs behind the door gasket, and I can even tuck it completely behind the gasket when the car is configured for daily use.

After track day I swap out the two cut-down track day headrests for the regular pair. When I remove the track day headrest, the camera just comes out with it.

I bought a pair of salvage headrests for track days. This photo shows the mounted camera to the thinned-down headrest.

Same photo but with a cover on the headrest. The cover came with the seat cover.

Rod connector.

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[geep81]

Probably a lot cheaper than the Tackform setup I bought for a headrest mount.

 

[raptor17GT]

hows the vibration for that mounting?

 

[GTP]

Probably a lot cheaper than the Tackform setup I bought for a headrest mount.

About $60 from McMaster. Poplar dowel extra.

 

[GTP]

hows the vibration for that mounting?

Vibration?

 

[raptor17GT]

Vibration?

i'd have thought a seat head rest mount would have a fair amount of vibration hitting the camera but maybe modern units deal with that internally

 

[geep81]

i'd have thought a seat head rest mount would have a fair amount of vibration hitting the camera but maybe modern units deal with that internally

I had a lot more vibration when I mounted mine to my empty passenger seat. Mounted to the driver seat with me in it seems really minimal with the stabilization the cameras have.

 

[raptor17GT]

I had a lot more vibration when I mounted mine to my empty passenger seat. Mounted to the driver seat with me in it seems really minimal with the stabilization the cameras have.

yeah my passenger seat had quite the vibration when empty.

 

[TonyT930]

I mounted my interior camera to the track-day headrest using three rod connectors sourced from McMaster.

After optimizing the left/right and up/down position for the best view of my digital dash, I can now see RPM, speed, and the 3 center gauges for axle-cht-trans temps. My left hand blocks the gear number, but that becomes visible as I steer.

The two headrest posts measure 0.500". I had a length of 1/2" plastic rod lying around which also measured exactly 0.500", and then I found these connectors on McMaster. (1/2" poplar dowel rod from the home improvement store would have also worked.)

I made the camera platform from a scrap piece of PVC board. I cross-drilled and then tapped a hole for 1/4-20 thread, and used a cap screw to secure it to the vertical post. That was before using a 3" hole saw to make the platform round.

I re-routed the cable from the right-rear upper windshield to the new location. It runs behind the door gasket, and I can even tuck it completely behind the gasket when the car is configured for daily use.

After track day I swap out the two cut-down track day headrests for the regular pair. When I remove the track day headrest, the camera just comes out with it.

I bought a pair of salvage headrests for track days. This photo shows the mounted camera to the thinned-down headrest.

Same photo but with a cover on the headrest. The cover came with the seat cover.

Rod connector.

Lol. Pretty damn cool!!!

 

[ihasnostang]

are you planning on using audio from that cam? i imagine you would get a ton of wind noise. even an ext mic with a wind sock, mounted to the head rest but on the opposite side, had a lot of wind noise. moving it to the cup holder reduced it a bit.

video might look better if it were on the other side of the headrest

 

[GTP]

The interior camera does not have a mic. Only the front camera does. Audio quality is good.

I just tested this setup at NCM last weekend. Unfortunately, my head moves around enough that it blocks the full dash view too often. I have it to the left of my head because I care more about road speed than gear#. If it was to my right then I would see gear# but not road speed.

Not sure how to proceed at this point. My objective includes not spending much more money.

 

[Ewheels]

The interior camera does not have a mic. Only the front camera does. Audio quality is good.

I just tested this setup at NCM last weekend. Unfortunately, my head moves around enough that it blocks the full dash view too often. I have it to the left of my head because I care more about road speed than gear#. If it was to my right then I would see gear# but not road speed.

Not sure how to proceed at this point. My objective includes not spending much more money.

Just use Track Addicts on your phone for free. I think it works best mounted to the dash for a over-the-hood view but you could get creative and mount it behind you if you want to see your hands in the video.
Uses GPS for all the relevant info and you can get a cheap OBD plug-in to pull gear, rpm, throttle % etc.

 

[GTP]

Just use Track Addicts on your phone for free. I think it works best mounted to the dash for a over-the-hood view but you could get creative and mount it behind you if you want to see your hands in the video.
Uses GPS for all the relevant info and you can get a cheap OBD plug-in to pull gear, rpm, throttle % etc.

I'm already running a Catalyst. Plus 3cam dashcam.

 

[Ewheels]

I'm already running a Catalyst. Plus 3cam dashcam.

Ah, you got it covered then.
Can you mount the Catalyst camera behind the driver?

What is the goal here? To be able to see what your hands are doing during the lap?

 

[GTP]

I wanted to see gear#, rpm, mph, and the 3 gages I chose for Diff CHT Trans temps. My left hand blocks gear# often but I care more about mph.

Cooling is back under control again and so I monitored tire pressure more than anything else last weekend at NCM.

I will move the headrest cam further left and see if my helmet doesn't block the info so much.

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