90 replies to this topic

[Cheater]

If the stars and planets align as we hope, there should be a video stream from Sano III available for viewing by all the poor racers who, for one reason or another, are unable to attend what promises to be another terrific Retro racing event.

This is not something I've tried before, but in the last year or so it seems to have become easier than in the past to set up such video streams. I've already ordered a fairly capable webcam which should arrive on Monday. And I've confirmed the procedure using Ustream, made sure Noose was bringing his laptop, and checked that Chicagoland has a wireless router.

Jay Guard, Ralph Thorne, and I should be arriving on Thursday, which should will give me time to set up and test the equipment.

If we can get it working, I'll post the link here in this thread. Wish us luck!

[John Streisguth]

Greg:

I think that is so cool that you guys are going to give this a try. I would bet that if everyone who wanted to be there could go expenses paid, it would take more that a weekend to run the races. But the reality is that many can't afford the time and/or money it takes. This will give those of us who are in that boat a chance to feel much more a part of it, rather than waiting on the race reports.

Good luck, I hope it works out. And good luck to all those racers who are able to attend.

[Cheater]

John,

Yeah... if it weren't for the lack of money and vacation days, the Sano would probably take a month to run! But then we'd have to take up a collection to buy caskets for Mike and Jackie at the end of it... because they'd be dead! LOL!!!

And hey, whaddaya mean, "rather than waiting on the race reports."?

Perhaps you don't know that at the Sano we try to post heat-by-heat results, and usually are able to get one heat's info online before the next heat starts? All you have to do is keep hitting refresh.

Maybe next year we can use a couple of webcams and point one at the monitor. This year, we'll point it at the track...

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

That sounds great. If you get it to work we need to talk. I tried to put something together for the last R4. My anemic 1.5mbs connection just choked and the video looked like a cheap "slap-stick" comedy routine. Probably would have still been entertaining.

[Cheater]

Mike,

We'll be using Ustream and their FAQs makes it sound pretty simple. Plus they don't suggest that a massive bandwidth is necessary.

But this is the first time I've tried to set up this sort of thing and there may well be issues. We'll just have to give it the ole college try and see what happens.

[John Streisguth]

Hey, no offense, Greg.

Seriously, being able to watch the action I think will really make the rest of us feel more of a part of it. Who knows, it could kick up the attendance next year, although that may be too much of a good thing?

[Victor Poulin]

Hey Greg,

I have seen this used for a couple of other big race events, and it really works quite well. The only trouble I've seen is, if you get a ton of people on all at the same time, it tends to bog the video feed down for some reason. I'm not sure what co,pany they were using, but I don't think it was Ustream.

I hope it will work good because I will be the first one to click in. It's great for people like us who can't get out. This way, we feel like we are right there with you guys!! Thanks for going through the trouble to do this.

Vic/Joe+Jennie

[Cheater]

Thanks for going through the trouble to do this.

Well, if I don't stay busy doing something semi-useful, everyone rags me about not racing more...

[Mike Patterson]

Greg,

You're not taking your new 24" iMac ? Heck, it would fit in a suitcase, plus it would look waaaaay cooler than an ordinary laptop !

[Rick]

Greg,

Ask Mark Green, he had it at his race. And BTW, once the cam is doing it's thang, there is no need for you to be watching it, it's doing what is it supposed to be doing. YOU should be racing toy cars...

[Cheater]

You're not taking your new 24" iMac ? Heck, it would fit in a suitcase, plus it would look waaaaay cooler than an ordinary laptop !

Mike,

I haven't purchased it yet. Apple is supposedly days away from announcing a "refreshed" iMac lineup at lower prices, or so the Mac forums say. I'm waiting for the new models before I buy.

[mazur50]

If you want, I can help out on Thursday. I am going to try and make it for some testing Thursday night.

[Cheater]

Mike,

Thanks! Your assistance would be much appreciated.

[tonyp]

I'm ready. What channel?

[Zippity]

Is it for this weekend coming?

Bugger!!! We are staging the NZ 1/24 Nats down at my local raceway.

I won't be able to watch you guys in action

[Cheater]

Sounds like a personal problem to me, Ron.

[Rick]

With a 14 hour time difference, Zip should get plenty of live streaming video to watch, although he may be at work when it gets good?...

[Ron Hershman]

I'm ready what channel?

The "wish you were there" channel... LOL.

[Mark Wampler]

To use church as an example, we found that its better to shoot the event and upload to iTunes. The quality is excellent, better than live video stream. Of course, we have three remote cameras. In a race event, have one camera on the lap counter, one on the drivers stations ( ), and the other on a choice track location. The camera man would sit with buttons/joystick and toggle around the cameras as the race unfolds.

It would be more practical to HIRE an outfit to setup and do your race event. A DVD would be burned and have as permanent record.

[Zippity]

Why not just go the "whole hog" and get Larry King or that Letterman creep to front the show with a live telecast?

[Windyracer]

Tried to get Letterman. He said he would not do it unless there were staff members available for him to sleep with. Swiss asked Ray Price, Sano Dave, Ricky D, and myself if we would volunteer... We all respectfully declined.

Cheers,

Ken

[Zippity]

[Mark Wampler]

Seems to me that this thread was started to be serious about video and race events. It is costly to put on a quality production. To go live means only one shot with whoever is available in real time to watch. To record the race and have it available to be watched anytime is better IMO. Webcasting is what's happening.

I run cameras and record at my church. Teaching sesh's are uploaded on the host website, archived and available to be viewed anytime, so I know what I'm talking about.

[Ron Hershman]

Why not just go the "whole hog" and get Larry King or that Letterman creep to front the show with a live telecast?

Jerry Springer may show... he is local.

[Terry]

Don't forget Oprah. On second thought, maybe we should just forget her.