GoPro videos have really become popular in the motor racing market. Even at your local autocross, track meet, or go-kart race, you’ll probably find someone with one mounted to their vehicle ready to capture their view of the on-track action.
However, every now and then a GoPro video comes across that stands out from the rest, and really takes our breath away.
In many of the cases, such as most of the ones below, they’re not actually taken from the racetrack, although they still demonstrate incredible power and speed.
Here are five of our favorite GoPro videos from 2016:
Drone racing at night
First person view drone racing is a thing, and its becoming more popular. As its name implies, the sport consists of RC quadcopters with onboard cameras that send the picture back to their pilots. What makes this video extra neat, is that the race takes place at night, and so all of the competitors have to navigate their ways around an awesome illuminated racetrack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMyCMinOBYw
Sam the dog goes into Space
Sam the dog is the lucky mascot of English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues. Back in April, Sam was taken into Space via a helium balloon with GPS tracking equipment, which departed from the Midland Hotel as part of a science project for students at Morecambe Bay Community Primary School.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-LE-jJQLTM
Unfortunately, Sam the dog came detached from the weather balloon while in Space and now no one knows his exact location. #FindSam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EatbrU4W4wk
Gasoline burnout
OK, now time for a video that’s from a more traditional asphalt racetrack. Back in November, a little gasoline and flame were added to the asphalt for Dave Nelson, who then performed a burnout in his drag car with awesome results.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL5x4nt_RTw
360 video on a jetpack
Back in November, David Mayman took off from the Monaco Heliport for a demonstration with the JB-10 jetpack. Even though it’s a short video, we still get a great view of the Cote d’Azur coast and - since it’s a 360 video - you can really get a good look around at all of the surrounding scenery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZxNNn9I4HI
Ride onboard a cheetah
Sure, it may not have a “motor,” per se, but a cheetah sure is fast, and so Savanna’s speed gets the cheetah onto this list. Back in May, The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden put a harness on Savanna, which held a GoPro on her back while she ran around her exhibit, demonstrating just how fast one of these big cats can go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJZkrm2fTnk
