How to Mount a Camera on Your Go-Kart: The Odenthal EZGP Camera Mount System Explained

If you race with a GoPro or an AiM SmartyCam, the difference between footage you can use and footage you have to throw away comes down to the mount. A bad camera mount delivers blurry, vibration-stippled video that no amount of post-processing can save. A good one - bolted to the frame, isolated from the engine, and aimed at the right point - gives you onboard race footage that doubles as a coaching tool.

This guide walks through the Odenthal EZGP camera mount system: what each piece does, which combinations to build for which angle, and how to keep the camera vibration-free at speed. If you are coming from the main Odenthal lineup overview, this is the deeper dive on the EZGP family.

What is the EZGP System?

EZGP stands for Easy GoPro - though it works just as well for SmartyCam, Insta360, and any GoPro-mount-compatible action camera. It is a modular kart camera mount built around three core pieces:

  1. The 360 degree top plate - the central hub that clamps to the kart's frame. The plate has a 360 degree rotational dial and multiple mounting bosses on its perimeter so you can attach arms in any direction.
  2. Swivel arms - aluminum extensions that bolt to the perimeter holes on the top plate and put the camera some distance away from the chassis.
  3. Pivots and end-caps - the 90 degree pivot, GoPro forks, and SmartyCam-specific brackets that hold the camera at the end of the arm.

You buy the pieces you need based on where you want to film from. Front-mount panel cam? Just the top plate and a SmartyCam bracket. Long chase-cam looking forward? Top plate plus the dual-swivel long arm plus a 90 degree pivot. The system is designed to flex.

The Six EZGP Products We Stock

Three Common Build Recipes

1. Front Panel Cam (SmartyCam HD)

Most popular setup for AiM customers. The SmartyCam looks straight forward over the steering wheel, recording driver inputs and the racing line.

Frame clamp goes on the front nerf bar or the steering shaft support, billet screw ties the top plate to it, SmartyCam bracket adapts the AiM HD camera to the EZGP perimeter holes. Total assembly time once you have the parts: about 15 minutes.

2. Chase Cam Looking Forward (GoPro)

This is the cinematic shot that makes social media clips. The camera mounts behind the driver looking forward, capturing the helmet from behind plus the track ahead. You need height (so the helmet does not block the view) and length (so the camera is far enough back to frame correctly).

Mount the top plate to the rear bumper crossbar. Run the long arm forward and slightly upward toward the seat back. Use one swivel to fine-tune horizontal angle, the other for vertical. Add the 90 degree pivot near the GoPro end so the camera can rotate to face exactly forward without rotating the entire arm.

3. Side Pod / Wheel Cam (GoPro)

Captures the front tire steering motion - great for chassis tuning and as a visual showing braking and sliding. Mount on the side pod or floor pan tab.

This one does not usually need a 90 degree pivot - the dual swivels in the long arm cover the angle you need.

Vibration: The Single Biggest Cause of Bad Kart Footage

A 4-cycle kart engine vibrates at hundreds of Hz, transmitted through the chassis tubes to anything bolted to them. If you mount a camera rigid-coupled to the frame without thinking about it, your footage will have visible jitter on every horizontal line in frame. Three things that drastically reduce vibration in EZGP setups:

  1. Mount on the bumper or nerf bar, not the engine bay. The frame rails near the engine vibrate the most. Pick a clamp location at least 12 inches from the engine.
  2. Tighten the billet screw to spec. Loose mount plates resonate at low frequencies and produce that wavy "rolling shutter" effect on video. The EZGP Billet Wrench exists specifically because you need consistent torque on that one fastener.
  3. Use a small piece of foam or rubber under the camera body. If you are using the GoPro fork, slip a 1/16" rubber pad between the camera bottom and the fork. It removes high-frequency buzz without loosening the angle.

Aiming and Field of View

Camera placement is half the battle. Two principles that help:

  • Cameras above the steering wheel see "nose-down" perspective; cameras at seat-back height see "level" perspective. Pick whichever matches the story you want the footage to tell. Coaches usually prefer level (driver inputs visible). Social media usually prefers slight nose-down (more track in frame).
  • GoPro Hero 11+ at "Linear" mode is the most useful default for kart footage. Wide mode distorts the corners and makes braking points hard to read. Linear mode keeps the geometry honest.

If you are running a SmartyCam HD, AiM has solid documentation on overlay calibration - the EZGP mount holds the camera rigidly enough that one calibration session works for the whole season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the EZGP top plate fit on a 28mm or 32mm frame?

The top plate itself is camera-side, so frame size does not matter directly. What matters is which frame clamp you pair with it. The Tuff-Kase billet screw is the standard interface, and we stock Universal Frame Clamp 28-32mm for sprint kart rails. For smaller accessory tubing use a Universal Tube Clamp 16-25mm.

Can I use the same EZGP setup for two cameras?

Yes - buy a second long arm and bolt it to a different perimeter hole on the top plate. The 360 degree top plate has multiple mounting positions specifically so you can run a SmartyCam HD for telemetry overlay AND a GoPro for cinema footage on the same mount.

What is the Tuff-Kase compatibility about?

Tuff-Kase is the AiM SmartyCam protective housing. The EZGP billet screw is sized to thread directly into the Tuff-Kase mounting boss, so you do not need an adapter when running the SmartyCam in the rugged Tuff-Kase case.

What size wrench do I need?

The EZGP Billet Wrench is cut specifically for the billet screw head. It is a one-time tool purchase. A regular open-end wrench will work but rounds the head over time.

What's Next

You picked the camera mount. Day 6 of this series covers universal mounting hardware - airbox cradles, exhaust pipe brackets, and the bumper safety clamp system. If you missed Day 2, the motor mount sizing guide is the foundation post for any 4-cycle racer. The main Odenthal lineup overview has every product organized by category.

Need help building a specific camera setup? Email support@swiftkarting.com with what you race and what camera you are running, and we will spec the right EZGP combination.

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