PARTS Trucks: Unique Racing Truck Gains National Attention
9 April 1999
ORLANDO, Fla. - The debut of Piantieri Motorsports truck racing effort in the PARTS Pro-Truck series is getting some serious attention thanks to a high-tech movie process associated with the team. Steve is the #95 entry in this nationally televised race.The racing truck has been equipped with 10 (!) digital video cameras by Virtual Concepts of Orlando, FL. The cameras are designed to give a full 360-degree view of the race in a camera system called PanOmax. The images are then linked together, providing a seamless video presentation complete with surround sound. An eleventh digital 3-D camera is mounted in the passenger's area of the driver's cockpit.
"It is the first time this type of filming has been done on a race vehicle. This technology and entire procedure is state-of-the-art, a patented product" said Piantieri. "We did get to see some of the video from the test session last week and everyone's very excited to see how an actual race is going to work out."
The race is scheduled for this Saturday - April 10th - at Lakeland, Florida's USA International Speedway, with racing scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Interest in the video production has come from a wide range of media including local television and radio stations and coverage by Speedvision and The Sunshine Network for FoxSports Network. Representatives from Guinness Book of World Records will also be on hand to witness, verify, and document the endeavor for their record books.
Any race fan will tell you that watching a television broadcast with on-board cameras makes the show even more exciting. Piantieri's truck will carry this effect to the extreme.
"It's funny how it happened," said Piantieri. "I have an acquaintance that produces PanOmax movies. They wanted to test the system on a vehicle and knew that I raced in the PARTS Pro Truck series.
"The next thing I know, they show up with this huge piece of equipment. It weighed almost 130 pounds, and in racing, you are always trying to lose weight," he said with a laugh. "Together, we made a few changes and think we have it in a size and weight we can deal with. It sure is unique way to have my truck be the center of all this attention."
Virtual Concepts is the company that is outfitting the truck. They have produced several of the wrap- around movies for various attractions, but this is their first effort in putting the camera equipment in a racing platform.
Steve's other sponsors include Columbia Jewelers, a Winter Park, FL based jewelry store, Quik Promotions, a St. Petersburg, FL business form and promotional goods provider, and Lugo Performance, an Orlando, FL speed shop.. Steve has been racing sportscars for the past twelve years and is now trying his hand at short track ovals.
Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.