If you are into driver self-coaching, Garmin appears to have made an order of magnitude (10X) impact in this market segment with it's recently released (9/3/20) Garmin Catalyst. Peter Krause is a distributor, and Ross Bentley consulted in the development of the device. That's pretty much all I needed to be sold. What put me over the top, looking at the release specs on the Garmin website, as well as reading Peter Krause's and others' feedback on the product in the Forum cited below.

If your curiosity has been tweaked, click on this link: "Garmin Automated Coaching" ...it will take you to the Racing and Driver Education Forum. Prepare for your world to be rocked...it's what lots of us have been waiting for, for a long, long time.

I have ordered a unit from Peter Krause: Mine will be here in about a week. Enough said...check it out.

 

Yours will be there before Big Willow next weekend!

 

This is VERY exciting news....I have been waiting for something like this (Garmin Catalyst) for a very long time. Thank you Peter......

 

Im testing a loaner from a Garmin executive next weekend at VIR in a 991.1 GT3 Cup. Will be running parrallel with VBOX HD2 and a pro driver/coach. Maybe a blinded study? Granted, Im the last person to give a detailed analysis of the system. Or any system for that matter. I will leave that up to the professional coaches. Its going to be my first time looking at data from the VBOX and two "new to me" formats may be data overload for my inadequate mind. Just really excited to see the Garmin in action and its a free loaner. From what has been said, it could be a game changer. I wonder if it will substitute or replace something like a VBOX or be a fine addition.

 

As the largest dealer (besides Garmin and VBOX USA online stores) for BOTH of these and with a commercial faculty at VIR, I'd love to visit, assist where I can.

I am glad to show you and your coaches how they are complementary to each other. No obligation.

Are you at the Tarheel event this weekend or the SVRA Gold Cup the next weekend? Who are your coaches? Please DM me.

 

I would most definitely like that Peter. DM sent

 

As promised my Garmin Catalyst arrived, on time, thanks again Peter. The packaging is very tidy, nothing else you have to buy. There are 2 other things you may wish to consider:

• Camera Suction Cup mount, in the event you want to move the Garmin from car to car, or go back to the "street" look. Peter sells these for $15.00.
• Blue tooth earbuds, maybe Skull Candy? Or you can use your iPhone Bluetooth earbuds, and access the Garmin with your phone.

 

You’re in very good hands! Looking forward to seeing you.

I’ll also be racing my 2-liter sports racer and leading the SVRA Track Orientation Program on Thursday.

You’re going to have a great weekend!

 

The other thing lots of people are doing is the additive manufacturing clip (3D printing) clip to hold the device to the base. It sounds like in just the right situations it can come lose and you lose the video for that session. From the sounds of reports, it's probably do do with a resonance, not amplitude of force.

Post up your thoughts after using the Catalyst Martin! I've only seen 1 or 2 reviews and I'm curious how you like it.

 

I saw one of these for the first time this weekend. Looks really impressive. It's sort of like an Apex Pro and a Smartycam got together and had a baby. The only downside I see is no OBD data input on it. It appears the unit has bluetooth so maybe in the future there could be a software update that would allow it to pickup an OBD2 bluetooth dongle.

 

Nick, it's far beyond both in ease of use and closed ecosystem, allowing everything to be done on the tablet.

I've posted elsewhere, but the OBDII info isn't necessary for it to do it's job.

No TPS, steering or brake is needed for the Catalyst to provide coaching feedback both basic and advanced, and to provide a succinct, highly targeted session review with three opportunities (looking at each from several different performance parameters) with great validity.

I would be disappointed to see the primary mission of this device diluted by adding complexity for no better outcome. That's what your Solo DL and SmartyCam are for! Of course, you may not need them to go quicker, in less time, if you get one of these!

 

Interesting Device. Before I fork over $1k, I'd have to see it in action. Waiting for some YouTube Videos - real video's in use, not advertising videos that simply "say it does this".

 

I will have the unit with me 10/10 and 10/11 at Willow Springs Raceway, with AROSC (Alfa Club). Peter is sending me the suction cup mount for the camera...this way I can easily mount and dismount the system when the need comes up to loan out the system. I am thinking that long term heat exposure will not be the best thing for the camera...another reason for portability.