I'm glad to hear such a good data geek engineer as you finds value in this device. As you say, the value is in the actionable information given without even getting out of the car.

Too bad you're not using the audio coaching (tick Advanced, please) because this device is so sophisticated, it can tell you audibly what it took you going to the opportunities page and looking at the LongG trace to find out!

It generates so many data points from speed, track position, geometry and accelerometer data that it can tell you if you DO overcook the entry to a corner, and trundle out even a tiny bit slower because of a delay back to throttle, it'll remember and TELL you to back up the braking 50 or 100 meters (or whatever it calculates you need to) BEFORE braking for that same corner the next time around!

I find so much value in in-car feedback from instructors and coaches (and coaching by radio from streamed data) for drivers that this simple audio feedback can and does make a difference.

Yes, I understand the inability to "pull" data and layover two different drivers is not possible. Worst case, you can compare runs on the same device even with different drivers, if you DON'T change the driver/car/track in the setup menu between. Bottom line is that it adds complexity and additional items to the workflow that are already done by other devices not seen as direct competitors to this one. Not in the mission statement, so to speak. But there are more features coming...

The microSD card is only for the video and exported video with overlay. Each run generates a raw video and an optimal lap video.

As a conventional data geek, my role as a driver performance analyst really had me struggle initially with the fact that everything was compared to the optimal lap and not the best individual lap, because that is the way it's always been done. The average was not initially valuable or important to me, but I've come to realize that high level of consistency trumps a unicorn lap EVERY time.

There is no good way forward for someone who wants to go around a circuit in 2 minutes 10 seconds, if they think of their "average" performance being their 2:12 personal best (which all drivers seem to do! ) and their average is closer to 2:14 for their fastest three or five laps. To do 2:10 is MUCH easier if you can shoot a tight group first at 2:12, then look at areas of flowing brilliance (predictive under that time and how you did it) for cues on what to do next.

It's all good fun and we are in a great period where the tech is becoming MUCH more usable and applicable. But I remember telling you several years ago of this issue where few of the many users actually do anything more than use their powerful systems to generate videos and as a glorified lap timer. No slam on them, none at all, but indicative of the fact that the anoraks that build this stuff don't actually use it at the track!

For a great insight into the Catalyst, how it came about, how to use it well, and what's coming next, sign up for Ross Bentley's webinar with Garmin's team leader for the Catalyst, Adam Spence and one other of his guys.

Information here:

If you own a Garmin Catalyst, or are considering getting one, join me in a Q&A Chalktalk session on March 28th, where I and my guests — two of the key developers of this unique driver performance optimizer — will answer any questions you have about it.

When I first got a test unit of the Garmin Catalyst (prior to its public launch), it showed up in a box without any directions on how to use it. I called my contact at Garmin about it, and his response was, “If you need directions as to how to use it, we’ve failed at making the easiest-to-use tool for drivers.” So, as I did when I got my first iPhone, I poked at it a couple of times, and had it working in a car within ten minutes.

Still, the more I’ve used the Garmin Catalyst, the more I’ve learned about how to use it. Over the past year, I’ve met countless Garmin Catalyst new users — and never-users — and each time we talked about its best practices, the more these drivers found it to be even more valuable than they already thought it was. That led me to ask Garmin if I could host a Q&A session for existing and prospective Garmin Catalyst owners. They jumped at the chance to share it with their customers, and offered to have Adam Spence, the lead architect behind the creation of this game-changing tool, as well as Quinn Murphy, one of the actual software coders, join me. I know I’ll learn from what Adam and Quinn have to share, and I plan to share what I’ve learned about how to use the Catalyst to coach and self-coach.

The Garmin Catalyst Chalktalk session will be held on Monday, March 28th at 8:30pm Eastern/5:30pm Pacific. To register and get the session login information, go to https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/garmincatalyst.

I hope you join us, whether you currently have a Catalyst, or you’re just considering getting one in the future.

Keep learning and having fun!

Ross

 

Thanks for the info. I pulled the trigger on the Catalyst (I have a buddy at Garmin, or else I'd support you, Peter) and I'll report back how it goes. Garmin, "DANIEL, STOP BRAKING. GO FASTER. NO, FASTERRR."

 

Thanks for the kind words, Dan!

After selling three and a half million dollars worth of equipment to club level
racers, HPDEers and pro race teams, doing just fine and enjoying coaching!