This looks like it could be very helpful for lap times and track days. Garmin just announced it this week.
Garmin Catalyst Driving Performance Optimizer

 

I saw this device advertised. $1000 isn't cheap. Does it offer much more than the free apps?

 

A guy who I've met at the track a few times and a FB friend has beta tested it at the track for the past few months. He says it's the real deal. It really helps to improve your lap times and analyze what works and what doesn't both real-time and then at the end of a session with the "debrief."

I think it's cool and may try one someday. I agree it's not cheap at $1k, but personal coaching isn't cheap either and this seems to be a decent knockoff of a real driving coach.

 

It's a bargain when compared to an AIM SOLO DL2 bundled with Smarty Cam HD, which is a $1700 setup ($999 for the camera, and $699 for the DL2).

What this is missing right now, however, is wide spread adoption within the tracking community. The added benefit is if your local track buddies are all using the same system so you can overlay your data and find out where you're gaining and losing time respective to each other.

Also, does it have the option to link up with your OBD-II port and/or other sensors in the car so you can pull and log data on throttle/brake inputs, RPM, IAT, etc. etc.?

 

Garmin does good stuff- their ZUMO gps with adventurous routing is the bomb.
darcy

 

When a stop watch is no longer enough....

 

Stop watches are only useful for people driving in straight lines a quarter mile at a time....

 

it was a joke.

 

Looks pretty awesome. I am kind of surprised there would be enough demand at this point to justify development, engineering, and production of such a unit - but it looks like it would be great to have for those that are very serious about the track. And I would say $1,000 is not that steep for a one-time purchase that has quite a few features that would help a dedicated track rat. When you are already going through tires, brakes, etc at a good clip, why not pay $1,000 to gather data and be able to analyze/maximize performance?

I will say that I have been through a few of the Garmin bike computers, and their units in the realm of cycling are always a couple steps short of where they should be. Meaning, on a scale of 1-10, I have experienced 7-8 level, and for what Garmin charges they should be a 9 or 10.

 

I agree Garmin tends to be a little more spendy then they should be but they somehow are leading in most areas.