GARMIN Catalyst Driving Performance Optimizer - Full Review
Presented By: Speed SF x Wine Country Motorsports
Reviewed By: Joe McGuigan
So, you like tracking and want to go faster right? While seat time is always number one, the close second has always been proper instruction, but nowadays that may not be as easy as it used to be. Due to recent world events (Covid-19), maybe coaching opportunities don’t seem as tempting anymore to you due to risk/access.. Well, the team over at Garmin couldn’t have timed a new product release any better than this one.
Enter the Garmin Catalyst, a complete package for on-the-fly track improvement, data, and video review. While spending a day at one of our local favorite tracks, Sonoma Raceway, we were able to pay a visit to our great friends over at Wine Country Motorsports, who stock the Garmin Catalyst and gave us the opportunity to try one out.
Let’s take a closer look together!
WHAT YOU GET FOR $999.99
• Garmin Catalyst Unit (Full Color 7” Display)
• 32 GB micro SD card already preinstalled (Extra expansion easily accessible on the side)
• Remote Cam with polarized lens cover and double-sided sticky mounts
• Remote Cam cable which can be cleanly routed with the provided double-sided sticky wire guides
• Heavy-duty vehicle suction cup mount which combines with a powered magnetic mount, allowing easy install and removal of the screen
• Vehicle power cable
• Documentation
INITIAL HARDWARE SETUP
The initial setup is fairly straightforward as the Garmin Catalyst already comes preloaded with tons of well-known tracks. When we did our initial install at Sonoma Raceway, we had it on track and being used within a matter of minutes. You start by assembling the ram mount for the actual display and then routing the provided cigarette lighter cable to power the unit. Next is installing the tiny, but clear recording camera. The camera is suggested to be mounted right under your existing rearview mirror mount as it helps ensure it is centered well, but we will touch on that more shortly. From there, using the provided wire clips, you can route the camera wire down the A-pillar and back over to the main unit where it is required to be installed. This makes transferring the unit to another car a little cumbersome if you are the tidy type of person that doesn’t want wires just hanging. One thing we suggest opting for is a suction cup style mount for the camera if you plan on using this unit in multiple cars like we do. Once you have everything routed and powered, it's time to start its engine and yours!
SETTING OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME
Start your engine and watch the Catalyst come to life. You are presented with some initial setup items like picking your preferred language, entering a driver profile name, and car information. Next up is an agreement screen warning the usual stuff about track driving being dangerous, but after you accept that, you will be looking at the main screen.
The two main choices here are Drive or Review. Let’s dive into the Drive option which, once selected, will prompt you for your track selection. Once you have chosen your track, you may be given the option of configuration for tracks such as Thunderhill or Buttonwillow that have multiple layouts. Once your selection is made, you have access to the following:
You will have a few options you can perform before hitting that easy-to-read START button. You can change driver profile and/or car selection by tapping on the helmet or car icon (including adding a new one), check audio (input, volume, coaching prompts, and a test), change between wet or dry track, and last but important, the camera alignment check.
ON-TRACK EXPERIENCE
Once you head out to the track and cross the predetermined start/finish line, if you have your audio hooked up (and you should!) you will be greeted by a clear and easy to understand woman saying “Starting 1st lap”. For the first couple of laps when no prior data is present, you will get a statement of what lap time you did on that lap as you cross the line again and again. The real magic starts after you have a few laps in the database and all of sudden you will receive suggestions such as “Next right turn brake later” or “Next left turn apex later”, which if done right will prompt some words of praise like “Good job” or “Nice work”, but don’t worry if you don’t miss it, she won’t shame you too badly, but say “Try again next lap” or “keep pushing” if you have the higher level of coaching present.
As you progress in your day, it will focus more and more on fine-tuning the various sectors that have the most opportunities for you to improve. One thing to note though, this is no Magic 8 ball and is subject to your errors. What we mean by that, is that it's only as good as the lines you run. It is constantly overlaying your previous lines, speeds, braking, and then turning out suggestions based on our best of each sector. This can be a little tougher on a newbie that may have no experience at all, this is where a normal live coach triumphs compared to the technology in our opinion. Regardless of your experience though, you can be sure to gain some knowledge in the post-session review.
THE JUICY RESULTS
After cooling your car off and ensuring it's parked without the e-brake engaged, it’s time to review all that delicious data the Catalyst absorbed and sorted for you. You can review it on the mount or easily pull it off since it’s only held on by that magnetic base (though strongly). Now, remember that main menu from the beginning of this review? Click that “Review” button and you will get the ability to choose which session you want to analyze. Once you have chosen which session, you are presented with some quick and easy things to digest as seen here:
The quickest and most efficient way to see where you can improve though is under the Opportunities section. The Catalyst will pick your three most opportunistic sectors to work on and show you how you did it and even show you the video of when you did that optimal sector! You can dive even further and look at the braking, line, and speed of approaches to give you even more insight as to why or how you did what you did. Check out an example here:
OUR CONCLUSIONS
The unit is very powerful and beautiful, despite its size, a pleasure to use. The on-track feedback really helps keep you focused on the areas to improve in real time which can really drive home the areas to analyze even closer after a session ends. The benefit of having multiple driver profiles is ensuring you aren’t getting directions from someone of a higher or lower skill level that can throw you off your rhythm. We at Speed SF cannot thank our partners over at Wine Country Motorsports for the ability to experience and review this awesome track tool. Make sure to visit to order yours over at www.winecountrymotors.com or better yet, visit them in person and drool over all the amazing products offered to motorsports enthusiasts like we do.
PRO POINTS
Large and clear color display with auto brightness adjustment capabilities
Audio instructions provide clear, real-time feedback
Lap-timer GPS is spot on with other comparable units and even transponders
Camera quality pleasing for price point compared to other more expensive units
Switching of driver or car profiles is simple
Post session review convenient and immediately beneficial
Bluetooth capabilities allow it to connect to wireless earbuds of your choice or even a modern stereo unit
Three different audio coach modes (Race Coach, Advanced Race Coach, Lap Times Only)
Ability to pick sectors and laps with ease during video review (no fast forwarding required)
AREAS TO IMPROVE
Transferability from one vehicle to another (just a camera suction mount will help immensely with this)
Factory camera mount subject to movement in stiffer or rougher surface track
No OBD2 data capabilities at the moment (We speculate something could be added down the road due to its Bluetooth capabilities)
Data overlay on video recorded by unit
GARMIN Catalyst Driving Performance Optimizer - First Impressions
We picked up a Garmin Catalyst at Wine Country Motorsports recently and wanted to share our experience with it. At first glance, the Catalyst seems like it is a competitor to established data loggers like the AIM system, but that is not the focus. In fact, the focus of the Catalyst is to truly coach you on the fly. Here are some of our initial impressions:
What we like about the Garmin Catalyst:
Laptimer accuracy is spot-on with competitors
Audio instructions provide real-time feedback and guidance
Bluetooth audio for use on in-car stereo or headphones
Large, clear display with color indication for improvement or deterioration
Excellent camera quality for its price point
Overall, initial impressions about the Catalyst are positive. The release of the system couldn’t have been better timed due to COVID-19 essentially eliminating ride-alongs at the track, causing drivers to miss out on opportunities for one-on-one coaching. However, while the system has some interesting and useful capabilities, it’s difficult to replace an experienced coach. We’ll be taking the Catalyst out and really getting in-depth with it, so keep your eyes peeled for that!
Garmin Catalyst is available at Wine Country Motorsports if you’d like to give it a try for yourself!
-Joe McGuigan // Speed SF
