Garmin Catalyst Driving Performance Optimizer | Review and Setup | Virginia International Raceway

[@BrendanEvan]

Best quality and detailed video I’ve seen on the catalyst!

[@FixitBongbong]

I really appreciate the kind words! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@michaelpartenio9770]

Great Video and a lot of good info. I used mine for the first time at Lime Rock while driving with BMWCCA 20 year instructor. When we finished our first session the data was sort on to the input I was receiving from my coach. I was 1 sec off my PR WITH AN EXTRA 215 LBS on board. Driving there again 5/13 and hope to blow past the PR. As for in car audio a simple head set plugged into the Catalyst works great. lastly........Ditch the Music! Listening to the gear changes and rev matching is important.

[@FixitBongbong]

Thank you for the feedback!! It's been a few months, did you crush that PR?

[@ADRaring]

This was really well produced (thanks for not showing too much of the direct feed video from the unit) and liked the feedback from different drivers. Of course, appreciate holding marketing claims to the fire. Wish you had revisited those from the box.

[@FixitBongbong]

Really appreciate the feedback!! Definitely gotta watch those marketing folk ;)

[@jettjohnson9413]

Love this video and hope to see more long term reviews of this system! We are looking to get some and use them in my company's rent a racer program, so if you are ever out west in the Colorado area, we'd love to comepair some of our cars to yours!!

[@FixitBongbong]

Thanks for watching! What's yall's company? If I'm ever out your way I'd come check it out!

[@datadrivenmqb]

Very well done video! Definitely leaning towards picking up a Catalyst to try and fast forward my personal progression with less frustration vs my Aim Solo 2 I'm using now. Hope to see you at VIR some time!

[@FixitBongbong]

Thank you so much for watching and leaving a comment! Sadly I sat out this season, but I'll be around VIR in 2023. Do you run with NASA?

[@datadrivenmqb]

@@FixitBongbong no (but not for lack of wanting to) not yet. I run with the Tidewater Sports Car Club primarily as far as VIR goes. Next event is This coming December 10-11 and there's still plenty of space if you want to sign up! Next year is still up in the air for me, I'm planning on running a Champcar race at VIR in December... so pending how that goes I may either do more of that or visit as many new tracks as possible (namely Road Atlanta and Summit Main) in my GTI... or both if time and money allow.

[@FixitBongbong]

Ah very cool! Sadly my car is still down for the count and I'm working on a new tow rig (no spoilers for this channel) but I hope to be back out there in 2023. Champcar very cool!! I love Summit Main, never driven Road ATL but would love to soon. Hell yeah in regards to the GTI. I'll always be a VW guy at heart. Good luck man!

[@dvmartel1]

When a device is an Apple no one ever talks about how it is incompatible with Android devices. The typical answer is "buy Apple" The Garmin device is sold upfront as an Android device you can't stop whining about your iPods don't connect, your Mac doesn't work with the files and you can't download. So no one had a $40 pair of non apple ear pods to listen to the driving coach? It is very helpful, it helps you focus and the information can help you on track. When it doesn't, you will end up seeing it when you review the laps segments later.

[@FixitBongbong]

100% agree with ya! Ol' apple with their garden walls.

[@2trackminded]

Thanks for making this, super informative! Any ideas on aftermarket mounting solutions for the camera? I'd like to mount it near mid-car to show driver inputs. The 3m tape isn't ideal...wondering if you've found something like a 1/4" adapter or something of that sort. Thanks!

[@FixitBongbong]

Using the front camera to also record the driver inputs is a good idea.. I don't see why it wouldn't work although you'd might miss seeing just how much of the track or track position you're using since during the alignment process the Catalyst really wants to see the front corners. I haven't seen any other mounting adapters for the camera, but I'd be willing to bet you could modify the 3m mount if you wanted to try mounting the camera elsewhere.

[@2trackminded]

Adding a response for those whom might be curious in the future - the catalyst camera must be affixed to windshield as the device itself uses the framing to inform the AI algo.

[@rodelginger9414]

Thanks for this Catalyst review. Well presented! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@FixitBongbong]

Thanks so much for watching!! Much appreciated!!

[@tomaskillian6442]

I guess Im asking randomly but does anyone know of a tool to log back into an instagram account? I was dumb lost my password. I would love any tricks you can offer me.

[@kaceandre7832]

@Tomas Killian instablaster :)

[@tomaskillian6442]

@Kace Andre i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@tomaskillian6442]

@Kace Andre It worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy:D Thanks so much you saved my ass!

[@OvertakeVideo]

Great video man! Where did you find that bunch of drunk track idiots you had test the device?

[@FixitBongbong]

I caught two of em trying to steal parts off my e36 the night before and the guy with the s2000 was egging them on. Cold track + cold beer is a scary place!

[@PistonsProps]

Yeah but how does this work with lawn mower races??

[@FixitBongbong]

Ugh.. tried to test that but the ol' deere couldn't get up to 55mph to trigger the timer!

[@davidreid9973]

Nice overview. Like everything Garmin, seems overpriced for what you get.

[@FixitBongbong]

Thanks man! It's certainly a lot of money but I see it's value in how presents data. If you just need a track timer or data acquisition without the pretty UI AiM Solo2 would be a better value.

[@MartinAlva]

Very nicely done.

[@FixitBongbong]

Thank you!! BTW I really like your channel! Last time I was in Dubai I had the best time ripping around the desert in a FZJ100 land cruisers!! Thanks for watching!

[@MartinAlva]

@@FixitBongbong Hit me up the next time you're here man. We'll do a track day at the Autodrome if there's one.

[@FixitBongbong]

@@MartinAlva I'd love that! Could be my 1st international collab!!

[@diemosel]

Once I got through all the Stacey Abrams commercials I guess your video is ok - it could use more girls. Also have you thought about doing any e39 videos?

[@FixitBongbong]

stay tuned buddy 😂 I'm still drowning in footage from the summer!

[@dvmartel1]

hmmm, well first and foremost, the racer used the device for about five laps and at least one of them was an out lap. Give it to a racer for a weekend, for practice, qualify and race on Saturday and a qualify race, race on Sunday. Then you've got something to work with. Yes, it is very helpful. Catalyst learns what you do, it sees that when and where you are fast, especially when you get behind a better driver, it will remember you drove different, quicker and where you did it. Your "racer" did none of that. Then pretty much said its for beginners. Wrong, he never gave it a chance to show him.

[@FixitBongbong]

Fair points! We only had one weekend to shoot the unit, but to your point a ton of my friends who race in different spec series run Catalysts and love em!

[@hcr-motorworks]

But it doesn't tell you where the DRS zones are...

[@FixitBongbong]

OMG I'd pay good money for some F1 engineer audio voices in there calling out random engine modes and telling me to box when HPDE sessions were over!

[@hcr-motorworks]

@@FixitBongbong sign me up, annnnnd were lights out as we head underway at the weekend warriors gran prix, as we head into turn one we've got an incident involving the autometer miata and magnaflow corvette and the safety car is back in the leas as we head into the chicane under caution!

[@krasic]

I bought one and ran my first day at Laguna Seca yesterday. About the audio, I used Jaba elite earbuds. That was flawless, except my helmet is very snug so the Jabras would pop out when removing the helmet. I think next time I might need to try medical tape to hold them in.

[@saleen367]

I think its a great tool, but terribly overpriced considering a lack of OBDII interface. I'm not spending a grand on an AI driving coach that only gives me opportunities that have already been achieved. I think a grand at a racing school would be money better spent. In reality, ts all about seat time.

[@MF-yw7vl]

Will this work with a motorcycle?

[@FixitBongbong]

Garmin says nope. I think it would technically record your lap times but I'd be afraid of losing it on the magnet mount. There are probably better moto solutions.