Other options are the MyChron and DaVid series from AiM Sports. They've even got a HUD-type display that mounts to the steering wheel, F1 style

http://www.aimsports.com/products/auto.html

 

Driftbox: http://www.driftbox.com/

 

I use my performance box, I believe it was about $450 new. It's not as good as the traqmate, but it is GPS based and it does have a time display. You can break it down with the laptop later.

 

MoTec.

Don't waste your time with anything less.

Mychrons are cheap. Race Studio software is OK.

VBox has decent hardware but the software is crap.

PI & Percul are a little better then a Mychron for a lot more money.

MoTec has the best software and hardware. The unit supports CAN Bus
SAE J1939 and you can plug it into the ECU. MoTec has already done the CAN Bus signal definitions for you.

The Data logger only collects the data. The Analysis software on a PC is what allows you to review the data.

Trackmapping is done in the analysis software and either uses GPS coordinates or X-axis acceleraometer and distance data to generate a map. If you use the distance thing you'll need to set a beacon reference poit - start/finish so it can connect the ends and extrapolate a track.

http://www.motec.com.au/aboutdata/datacomparison

You can download the i2 Pro Analysis software from MoTec for free and look it over. They include an instruction video and sample files.

 

Data acquisition is a great tool and can lead to improved performance on track. There are other cheaper options-for instance finding someone with the same (or similar) car as yours who is faster than you and debriefing with them the in and outs of what they are doing on track. That's free. Also, doing lead follow with that individual or an instructor can do wonders. With NASA there is usually an instructor you can snag for a ride along-this can also be incredibly productive and free.
For instance I found someone (way more experienced than me) at Willow Springs in an 8 running 5 secs faster than me. A huge difference needless to say. As a result of our discussions I have plenty to work on the next time there. In terms of HP to weight ration he was clearly at the top of the chart and opened up my eyes to how much room for improvement there is for me...

With that said good luck with your search. Didn't intend to take the discussion in a different direction but thought that the input might help.

 

^excellent points.. But I wouldn't characterize those activities as "cheaper options" for replacing data logging. Rather, they are part of a whole series of steps important in their own right that a driver can take to vastly improve their performance.

After all a data recorder is only that - a recorder of events and not instruction - it's pretty much an "after the fact" device... you review it afterwards and look for the telltale data that shows you left something on the table or made the car do something that limited its ultimate performance potential.

Watching another driver, riding with another superior driver, or being instructed by someone as you drive is where the 'Ah-Ha!!" experiences occur, where the brain digests and synthesizes all the real-time sensory input occuring with the intellectural strategies planned to hopefully produce a reality that improves upon past events - and is, ideally, recorded for posterity in your data log for review!

I'd have to say the most important learnings I ever had on track were riding with drivers in their race preped cars during track days and experiencing what is possible by pushing the envelope (further than I dared) and then later trying to emulate that same experience. That's learning on the fly and opens your mind to stretching the limits of your car's and your own potential.

 

If they can fix the CAN Interface, does anyone know if you can access the sensors from the stability control (for us GT owners), even when the system is disabled? It has just about every sensor you'd want to log built in and it would be handy to plug into one port and be done.