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What camera should I actually buy?
Helmet-mounted cameras are a straightforward way to record a rental-kart session because they capture steering inputs, pedal work if the field of view is wide enough, and where the driver is looking. The camera sits in the head's rotating frame, so kart position on the track and chassis attitude are only readable if enough of the kart remains in shot. Electronic image stabilization then works against that goal by removing the motion that would show roll, pitch, or slide.
Consumer action cameras typically derive speed and position from GPS, which is lagged and coarsely sampled relative to chassis dynamics, while a dedicated motorsport camera can overlay logger channels including accelerometer data. An IMU still measures specific force rather than attitude unless that signal is fused with a proper reference, so it is not obvious that the extra cost changes what you can diagnose. Which cameras are people using for helmet work in rental leagues, and how much of the on-screen data is actually useful for feedback?
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The decision is the footage you can freeze, not the overlay. For rental helmet work a current GoPro is the camera to buy. Reliability in this use has been solid, and the useful part is stepping through a lap to show hands, eyes, and line against a quicker run. Leave electronic stabilization off if you want any sense of roll or slide in the shot. Consumer default processing is designed to erase that motion.
A SmartyCam starts recording from kart motion, which is a real help on a rushed rental grid. The gauges burned into the picture are only for show. Real analysis belongs in a data app, and most rental karts are not carrying a logger, so the extra cost of a motorsport overlay is hard to justify. GPS-derived speed on the video is lagged relative to chassis motion, so treat it as a graphic, not a coaching cue.
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