V1 Moments

Destination: Ames, Iowa, for a meeting. And I was late leaving Louisville. So I was feeling some urgency as I rolled up Interstate 74 west of Peoria. I had an Eagle Talon heavily modified for the Silver States Classic and it was a runner. I purchased my V1 in ’96 on the advice of my … continued

It was a beautiful spring day, blue skies, warm temperatures, windows down, life couldn’t have been better. I got off the main highway and took the service road to the street that would get me home. For the five years I’ve lived here, it’s been an area known for speeders. As soon as I hit … continued

During a midnight sojourn from Maryland up to New York, I got an alert from the rear, fairly weak. Since we were running through an industrial area as we entered a construction zone, my initial reaction might have been to write it off as a false, what with the factory security systems and ubiquitous radar … continued

I was westbound on Oregon Highway 26 coming over Mt. Hood, traveling quickly, with a small sports car following. I picked up an instant on, very weak, and dropped to 55. The sports car had a detector, but he continued on for half a mile before he hit his brakes. We both continued at 55 … continued

Doing the daily commute this morning, left lane, maybe a little over the limit in a pack of cars doing ditto: V1 chirped and arrowed behind. I eased over one lane from the left (of four), and assessed the situation. Sure enough, a trooper was coming up in the left lane I just vacated. I … continued

My uncle and aunt were in town for a few weeks from England. About twenty years back, they visited Las Vegas; we decided to head down again for another look. While driving on one of those super-boring desert roads leading to Vegas from northern California, I made the mistake of passing a fire truck going … continued

I purchased my Valentine One three years ago and I’ve wondered from the beginning, why does it have laser protection? Lasers are nothing like radar; lasers use light. It will be completely blocked, or reflected, by the object it is pointed at, leaving no chance for the beam to strike my detector. Wouldn’t the manufacturer … continued

Sunday morning, 0530 hours: I’m working, heading for a toy show in my Honda Civic, with my best friend V1. Driving on Route 38 (Roosevelt Road), empty this time of day, invites hustle; 10 or 15 over the posted 35 would be easy. Entering Oakbrook Terrace, I get the usual false signals from storefronts and … continued

I take the same route to and from work every day. Recently, our local Sheriff’s Dept. put its speed trailer on the route, spitting K band and flashing when you’re five mph over the limit. V1 always picks it up early and I keep my speed close to the limit. Then, on my way home … continued

My V1 counts better than I do!!! A friend and I were cruising through New Brunswick, NJ, right through the heart of an area dense with radar signals. I commented to my friend, “It always reads 2 bogeys in this area.” My friend looks at the concealed display and tells me, “It reads three bogeys.” … continued