I just have to tell someone -- OT

masraum · 06-23-2004, 08:03 PM

I'm sorry to consume your bandwidth, but I'm so excited that I have to tell someone. Since I got my 911 and started spending time on the Rennlist (before I found Pelican) I realized that eventually I wanted a Valentine 1. I also knew that it would be a long time before I could justify that much money for a radar detector.

Well, fast forward almost 4 years to tonight. A friend of the family passed away about a year ago and this evening we were visiting some relatives at the deceased's house when they told me to go through the garage and see if there was anything that I wanted because they would never need anything in there. Well, I found a few hand tools and a Makita cordless drill driver which I was really appreciative of, but just before I left I took a look at a box on a shelf. The box was completely plain with no markings on the outside, but there was part of an old packing slip package on the outside, so I knew the thing had been a mail order. It was still sealed shut, had never been opened. I figured if it had been ordered then it could be interesting so I cut the tape and pulled out the box that was inside the shipping box. It took a few seconds for it to register what it was exactly since the Valentine 1 box is relatively unadorned.

Wow, how cool is that, a free Valentine 1!!! They were more than happy for me to have the thing. I'll need it less now in the miata than I did in the 911, but I'm quite tickled to have it anyway.

Do any of you guys have any tips that make using it more friendly? Any recommendations?

Thanks for listening.

To try to inject some Porsche content, Lately I have seen a really nice late 80's Carrera in Friendswood, guards red with polished fuchs, it's nice to see someone driving their car. Anyone here??

Bill Douglas · 06-23-2004, 08:10 PM

Bless the guy who passed away.

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

it was left for you by the deceased.... its he/she communicating to you from beyond

Emission · Emission's Garage

What a happy ending (and a thankful and appreciative recipient) to an otherwise sad loss. Nice to hear the deceased will live a long life in your thoughts - speed in their honor!

masraum · 06-23-2004, 08:43 PM

He had lived a very full life. Another fortunate thing, he went very quickly. His health was still relatively good, but he had been showing his years in the last 5 or so. It was a sad loss, but I'd like to live as long and full life as he did and then not have to endure a long ending. Earlier this year my father did the same thing, went fast. This getting older thing seems entail experiencing more and more loss. I try to focus on the best of times and see the positive.

cantdrv55 · 06-23-2004, 08:51 PM

Steve, it's a sign that you'll be back in a Porsche again soon.

dotorg · 06-24-2004, 01:43 AM

Wow, thats really nice turn in an otherwise unhappy situation.

If its been sitting there for a while, the electronics may be old. Punch the serial number in on the valentine website... it'll tell you if its up to date, and if its not they'll upgrade it for a very reasonable price.

}{arlequin · }{arlequin's Garage

very fortunate find.

I stick in in "full logic" (big L) and leave it alone. Volume at 2 o'clock, mute volume at 10 o'clock. It's never failed me. Happy speeding.

}{arlequin · }{arlequin's Garage

Quote:

and if its not they'll upgrade it for a very reasonable price.

Not sure about the upgrade since they connect purchaser name with the unit's number, but if you tell 'em what happened and the name of the original buyer, they will probably go along with it.

trj911 · trj911's Garage

A nice find indeed! How is the Miata forum treating you? My bro has a spec Miata with a sticker that says "it takes big nuts to race a chick car"

masraum · 06-24-2004, 06:55 AM

The forum is OK, there are some good people and some real driving/track enthusiasts, many members of the "Church of Light Weight", but there's also some kids that like to talk smack and put LED windshield washers. It's not as active as here. They have a special section for threads that are really good that get saved. I've been through most of those threads. There's some good info

BUT

There is no substitute!! That's why I'm still here.

sithot · 06-24-2004, 07:08 AM

You can contact Valentine and they will re-register it in your name. I had a similar circumstance when a good friend passed away 4 years ago. They just want to know where you got it because if you don't they will assume it's stolen.

Good luck,

Tom

ZOA NOM · ZOA NOM's Garage

Awesome detector. Mount it high and to the right of your mirror with suction cups. Run the power up the driver's A pillar along the front top of the windshield. Don't let anybody tell you it hinders rear detection. Get the remote display, and mount it on the face of the Tach with double sided tape. Enjoy!

masraum · 06-24-2004, 12:00 PM

The detector is as up to date as possible.

Zoanas, just curious, does it really matter if the thing is to the right or left of the mirror? Actually in my cas the mirror is so high that I am mounting it below the mirror. Mounting it next to the mirror would put it behind the tint strip which would screw up any possibility of laser working.

Funny thing is I work for a company that provides voice and data services over satellite which causes a blip everytime I enter the parking lot. Either that or a car in the lot has a crappy detector. I know when I first started they told me that one of the employees would kill one of the satellite feeds everytime he parked in a particular spot because his radar detector was emitting some noise. Fortunately I shouldn't have to worry about that with the V1 since it's got a Mg case.