RIP Mike Valentine

https://www.autoweek.com/news/a62287445/michael-valentine-obit/

I've been using his products for 25 years now.

I have a Passport and a Valentine 1. I think I bought the Passport in 1989.

They were both budget busters when I bought them and I haven't used either one in years, but I still feel like I owe this guy thousands of dollars, not to mention how he lowered my stress level for years.

Thank you, Mike Valentine. I no longer drive in a way that makes your superlative products necessary, but back when I did, they were worth every penny.

Also, the Passport was so nicely made. In a tactile sense, it was one of the most beautiful items I've ever owned, even given it's simplicity. Everything about it had a feeling of quality.

Except maybe the suction cups. I bought a lot of replacement suction cups.

RIP

Every driver in my household has one of his V1s. 

RIP to a true innovator. Nice tribute from Vortex Radar that goes into some of his history with Cincinnati Microwave/Esc0rt, then on to Valentine:

While I was an early user of his radar detectors, my real connection with Valentine was the G_analyst.  Data acquisition at consumer pricing and accessibility.  Wrote my own software to compare autocross runs on site on a small laptop.  Game changer for SCCA Pro Solo.

Mike Valentine was an early supporter of Auto-X, the forerunner of GRM. He bought ads on the back cover for quite awhile, even visited our office when it was in our home's family room. Always been grateful, because that support came at a time when it made all the difference. RIP sir.

Margie

Back when I was instructing, Mike was at Nelson Ledges testing the yet to be released G-analyst. Since it was in the developing stages, the equipment  took up the passenger seat. PCA let him run on his own ( He didn't really need instruction). I didn't even realize who he was until someone told me later in the day.
RIP Mike!

Very sorry to hear this.  Have had multiple copies of  each version of the Valentine devices.

Currently have 5 in the family, each updated to the latest software as soon as it it released.

Rest in Peace Sir !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I once called the 800 number to order replacement suction cups.  Mike, himself answered the phone.  Some small talk and mentioned that I owned two units...he sent the suction cups for free!  More than the nice gesture of sending them for free, I was thrilled to speak to "the man" himself.  

Funny, once the speed limit went to 70 mph and keeping it under 77 won't get you stopped I appreciated not having the units in the car and not having to hear their noise from false alerts.  But in the 55/65 days, these were standard fare!  

I still have my original Ford Econobox from the 80's somewhere down in my shop, back in the days of 55 everywhere it definitely saved me a few times.  I was living in Connecticut where they were illegal, it worked just fine sitting on the passenger seat as it turns out.  RIP sir.

Edit.  LOL, forgot about the forum filter.  First generation Valentine radar detector.

I scrimped and saved to buy a Passport back in the old days (1990'ish), and it saved my bacon on many occasions on runs across Iowa from from my then home near Offutt AFB to Wisconsin / back on my off weeks.  I always thought the aluminum case and 'heavy feel' nature of the Passport made it feel high quality, and the performance in those days was spectacular.  Many thanks, and RIP Mr. Valentine!

I didn't connect the dots at first, but the guy I bought my GR Corolla from had mentioned working at Cincinnati Microwave.  He contributed to this C&D article:

Obit for Valentine

Paul Allen.