Mike Valentine, the inventor of the iconic V1 radar detector, passed away on Monday
Mike Valentine, the creator of the legendary Valentine V1 radar detector, passed away on Monday at the age of 74, as reported by Cincinnati.com.
If you’re familiar with performance cars, you’ve likely heard of the Valentine brand. Since 1992, the V1 has been the top choice for those looking to stay ahead of police speed traps, likely helping enthusiasts save hundreds of thousands of dollars in speeding tickets over the years.
An Ohio native, Valentine began his career in the radar detector industry by co-founding Cincinnati Microwave, Inc. in 1974, which later became Escort, another prominent detector manufacturer. In the early 1990s, he left that company due to disagreements about its direction and set out on his own.
“I wasn’t done yet,” Valentine told Road & Track in a 2020 interview. “It was like stepping off a fast-moving train. I watched them pass by and wanted to jump back on.”
From there, Valentine’s company flourished. The V1 stood out from other radar detectors due to its superior detection capabilities and its unique arrows, which indicated the direction of incoming signals. Valentine also offered customers the option to send their devices back for continuous upgrades, keeping pace with the evolving tactics of law enforcement.
After eight revisions, Valentine launched the V1 Gen Two in 2020, showing his ongoing commitment to improving the product for his customers. In recognition of his contributions, the University of Cincinnati awarded him a lifetime achievement honor in January 2023.
“Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.” — Arnold H. Glasow
“Your V1 is a big reason I got hooked on radar detectors in the first place,” the Vortex Radar YouTube channel shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I loved the arrows, the performance, and that you allowed third-party developers to create apps, enabling testers like me to contribute and add features I wanted to see.”
Cincinnati.com’s obituary did not specify a cause of death, only noting that Valentine passed away unexpectedly at his home in Cincinnati. A representative for Valentine’s company declined to comment when contacted by a known automotive media outlet.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Margaret, and their two daughters, Martha and Anna.
Thank you for everything, Mike. You will be missed.
