Road Stories

Foiled by Instant-On

My .02 on getting a ticket.
We were cruising along a 2 lane back road from Pennsylvania through Maryland to attend today's Vintage race at Summit Point. Just crossed into Maryland onto the recently resurfaced section of Rt. 194 on the way to Frederick, Maryland. Gorgeous day, moderate speed, just rounded a long curve onto a strightaway, 55 mph speed limit, not a soul on the highway and all of a sudden the Valentine screams like we're in a fighter jet that was just locked on by enemy targeting system. I knew I was toast, hit the brakes, but it was too late, looked up and here he comes from in front of us. The Valentine was blasting so loud/consistently that my son unplugged it assuming it had malfunctioned. The Maryland State Trooper in an unmarked cruiser nailed me with instant on K-band. He picked me up from about 1/4 mile away and I was the only one on the highway, I had no warning.
To the officers credit he was courteous and advised me that there would be no points because I was out-of-state, 67 in a 55, $70. I have no doubt he enjoyed ticking a Porsche with a radar detector mounted and operational. He did not comment on the device which was plainly in view. As I pulled away after the ticketing procedure, I picked up his radar for a good 3/4 of a mile as he completed his paperwork parked in the cruiser.
The ticket (my first in 8 years) didn't ruin the day as the racing was very good. One feature race had a 907 Porsche (the first Porsche to win a 24 hr race - Sebring) chasing a Chevron for the lead. He never caught him but they lapped everyone but the #3&4 cars, TWICE. Talk about speed into a turn.

Regards,
Joe R