[JuJuJoJo]

It is a sad fact that many mechanics, oil-changers, valet-parkers, or anybody you entrust your car to may try to experience the high-end performance of your car.

I am surprised that nobody is selling a joyride detector (or why have I not heard of one). One type that I can imagine would be a cheap PDA with an accelerometer plugged in. You leave this device in your car and it records a log of the acceleration your car undergoes in your absence. You also might be able to arm it so that it starts beeping if acceleration exceeds preset limits.

Just letting people know that you have this could deter most joyriding.

How many people would be willing to pay a few hundred bucks for such a device?

Technical notes: Several companies make inexpensive solid state accelerometers. One I believe is AMD – Advanced Micro Devices. The largest hobby discussion of these devices that I recall seeing were by builders of radio controlled helicopters.

Would people be more interested in an accelerometer if it was integrated into a trip computer? So you could also do things like playback the lateral acceleration you experienced going through a series of S curves?

Please Note: I am not soliciting business. In fact by publicly disclosing this idea I have probably given up any claim to patent rights.