Build their own 5th wheel?

[peter paul fenske]

chomp....... 
accelerometer.  The second two are going to come from a 5th wheel that I want
~ broken         by the spokes.  
>~
munch.......         
>~         Reflect the light off the aluminum rim, which has been painted with
>~ flat black paint, except for radial dashes every fifteen degrees. 
>~ 
>~         Does anyone have any suggestions or comments on how I can improve
>~ this design?   Any suggestions for an LED/Photo-receptor package that is not
>~ influenced by stray light?   
>~ 
>~ --- Dan.
>~ 
>~                 ws6transam at voyager.net
>Hi Dan
>Check the Jameco Electronics catalog for some long wavelength
>lasers and phototransistors. 1000 nm will reduce ambient light
>errors to a minimum and the added power will swamp any noise.
>For an idea how to do this look at a mid eighties camaro speedo
>Had a similiar setup for VSS.
>Cheap way to get speed and distance is to use a taxi cab speedo 
>reed switch although drive from the speedo would be more
>inaccurate then from a fifth wheel.
>Also a friend of mine used a mag trigger working off the front rotor
>to get similiar info. We usually find the track officials unfriendly
>here. Made me take the Vericom off once.
>Just a few cents
>GL: Peter