By James Chevrette
If you haven’t been around the SPL and sound quality car audio competition scene in five, ten or fifteen years, you may find some surprising changes.
The top brands on the competition scene have changed. And the competitions, for a while now, invite competitors at very novice levels to help draw them into the fold.
Competitions can help boost your social media, and yes, there’s still money to be made.
A judge for DB Drag Racing for over 20 years, Ray Choy, owner of FX Audio in Spruce Grove Canada, said it’s easier to become a World Champion. “In our DB Drag format, Bass Race or Top Dog, a competitor can spend less than $1,500 or even use a factory stereo. In this format, it’s all about not going over a certain number. If you watched the Game Show – The Price is Right, you can understand this format.” This style of events makes it spectator friendly and creates new enthusiasts because of the little or no cost to compete.
Choy admits that many competitors are buying their gear direct from the manufacturer eliminating the retailer. But as a business owner, this is still an opportunity. “I can recommend manufacturers with great support that are suitable for their applications. I have built relationships with these manufacturers through competitions. I still get at least one $40,000+ job a year directly from holding DB Drag events, and as a bonus, I get advertising and I’m surrounded with great people,” Choy added.
This conversation was echoed by Doug Stockton, a 4x Certified judge for DB Drag Racing out of California, but with an interesting caveat. Stockton notices that manufacturer representation seems to be location based. “West Coast is represented by DC Audio, Sky High Audio and Ruthless Audio. While East [Coast] representation is Sundown, Incriminator Audio and MMats.” Doug observed this might be due to the support these manufactures give in their geographic location. He explained that fun at events is key to growth, not just holding events.
President of IASCA Worldwide Travis Chin said that some competitors gravitate to non-mainstream products like Rivan Audio for their sound processor offerings. He believes this is due to the focus by these manufacturers on the competition scene. Chin said, “the installation quality of competitors is getting increasingly better. I believe this is due to social media and YouTube. People are mostly installing their own equipment but at least they can have a simple road map to follow when it comes to installation techniques and safety.”
Chin also offered an observation on a new category for retailers coming out of the SPL and SQ competition scene: lithium batteries. These have been widespread in the motorsports, powersport and motorcycle worlds, but are now becoming mainstream in car audio. Owners of vehicles with weak charging systems can simply upgrade the battery, enabling them to install more elaborate sound systems. Gone are the days of multiple batteries, making installations more robust and safer.
Maybe it’s time to grab some lawn chairs, gather up the kids and check out a local event. Better yet create some excitement around your business, get social media talking and re-energize the car audio scene in your area by holding your own event!
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I’m in northern cali my jeep hits so hard but I don’t go to compete cause I’m already in composition with my self plus work everyone sees me I mean hear me coming blocks away they do have comps out here but I don’t go I’m to busy when I did I did take first that was cool but my demo is from light to light not just at any comp my neighbors hate me but there’s no noise ordinance here I got memphis 14in and 2 DC audio 15s I do love hearing other people drive by me bumping or to stop by my house and helping me piss off my neighbors lol just my life and giving you feed back after reading this article
Batteries only hold current, upgrading the battery and not the alternator may work for short drives without maxing out the volume. Can’t change physics Current available = Current held in battery + current coming in – what current goes out. Once batterie(s) get depleted, like in a full volume, long drive, the batterie(s) need to recharge and then take all the available current and the amplifier has issues or blows up from lack of current. Unfortunately, most dealers/ competitors don’t understand this or are afraid of losing a sale and don’t tell the customers which causes stuff to blow up and an unhappy customer.
I agree, but maybe let’s start with a small local event. Bass Boxing or Bass Race type events you only need a subwoofer or a factory premium sound systems, to jump into the lanes. Some hot dogs, pop and maybe some small trophies would be a minimal cost to get your customers excited or attract new ones. If every state did 2 events, that would be over 100 events…that might turn some heads!
I have been in Audio since 95. Problem as Manufacture a lot dont see the benefit of joining with membership fees being high & don’t feel they will get there investment back in the way of sales. Also if for some reason there products fail during event blown subs or amps they can get bad reputation quickly by word of mouth & it may have been users fault on install. Next is actually bad advertising by basically all of the events example I have talked to local dealers during finals they did’t even know it was going on in their city. For dealers to throw shows are expensive for most to recoup there money because they need to buy trophies & pay to have the show & if it’s not a 2x or 3x show then turn out is very low. I could keep going but to much to put up but these orginizations need to bring back the excitement & get dealers & Manufactures more invoved. Maybe make finals like a Mini CES where dealers want to come & get the consumer to come out & look at whats new. Have training seminars for installers at finals & they can walk around & see vehicles they may not normally see because they’re not going to any events there stuck in the install bay