Press Release (UNEDITED): STILLWATER, OK – In a first for the mobile-audio manufacturer, KICKER® will provide the necessary space and play an active hosting role in an upcoming sound-quality event this spring. In a nod to its SQ and SPL successes during the 1990s and 2000s, the brand has collaborated with long-time league IASCA and relative newcomer MASQ, along with fellow industry authorities Alpine® and KENWOOD®, to hold the “KICKER SQ@HQ” event at Stillwater Designs® global headquarters in Oklahoma.
“Partnering with MASQ and IASCA makes perfect sense for both KICKER and the industry as a whole,” said KICKER Brand Promoter Ernie Ficklin. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
The triple-points IASCA (International Auto Sound Challenge Association) and MASQ (Mobile Audio Sound Quality) single-day events will begin the morning of May 17 in the KICKER parking area, with nearly 40 competitors already on the docket vying for bonus-round money and prizes. Representatives from Alpine and KENWOOD will be on hand, as well as sound-quality judges, independent mobile-audio dealers and food trucks. The event is free to the public, and IASCA and MASQ will charge entry fees for those who compete.
KICKER will open the Visitors Center for the day, which showcases various KICKER-infused customs and the ridiculous Wall of Boom – the massive 14-by-20-foot display housing 28 subwoofers and 46 additional speakers with 18 amplifiers powering them. The KICKER XRV (Xtreme Recreational Vehicle) and other KICKER demo vehicles will line one complete side of the parking lot and will be open for those who want to check them out. The brand also expects visits from past audio champions that propelled the brand nearly 30 years ago.
“As car-audio manufacturers, we believe we can play a crucial role in focusing more on these competitions, which we hope will help to drive the industry forward,” Ficklin continued. “Our company’s (geographical) position, located in the heart of the USA, provides us with the opportunity to make this happen.”
KICKER World Headquarters and Visitors Center is located at 3100 North Husband in Stillwater, Okla. Those interested can find more information at iasca.com or MASQ’s Facebook® page.
Editor’s note: This press release appears largely unedited.
This is Awesome! An idea that dates back to the origins of Sound Offs & big sound systems. I feel manufacturer involvement is crucial to the success of car audio competitions, the car audio brands themselves & the industry as a whole. Brands that outgrow, or possibly forget the history & grass roots of the who’s, how’s & where’s that helped to their success, typically lose touch with their customers & the brand suffers. So many of the great brands of our past are gone & some even forgotten. It’s heartwarming to see Kicker; one of the OG’s of this great industry, get back into what helped make them the success they are today! I wish I could be there! It would be an awesome experience to visit the plant, experience the history & see/hear some of the manufacturers demo vehicles & likewise, some of todays best audio competitors systems. My thanks go out to Kicker, Alpine, Kenwood & IASCA for their efforts, support & investment in collaborating & bringing an event like this to fruition. I sincerely hope it’s a great event for all & that it will lead to many more events with more manufacturers involvement.
Very cool! Great idea guys, hope you have an amazing turn out!
Way to go Ernie, this will be a great show for the industry.
Warren Essin
Appreciate the kind words Warren. It’s been too long my friend!
The Kicker team just jumped all over this show. I’m really just a cog in something turning. Very grateful to work with such a dedicated group of people.
Ernie