Congrats to Ben Hemp (The B Team/Sundown Audio)from Louisville, KY for his selection as our December 2010 Member of the Month.
In Ben's 1st season with the club, he was the 2008 KY S1 Champion with 151.0 dB and he was the World Champ with 151.3 dB. He didn't get a chance to compete much in 2009, after a car accident put that on hold. In 2010, Ben was the KY S2 Champ with 150.9 dB and won the World Championship with 151.2 dB.
Ben was our Post Ho in 2009, with the most posts on our forums. That is indicative of his involvement in the club and the friends he has made at the events. His passion for sound pressure and his good natured sportsmanship are well recognized. We thank Ben for his dedication and decibels. Congrats, Ben. Well deserved!

MECA is the Mobile Electronics Competition Association, a club and contest organization.  We have car shows with music, fair and fun contests for people who love cars and trucks and the mobile electronics, and bling, that are used to customize our rides.  Competive car/truck/motorcycle exhibitions with our Show & Shine score sheet are offered at most events.  Our Sound Quality League and Sound Pressure League contests are designed for all levels of competitors, beginner to advanced professional.  Ride the Light specialty lighting contests are great night-time events.  MECA Kids is our bass music contest using powerwheels toys with our MECA Kids operating the audio systems

Join us for our 15th season of car show and sound-off events.  Our 2013 Event/Show Schedule is building now, and most events aren't listed until April or later.  Some events pop up 3-4 weeks before, but we try to get the dates organized and confirmed as soon as we can.

MECA is part of, and serves, the Mobile Electronics, or 12 Volt, Industry.  MECA is an Allied Association of the Consumer Electronics Association www.ce.org and works to promote our Manufacturer and Retail Members with cost-effective, grassroots, partnership/sponsorship programs.

Winning at MECA contests is based on performance in the lanes, not products, politics, or personalities.  Everyone is invited to participate in our club and contest activities.  MECA State Champion credentials earn bragging rights, and our World Champions are recognized among the most accomplished competitors in organized car audio sports.

Thanks to our Competitors, Judges, Fans, Retail Members, and Manufacturer Members for all the support and participation that brings us together.

Congratulations to Vince Miranda (Team Audio Xperts/Arc Audio) from Vacaville, CA for his selection as MECA's November 2010 Member of the Month.  Vince earned 2010 California SQL Master and Extreme Install Championships and was CA's Grand Points Champion with 90 in SQ and 70 in Install.

Vince is the leader of Team Audio Xperts and is bringing more of his customers into our club.  At the AI Sound Challenge in Fresno on 11/06 Vince won Best of Best of Show with scores 87.3 in Master SQ, 77.5 in Extreme Install, 133.7 dB in M3, and 105.7 in Park & Pound.

California will be the state with the most MECA Members in 2011.  Our club is growing there in leaps and bounds, and having Vince and his Scion TA at our contests takes the competition to a higher level.  We appreciate his participation and support and the impressive ride he brings to our events.  Congrats Vince!

And, a few words from Vince:
I have been involved in car audio since I before I was driving. I remember installing an 8 track and Jensen triaxials in my parents car when my older brother got his license and I was 14.  During high school I was always the guy installing radios and speakers in my friends ride’s and soon after graduation, while in college, the local car audio shop needed an installer and since I was always in there buying equipment, they offered me a job and I have been in this industry since! I have always had a passion for music, cars and the equipment used to reproduce sound. It was late eighties when I started competing and was heavy in it til 93. With two kids to support I had to change my focus to them and retire from competition.  It was a 2009 when I was told that SQ competitions were coming back to California, so I decided to build another SQ car this time with a little more resources, experience, and support than what I had 16 years before. I was committed to doing whatever I could to bring back the fun we used to have back in the day. When MECA came around earlier this year it seemed like the old days of getting together and hangin out with guys and gals that loved the sport and were willing to help anyone who wanted it. We have had success this past season , and I am excited for the future and still committed to supporting the sport and educating anyone who wants to learn about what I love to do!  Thanks to Steve and all the promoters across the country who share the same commitment and passion I do!
Vince
Aka… godfather

Car audio superstar, Mark Eldridge from Bixby, Oklahoma, added MECA Sound Quality League Championship credentials to his impressive list at the MECA World Finals Soundfest in Lebanon, Tennessee on October 17th.  He has been chosen MECA's October 2010 Member of the Month.

Mark's one-of-a-kind NASCAR meets "high performance car audio" wizard vehicle is a little tough to climb in and out of; mostly crawling and bending involved.  But, for any car audio enthusisast, especially one tuned in to the dramatic audiophile aspects of listening in a mobile environment, the awkward entrance and exit is worth the trip.

Mark's vehicle won the Master SQ class with a 3 judge panel averaging 86.7 out of 100 points.  That was the best SQ score at Finals, so Mark's name will be inscribed on MECA Culbertson, signifying the best sounding system at the 2010 Finals.

Mark's 97.5 points to win Extreme Install, and the Install Best of Show, is as close to perfection as any vehicle ever shown at a MECA Finals.

In MECA's 2-seat judging sound quality contest, SQ2, Mark won with 180 out of 200 possible points.

Mark will be competing and helping to organize events in the Oklahoma and Texas states for 2011.  He'll be competing at the Choctaw Casino points series in Oklahoma through-out the season, and at many 3X triple points events in the USA.

Mark shared some great detail about his car (which you can read here), and shared with us why he likes MECA so much:

 It’s Fun!!!   Any questions???

 I have been involved in car audio since 1978, installing a new system in my first vehicle, a 1974 Chevy Blazer, the day after I bought it.   Since then, designing and building high quality car audio systems has been a big part of what I enjoy doing.  In 1990, I learned about sound quality car audio competition…  Cars, music, great quality sound systems, competition, and the chance to keep learning more about how to make car audio systems sound as good as possible.  I was hooked!

And still now, 32 years later, no one knows it all, and we keep learning more all the time about how to do it better. 

What I like most about MECA is that it gives us the chance to get together with friends in a competitive environment, where we can all learn more about how to make mobile audio systems perform better, whether it is Sound Quality or SPL.  The combination of the enthusiasm amongst the MECA members/judges, and the competition format, makes for a great environment that I like being a part of. 

I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every MECA event that I have attended.  And while 2010 is the first year I have been able to attend enough shows to qualify for Finals, I have been attending MECA events since 2002 (as a competitor, supporting manufacturer, etc).  At every event, the competition is very serious in the lanes, but the friendly club atmosphere is what it’s all about. 

As seen at the Finals last week, as well as every show I have attended, many competitors, often in the same classes, were listening to and helping tune fellow competitors’ systems.  Sharing what works, ideas to improve system performance, how to make a system louder, etc.  The rivalries are there, but the friendships and respectful relationships run deeper. 

Many thanks to Steve, the judges, and everyone that attended the shows this year.  I had a blast, met a lot of new friends, truly enjoyed the shows, and learned more about making car audio systems sound great.  I am very happy to see MECA growing in new areas of the country, and in particular in my region (OK, TX, AR, LA…  Thanks, Tony!)  It is great to see car audio competition growing again, and I will do everything I can to help continue to grow MECA in 2011. 

Congratulations to Robert Hilton from Canton, GA for his selection as our September 2010 Member of the Month.  Robert has been competing a lot this season and is the projected Sound Quality League Street SQ National Points Champion (110 points), tied with Doug Brennaman from KY at 128 points for Street Install National Points Champ, and is 2nd in RTA Freq Out points accumulation with 92 points.  He is in contention for the overall SQL Grand National Points Champion if he ends up with the most SQL points in 2010.  The official results for these SQL class titles will be added when the season is complete.
 
This is Robert's 2nd year in MECA and he has been to 11 events already this season, 3 of them in September.  He attended the SC Soundfest on Saturday and was in White House, TN the next morning for that event.
 
Robert came in late in the season in 2009, but was the 2009 AL SQL Street SQ Points Champ, RTA Freq Out Champ, and the Street Install Champ, He earned the 2009 National SQL Street Install Points Championship with 61 points.  That certainly was an impressive start to his MECA career.
 
Robert's all about the competition and making his black 2000 Ford F-150 a great sounding ride.  He's also a Show & Shiner, and picks up those awards wherever he goes. 
 
A true Competitor and certified MECAhead, we acknowledge Robert's passion for SQL sports and MECA contests, his sportsmanship and strive for excellency.  That's why Robert is our 2010 September Member of the Month.

Robert had the following to say about being chosen MECA Member of the Month:

Congrats to Steve Cook from Florence, AL for his selection as our August 2010 Member of the Month.  Steve won SQ Best of Show at both the ESN and Thunder on the Mountain events.  He competes in Modex SQ with a high score of 89 points this season.  His store Team is Audio X and he is part of Team Zapco.  His 2007 Chevy Avalanche is a dynamic rock'n'roll machine, and it's a thrill to sit and listen to:  loud and clear, lively with impact and ..... goosebumps.

Steve's name is  engraved on MECA's Culbertson Cup as the winner of the 2009 World Finals Soundfest "SQ  Best of Show", winning the Modex class at Finals.  He is the 2010 Alabama Champion in Sound Quality League Modex SQ.

Competing in sound pressure contests for 10 years before joining MECA, Steve has credentials as a World Champ in dB Drag Racing (18), IASCA (5), USACi (3).  He is the only World Cup winner who is an SQL World Champ. :)

Steve is a very competitive guy and has earned the club's respect and admiration for his passion for car audio sports and, especially, MECA's SQL contests.  Competing at a high level and raising the bar for all, we recognize Steve Cook as our August 2010 Member of the Month.

Congratulations to Eric Parker from Boiling Springs, SC for his selection as our June 2010 Member of the Month.

Eric is a member of Team Elite and uses Audison amps and Hertz speakers in his Phat Truck, a 2006 Nissan Frontier. 

Eric was the 2008 SQ World Champion in Modified+ and took 2nd place in Modified Install at Finals, and was the SC State Champ in both classes.  In 2009, Eric was also the State Champ in Modified Install and Modified SQ.  At the 2009 Finals, he won the World Championship in Modified Install and earned 2nd place in Modified SQ.

Eric helps with judging at the Elite Audio events.  He's serious about being on a winning team and having a great looking audio system with great sound.  His good sportsmanship and friendliness are notable, and combined with his outstanding performances in the lanes these past 3 years, he is the ideal person for our MOTM honor.

Congrats to Eric and thanks for being part of our club!

Eric's reply:
Thanks to everyone who nominated me. Its truly an honor and privilege to be the MOTM!  MECA is realy a great organization to be a part of. Thank you Steve Stern and all the judges and competitiors that make it happen! 
Keep up the great work and hope to see you in the lanes!

Congrats to Harlan Owens from Frankfort, KY for his selection as our May 2010 Member of the Month.  Harlan is currently the points leader in 3 SQL contests:  Modified Street SQ, Modified Install, and RTA Freq Out.  He attended 3 events in May in 3 states:  Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee.  This is Harlan's 2nd year as a MECA Member.  Last year he finished in 4th Place at Finals in Stock SQ and was the KY State Champion.  A serious Competitor who enjoys our contests and comraderie, Harlan is working hard on his system to earn more points, and be a strong contender at Finals.

We appreciate the dedication Harlan demonstrates as a Competitor, and we acknowledge his outstanding attitude and results in the lanes.

 
Congrats to Paul Strouth from Wise, Virginia for his selection as our April 2010 Member of the Month.
 
Traveling to 2 events in Tennessee, Lay'd Out At The Park in Morristown and the Breast Cancer Awareness benefit in  Lebanon, Paul earned Best of Best of Show awards and set high scores in Sound Pressure League contests.  So far this season, his highest scores are 157.2 dB in M5 and 131.3 dB in DB5.  He is also the National Points leader in both classes.
 
Paul was the 2009 Virginia Champion in M5 with 155.4 dB and DB5 with 130.8 dB.
 
As the 2009 MECAhead of the Year and Overall National Points Champion, Paul attended 20+ MECA events and racked up an impressive 446 points during the season.
 
Paul's involvement, dedicaton, and sportsmanship are demonstrated week in and week out our events.  He is a proto-type SPL Competitor, and we appreciate his travel and hard work as a MECA Member.

See this feature on Paul:  http://caraudiomag.com/articles/meca-member-month-april

Mike was selected for the March 2010 Member of the Month before he passed away on April 10th.  He knew about his selection and was very pleased to be recognized by our club.  He was a passionate SQL Competitor and a friend to many of us.
 
At the time of his death, Mike was the SQL Street points leader and had earned his qualifying points in that SQ class.  He also competed in Street Install and RTA Freq Out.
 
Mike finished in 3rd Place in Street SQ and Street Install at the 2009 Finals, and 5th Place in RTA Freq Out.  He was the SQL Most Improved at that event.
 
At the 2008 Finals, concluding his 1st year as a MECA Member, Mike finished 2nd in Street SQ.
 
Mike will be missed at our events.  Our sincere sympathy goes out to Mike's wife Sharon and his family, friends, and teammates.
MECA's annual Sportsmanship Award, presented at Finals, will now be called the "Mike Bayler Sportsmanship Award" and is dedicated to his memory.

I have been a member of MECA since March 14, 2008.  I love going and competing at MECA shows because I have so much fun. I love to demo (after my runs complete). As most of you know my favorite thing to do is a hair trick, every once in a while I will throw a bottle or can trick in there.

I got first place at Kentucky State Finals and Kentucky State Record of 154.5 dB in 2008 and third place in M5 at World Finals 2008. Also, first place at the Kentucky State Finals and Kentucky State Record of 155.5 dB in 2009 and I got third in M4 at World Finals in 2009.

I couldn’t have got were I am today without the help and support of my team Carlisle Acoustics (Jeremy McCord, Corey Mitchell, Derek Jackson, Seth Haney, and Josh Harper). It makes competing so much more fun when you have an awesome team. I am also on Team Sundown Audio and Xstatic Batcap.

Details to come!!!