Scores
First Place:
Carlos Machuca: 127.3
Aesthetics/SQ: 89/28.5
Prize: $1,500
First Place, Trifecta at Funkmaster Flex Car and Bike Show, Myrtle Beach, SC, $500
Second Place:
Chris Roberts: 126
Aesthetics/SQ 95/27.5
Prize: $500
First Place, Trifecta at Lowrider, Portland, OR, $500 (Look for the feature on his car next month.)
Third Place:
Jason Syner: 125.3
Aesthetics/SQ: 99/14
Prize: $250
Direct entry, SBN, Daytona Beach, FL
We started the year at Spring Break Nationals in Daytona Beach, FL. That's where we found Jason Syner's "homemade" Civic and selected him and his vehicle for direct entry into the Trifecta Finals at the SEMA Show. That was followed by our first regional event of the year at the San Antonio Texas Heatwave show. Indoors, without air conditioning, we sweated our way through the weekend but found last year's finalist, Wayne Watkins and his updated RSX and Jeff Kanes' 350Z. Due to an unfortunate accident, the 350Z built by Louis Gonzalez wasn't able to compete at SEMA. The Lowrider show in Portland followed and it was there where we discovered (or perhaps it was the other way around) Chris Roberts. No one had ever heard of the guy before but after seeing his center-drive Scion xB, everyone was wondering how many ultratalented cats like this are there in the wilderness of car audio country. If not for the wild horse, to play on a saying, Jojo Pagulayan, who finished in second place, would've taken home the $500 and First Place plaque for his yellow Supra, which was on display at last year's CES.