This Veteran Competitor Has Been Tearing Up The Competition Scene For Six Seasons
Back in 1995, car audio newbie Larry Chijner walked into a stereo shop looking to simply replace the head unit in his 1993 Cadillac Eldorado. What he didn't realize was that he would wind up losing his car for six months. That's because his single upgrade turned into a complete transformation with the installation of a full-blown competition system instead (the first of many in the Eldorado). "I was intrigued by the whole concept and the purchase of a head unit just snowballed into something bigger, better, and more enjoyable," recalls Chijner.
Chijner has no regrets about his decision. The Eldorado is his getaway vehicle from the everyday hustle and bustle he experiences at the furniture shop where he is employed. The new system was really essential, considering Chijner's love of music. Growing up, he was involved with bands and handled the soundboard. He also played the guitar and piano, so he has a musician's ear for music. That explains why he does his own system tuning. When the install was finished, he attended his first sound-off in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, "The Super Bowl of Sound." He took home top honors in his class. That was just the beginning for him and the Eldorado.
In 1996, Chijner made it all the way to IASCA Finals and won the Novice 301-600 division. As if that weren't enough, he also earned the "Rookie of the Year" award. In the following years from 1997-2000, Chijner took 2nd place in the Amateur 301-600, 4th in the Pro 301-600, 4th in the Pro 601+, and 4th in the Pro 601+, respectively. This season, he is not only aiming to walk up on stage, but to win it all again in the Pro Ultimate 1-300 division. So far, he is off to a great start in 2001 with regional wins in Toronto, Canada and the Spring Break Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. So it's only natural that Chijner should be one of those competitors that people love to hate.
His latest system (which is now the fourth) in the Eldorado was performed at Future Sound in Steubenville, Ohio. When it came to system design, Chijner was not one to sit on the sidelines and just watch; he coached, and helped to put the system together, along with shop owner Mark Liggett and assistant Jack Klages. What you see in these pages is the end result of their collaboration. One of the greatest attributes of the car's install is the attention to detail. In other words, nothing was too insignificant to ignore. After many years of vigorous competition, Chijner feels that he knows pretty much what it takes to win. This is why as you read through this article, you will see that even the little nuances in the vehicle are extremely detailed.
Multi-FunctionStarting in the passenger compartment, the head unit consists of a Pioneer RS-D2 ODR single-CD player located in the factory location. Underneath the radio is a handmade diagnostic computer and relay board with a display (another display resides in the trunk) updating Chijner on all of the system's 12-volt vitals. This Intel 8031 microprocessor is an important part of the system because not only does it feed Chijner with information, it also helps him during his presentation by controlling the automation in the judging lanes during his IASCA presentation. Below the diagnostic display is a Pioneer AVD-505 5.6-inch monitor surrounded by Zebrano wood. In order to realize a perfect fit around the monitor, a CNC machine was used to cut the wood and massage it into place. Directly coupled to it is a Pioneer RS-M1 ODR CD changer located in the glove box. It is flush mounted and also trimmed with Zebrano wood to match the factory theme of the interior.