PIONEER CAPTURES SPL TITLE AT THE 2006 IASCA IDBL WORLD FINALS
Veteran Competitors Scott Owens and Kyle Witherspoon UsePioneer Subwoofers and Amplifiers to Capture SPL Championship
LONG BEACH (September 20, 2006) - Using Pioneer Premier SPL subwoofers, amplifiers and headunits, sound pressure level (SPL) competitors Scott Owens and Kyle Witherspoon of the Edge Audio team add another world champion title to their belt with their win at the 2006 IASCA IDBL World Finals held this past weekend in Hampton, Georgia.
"This is a critical win for the Pioneer team and Edge Audio because this sets us up for the rest of the finals events in the upcoming weeks," said Owens. "The Pioneer subwoofers and amplifiers continue to amaze us, surviving everything we put them through. We're very optimistic about the rest of the season. Our goal is to continue to dominate the category as we did last year when we set the world record and became the first to break the 180 dB SPL barrier."
At this event, Owens' 2002 F-250 hit 180.3 dB to capture the first place trophy and set a new world record in the 2006 idBL Ultimate 3 division. Owens' vehicle competes with 13 Pioneer Premier TS-W5102SPL subwoofers powered by 52 PRS-D5000SPL amplifiers, 128 16-volt Kinetic batteries and three Ohio Generator 285-amp alternators producing more than 157,000 watts of power. In May at the Steel Valley Regional show held in Chester West Virginia, Owens hit the world record and took home the dB Drag trophy with a sound pressure level of 179.4 dB. At the same show, he also won the IASCA IDBL and MECA competitions with sound pressure levels of 179.5 dB and 180.3 dB respectively.
Witherspoon, who competes with a 2004 Scion xB, also captured the first place trophy and a world record in the Ultimate 1 division with an SPL score of 177.2 dB. In his vehicle, he uses two Pioneer Premier TS-W8102SPL 15-inch subwoofers powered by eight PRS-D5000SPL amplifiers, 24 Kinetic batteries and three Ohio Generator 250-amp alternators, producing more than 24,000 watts of power. At the Texas Heatwave event held in July, Witherspoon earned the first place trophy with an SPL score of 174.6 dB."The Edge Audio team is extremely dedicated and loyal to the sport of SPL and we're proud to have them represent the Pioneer brand," said Larry Rougas, vice president of marketing and product planning for mobile entertainment at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "They've proven, time and time again, Pioneer's engineering capability in building high quality products that can outperform any products in the industry."
Pioneer's Mobile Entertainment Division is the leading manufacturer of audio, video and information products for in-car use. Its focus is on the development of new digital technologies including audio video, navigation and satellite radio, while maintaining its strong heritage in products for car audio
Automotive Heavyweights Sign on with OPTIMA
Automotive Heavyweights Sign on with OPTIMA Batteries for the "Full Ride" Promotion Original Parts Group, General Motors, Hotchkis, Bonspeed and Energy Suspensions are among the many manufacturers participating
September 8, 2006 (MILWAUKEE) - OPTIMA Batteries has announced General Motors, OPG, Hotchkis Bonspeed and Energy Suspensions as the newest sponsors in the OPTIMA Full Ride Contest. The five join an already impressive list of automotive and aftermarket leaders including MSD Ignition, K&N, Tremec, Magnaflow, JBL, Edelbrock, Eibach, and Baer Brakes.
Sponsors will work in cooperation with OPTIMA Batteries and Dream Car Garage to rebuild the vehicle of Eric Jankowski, the winner of the Full Ride Contest. Jankowski was one of five semi-finalists selected from over 2,500 entries. Each entrant submitted a photo and a 200-word story on why their vehicle deserved the Full Ride.
As the grand prize winner of the national contest, Jankowski's 1972 Chevy Chevelle will receive a performance upgrade worth over $50,000 from promotion sponsors and OPTIMA Batteries. The upgrade now includes an LS7 crate motor from GM, new body panels from OPG and a Hotchkis TVS system to name a few. The vehicle will appear on the national television show, Dream Car Garage, will be included in an OPTIMA Batteries print ad and will appear at SEMA 2006. Jankowski, members of the media and promotion sponsors will see the vehicle for the first time in the OPTIMA Batteries booth at SEMA 2006.
The reveal of the Full Ride Chevelle, with upgrades done by Sean Hyland Motorsport of Woodstock, Ontario, will take place in the OPTIMA Batteries booth #22842 on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006 at 10:00am at SEMA. DCG host, Tom Hnatiw, will review upgrades made, Murray Pfaff, well-known rendering artist, will answer questions about his vision for the Full Ride vehicle and OPTIMA Batteries general manager, Stephen Kepler, will make a short presentation for all attending media and show participants.
OPTIMA Batteries are manufactured by Johnson Controls. Johnson Controls is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For nonresidential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services including comfort, energy and security management. Johnson Controls, founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. OPTIMA and OPTIMA SPIRALCELL TECHNOLOGY are registered trademarks of Johnson Controls Battery Group, Inc. For more information visit
http://www.johnsoncontrols.com,
http://www.OPTIMAbatteries.com
http://www.autobatteries.com.
Soundcrafters Builds VCSO D.A.R.E. Vehicle
Daytona Beach, Florida, September 6, 2006 - The Volusia County Sheriff's Department has a new tool to draw more youthful attention to D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) whose primary mission is to provide children with the information and skills they need to live drug-and-violence-free lives. This past March during the annual Spring Break Nationals Mobile Electronics Consumer/Trade Show, Deputy George Carvajal approached show producer Paul Papadeas, who also owns Daytona Beach based Soundcrafters Mobile and Home Electronics. Carvajal informed Papadeas that the VCSO had just seized a late model Lincoln Aviator from a drug dealer and that they wanted to outfit the vehicle with a sound system in order to attract youth to the D.A.R.E. program at the numerous outings the VCSO would be taking the vehicle to.
Papadeas arranged a display space at SBN20 for the vehicle and suggested that the officer make a sign that would solicit sponsors for equipment for the vehicle build. Within minutes of the posting the sign, Gus Bougdanos and Bill Trentacoste of Audiovox Corporation committed the budget and equipment needed for the build. "Sure this is a great promotional opportunity" said Trentacoste, "but its importance is two fold; it helps keep our name out in front of consumers but more importantly, it supports a very important program focused on the future of our country".
Soundcrafters custom builder/designer "Zee" with the assistance of several fellow installers let loose, fabricating a futuristic design in the vehicle's cargo area. Crafted in fiberglass, bondo and MDF, the Jensen brand Subwoofers are mounted in jet engine looking cabinets. The indash Jensen DVD, speakers and amplifiers, and Audiovox video monitors were positioned in factory locations and front seat headrests.
On Tuesday, September 5, 2006, Soundcrafters and Audiovox Corporation were recognized by Sheriff Ben Johnson for this effort and thanked them for their corporate sponsorship of the D.A.R.E. program. "It was indeed an honor to receive this recognition" said Papadeas, "our car audio business targets youth and the D.A.R.E. program is a great way to steer them away from violence and drugs. Making this promotional tool happen is just one of the ways to give back to our community and I encourage car audio dealers across the country to contribute in similar fashion". Papadeas, who is also the president of the International Auto Sound Challenge Association (an independent car audio dealer association), is planning to feature D.A.R.E. vehicles "tricked out" by car audio dealers on his company website www.iasca.com. If you are responsible for or associated with a "tricked out" D.A.R.E. vehicle build send your pictures and bio to moe.sab@iasca.com. Include in the subject line the words "DARE VEHICLE". For more information about D.A.R.E. visit www.dare.com for info on IASCA visit
www.iasca.com.
MOBILE ELECTRONICS LEADERS JOIN FORCES
STILLWATER, USA - Stillwater Designs, Inc., manufacturer of KICKER-branded car audio products, has acquired connectivity provider SoundGate of Sheridan, Wyoming. SoundGate is the respected manufacturer of high-quality audio interfaces and other OEM integration products. The purchase was completed September 6.
RadioShack Corporation
RadioShack Corporation today announced that it is expanding its rollout of HD digital radio receivers in the New York metropolitan area. Approximately 250 RadioShack stores will partake in this expanded rollout. The retailer became the first major national retail chain to support the HD radio rollout back in May.
Audiobahn to Appear at SEMA in lieu of CESBrea, CA, August 28, 2006 - Car audio giant Audiobahn is gearing up for a strategic appearance at the SEMA Show in lieu of CES (Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall, Booth #: 10608 October 31 - November 3). This bold move comes on the brink of Audiobahn's monumental 10 Year Anniversary. Audiobahn President Nasser Abo Abdo has spoken candidly about this decision with the company's distributors, media networks and beyond.
"Though we've experienced immense growth by exhibiting at CES in past years," Abo Abdo remarks, "SEMA dedicates more attention to the 12 volt industry, and that's exactly what Audiobahn wants to concentrate on." Audiobahn's family of car audio products has evolved significantly in recent years. Winner of multiple CES Innovations Awards for Design and Engineering, Audiobahn's SEMA exhibit will tout the company's 2007 product line, new marketing initiatives, show vehicles, celebrity sponsorships and much more.
Audiobahn's choice to focus all its attention of SEMA is no surprise, considering the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 automotive industry leaders each year. Audiobahn's appearance at last years show proved hugely successful as the convention drew over 50,000 domestic and international buyers. "We're celebrating our 10 year anniversary by targeting SEMA's growing reach over the automotive industry," says Abo Abdo. "We're anticipating a very successful show."
Newly promoted National Sales Manager Vincent Lombard is excited to continue with the Audiobahn movement as it heads for SEMA. Audiobahn customers will be able to take advantage of special sales incentives only available at the convention. Nasser Abo Abdo continues, "We've adopted a traditional, more focused sales direction. We're sharpening the saw, in essence, by concentrating on building our existing business and carefully adding new distribution. So, exhibiting at SEMA gives us a jump-start on the 2007 year."
Audiobahn's close connection with younger consumers will naturally take center stage. In addition to its roster of celebrity endorsees, Audiobahn's exposure in TV, film, video games and toys and die-cast collectibles has catapulted the Audiobahn name significantly, driving brand awareness and boosting sales. Director of Marketing Rainier de Ocampo remarks, "Our approach has proven successful and SEMA is the ideal platform for us to usher-in our newest promotions. We're excited to share our new marketing campaign. Our 10th Anniversary will definitely be a celebration."
Audiobahn's exhibit will be located in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, Booth Number: 10608. Those looking to schedule an appointment with an Audiobahn sales representative are encouraged to email
vlombard@audiobahn.com or call (800) 488-8595.