Car Audio Championship 2016: MECA World Finals

Event Coverage Steve Stern

Photos by Travis Chin

Held in partnership with the Car Audio Championship event in Louisville, KY, the MECA car audio club presented its best Finals event with a record 62 vehicles participating in Sound Quality League contests.

The Sound Pressure League contests featured the closest scores and high level competition for the bass and loud music competitors.

Of special note was the Dueling Demos matches with Anthony Caldwell (Team Xtreme/True Bass/XS Power) from Knoxville, TN, taking the World Championship in the most advanced class, Extreme, with his incredible 70-plus-speaker mobile music van. Dueling Demos is a loud music contest, with bumper to bumper challenge matches in 3 classes, based on system complexity of design.

"This was the best Finals we've had in years, with speedy, spot-on judging, and a great cooperative spirit among our competitors, and with the other organizations,” noted Commissioner Steve Stern, event director and coordinator. “Thanks to Linear Power Ohio Generator and XS Power Batteries for their support as co-sponsors!"

Bud Ballinger (KY) was the SPL Head Judge, with wife, Shannon, and daughter, Salena Sexton, helping in the lanes. Joe Ault (OH), Allan Shaffer(TN), and Cory Harrod (KY) rounded out the SPL Judge Team. The SQL Judge Team was headed by Vinny Taylor (TN), with Matt Roberts (NC), Linda Kobayashi (CA), Richard Papasin (CA), Heather Shaffer (TN), and Grace Hedrick (SC) acting as Scorekeeper. #pasmag

Notable MECA World Finalists:
Scott Welch (Team Audio Intensity/Hybrids), from Vacaville, CA, won the Sound Best of Show, to be inscribed on MECA's Culbertson Cup, with the best sounding system.

Robert Corwin (Team Audio Specialists/Ohio Generator) from Powell, OH, won the Sound Quality League Best of Show, the best overall scores in SQ, Install, and RTA Freq Output.

Anthony Davis (Team Hybrids) from Greenville, NC, earned the SQL Install Best of Show with an innovative dashboard design.

Mike Flanagan (Team Linear Power/Sundown) from Byram, MS, was the overall Best of Show winner with outstanding performances in SPL and SQL contests, taking the seven-foot trophy home.

Wes Strickland (Team High Voltage/IAK) from Bristol, TN, earned the Sound Pressure League Best of Show 6.5-foot trophy for best combined Sound Pressure and Park & Pound Scores.

Wes Strickland’s grand-daughter, Maddie Carmody, (Team High Voltage/IAK) was the MECA Kids World Champ in Sound Pressure, Park & Pound, and Dueling Demos for kids.

Jeremy Kough (Team dB Revolution/Sundown/XS Power) from Auburn, KY, was the Sound Pressure Best of Show with the highest score at 173.29 dB.

Eric White (Team Devious Kustomz) from Alexandria, VA, earned the Show & Shine Best of Show with his highly evolved Camaro.

More info at www.mecacaraudio.com.

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