Be Driven to Compete

[HHR Ed]

I have always been more on the humble side, and havent gloated about my competition stats. My stats and history is not even that great. I am not a world champ, I am not a world record hold.

But I am a life long competitor and someone who truly loves the sport of car audio competition.

Recent topics about competition stats have made me research my own, and I have been thinking about the mentality of some competitors nowadays.

I have seen some who would rather stay home, then go to a show and get 2nd or lower place. I have heard some complain about rules or equipment failures when they are legitimately defeated at a show. I have seen many believe that competing is not even worth it unless they are the top competitor.

I do understand the drive to win, but always believed it was more appealing when working through adversity as the underdog. Where did this sense of entitlement come from? Where has the sense of hard work and determination breeds winners gone?

To me, competition was always about the fun, and much more than the winning. hanging out with like minded individuals and playing our stereos for sport. There was always satisfaction at the end of the day knowing others enjoyed it as much as I did.

Not that I am the best or gloating, but I do want to share some of my stats below and explain some. Hope that maybe this will be an example that drive and passion is something that can take you far in this sport, and winning isnt everything.

I started competing when I was 15 years old. Back then shows would have packed classes and maybe 200 cars total. And as you can see from the stats I am posting, I havent gotten even a top 3 finish until 2001. That was 6 years of competing before I even placed top 3.

I placed 5th at the first show that season but didnt get discouraged. I kept trying various boxes and woofer setups but without a meter I was shooting in the dark. So I kept competing and won a few 3rds and 2nds. Never a 1st that year. And at the larger shows at the end of the season, I was humbled and placed very low.

But I kept at it, gaining my first 1st place in 2002, barely missing finals due to the fact that my car was broken into and amps stolen. I wasnt able to recover before the season ended. I was upset, but never gave up. Afterall, I have read car Audio magazines since I was 10, and always dreamed of going to World Finals, and I accomplished that in 2003. But it wasnt a true fairytale story.

This is my dream season of 2003. You can see that it started low and I got 3rd. So I went home that night, added power and another sub, then went back the next day 10dB higher and got 1st.

And that year was the year we switched to the new Term Lab. You can see my scores changing from my experimentations, but I was still winning, I never won so much before so I was happy. But at the first big show of the season, the new meter was used on June 21st. I was up against some big dogs and was humbled again with 4th. But I was still happy.

I kept tuning and building to raise my score and kept earning points towards finals.

By the end of the season, I was more consistent and placed high at all the shows I went to. But as far as Finals were concerned it was still not certain. They take the top 15 certified scores, I was towards the bottom, and depending on how the rest of the country went I may or may not make it.

Even when the season ended and Finals invites went out, scores were still being tallied and I was on the edge. First round of invites, nothing, second round, nothing. Then, about a week later I received an email Inviting me to compete at the 2003 dB drag racing World Finals.

I was so freakin happy.

I painted the car and got my score up for finals hoping to do something good. When I got there it was amazing. Inside the Nashville TN convention center. Under the lights. Vendors everywhere, hundreds of top competitors from around the world. People and cars I ever only seen in magazines. Truly this was my dream come true and I will never forget it.

But you know what? There are no records of it, no stats of my performance at the show. It doesnt even note me as attending. Know why? It's because I got 15th place. Only the top 8 cars qualify. I got my best score with that car of 156.3dB in my qualifying round, and it was good enough for 15th, and I couldnt be happier. I never complained, I never bitched or moaned. I did my best. I chased my dream. I made it to the freakin finals. I couldnt ask for more. i was happy to just be there. 15th place was fine with me. I have the memories, some video somewhere, and a patch. It was one of the best weekends of my life and I am happy.

I did keep going and getting more prominent in the sport. Competing at 2005 Finals against Scott Owens where I was beat by 30dB. I was happy to be going against him. I competed at 2007 and 2008 finals and won 3rd.

And I was the North American Points champ in 2009 and was invited to finals but had to decline due to lack of funds.

Not being able to afford to compete, even with a single 8 and 200w amp this year kills me. I wouldnt care if I got 18th place. I love competing and do it because I love the comradery and fun times. friends are made, laughs are had. Things are learned at shows. And I will never stop competing.

More of my stats are visible here if anybody wants to see.

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=11014&Season=9999&Method=6

And share some of your own stories if you have some.

[bassHZ]

wow man uve been doing this shit for a while thats cool congrats on good scores and on being in the game for this long

[HHR Ed]

wow man uve been doing this shit for a while thats cool congrats on good scores and on being in the game for this long

Thank you, yup competing since 95, dB Drag member since 2000. I like seeing more competitors with passion and I think thats why I am writing this.

Thank you

[Robert8252]

No stories but damn man that really shows your commitment and you really are the type of person that really make me enjoy getting into shows next year and competing.

[matt402]

ive been doing this for 4 or 5 years now =].

ill admit my scores kinda suck .

i try my best & try to have fun at each show.

i havent been to a lot of events bcuz there arent any in my area .

i have been to the last 2 world finals, 08 in laughlin, NV & 09 in tulsa, OK.

i havent competed in a finals yet bcuz of points & rebuilding my systems.

anyways, heres my scores:

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=65511&Season=2010&Method=6

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=65511&Season=2010&Method=7

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=82755&Season=2010&Method=6

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=82755&Season=2010&Method=7

[bassHZ]

ive been doing this for 4 or 5 years now =].

ill admit my scores kinda suck .

i try my best & try to have fun at each show.

i havent been to a lot of events bcuz there arent any in my area .

i have been to the last 2 world finals, 08 in laughlin, NV & 09 in tulsa, OK.

i havent competed in a finals yet bcuz of points & rebuilding my systems.

anyways, heres my scores:

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=65511&Season=2010&Method=6

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=65511&Season=2010&Method=7

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=82755&Season=2010&Method=6

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=82755&Season=2010&Method=7

what kind of system u got

[Loudcivic]

this is wut i wanted to see. a guy who does it for the love and not the numbers. i wish more people would be like this cuz it would bring it back and it would be so much more popular like when i was reading car audio magazines when i was a kid that my brother had in his room. always dreamed of having a big system and showing it off. times are tough and its not that big around here in my town. they stopped having our little bass comp because nobody would show up but a few of us and it sucks. next year i hope to find a few shows and check it out and have fun. props to you for being a true sport

[HHR Ed]

ive been doing this for 4 or 5 years now =].

ill admit my scores kinda suck .

i try my best & try to have fun at each show.

i havent been to a lot of events bcuz there arent any in my area .

i have been to the last 2 world finals, 08 in laughlin, NV & 09 in tulsa, OK.

i havent competed in a finals yet bcuz of points & rebuilding my systems.

anyways, heres my scores:

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=65511&Season=2010&Method=6

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=65511&Season=2010&Method=7

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=82755&Season=2010&Method=6

http://www.termpro.com/asp/competitorstats.asp?Competitor_ID=82755&Season=2010&Method=7

I dont think thats too bad, you came up alot and kept at it.

My first show was in the 120s on todays meter, and even my first big show in 2000 was in the 130s on todays meter. Cant start on the top. We need more guys like you that keep at it.

[kingsuv]

Well Said Ed!

I only wish this new blood had half the heart as some of us older guys.

[Team Bassick - Kimo]

I believe in let your actions in the lane do all the talking for you. I've been asked again and again why I have competed in db Drag. What a lot of people don't realize is that it is one of the few organizations that actually tracks stats back that far. There has been a lot that have been missed place for numerous reasons but, for the most there is a record. Now I've competed in USACi, IASACA and now tryed MECA and must say they all have there ups and downs but, dB DRag is by far the one with the most robust online community and stats pages.

I can relate to those Circuit City shows proof below:

STILL BRAND NEW....LOL