COMPETITION UPDATE

BRANDON, MISS. —The United States Autosound Competition (USAC) announced that it signed a year-long promotional agreement with Falken Tire Co., representing one of the first deals where a company outside of the industry is sponsoring a competition event, said USAC president Ralph Randall. Under the agreement, Falken Tire will be promoted at more than 500 USAC events this year. The Falken Tire logo will appear on judges' tents and trophies, and some of Falken's promotional budget will be used to expand local advertising of the USAC's 10 regional triple-point events.

POST FALLS, IDAHO —dB Drag Racing said its focus this year will be on consistency in scoring, and the association is changing the requirements for its World Finals in accordance, said president Wayne Harris. "If you eat a Big Mac in New York it tastes the same as a Big Mac in LA. That's what we want," he explained. As a result, all World Finals contestants for 2001 must have a certified SPL score from at least one multi-point event. "We have dB Drag Racing staff and calibration equipment to verify the accuracy of the SPL meter at all the multi-point events," said Harris. "So if a guy has a certified score at this location it will be comparable to any other location in the world. That way we are ensured of having the loudest cars at our event."

Under the new rules, competitors must accrue 100 points, as well as obtain a certified SPL at a multi-point event. dB Drag Racing expects to hold 1,400 to 1,500 events this year, compared with 1,110 last year, added Harris.

INDIANAPOLIS —The International Auto Sound Challenge Association Inc. (IASCA) has announced the formation of several committees to develop strategies for 2001 and beyond. These include a State Championships committee to develop a new approach to competitions that would provide for championship events in every state in the country, and A World Finals committee, headed by Sirius Satellite Radio alliance manager Todd Goodnight, to produce a 2001 World Finals event that exceeds standards of all previous events, IASCA said.