wtf am I going to do now?

As for being a major blow, well yes and no. It wasn't like there was 60+ SQ cars showing up. The competitor support was rather limited to the same few people almost every year. Maybe it will be back again in 2005 if there's enough bitching/whining about the absence of SQ at this next show. But I don't know how that resolves the IASCA support issue.

When is Audio Thunder going to be?

If I can get some cash together I might see if I can make it down there this year.

Tom, can you clarify what you mean by the whole IASCA support issue ? Is there a situation with IASCA Worldwide that has precipitated this decision by the executive at Pro-Sho ?

Also, I have to agree with the Hooter's situation :D . I think we should hold our competitor's meetings there ! Well, maybe that's not such a good idea...

Received a note from one of the folks at Pro-Sho in discussing why they don't have SQ at this years show:

"Basically, the decision was made (and let me state for the record it was not an easy decision to make) to go without SQ for the 2004 Show because over the past several years SQ participation has been consistently dropping. Last year we only had 40 competitors. And to be honest, we have not been receiving the support from IASCA up here in Canada."

Take it as you will.

Write letters or e-mail!

here's the address: audiothunder@meteorshows.com

I think what prompted the decision was last year db drag would only give them a double point event with Iasca there.This year low and behold no Iasca and there is db drag with a triple point event at audio thunder.

Although I dont work for ProSho I'm extremely close with Larry, Brenda and the rest of the ProSho family. With that in mind though I am not speaking on their behalf and these are solely my opinions.

We had been discussing eleimanting SQ shortly after last years show. The official decision was made around months ago. AudioThunder has been the longest supporter of IASCA in Canada so this decision was not made hastily. Over the years it's been a struggle working with IASCA plus a huge decrease over the past 10 years of SQ competitors. I believe we had around 30 cars last year (correct me if I'm wrong Tom). Although 30 cars may seem like an ok turnight you have to consider that this is a Regional show so trophies must be bought for every class (many go to waste now to competitor support), we have to have hire judges, feed them and in some cases put them up in hotels for 2 nights...Overall there is a hefty investment. Reality is, is if there were enough competitiors who were interested and registered early instead of the very last minute or on site the SQ part would still be around. Support from IASCA has gotten better and I'm sure Paul will work hard to get it back up to speed.
On the other side SPL has been growing and the show has gone from being a 2x points to a Regional 3x pointer with Wayne Harris in attendance supporting the show. Over the past 10 years I only remember official IASCA personel being ther once and that most have been 6 or 7 years ago (no offence Marc B)
The folks at AudioThunder recently hosted a luncheon for all the car audio manufacturers to attend (exhibiting or not) so they could voice their concerns or express what ProSho could do to make the show better. Everyone was invited. It was a genuine attempt to make the show bigger and better for you the consumer and for us the exhibitors. On a personal note I was extremely disappointed that there were no major headunit manufacturers present, 1 may have had a reason as to why they couldnt be there that day but 2 would have been stretching it. In fact I know of 1 company in particular who refused to answer emails or telephone calls on whether or not they would even like to show up to our luncheon. Rates have dropped dramtically so I doubt cost is the issue. The timing for showing new gear couldnt be any better considering shows like Darknights are well into the summer. The show is more affordable to the consumer (no ridiculous parking fes or insane long lineups or even cops to snag you while you leave the show. Are these are the guys you all are supporting?
So while you have your pens in your hands and you're sending a letter to ProSho expressing your anger at the lack of a SQ competition take a moment to drop your favorite car audio brand (or head unit brand) and ask them if they will be there. Its true there were a few years that looked dismal, the last few years keep getting better. Kudos to the folks at Dragster, Fusion, Polk, Focal, Clarion & PG and more for being there last year. I'm not sure who's commited for this year but I can tell on behalf of JL AUDIO & KICKER, we'll be there for sure.
Its too bad that we all have to loose something before we truly realize what we had.

Last years show was IASCA and dBdrag and dB drag was a tripple pointer. I know for a fact if we had 50 cars that firmly comitted to the show there would still be SQ.

My understanding of the history of Audiothunder is that it began as a Gemsen show and grew from there... please correct me if I'm wrong.

I have been fortunate enough to attend Audiothunder over the last four years, two years of which I competed in dB Drag and when they had it, IdBL.

Two years ago Pro Sho dropped IdBL, and from my understanding it was because they wanted to have a triple point dB Drag and Wayne stated that if they were going to have a triple point event, there could not be any other SPL organization participating. I am only stating what I heard and I can't state this as fact, I am not attempting to flame anyone, I am just repeating what was told to me by a number of people. Even though I enjoy dB Drag Racing, my support lies with IASCA(like you haven't figured that out already - duhhhh!) and to say I was dissappointed when they dropped IdBL is an understatement. Now that they're dropping SQ, it's just another slap in the face to the IASCA competitor.

Yes, attendance fell over the last couple of years, but there are reasons for that. IASCA has gone through some serious changes in the last couple years and with that comes some growing pains, but it's not just IASCA member attendance at events that has gone down. Attendance at many other events has dropped as well, including dB Drag events and not just in Canada, but in the U.S. as well. I attended a dB Drag event in West Virginia where there were only 14 competitors total. There was an IdBL event there at the same time and it drew the same amount of competitors. Another reason may be the time of the year the show is held... the majority of SQ competitors' vehicles are still in winter storage.

It is also my understanding that Audiothunder began as an IASCA event only in it's inception. Once again, please correct me if I'm wrong. It's not just the support of the competitors that should dictate whether a company hosts an event, but the support of the distributors, manufacturers and the show promoters themselves. Maybe Pro Sho should invite the competitors to the luncheon as well, to hear our side of the story before making any decisions.

I would gladly offer my services as an IASCA certified judge to maintain IASCA competition at Audiothunder. To see it go away is a sad day for all IASCA competitors.

Have you read IASCA's mission statement lately???

Given this above noted statement, it baffles me as to why they will not support one of the biggest, if not "the" biggest IASCA show in Canada. Given the format of the Car Audio portion of the show and also having the organizer trying to get manufacturers/distributors/etc out onto the floor at Audiothunder, you'd think IASCA would be tying in with this with their afterburners on hot as it matches in with their mission statement perfectly. I'm just not understanding IASCA's position here in Canada at all. Is there some sort of history I've missed out on regarding IASCA or is Canada just meaningless to IASCA's mission??? Maybe Edmundson has it right after all as to why he's dumped his support of IASCA and moved on to USAC ............from my understanding.


IASCA mission statement doesn't seem to apply in Canada nor does the mission statement provide any sort of commitment or value for competition/competitors. It's seems like it's all about something and somewhere else. And you know what I think about that................ call me some time and I'll tell you cause then I can deny I ever said what you'd hear coming form my lips :D