What a HUGE day!!!
We hit the road early to get to the showgrounds before 7:30am, (arrive around 7:45 go figure!), and who was there already to greet us? The one competitor that travelled the furthest to get there, Jody Green from Taupo in the infamous Yellow Honda City.
This year saw a Lighter turnout than previous years, but oh what a turnout of amazing people!!! Although lighter on numbers this year, we still had an action packed and fun filled day.
The day started off strong with 2 big hitters in the SPL scene in Joseph George, and Anthony Latu, managing in their opening rounds seriously respectable scores of 154.8dB and 153.0dB respectively. As the day started, so did it continue to go from awesome score to awesome score!.
A little on in the competition saw a VERY close couple of runs between seasoned competitor Sam Ta’alili and new comer Kyle Holtman, in Sams first 2 runs he managed back to back 139.6dB, surely assuring him of 1st place in the Kiwi Class…. Until that is, later in the day Kyle Holtman appeared in his VW Golf R32, his first run netting him a 139.6 to MATCH Sams score (Are we going to see a play-off later in the day for 1st?)…. With the 1st 30second run complete and realising how close the scores were they opted for a second run starting out again with a 139.6dB, then in the last 10seconds managing to JUST pip ahead with a 139.7dB winning the class with a .1dB difference! And seeing Sam graciously taking 2nd place this year.
With more classes run, and Sounds Alive again testing the competitors nerves and gear, we moved onto the Extreme Bass Battle Class where again we saw the emergence of a VERY close 1st and 2nd, at the beginning of this class we saw Joseph George belt out a whopping 156.3dB. Knowing there are a few solid competitors in this class he, and we, waited with bated breath to see if anyone could challenge that number… Not 10 minutes later, the Nissan Stagea of Alex Samuel rolled into the lanes, his 30 seconds started, silence for a moment wondering if there was a problem in his system then with 15seconds on the clock the bass hit! And the meter did its job, displaying an amazing 156.2dB…. ANOTHER class decided by .1dB!!
2 MAJOR standouts of the day for me:
Jody Green, rolling his bright yet seemingly unassuming (to the unknowing eye) Honda City into the lanes and on his very first run of the day cranking out an ear shattering, heart thumping score of 159.5dB, equalling his pb, and cementing the top spot this year so far of the loudest car in the country for NZ dB Drag!
Jason Sanders, and his ever-lasting quest to have the 4nr crew shut him down (it happened TWICE on competition day!!!)…
I have to say, after sitting in this car, it is the FIRST car to make me cough spontaneously due to vibrating my throat so much! This car is a serious pounder and air mover!! Don’t take my word for it, those else that had demos will surely also attest!
Please allow me now to take this time to thank all of the people that work together to bring this event to life each and every year!
4 N Rotary Promotions first of all, for without you, we would not have the amazing event we have aligned our National Soundoffs to, and for also putting up with all of the noise complaints you receive courtesy of our motley lot! J.
Ashley Burrell, and Abtec Audio Lounge, for your continued dedication, support, and mentoring of the events these past years, without your input, hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, we simply would not have an NZ dB Drags!! A simply Thank you pales to the support and dedication you have and continue to show to the SPL scene in NZ.
Deirdere, I cannot say enough thankyous to say just how thankful I am to have such an amazing Fiancée that supports my passion, and has helped in so many competitions over these past few years!
The helpers on the day, (my most heartfelt apology if I forget someone),
Jody Green Termlab Mic man, and all round HUGE help through the day
Joseph George All round help through the day
Tina Burrell Photographer
Jeremy Burrell All round help through the day
Ryan Law All round help through the day
Ashley Killip All the awesome Vids I have seen popping up on Facebook
Aaron Bublitz (ME!) MC
HUGE thank you goes out to ALL of the competitors that attended today, for without your hard work, dedication to your systems, and the many, many thousands of dollars you invest to chase the ever louder heights of car audio, we would simply not have an SPL scene to hold these competitions, thank you all so very much!
Links of interest:
Major Sponsor:
The home of dBDrag NZ
National dBDrag NZ Results
http://www.dbdrag.co.nz/national_results.html
National Top 10
http://www.dbdrag.co.nz/top10_results.html
Show Gallery
http://carshows.co.nz/gallery/V4-Rotary-Nationals-Auckland-28-Jan-2017/17
One last time, thank you ALL!!
Peace out! Until we meet again around the lanes of SPL
Aaron [OUTLWD] Bublitz