Well guys, it seems that this year is likely gunna be my last year in the lanes for a while.. its a fun hobby, but the expenses are killing me and I'm no longer in a financial position to continue with it into the new year.
Those of you who know me off these boards know what craps been happening to me.. for those who dont, I'm losing my house and thats the least of my worries, so you know everything else has been bad.. the last 2 comps I went to I had to borrow money for entry fee's.

So, this is a nostalgia thread ! Feel free to contribute your own fond memories..

First Comp:
Bathurst 1000 SPL Day, 2002. Using an $80 Megavox 12" sub and $80 2nd hand Kenwood amp, took 2nd against Lucas/Team Purps running the Audiobahn 12" & D2. My first comp, first win.. same as Andrew Jackson (Andu).

Dumbest thing to happen at a comp:
Lost 2dB when a KFC box, complete with chicken, got sucked into the ports at Finals '03 and block it.

Funniest thing to happen at a comp:
Final Battle '03, getting my photo taken holding up the "Team Asscart 117dB Exa" next to his car.. then setting the alarm off.

Craziest thing done at a comp:
Rebuilding the box in the lanes at Final Battle '03 with a lot of help from the Sydney crew 'cos it was a 1/4" too high ! Re-installed and scruntineered with 5 minutes left to qualify.

Furthest travel:
MAS '04.. 2,500km round trip in the Festiva. It almost killed me !

Most people to pick a fight with me at one comp:
7 at Kandos Rod Show '05 because I had a "special head deck".

Most damage in one burp:
Front bar fell off the car at a Doran's last year

Death toll courtesy of smoke or breakage:
10x Amps
2x Splits
6x Subs
4x Headunits
1x Rear view mirror
1x Passengers seat rail
2x Tyres
5x Batteries
1x Radiator

So there ya go.. 3 1/2 years of memories with more to come.

Loudest score?

Thats a rather big kill list you;ve got.

Sorry to hear your financial predicament BlackIce....You will be sorely missed in the OZ SPL seen.....

I too understand about the financial strain in this sport....I too am considering not competeing SM 3-4 next season

damn... thats some bad luck there man, i hope you get back on top soon!
and i know you will def be missed from the SPL scene!
woulda been great to see that KFC box haha

Dude, I have pretty much said over MSN, I hope everything works out for you. 2005 has been a bad year for alot of DB Dragger, we have lost alot of competitors:
Cam
You
Andu
and others

Sad to hear, ive seen your car at a few comps, probably the only one ive seen on a regular basis.
Good luck with everything in the future

p.s i want kfc now

You will be sadly missed BlackIce. You really did give it your all and to have it taken away this way just plain sucks.

Loudest at a comp was 152.0dB @ Kandos 2005
Loudest at dB Drag was 149.99dB @ SAS 2005
Loudest ever was 154.0dB on the old meters in testing.

Lowest ever is 104.8dB at Doran Aug '05, podium packed it in.



Vega: Hope I get to see you again at Finals this year, I understand you're spectating ?

Teggles: Thanks for the support mate, you've always been someone to talk to especially in the last few months as it all turned sour for me.

Pumped: Dont worry, the car will still be around for a while yet, you'll see it at a few more events (and dont be shy to say g'day)

Andu: I know.. it was a sad day to see you retiring.. one day we'll be back in the lanes head to head just like old times.

Its good to see a lot of friendly replies here.. from people who understand that SPL isn't just about equipment, that rebuilding an SPL system costs a bomb, that travelling 100's of km's a month for SPL comps costs money, the sacrifice that have to be made just to make it happen..

I'm talking to my bank manager in a half hour.. wish me luck guys.

what can i say about this

damn nig
was hoping to see you in the lanes soon
hopefully its just a long holiday
and you can come out to play soon enough

damm another one seems as if its the end for awhile.

sorry to hear dude, lets just hope that wen we all come back and we will that its all at the same time and we kick ass again


i go away for 3 weeks and alot has happened in that 3 weeks.


lots of great memories that will not be forgotten at all.


good luck and i hope it all works out.


SSS_Hoon

see you at finals mate.

we'll all have a few drinks afterwards.

Sorry to hear about it mate,u will definately be missed at all SPL comps,wont be able to make it for the finals,but im sure we'll catch up soon.

Thanks for everything uve done for me Steve.

Andrew.

Welcome to the semi-retired crew steve.
i miss alot not having much net access these days. I expect we shall catch up for drinks etc etc at some stage in the future.

yeah the semi-retired crew is getting more and more ppl in it aint it muz.


well i hope that one day at the end of next yr to get back into again.


SSS_Hoon

perhaps one day next year i will return to beat you again then

yeah knowing my luck you will return the same even i do, not only to beat me but also take my pride away


nah the day we all return will be good.

bring it....

SSS_Hoon

Im very new to the car audio seen but i see that u love JBL and so do i!

ROCK ON!

Also good luck with your house n all i have noticed your a regular on these forums and that you have an amazing record of SPL comps!

Cya mate

Hey its no worries mate, always willing to help you out with designs. Shame you never got the Civic to a Sydney comp for everyone to see it, I wanted to sit in the *new* port !




Yeah mate, another one in the ranks. I feel kinda bad about it, and I'll miss it.. but you know as well as I do sometimes there more important things to spend you money on, like clearing out debts and getting infront and ontop of everything.
I'm still on for Nats next year, and Tuggernong next month loot permitting, so I'll prolly see you there ? Might stay in Canberra for the night and we can get on the hooch, I'm sure Shieldsy would be on for that too.



Thanks for the kind words buddy. If you see me at a comp sometime come say g'day, I dont bite . Just look for the guy in the orange JBL shirt !


The good news is I have a roof for another 6 months, after which I believe it will be going to market if the market scenario has improved.. unless I can find $50,000 in a hurry. After a lot of financial planning (and having to quit grog and most likely smoking) I should be OK within 2 months, so thinks are looking up. Still, SPL has to take a back seat for a while.

I wanna finish out this season with the next 2 Doran's, Tuggernong, MAS, FB & Finals.. wish me luck guys.

Good luck Steve see you in Melbourne.

good luck
and see you down here

Good luck BI! hope everything pulls up for ya and you get back into the playing field! even though i'm fkn 4k away would of loved to see the JBL beast!

It very nearly ended up in Perth.. minus JBL equipment tho. And not as an SPL machine anymore either, as a daily basher.

geese i wish i had seen this car ...

JBL home audio is awsome runs in my family, most of my family have had some sort of JBL speakers....

and their top line car audio is great.... ( from what i hear) hehe

hope everything works out 4 u steve, dont no u in person but from what i can tell ur a true CHAMPION, good luck with all ur 'little' problems

Take it easy...

CAM ....P.S can i have a JBL t-shirt hahaha

Well I've only met you once (MAS either last year or the year before, i forget), but you seemed like a great bloke! That and you always helped me out with a quick response on the little bits of my magna.

So thanks for the help & good luck for with whatevers going on!

haha I agree

JBL also make great PA audio equip.

Good luck with everything Blackice.

Damm Pyroay got bumpy

just read through the post steve and even though dont really know you personally and even though im not long come into SPL.

will be sorry to see you leave the SPL scene. but while your still in it all i can say is good luck and hope you can leave some even bigger awesome numbers then autosalon syd. for people to chase before you leave.

catch ya in the lanes :-)

Steve is back, he competed last weekend.

This thread is a 6mnts old

Noobs check the post dates

Yeah pretty much.. this post was made when I was forced to not compete due to lack of funds, $200 a month on a "hobby" is pretty steep.. I had to skip a number of events I would normally never miss due to this.

I'm not back, I'm still missing events 'cos I cant afford it as much. Especially now with some forced upgrades happening to keep the car running.

it's like heroin..

you say you can give up at any time but you just keep going back for a taste..