CLARION: Amy @ The Ace!

Equipment sponsorship is a funny thing. Lots of wannabes think they are a rolling ‘˜gift’ to car audio manufacturers and seem to wear a sense of entitlement. As if their own self importance is all that matters, with vague assurances offered by them, that the recipient of any favours, will be ‘˜good for the brand’. And then there are the Deserving Superstars, like John Royce (for the old stagers!) and Matt Sprigg, as well as the legendary Iceman, who in truth are paying with way more than mere money for their sponsored kit. They pay with a slice of their life. For the shifters, true enthusiasts and doers are the ones that the likes of Clarion adore.
One such is Amy Slade. A lass who used to show up (well over a decade ago) to the Mean Street Cruise, which I was MC for, in a green Pug called Kermit. This was the show and shine and she used to win stuff by public acclamation, as we used crowd reaction to judge excellence. Arena Essex is now home to a drift series called King of the Ring, which has a ‘˜Propper Droppers’ bass sound off in the cinder pit area as well, still. And Amy has grown up!
These days, it’s an imported Nipponese model of 350Z, called the Fairlady Z, so that is the badge on the back of her car. And Amy is the events organiser for her car club, 350Z/370Z UK. The Ace Café is the spot that holds the most car club meets of all and Amy had fixed up a Show & Shine for last Saturday morning. I went along to catch up with her, take some pics at last of my very own (as well as thieving better ones from the inestimable Mr. Mike Hodges, executive type and crucial cog in Amy’s sponsorship process. Thanks, Guv!) and open up the whole concept of embarrassing the poor love by turning a moving picture camera upon her! Amy was a star and you can see how beautifully presented her motor is.
First, here is the little two-part video I shot

Amy at The Ace

Sponsored by.

Lovely toys. Two screen-based front end display units, a set of high quality components, a ten inch subwoofer behind the driver’s seat and two amplifiers comprise her SQL (Sound Quality, Loud) system.

Meet ‘˜Domo’. And no, despite me trying to sound all cool and hibbetty-hop in the video, I have NO idea who this little character really is.

Decent turn out of Zeds up the Ace

This dude won ‘˜Best Engine’.

I look forward to getting a series of vids with Amy through the 2015 season and following her upgrade path.
And if you like the pics above, the whole shoot is here, in slideshow format: link