dB Dragsters Rev Up
I am a dyed in the wool audiophile and have been known to fill up and get teary with emo stuff just at the sound of the organ in Salisbury Cathedral but I do love the sheer madness of insane SPL in nature and reproduced. I have heard Niagara falls close up. I have felt the very living rock throb around me when scuba diving in a marine cave that has waves crashing into one end and I have been close to the steam pressure release port stuck in the mountainous hillside above Reykjavik in Iceland that throbs at 50Hz and shakes the ground for a hundred yards it’s so loud. But I have never felt bass like I have in a mobile electronics install and I love it like a hopelessly addictive drug. It may not even be good for my insides but a good visceral massage applied topically (rather than oroficially, thanks) is lovely!
The out and out nutters who compete in Decibel Drag racing are all about who’s car is the loudest. They care about watts and woofers like no others. Here is an account of their doings at the last big event of 2007 (written by a participant) and just the first of their plans for 2008.
The World dB Drag finals were being held in Lyon, France, in conjunction with the Lyon dB Drag and European finals and Team UK SPL attended in force with no less than 13 entrants and over 30 attendants. Team UK SPL were by far the biggest Team at Lyon.
Go UK!
The journey started for most on Wednesday, (or very early Thursday) meeting up to catch the 6:30am ferry to Calais, with over 500 miles still to drive. The resonance on the ferry was awesome as we left, with the big street bassers booming the boat. A school of whales assembled and followed usEveryone stuck together in a rather long convoy for the steady (towing speed) drive through France.
We had a few unplanned stops for maintenance, particularly of one very poorly Panda, but a bit of old school torchlight
mechanics had it back up and running better than ever thanks to DaddyO & DumDum. Shattered from the journey everyone hit the sack to get ready for a busy time at the competition.
Somehow we were the first into the hall in the morning and set up our stall. Union Jacks on display everywhere. Qualifying went well with some good scores and personal bests posted by many, proving the hard work put in since the UK Finals was worthwhile.
Street A proved a very exciting final with DaddyO and Deiter, long standing friends and competitors qualifying 2nd equal with 158.3 dB each. The final then brought out the true excitement of a close run battle, DaddyO 158.1dB, Deiter came back with a 158.2dB. Ten seconds to go and DaddyO pulls out a 158.3dB to a big cheer from Team UK; Deiter has one last chance, but the UK cheers went out for a UK Finalist.
Plastic Pig man Will was well supported and pulled out a best score of 166.8dB taking him through to Lyon Champion, then European Champion and into the World Finals.
Rich W scored a personal best in the Extreme Nova, of 171.7dB. The loudest UK car. Bass Race 139.9dB class provided much excitement with VD pipping CD Escort and The Joose to the post and making the final. What a battle! With tied scores, the pressure built as the French car got carried away and bust in the final seconds resulting in another UK win.
The 149.9dB class brought together 2 UK big hitters, Firestarter and VanMan, who arrived in the lanes with 20 Team UK members on board, unloading at the last minute before going deaf. It was a good battle with Firestarter making the Euro Finals
Here are the culprits, their vehicles and their weapons of choice:
John (Daddy O)
Street A – Fiat Panda
Atomic Sub, SPL Dynamics Amp
Adam (DumDum)
Street Max 1-2 SEAT Marbella
Atomic Subs, Atomic Amps
Rich (Rich W)
Extreme 1 Vauxhall Nova
RE Sub, Solid Amps
Jay (VanMan)
Bass Race 149.9 Merc Sprinter
JBL Subs (16!), SPL Dynamics Amps
Jerry (Big Red)
Street Max 3-4 Fiat Panda
Will (Plastic Pig Man)
Extreme 3-4 Reliant Robin
DD Subs, SPL Dynamics Amps
Matt Sprigg (The Joose)
Bass Race 139.9- Ford Focus
DD Sub, PowerBass Amps
Craig (CD Escort)
Race 139.9 – Ford Escort
DD Sub
Geoff (Firestarter)
Bass Race 149.9 – Transit Connect
RE Subs, MMATS Amps
Kenny (Troublestarter)
Monster fun class ‘thing’
RE Subs, Vibe Amps
Pooven (Padmeister)
Street B Fiat Panda
DD Subs, DD Amps
Dave (VD)
Bass Race 149.9 Citroen Berlingo
OZ Subs, OZ Amps
John Royce (Team SK)
Super Street No Wall – Fiat Panda
MMATS Subs, HiFonics Amps
Current UK Sound Pressure Level records in dB Drag Racing
Street A – John Akinin 157.3dB
Street B – Pooven Padayachee 156.7dB
Street C – Team Adassa Audio 154.3dB
Street MAX 1-2 Dumdum 158.0dB
Street MAX 3-4 – Team Fusion 161.5dB
Super Street No Wall – Team SK 155.2dB
Super Street 1-2 – Mark Bond 158.2dB
Super Street 3-4 – Gordon Conway 163.9dB
Super Street 5+ – VD 151.7dB (Mike Skywalker (GER) 151.8dB)
Extreme 1 – Richard Wilson 171.2dB
Extreme 2 – Lawrence Corteil 148.3dB
Extreme 3-4 – William Coulson 163.8dB
Extreme 5+ – Jason Tilney 153.7dB
Loudest Bass Race – Jason Tilney 150.3dB (151.6dB un-official by Firestarter)
Get involved. Bass Race is great fun and about control rather than who can afford the baddest weapons-grade ordnance. Contact link to learn more.
And here’s where to click to see a funky cool slideshow in the newly imported gallery system. We LOVE this! If you go to the gallery itself from the menus above you can get at the fuller size versions of you want to nick any….
link