Over the course of the season, Hybrid Audio Technologies-equipped vehicles, through the outstanding group of individuals known as Team Hybrids, independent Hybrid Audio Technologies enthusiasts, and select Hybrid Audio Technologies retailers, collected an innumerable amount of trophies, and at the season’s closing finals events collectively earned over seventy (70) top-three placements and over twenty-five (25) championships in IASCA’s INAC, EMMA, AYA, MECA, and USACi competition leagues, in addition to three coveted Triple Crown awards by IASCA. The wins and placements cap yet another season of total domination by Hybrid Audio-equipped cars in North America.
Key placements included Ben Maxwell in IASCA’s Rookie class with a North American Championship for sound quality. Likewise, Bramouse Muhammad won IASCA’s Amateur class with a North American Championship for sound quality, and not only earned the Triple Crown for the IASCA East Coast Championship but also the heavily coveted one seat Triple Crown in the IASCA North American Championship, IASCA’s greatest honor. Hailing from Canada, Louis P. Chouinard earned a North American Championship in IASCA’s Pro/Am class for installation, and Rick Nichols earned a North American Championship for sound quality in the heavily-contested IASCA Pro class. In the Ultimate division, Larry Woolacott (also of Canada) won a North American Championship for installation and another in the RTA/SPL challenge. Hybrid Audio Technologies company founder Scott Buwalda doubled-up the wins with a North American Championship in both sound quality and installation quality in IASCA’s highest class, Expert Solo. Buwalda also posted the highest single-sheet sound quality score of the event, and a perfect RTA score with no tweeters in the vehicle. Also in the Expert Division, Vince Miranda (of Audio Xperts, in Vacaville, CA) placed fourth in IASCA’s Expert Solo class, but more importantly, he earned the IASCA Triple Crown for the West Coast Championships. Team Hybrids competitor Mike Peterson retained the West Coast Championship in IASCA’s Expert two-seat division.
In addition to the IASCA championships noted above, other IASCA North American Championships results included:
- Diana Snapp, in her first season, with a 2nd place in IASCA’s Rookie class for sound quality and a West Coast Championship for install;
- Jeremy Weaver with a West Coast Championship for sound quality in IASCA’s Amateur class;
- Jason Glass (in his third competition) with a West Coast Championship for install in IASCA’s Pro/Am class;
- Klifton Keplinger with an East Coast Championship for sound quality in IASCA’s Pro/Am class;
- Scott Welch with a West Coast Championship for sound quality in IASCA’s Pro class;
- Robert Hilton with an East Coast Championship for install in IASCA’s Pro class; and.
- Vince Miranda with a West Coast Championship for install in IASCA’s Expert Solo class.
In the past few competition season-ending finals, Hybrid Audio-equipped vehicles have posted winning “sweeps” in several classes, wherein two or more competitors “swept” the top placements at the Finals. The 2012 IASCA Finals was no different, as follows:
- One – two sweep (Ben Maxwell & Diana Snapp) in the West Coast Championship for sound quality in IASCA’s Rookie class;
- One – two sweep (Jeremy Weaver & Darren Binkley) in the West Coast Championship for sound quality in IASCA’s Amateur class;
- One – two – three sweep (Scott Welch, Drew Snapp & Jim Becker) in the West Coast Championship for sound quality in IASCA’s Pro class;
- One – two sweep (Klifton Keplinger & Louis P. Chouinard) in the East Coast Championship for sound quality in IASCA’s Pro/Am class;
- One – two – three sweep (Rick Nichols, Chris LaCombe, and Jim Meyer) in the East Coast Championship for sound quality in IASCA’s Pro class;
- One – two sweep (Larry Woolacott & John Sketoe) in the East Coast Championship for install in IASCA’s Ultimate class;
- One – two sweep (Ben Maxwell & Diana Snapp) in the North American Championship for sound quality in IASCA’s Rookie class;
- One – two sweep (Bramouse Muhammad & Jeremy Weaver) in the North American Championship for sound quality in IASCA’s Amateur class;
- One – two sweep (Louis P. Chouinard & Jason Glass) in the North American Championship for install in IASCA’s Pro/Am class;
- One – two – three sweep (Rick Nichols, Scott Welch & Chris LaCombe) in the North American Championship for sound quality in IASCA’s Pro class; and
- One – two sweep (Larry Woolacott & John Sketoe) in the North American Championship for install in IASCA’s Ultimate class.
The North American Championship for sound quality in IASCA’s Pro/Am and Ultimate classes were extremely competitive. With Klifton Keplinger posting a score within 2 points of first place in IASCA’s Pro/Am class, and John Sketoe & Larry Woolacott in IASCA’s Ultimate class, posting scores within 2.5 & 4 points of first place, respectively.
In other events, Robert Hilton received a World Championship for install in MECA’s Street class, Scott Welch received a California Championship for sound quality in MECA’s Modex class, Vanessa Miranda received a California Championship for sound quality in MECA’s Extreme class, Vince Miranda received a California Championship for install in MECA’s Extreme class, and Jim Becker received a California Championship for sound quality in MECA’s Master class, posting the highest sound quality score of the event. Vince Miranda received the Overall Points Championship in California, awarded by MECA. Dean Elzey received a Texas Championship for install in MECA’s Street class, and for sound quality in MECA’s SQ2 class and Chris Myers (of The Sound Factory in Knoxville, TN) received a Tennessee Championship for sound quality in MECA’s Modified Street class. Notably, Neil Cobilla (of Norton’s Car Stereo in Charleston, SC) received a second in MECA’s packed Modified Street class at their World Finals. Meanwhile, at USACi’s world finals, Robert Hilton received a second place in Modified SQ, Jim Meyer a third place in Super Modified Q, Bramouse Muhammad a third place in Modified Q, and Lee Torres was two points away from having a perfect install score in Modified SQ.
Around the world, Hybrid Audio Technologies-equipped vehicles continued to garner championships, with four earned in EMMA, and a German Championship in AYA’s top class, Premier, earned by Patrick Börger. Richard Salmon received an EMMA UK League title in the Master Unlimited category, and Gavin Tomlison, an EMMA UK League title in the Experienced 4000 Euro category.
When the smoke cleared, it was apparent once again, Hybrid Audio Technologies had clearly earned its spot atop the high end sound quality world with its wide-bandwidth drivers allowing enthusiasts to obtain perfect phase with tweeter-less front stages, perfectly blended sub bass with its subwoofers, unmatched mid bass impact with its transient midrange/mid bass drivers, and headphone-like detail from its latest product release, the Legatia L3 Pro dome midrange driver.
“As I reflect on the various season-ending Finals results, I am humbled by the fine people and specialty retailers that have invested the time and energy required to make these championship vehicles using Hybrid Audio Technologies products” noted Scott Buwalda, founder and CEO of Hybrid Audio Technologies. Buwalda closed out the season yet again winning both Expert Solo classes in which he competed, making his total win count ten (10) IASCA North American Championships, the most of any competitor, past or present.
