EMMA: Pre-Season Bash

Tucked away near the Conservative Club in Goring-Sur-Mer is Highdown Car Audio & Security. Highdown is run by the effervescent Jez Owen who just loves what he does and is deeply bitten by the bug. He has a group of adhesive clientele and along with the locals, a whole bunch of the further-flung showed up recently at his premises in order to have a pre sound off season check up.
It started as a small idea and grew like Topsy. On the day, the Hummer from Kicker was present (RRrespect to Mr. Mike Smith but I kinda feel he enjoys driving it) as was the fabulous Paul Richardson Pioneer demo Audi convertible. There was a full judging team of Jas Suman on Sound Quality, Chris Woods on ESPL and Alan Balchin on install. I wandered about with a small PA haranguing the poor souls and then Dave Benson-Philips, kids TV star from Get Your Own Back (renowned for gunging grown ups) and the Disney Channel, materialised to hand out the trophies as he’s one of Jezza’s neighbours!
It was a brilliant day out and more importantly proved to be very educational for the serious team of cars that Jez has going – no less than twelve. It looks like there’s a new competitive ice team on the block. Call 01903 620922 to find out more or see http://www.highdowncaraudio.com/”>
 
The Highdown day on the south coast was preparation for the first round of the EMMA sound off season. Now a fixed star in their firmament, the Auto Audio season opener is always a good visit for me. A whole load of cars under cover, in one of the best establishments in the country. Got his and hers Hummers to convert to UK spec? Auto Audio can do it! (I have seen this job in their bay one year and they do boats, too.) A real centre of excellence that actually needs to stock a rack of hides of sweet-smelling upholstery leather, they are a huge operation and absolutely the right place to hold a top sound quality competition. They will be running the EMMA SPL or ESPL contest as well, which is ‘who has the loudest car?’ but sane. No Cars on trailers doing 180dB but get this, they test with the doors open and the punter sat inside! Looks like it’s going to be cool.
Here’s the official EMMA press release….
This weekend, 21st and 22nd March, sees the 2009 kick-off event for EMMA UK. The competition will take place at Auto Audio, Park Royal, London – See www.emma-uk.com for full details.
The season promises to be a corker, with a new CD and rule book and changes to the entry categories. We have already managed to attract a record entry, with 40 competitors pre-registered. With head judges freshly trained at EMMA Europe HQ and many re built systems, we expect a very open affair for the first event of the season.
Many old friends have registered but we also have a large number of new competitors. In particular, Highdown in Worthing are bringing a huge contingent of customers old and new along. Although this is a dealer event rather than a public show, all are welcome to come along and see what goes on at an EMMA event. The team at Auto Audio are extremely hospitable and always show a number of great, prestige vehicles with their trade mark high standard of audio and A/V installs.
So get down to Auto Audio http://www.autoaudio.uk.com/”> for 10:00 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday and get a heads-up on some great new installs, making their season’s debut.
PS I’ll be there on the Saturday to report and also check out the Audison Bit One processor and new Thesis kit.