Meet Joe Black
2000/2001/2003 World Champion
As Seen In Autosound & Security Magazine

Page Two | Page Three | Sound Quality Message Boards
| Standings | Autosound & Security Magazine Article
Live Chat

        My name is Joe Black, I have been involved with Car Audio for over 10 years and have learned a great deal. In all, I've had three cars, one of which won the 1994 IASCA World Title with my Mother at the helm. Since embarking on a new and dramatic audio system, I have set much higher standards for the sound quality and craftsmanship of my vehicle. As a result, I have won the MECA West Virginia and National Championship for 2000, 2001 and 2003, along with over 28 firsts and 25 best of show awards during the past four seasons, plus best of show and best install at the 2001 finals with the highest scores ever posted in the Mobile Electronics Competition Association. I was also recently featured in the April issue of Autosound & Security Magazine, with a five page spread...Click here to see the article online. Also, I was named car of the month by Team Gates.

        Since I purchased the car, several improvements and modifications have been made. While the trunk has remained basically the same, the interior has been totally refabricated. This car is now pure sound quality, everything that is done to the car is for the specific purpose of improving the sound and acoustical characteristics of the vehicle. I'm also constantly changing and trying new things, it will always be a work in progress.

        After some thought, and alot of questions from everyone around me. I have now decided to go into great detail about the system contained in this vehicle. So without further hesitation, here goes.... The charging system was completely modified by replacing of the stock alternator with a slightly beefier 120 amp hi output version; in addition, all of the charging wire was replaced with Streetwires power cable. The wire then runs to a 750 CCA battery, and then on to a pair of circuit breakers which distribute power to the two main batteries. From there, 1/0 guage wire carries current on to the trunk of the car.

        The trunk is the highlight of the system. The entire trunk was covered with special panels molded in over an inch of fiberglass and covered with silver tweed. The are no square edges anywhere in the trunk, all of the panels were made to flow with the curves of the car. All the panels incorporate motorization to open and close; however, this motorization wasn't done the easy way. The motorization techniques used were that of a robotic nature. There are no visible means of moving the doors because the motorization was incorporated into the hinges themselves. This way, you don't see the little arm that is traditionally used to push and pull on the door.
        The tweed-work is some of the most detailed that has ever been done. All of the tweed flows with the curves and the left side always matches the right. Castles were made into the tweed using foam and a lighthouse and birds were made into the trunk lid, which is also covered in tweed as well. This trunk is still very usable and durable to the point that it will hold several hundred pounds.

        From left to right in the trunk we have 7 motorized compartments, plus full access to a spare tire in the floor. Under door #1 is the visual status display and amp temperature guages, and just below that in door #2 is an Intel Microprocessor. After much workings with relay logic, one will discover that much more can be done with the aid of a computer. The microprocessor has control over the monitoring of system status. It first monitors the voltage to the amps and processors. In addition, it also monitors the amp and trunk temperature.
        When things get too hot, the computer switches on the air conditioning system, which has been tunneled to the trunk of the car. This assures that the amps will remain cool at all times. The computer also communicates with another processor board mounted in the trunk lid to control a demo circuit. The demo circuit uses a playback mechanism to open and close the various compartments in the trunk and interior. Now, in competition, this allows you give your presentation and, as long as you are on time, the panels will open and close without the need to touch any buttons or controls. In other words, the computer has a progammable timed circuit that will open and close the panels on que. Directly across on the opposite side of the trunk is the power center. This houses 4 capacitors and a dedicated system battery. Distribution blocks were milled out in order to bolt directly to the battery terminals.


        The next two doors reveal a pair of Xtant 2140 amplifiers, or at least part of them. Parts of the amplifer were relocated to a hidden location to allow room for the installation. In addition, the hi-pass amp has a balanced line driver built onto the board. Plexi-glass covers were constructed and then screened with the same design to appear to be a clear Xtant cover. The center of the glass was also molded into the Xtant emblem for additional flare. Even though Xtant amps come with a cooling fan and tunnel, we oppted to add an additional fan to each amp to aid in cooling. These amps are placed directly inside the air conditioned tunnel, mentioned earlier.


        Finally the last door reveals the sub-woofer enclosure, which is one of the most complex you'll ever see. The enclosure was built with a special cavity, which was then filled with sand. The entire box itself weighs over 250 pounds and houses a pair of Pro Tech cast 12 inch woofers, which were mounted INSIDE of the box. The sand filled enclosure completely removes the resonance that plague many sub enclosures, this produces a very tight bass response. In addition, this complex and heavy enclosure allows the sub-bass to psychoachoustically couple with the front soundstage, this gives the illusion of the bass being in the front of the car. Small portholes were added to the back of the enclosure to allow viewing of the custom painted baskets.


Page Two | Page Three | Sound Quality Message Boards
Standings | Autosound & Security Magazine Article
Live Chat