COSTA MESA, CA (09.23.26) – The Sand Sport Super Show 2026 by all accounts was a record setter with a wide range of products showcased in vendor booths and nonstop activity from enthusiast. KICKER had a very large presence at the SSSS and the Elite Car Stereo CHUG BUS was spotlighted in the large KICKER booth area.
The Elite Car Stereo CHUG BUS in reality was a traditional yellow school bus now with so many upgrades from body wrap to aftermarket upgrades in the interior and exterior that made the CHUG BUS and experience to remember. A large array of KICKER Car Audio products were placed inside, outside and underneath the CHUG BUS.
Elite CarStereo owner TJ Pina has been working on the school bus project for 10 years. In the beginning, the school bus was a project of a friend who attended a lot of the events around the area and utilized it to take friends to concerts and events. Through the years that friend wanted to do all kinds of upgrades from sound to lighting and much more. Each year JT would be making upgrades that his friend was looking to make… more speakers, more amplifiers, more batteries and battery chargers that would allow the CHUG BUS rock for a full day.
A few years ago, JT actually acquired the bus from his friend and then the upgrades went into high gear and the school bus became the CHUG BUS that is utilized for store promotions including community parades and events along with store events.
Recently, KICKER’s Steve Irby was in the territory for meetings and making dealer stops. When Steve saw the CHUG BUS it was an instant decision to invite the CHUG BUS to be a part of the KICKER set up at the Sand Sport Super Show. The plan was set for that to happen.
JT related, “Once we set up on one side of the KICKER booth and when the gates opened the CHUG BUS was an instant magnet. People stopping at the KICKER booth to check out demos and the XRV migrated to the CHUG BUS. When families were walking through the area, their children all of a sudden started running to the CHUG BUS and were followed by their parents. Traffic inside the CHUG BUS was non-stop!”
The first two days of this week, following the SSSS event, our phones have been ringing off the hook and customers stopping at our store to make arrangements for system conversations we had at the event” JT concluded.
KICKER participates in many consumer events across the country that engage with enthusiast for car, bike, powersports and marine enthusiast. Over the next 10 years young people at this year‘s SSSS will be running into Elite Car Stereo in Redlands CA.
For more see kicker.com and elitecarstereo.com
