METAIRIE, LA (05.21.2021) – Oracle Lighting was ranked as the third fastest growing company in the entire metro New Orleans area, with a three-year growth rate of 56 percent, according to New Orleans CityBusiness magazine.
“Oracle Lighting is not just a name…it’s made up of some truly special people who give it life,” said Tiffanie Hartenstein, Oracle Lighting CEO. “Due to our employees’ hard work and dedication, we’ve been able to hire numerous new employees the past year and continue to grow with new and exciting products in the automotive and marine markets, now even including the healthcare industry, exponentially year-after-year.”
Despite major setbacks experienced due to the global pandemic, Oracle Lighting experienced substantial revenue growth in 2020. Oracle Lighting is the highest ranked manufacturer and the only automotive industry business represented on the Fastest Growing Businesses of 2020 in New Orleans CityBusiness magazine’s rankings.
Louisiana-based Oracle Lighting has been designing innovative lighting products and technologies for the automotive/12Volt, powersports, motorcycle, and marine markets since 1999. Oracle’s philosophy is this: in today’s world of fly-by-night vendors, we think it is important to partner with businesses that you can trust to be there for you today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
“I was born and raised right here in New Orleans, where I started Oracle Lighting in my garage never imagining that it would lead to what it has become more than 20 years later,” said Justin Hartenstein, Oracle Lighting founder and director of product development. “I’m a car guy at heart with an engineering background. With that knowledge and motivation, I started working with different lighting components in my garage back in 1999…developing niche products that were just not available at the time. Here we are two decades later, employing more than 30 people with a line of more than 10,000 products and ranked as one of the fastest growing companies in the metro area.”
TOLEDO, OH (05.20.2021) – The new Alpine PXE-0850X Digital Sound Processor is beginning to arrive in the 12volt retail marketplace. On Tuesday evening May 18th Alpine staff members Dan Sparks and Chris Reavis, along with area factory representative Steve McGaffee, hosted an Alpine DSP training for entire Car Stereo One team.
Dan Sparks, who conducted the actual presentation, stated, “This was such a terrific training. It was one of the very first in-person trainings with retailer we have done in forever. Steve McGaffee has the PXE-850X installed in his Toyota Camry and rolled it into the installation bay where the actual training took place.”
This graphic highlighted the PXE-0850X feature set for Dan Sparks’ presentation.
This presentation graphic spotlighted the products in McGaffee’s Camry plus showed the very reasonable price of an ‘Alpine DSP In-Car Concert.’
Steve Braun, Car Stereo One President related, “The new Alpine DSP delivers a new level in-vehicle sound experience. Dan covered the ins-and-outs of the unit very well. When members of our team sat in the car to listen it took the in-vehicle sound experience to a new level. Like being at a live concert. Our 4 sales staff and 4 techs were amazed when each took a seat in the car. In fact, two want to buy a PXE-0850X and install it in their personal car.”
Chris Reavis offered, “I think back to my favorite live concert… Fleetwood Mac. When listening to a system with an Alpine DSP it’s like hearing Stevie Nicks LIVE on stage at that Fleetwood Mac concert.”
“When I make a dealer sales call its top on the list for all members of the store staff to come out and listen to the PXE-850X in my Camry. The DSP module is in the console and the control unit mounted on the dash. An Alpine sub enclosure is in the trunk with the Alpine Amplifier,” Steve McGaffee offered.
Concluding, Braun added, “Business has been very strong. The last customers in the store on Tuesday were so impressed with our Alpine Wall of Bass they stayed until a little before 7. Then we enjoyed pizza and started the training. When we listened to the system in Steve’s car everyone got an idea how to demo a concert in a car. Plus, with many older cars, the Bluetooth module brings every more possibilities to improve a customer’s in-vehicle experience. A big Thank You to Alpine and the Alpine stall who presented the meeting.
BAKERSFIELD, CA (05.19.2021) – The MECA event season is ramping up in California as COVID-19 restrictions ease. Saturday, May 15th, over 80 Sound-off enthusiasts were on site at C.A.R. Soundz in Bakersfield. MECA’s California Director Richard Papasin was on site behind the meter. A Friday night C.A.R. Soundz and Soundstream BassNight preceded the Saturday event.
Team Soundstream proudly hold their 23 MECA Trophies.
Abdul Hafiz (L) and Ryan Custard with their MECA Trophies Saturday evening.
Team Soundsream had 18 members on site at the event. Solomon Bustamonte, Team Soundstream Team Captain, stated, “I have been running Soundstream gear my rides for over 15 years and the equipment rocks. We have 26 members on Team Soundstream and we compete in shows from Fresno to San Diego.”
Lady Soundstream is all smiles with her MECA trophy.
Soundstream Animal hoists a MECA trophy as competitors capped the day.
Jordan Shahriary, Epsilon Social/Marketing Manager, stated, “Working with Team Soundstream showcases our brand and products in Southern Cali. Importantly, it also helps create visibility for car audio products and excitement for the competition scene in the marketplace. Retailers like C.A.R. Soundz also generate visibility for their stores.”
Ricky Madrid and Chris Bailey are the owners of C.A.R. Soundz. Madrid related, “The MECA events definitely create excitement and business for our store. The Kern County Bassheads group comes together to provide a platform for competitors to go through the lanes and earn trophies for their hard work.”
Soundstream Hellboy holding heavy duty hardware as the MECA event in Bakersfield wrapped at C.A.R. Soundz.
Bustamonte has created many of the installations showcased on the Soundstream social media outreach plus provided information and a selection of images for this article highlighting the C.A.R. Soundz SPL Smackdown.
OXNARD, CA (05.18.2021) – SCOSCHE Industries has announced their support of Michele Abbate in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race on May 22, 2021 in Austin, Texas.
Michele, an inspiring and hard-working Scosche ambassador since 2016, and dedicated professional race car driver at GRR Racing in Las Vegas, Nev., will be realizing her dream of driving NASCAR. She will make her NASCAR debut driving the Scosche #30 On Point Motorsports Toyota Tundra truck.
“We are so excited for Michele at GRR Racing to reach a hard earned entry into the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Michele has great passion, experience and talent for racing and very much deserves to be there. We wish her the best of luck in her Scosche #30 race truck and dream come true debut at her first ever NASCAR race. We are Fans!” – Kas Alves, Co-President, Scosche Industries
“There is nothing more rewarding than when hard work pays off. I couldn’t be more grateful and proud to make my NASCAR debut with my long-time partner, Scosche. Together we will share this amazing experience on the COTA road course where I made history with my second place finish in the ultra competitive TA2 category with the Trans Am West Coast finale. Scosche has helped me follow, and achieve, my dreams and I look forward to continuing to take my Scosche accessories along for the ride!” – Michele Abbate, GRR Racing
The May 22 race will be broadcast live, nationally on FOX Sports 1 and on Motor Racing Network. Join us in cheering Michele on.
RINGWOOD, IL (05.17.2021) – Race Sport Lighting has announced that Team Progressive has been named their manufacturer rep firm for the northern territory covering Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Team Progressive will oversee the current Race Sport Lighting business already established in these five key states, as well as growing the company’s footprint in the territory with more dealers and increased distribution in the power sport and motorcycle industries. Team Progressive will begin introducing the line to their ever-growing dealer/distributor base starting in May.
“We are so excited to have Team Progressive join our team in the northern territory. Mike Tang (ND, SD and MN) and Steve Warren (IL and WI) bring a wealth of experience and an unprecedented network of dealers and distributors to the table. Race Sport Lighting is excited to get Steve and Mike up and running immediately to promote and train the dealers on the lighting category in their territory.” – Steve Jergensen, President of Race Sport Lighting
“I am excited to be able to enter into a relationship with Race Sport Lighting. Their expansive mix of products will be a great addition to our customers in the upper Midwest territory, especially in the continually growing power sports and motorcycle segments.” – Mike Tang, The Progressive Group
“As business and our customer needs are ever-changing, we like to bring new categories and opportunities to help them grow their business. I am glad to be teaming up with Race Sport Lighting to offer another source of revenue in a category, that for most 12-volt dealers within Illinois and Wisconsin, is plus business.” – Steve Warren, The Progressive Group
SHREVEPORT LA (05.15.21) WTF…Win This Friday. DG Motorsportz won the JBLPrize on the 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel on Friday morning, May 14th.
The 12volt Spin-to-Win Wheel was created to bring an element of fun to the 12volt industry. Three months ago we celebrated the 2nd Anniversary of the weekly 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel.
The 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel rolled for 127th time on Friday morning May 14th. The Wheel landed on the JBL Space. The DG Motorsportz slip was drawn from the jar and an Instagram post of the winning slip was posted. A video of the Wheel spin was also posted. We reached out to DG Motorsportz in High Point NC and AJ was happy to hear the news that A JBL CLIP 3 portable speaker will be headed that way.
A number of the JBL products for prizes were sent to the 12volt Central Studios by Shawn Spedding for Wheel winners. We will send a JBL CLIP 3 to AJ.
Spinning out a winner each Friday, a lucky 12volt retailer can win a cool prize and top brands receive visibility across the marketplace.
12volt brands with a space on the 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel include Kicker, NavAtlas, SiriusXM, Accele, PowerBass, CRUX, DS18, SoundStream, AIS, JBL, DAS/Off Terrain, Power Acoustik, JVC and ZZ-2. 12volt News $100. cash awards have spaces on the 12volt Spin-To-Wheel for a winning 12volt retailer.
Past winners of the 12volt Spin-To-Win include…Stereo & Video Center-Tyler TX, The Outlaw Garage-Franklin TN, Exotic Sounds-West Palm Beach FL, Endless Possibilities-Aurora IL., Go Auto Sound in Union City NJ, Al&Ed’s South Bay CA, No Limitz Car Audio in Upland CA, Neil’s Specialty-Eureka CA, Sturgess Customs-Lexington SC, Audio By Art-San Antonio TX, SMS Car Audio in Marreo LA and Sweet Wheelz in Mississauga Ontario Canada, Cartronics in Biscayne FL, The CarAudio Shop in St Louis MO, Exotic Sounds in West Palm Beach FL, High North Customs in Grand Prairie Alberta Canada and AMS Audio in Bakersfield CA, Team QRT in Abbeyville LA and California Sound in Fontana CA and Jackie Cooper Electronics, Oklahoma City OK, MARS Audio-Orlando FL, All American Audio in Nutley NJ, Proline Car Stereo in Brooklyn NY, Custom Shop Miami, Tunes and Tint in Lakeland FL, Mobile Concepts Inc in Mokena IL, Seismic Auto Sound in Concord CA, Brooklyn Car Audio in Brooklyn NY, Audio Solutions in Florence MS, Enhanced Customs in Largo FL, Rayco Auto Clinic, Audio Design in San Jose CA, Go Bass Mode in Florida, Avenue Sound in Freeport NY, Audio Plus in Riverview FL, Stereo Zone in Whittier CA, In-Phase Car Audio in Omaha NE, AutoLife Group, N&H Electronics, SK Customs, Land & Sea, The Audio One, NC Custom Shop,Tint World Orlando, Ricky Smith’s Audio, VIP Custom Woks, Mobile Audio Concepts, Audio Lad, Sound Sensations, Dave’s Stereo, Stereo Design, Badlands Customs, Custom Audio-Erie PA, Voltz Autosports-Bridgeport CT, Infinity Sound and Security-Kissimmee, Autosport Plus-Canton OH, Stereo City Pros in Carmichael CA, Devine Concepts in Naples FL, The Sound Shop in Indian Trail NC, Extreme Performance Audio in Fresno CA, Audio Depot in Arlington TX, Audio Security in Houston TX, Earmark Car Audio and Marine in Lewisville TX, Audio Jam in Bear DE, Stereo City Ontario, Ontario CA, Audio By Art, San Antonio TX, Code Zero Customs in Tulsa OK, Ken’s Car Tunes in Mobile AL, Soundz Plus in Naperville IL, Markland Designs in Lithonia GA, Electronics Plus in Salinas CA, Xtreme Autosports in Santa Clarita CA, Superior Audio Sounds in San Angelo TX and Model Electronics in Ramsey NJ, Texas Dreamz Customs in Spring TX, Wired Electronics in Linden NJ and Intense Car Audio in OKC, OK, Underground Auto in Sarasota FL, Car Toys Tulsa in Tulsa OK, Real Audio in Erie PA, Go Autosound in Union NJ, DFM Stereo in Ukiah CA, Impact Tint and Audio in Tyler TX, Mobile Sound Systems in Arlington TX, Redline Audio and Performance In Spindale NC, Car Audio Land in San Diego CA, Audio X Custom Car Audio in Florence AL, River Oaks Car Stereo in Houston TX, American Radio Orlando in Sanford FL, Illustrious Customs in Woodbridge VA, Remote Start Pros in Lawrence MA, HiPro Audio in Victoria TX, AudioPlanetNY in Huntington Station NY, Endless Possibilities in Aurora IL, Audio Finesse in Santa Monica, Drive Customs in San Luis Obispo CA, Custom Works, Noblesville IN, AtoZ Detail in West Haven CT, Cars 843 in Charleston SC, CarTunes Atlanta in Atlanta GA, Mobile Concepts in Garwood NJ, Duke’s Car Stereo in Flint MI, Infinity Auto Sound, King Car Audio in Norwalk CT, PopTronics in Baltimore MD, Sanford Sound in Sanford ME, Angelvip2474 in Draper UT, Dynamic Car Audio in Baltimore MD, Hi-Pro Audio in Victoria TX, Car Stereo Max in Houston, Pro Audio Center in Richland MS, Rhodes Off-Roads in Farmington MO, Model Electronics in Ramsey NJ, Class A Sounds in Athens OH. Just Audio Video in North Providence RI, CT_Custom in Philadelphia, Audio Solutions in Florence MS and The Audio Shop RC in Rapid City SD. Congratulations to all.
WTF… Where’s the Fun. On the next spin of the 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel… on Friday, May 21st.
12VOLT CENTRAL STUDIOS (05.014.2021) – JVC Mobile Entertainment recently entered the booming dash cam market with the new KV-DR305 dashboard camera.
To roll out this new feature rich and value-priced dash cam, boasting full HD (1920×1080) recording, JVC scheduled 2 web based LIVE DEMO product training sessions. The sessions took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 4th and 5th respectively.
Alex Miranda in the Sound Depot store in Madison AL with a JVC product.
Dusty Liebhaber in the Muntz Audio store in Appleton WI with JVC products in the background.
Dealers attending each session also had a chance to win a KV-DR305…1 dash cam prize per training. Alex Miranda, Sound Depot- Madison, AL, won the dash cam prize for the May 4th training session. Dusty Liebhaber, Muntz Audio-Appleton, WI won the dash cam for the May 5th session.
Marcus Vasconcellos, JVC KEWOOD Mobile Electronics Product Specialist, recently received a sample KV-DR305 and installed it in his Toyota Sequoia. “I put it through its paces forward and backward and it performed flawlessly. That prepared me to be a host on the training sessions” Vasconcellos stated.
Marcus Vanconcellos pictured in his Sequoia with the KV-DK305 used in the JVC LIVE DEMO Training.
During the sessions hosts led discussions relating to Dash Cam market growth and why it makes sense for 12volt retailers to add the category their product mix. Dealers also learned who the dash cam customer is and the benefits a dash cam will add to their driving experience. The LIVE DEMO of the KV-DR305 dash cam added to the take-away of people attending the sessions.
Seth Halstead-National Training & Content Development Manager, along with Mobile Electronics Product Specialists Josh Bowen and Marcus Vasconcellos participated in the JVC Dash Cam training sessions.
LONDON, ENGLAND (05.13.2021) – Abbey Road Studios and Bowers & Wilkins today announce a new phase of their partnership, which will see the two iconic audio brands come together to explore and enhance the in-car audio experience.
Over the last five years Abbey Road Studios has been exploring future music technologies, including machine learning and spatial audio, via its music-tech innovation arm Abbey Road Red. Meanwhile, Bowers & Wilkins has been perfecting the art of bringing leading-edge loudspeaker technology to the car environment with BMW, McLaren and Volvo.
Now, the two brands are combining their expertise to bring the Studios’ unique acoustic personality to the in-car listening experience for the first time, offering unparalleled sound quality while remaining respectful to the original recording. The partnership between Abbey Road Studios and Bowers & Wilkins will elevate the sound quality and expand the acoustic environment of automotive audio systems, seeking to deliver the most believable listening experience possible.
Dan Shepherd, Director of Automotive Partnerships from Bowers & Wilkins says: “We are thrilled to work with Abbey Road Studios on our shared mission to elevate the in-car experience and bring drivers and passengers across the globe a new and exciting way to enjoy their music.”
Jeremy Huffelmann, General Manager, Abbey Road Studios says: “We are delighted to be extending the remit of our partnership with Bowers & Wilkins to co-develop our offering in the automotive sector. Through our shared passion for creative excellence and the highest quality audio, we will be exploring technologies to further the goal of creating the most accurate listening experiences possible for consumers.”
AUSTIN, TX (05.12.2021) – dB Drag Racing is looking forward to great competition turnout with the extension of the 2020/2021 season. The event calendar is ramping up in the US and international locations are coming on board as restrictions are being gradually lifted. Over the past weekend, Ukraine kicked off the 2021 season at the Underhill European Music Festival. Later this month additional international events will take place at Autobarn in Australia and Deaf Bonce will host an event at Car of Bass near Moscow. The 4th Annual 3X King Kong May Day will take place on May 22 in Montgomery Alabama along with additional events in Sparks, Nevada and Sacramento, California. Competitors around the world are looking forward to getting back in the lanes again soon.
Wayne Harris gives a big thumbs up as dB Drag Racing is ramping up competitions.
The Triplefest Show in Tuscumbia, AL on April 24th drew excited competitors.
The dBDRA is pleased to announce the addition of Freestyle classes to the dB Drag Racing competition format. Freestyle classes are being introduced to provide auto sound enthusiasts with a streamlined competition experience. Unlike the traditional dB Drag Racing “Head-Head” style competition, the Freestyle class allows the competitor to compete solo in the lanes. This format is geared towards daily driver style competitors and car show enthusiasts that would like to see how loud their system is without competing against another competitor in the lanes. The Freestyle classes are anticipated to allow for more competitors to be eligible for competition with fewer installation style restrictions and the ability to appeal to crossover style competitors.
Happy trophy winners showed their hardware at J’s Alarms and Car Stereo in Fresno, CA on Friday, May 7th.
The dB Drag event on May 8th in Ukraine packed the lanes.
The 2020/2021 dBDRA World Records have been updated with several new World Records over the past few weeks. On April 24 at the Incriminator Audio Triplefest Event, Team Soundcheck Ballingers tied their old world record of 158.0 dB in Pro Stock 2K. Team Soundcheck Aaron set a new world record of 160.4 dB in Pro Stock Trunk 5K. Beau Boren set a new world record of 172.3 dB in Super Street 5+, beating his old record by 1 dB. On May 8, at the Team High Voltage event, Team Sundown Audio set a new world record of 170.3 dB in Super Street 1-2. Congrats to all competitors.
This Ukrainian dB Drag competitor came prepared for a very big number on the meter!
“Thanks to all competitors, retailers and sponsors that have continued to participate in dB Drag Racing events!”
SHREVEPORT, LA (05.11.2021) – As we enter the 5th month of 2021 it appears “There is Bass at the End Of the Tunnel.”
Boomin’ Audio Spring Super Slam, with Jones Subwoofer Solutions as the sponsor, was very successful. On a sunny Saturday 32 excited competitors were in the lane looking for big numbers in dB Drag Racing formats. “We debuted dB Drag’s new Freestyle Format and there were some rally happy competitors Andy Teuscher stated.”
Competitors gathered with their score sheets following their meter runs.
Andy Teuscher (R) Boomin’ Audio promoter, pictured with Jason Jones with JSS that hosted the event.
Continuing, Teuscher offered, “Veteran and new competitors braved the unexpected chill in Utah. Many know the cooler temperature can help bigger numbers on the meter. I was very glad I had on my red heated Milwaukee jacket. The Spring Super was good practice for me as I will head up to the Pacific Northwest at the end of the month for Import Face Off Shows. Then it’s a busy season doing dB Drags and USACi official competitions as we have events on the books in Utah, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Texas and Oklahoma scheduled later this season. This season we are already seeing an uptick of stereo enthusiasts entering the competition scene which is getting the 2021 season off to a great start.”
Tyler McCormick (L) and Andy Teuscher giving the Boomin’ Audio Spring Slam a ‘Big Thumbs Up’
Teuscher has been competing, and now officiating, in dB Drag Racing competitions and events since days in Southern California. Teuscher and family now live in the great state of Utah.
Creating exciting events for competitors is extremely important for the overall 12volt industry. Likewise, getting consumers and enthusiasts into brick and mortar retail stores is also extremely important. The 12volt Central Studios staff stands ready to help deliver positive news to all across the 12volt industry.
Utilizing the 12voltSTP Tool can make that easy. Snap and Txt an image, with a few details, to 318-465-0844. PRESTO your company and activities could be in the news.
12VoltNews.com 