Attendees Will Be the First to Experience Exclusive Dodge Audio Concepts Designed to Celebrate a Shared Legacy

Pontiac, Mich. (Aug. 8, 2026) — Alps Alpine of North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) will return to Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge this August with an exclusive showcase that celebrates decades of performance heritage and offers enthusiasts a glimpse into what could come next.

Long before premium factory audio became commonplace in American performance vehicles, Alpine and Dodge shared a vision for delivering an unforgettable driving experience. Beginning in the mid-1990s, Alpine supplied factory audio systems for the legendary Dodge Viper, helping define the soundtrack of one of America’s most iconic performance cars. That relationship would grow over the years, with Alpine engineering premium audio systems found in numerous Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, and Ram vehicles.

Now, that legacy takes center stage once again.

Visitors to the Alpine display at Roadkill Nights will be the first anywhere to experience an exclusive preview of two early audio concepts created specifically with today’s Dodge enthusiast in mind. These concepts explore new possibilities for performance audio integration while celebrating the passion, power, and personality that define the Dodge brand.

Alpine isn’t announcing a new product.

Not yet.

Instead, attendees will receive an exclusive first look—and more importantly, a first listen—to ideas currently being explored by Alpine’s engineering team. These concepts represent Alpine’s ongoing commitment to pushing premium in-vehicle audio forward while honoring the performance heritage shared with Dodge enthusiasts.

“Roadkill Nights is where passionate enthusiasts come together to celebrate American performance,” said Mike Henhard, Senior Vice President of Mobility Sales and Engineering at Alps Alpine North America, Inc. “There couldn’t be a better place to share what’s inspiring our engineers and to hear directly from the people who live and breathe these vehicles.”

Because these are early concepts, they will only be showcased during Roadkill Nights. The event will mark the public debut, giving attendees an opportunity to experience them before anyone else.

Whether you’re a lifelong Viper fan, a modern Charger or Durango owner, or simply appreciate the evolution of American performance, the Alpine booth will offer something you won’t find anywhere else.

Experience It First.

Join Alpine at Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan, where performance, horsepower, and premium sound come together for one unforgettable weekend.

Because some stories deserve to be heard before they’re told

Boomer Robinson-Premium Brand Marketing, Ryan Grubbs-Vault Marketing, Douglas Dustmann-Vault Marketing, Kevin Holden-Vault Marketing and Kam Frisbee-Falcon Sales/AM Merchandising (L/R) at Dave & Buster’s in Panama City Beach FL.

PORT SAINT JOE, FL (08.07.26) – Kevin Holden, Douglas Dustmann, Ryan Grubbs, Boomer Robinson and Kam Frisbee all convened in Port Saint Joe Florida this past weekend, August 1st-3rd.

“We went over the technology, procedures and materials of Vault Power’s Sodium Element 11 Batteries. As a group we got to see samples of new products and ideas for the future of Vault Power as a brand. It was all work and no play though as a group we did spend many hours seeing the beaches, ocean, lakes, and Panama City Beach Pier Park” Kam Frisbee, GM Falcon Sales/AM Merchandising related. Frisbee traveled from Washougal, WA.

Boomer Robinson, Premium Brands Marketing offered “It was a great time for all of us working to drive the Vault Power to meet in person and get to know each other. It allowed us to bounce ideas, techniques, and create friendships within the brand. Learning the safer aspects of Sodium and ways to expand possibilities for dealers with the golf cart market plus side by sides and marine can expand the battery category and industry sales overall.” Robinson covers the Carolinas.

Vault Power, renowned for its cutting-edge Sodium Ion and Lithium Phosphate battery lineup also offers pure virgin copper power cable and speaker wire along with installation accessories.

For more see vaultpower12v.com.

Thank you to Kam Frisbee and Boomer Robinson for contributing to this article.

STURGIS, SD (08.06.26) – The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has grown a lot since it started in 1938. In addition to racing and hill climbing events, the Black Hills offer the best scenic rides for iconic destinations such as Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Mountain and Devils Tower. If you want to get off the road, there are scores of Wild West and early Black Hills history museums and so much more.

Setup by 12volt exhibitors has been underway for a number of days with many displays larger than ever before. The motorcycle category has experienced rapid growth over the last several years and shows no sign of slowing down.

The 12volt Central staff looks forward to spotlighting the activities of industry members in Sturgis. The 12voltSTP tool makes it so easy with a smartphone. Snap and Txt an image, with a few words, to 318 469 2526. PRESTO…you could be in the news and 12volt 6-Pack.

Sturgis.com is the place to find everything and anything for that 86th Sturges rally. Dining, lodging, rides, shopping, camping, concerts, bike shows, races, bikini contest, tattoo contest and hundreds of Sturges events and helpful tips on what to do, what to see, how to pack and much more are on the website.

The 86th Sturgis rally is August 7-16, 2026.

LIBERTYVILLE, IL (08.05.26) – Experience motorcycle audio like never before through MB Quart. Harley-Davidson Tuned speaker systems deliver more volume to the open road. The HC1-116DT 6.5-inch and HC1-57DT 5×7-inch systems are built tough and tuned harder for every ride.

Innovated with WideSphere™ Tweeter Technology for razor-sharp highs, feather-light fiber cones for responsive mids, and cutting-edge Neodymium magnets that drive deep, ground-shaking bass — these 3-way coaxial speaker systems redefine what LOUD SOUND means on two wheels.

To learn more, click here.

HOUSTON, TX (08.04.26) – Monday morning at 1 AM, August 3rd, Alex Restrepo and the House of Sound team of 4 rolled into Houston from the Nashville SLINGFEST 2026. House of Sound has been driving Slingshot Experiences in Houston for several years. Team members returning with Alex are Edwin Watson, Eber Flores and Walter Tobar.

The SLINGFEST NASHVILLE 2026 was hosted by Sloan’s Motorcycle-ATV at the Nashville Fairgrounds July 30-August 2nd.

“We landed in Houston at 1AM after the 780 mile trip. After a few hours of sleep we unpacked the tents, inventory and Slingshot specific installation products from the trailer. We definitely made Slingshots shine and sound great with audio systems, custom LED lighting and accents with custom pods and customization with amps along with DSP tuning on site for their Slingshots. We displayed and sold a lot Nemesis, DS18 and DB Drive products and our Limelight” Restrepo related.

All told, there and back, the House of Sound crew spent over a day on the highway.

“More and more Slingshot enthusiasts are upgrading their rides with aftermarket upgrades and we are looking for a great year as we drive business with our Slingshot experiences. We look forward to the SLINGFEST in Nashville in 2027” Restrepo concluded.

For more see houseofsoundtx.com.

TIGARD/CLACKAMAS, OR (08.03.26) – CarToys TiGARD hosted an IASCA SQ event on Saturday and Clackamas hosted a SPL event the following day on Sunday July 26th. At both events competitors and crowd members were excited that competitive car audio had returned to Oregon.

Competitor drawings were included with registration, show vehicle demos were on site, raffle prize awards were available, there were demos after qualifying runs and spectators were welcomed. The Car Toys has 5 locations across Oregon that are driving 12volt business.

Falcon Sales is a strong business partner with Car Toys Oregon and was on site spotlighting Alpine and Memphis Audio with demo vehicles along with Jorge Fornos and Kam Frisbee. Fornos attended both events with the Falcon SQ Alpine WRX. Frisbee attended the Sunday SPL show with Falcon’s Memphis Hummer. “It was a great weekend working with Car Toys and supporting the IASCA events to spotlight car audio competitions” Frisbee related.

David Sabrowski, Technical Director Car Toys Oregon, commented “We are very happy with the turnout at both the events and
support from Falcon Sales.

For more see cartoysoregon.com.

STOCKTON, CA (07.30.26) – A rep firm website that works like a dealer tool, not a brochure

Reliable Product Marketing (RPM), the manufacturers’ rep firm covering Northern California and Northern Nevada, has launched a fully rebuilt norcalrep.com. The site moves well beyond the standard rep firm line card, packing interactive system configurators, DSP education tools, and dealer sales resources into a single destination built around one goal: taking dealers to the next level of profitability with information and tools.

What dealers will find

The site is organized around how a retail store actually works. Sales staff get configurators and product knowledge they can use mid-conversation with a customer. Installers get technical tools covering time alignment, crossover behavior, and OEM integration signal analysis. Owners get stocking guidance, margin-focused programs, and the documentation that makes carrying a new line less of a leap.

On the site at a glance

• System Configurators. Guided build tools that walk a salesperson or installer through amplifier, DSP, and speaker pairings across the RPM brand portfolio, producing a coherent system spec instead of a parts list.
• DSP and tuning education. Interactive tools covering time alignment, crossover modeling, and OEM signal analysis, built so a dealer can learn the concept and apply it on the bench the same day.
• Learn RPM. Technical reference material, white papers, and product training that go deeper than a spec sheet, written for the counter and the install bay.
• Dealer Tools. Sales support resources, margin-minded stock programs, and dealer-facing documents designed to shorten the path from customer conversation to closed ticket.
• Brand coverage. Focal, ARC Audio, Gladen, Mosconi, Musway, Wet Sounds, Compustar, Momento, iDatalink Maestro, mObridge, Lucas, and Drone, all under one roof for Northern California and Northern Nevada.

Why we built it

RPM’s position is that a rep firm should make markets with its dealers, not just call on them. With roughly 30 years in the 12-volt industry, including years behind the counter and in the install bay as a retailer, principal Scott Baughman built norcalrep.com to put rep-level product knowledge in dealer hands around the clock, not just when the rep is in the store.

“A line card tells a dealer what we carry. This site shows them how to sell it, how to install it, and how to make money with it. That is the job.” – Scott Baughman, Reliable Product Marketing

The full set of configurators, dealer tools, and training resources is available now at www.norcalrep.com.

HOUSTON, TX (07.29.26) – Tuesday, July 28th, Alex Restrepo and the House of Sound team of 4 rolled out of Houston on the way to Nashville to extend the company’s Slingshot Experiences. House of Sound has been driving Slingshot Experiences in Houston for several years and recently have taken their activities on the road… most recently in Maggie‘s Valley North Carolina and the Fairgrounds in Toledo OH. Team members with Alex are Edwin Watson, Eber Flores and Walter Tobar.

This stop will be at the SLINGFEST NASHVILLE 2026 hosted by Sloan’s Motorcycle-ATV at the Nashville Fairgrounds July 30 -August 2nd. Reflecting from behind the wheel on the 780 mile 2-Day drive Alex related “We packed the trailer with tents, inventory and Slingshot specific installation products for installations on site. Once we get there we will set everything up and be ready for Thursday. We will be ready to make Slingshots shine and sound great. Slingshot enthusiasts will arrive and we will discuss the upgrades that they would like to do to their Slingshots with audio systems, custom LED lighting and accents, custom pods and customization with amps along with DSP tuning on site for their Slingshots.”

On Thursday through Sunday Slingshot enthusiasts will continue to check out activities and have the House of Sound crew make installations on their Polaris Slingshots. The crew will pack the trailer early on Monday and start the 780 miles back to Houston. All told, rhere and back, the House of Sound crew will spend almost a day and a half on the highway.

“More and more Slingshot enthusiasts are upgrading their rides with aftermarket upgrades and we are looking for a great year as we drive business with our Slingshot experiences” Restrepo concluded.

For more see houseofsoundtx.com.

SANFORD, ME (07.28.26) – “This year’s Show N’ Shine was the sixth at our new location and the weather was terrific….72 and clear. We were packed and had 225 cars registered….up from 160. We had to open an hour to let everyone in. It seemed almost every square foot of our property was filled with Show N’ Shine cars and activities. Vehicles and tents even lined the ground along Highway 4 in both directions” owner Jack Bogard related.

Continuing “Saturday the Sanford Sound Team spent the day getting everything ready for the Show N’ Shine. On site we had Jacob from SONY, Chad from Memphis, Ben from Alpine and Rockford plus Matt from Kenwood. Local business owners said they had never seen Route 4 so busy on Sunday” Bogard offered.

“Nearly 20 area businesses were on site showing their products that 12volt enthusiasts could utilize. Vehicle restoration, lift modifications, stickers and more were offered. Food trucks were on site. We also had several clubs attend the Show N’ Shine in big numbers. Plus we had a number of cars with out of state license plates… including Connecticut, Vermont, New York and Rhode Island” Bogard added.

Bogard concluded “A really big thing for us at a Sanford Sound Show N’ Shine event is seeing all the happy, smiling faces. Members of the crowd were showing their rides and checking out other’s rides.The level of customization of the vehicles in the show this year was amazing. Long term this will lead to residual business for us at Sanford Sound. A huge shout out to all, especially family and staff who participated in, and contributed to, the very successful 30th Annual Sanford Sound Show N’ Shine. Sanford Sound Team members on site included Jason, Adam, Bill, Justin, Connor, Cullen, Steve, Indigo, Jesse, Alissa, Nakia, Stefanie andTonya along with Christine and myself.”

Sanford, ME is a town of just over 20,000. Sanford Sound is a responsible business member of the community and hires local police to be on site to help with the increased traffic for the event which packed Route 4 on Sunday afternoon.

For more see sanfordsound.com and @sanfordsound.

MODESTO, CA (07.27.26) – A Look Back 2 Years Ago As Car Audio Depot Spotlighted The Ultimate The In-Store Experience.

The Car Audio Depot is a family owned business located in the heart of Modesto CA. For 26 years the Randy Leibenson family and the 10 Member team have served the community and surrounding area with top level mobile electronics products and knowledge along with the best customer service. Jorge Deras is the store manager.

In this digital driven cyber world it is more important than ever to drive store traffic into brick and mortar retail stores. The Car Audio Depot takes the in-store experience from the outside to the inside as they connect with consumers. From the street the store stands out beginning with a large monitor mounted under the eaves on the corner of the building. A large painted company logo is also presented on the outside of the building.

“On the large outside monitor we spotlight brands like ARC Audio along with store events such as Black Friday sales and car shows. As a company all team members contribute our everyday activities to drive sales and in-vehicle enjoyment for our
customers,” Liebenson stated.

The entrance to the store is very well identified in the parking lot marked with convenient parking lines. All of the above guides consumers into the best part of The Car Audio Depot….the amazing showroom. Very well positioned displays showcase the wide selection of mobile electronics products, marine audio, OEM integration, lighting, security and accessories. A large installation area provides ample room for all vehicles and the company’s strong marine category.

Check out the selection of images below from around The Car Audio Depot. Many say an image is worth 1000 words.

All 12volt retailers have digital options to create a network of social media followers to drive store traffic for the in-store experience. Proactive 12volt retailers utilize those digital social media platforms which turns into profitable business. The Car Audio Depot definitely utilizes these digital marketing tools with regularity to showcase new product and company activities.

A large 12volt Central Studios HATS Off to The Car Audio Depot as they work to drive in-store traffic and sales.

Visit caraudiodepot.com for more.