IASCA SQ CLASSES

Here's a quick summary of how the IASCA SQ classes break down.

IASCA Classes are no longer split by power ratings.
Class Descriptions/Rules
Rookie
Rookie is the lowest class you can compete it, and the choice for just about every first-timer. Important things to note:
- You can ONLY compete in Rookie in one season. So if you compete in one event in the 2004 season, you can't compete in Rookie again in 2005 AT ALL
- If you have ever competed in an IASCA or SCA SQ event in the past, you are cannot compete in Rookie.
- You cannot compete in Rookie if you have ANY kind of industry affiliation, sponsorship or free gear :)
- Scoring is the same as in Street Smart and Street Pro

Street Smart
This is the next step up from Rookie, the lowest class you can enter if you're barred from Rookie (see above). All scoring is the same.
- As with Rookie, you can't compete in Street Smart if you are industry-backed.
- The same scoring as Rookie and Street Pro is used.
- Although you can compete for only one year in Rookie, you could compete in Street Smart for as long as you like. This is the base standard for an experienced competitor.

Steet Pro
Exactly the same as Street Smart, except that you can compete here if you are industry-backed.
- This is the LOWEST class you can compete in if you are supported by the industry. As with Street Smart, there's no pressure to move up a class, you can stay in Street Pro for as long as you want.
- The same scoring as Rookie and Street Smart is used, except NO SPL scoring.

Steet X
Exactly the same as Street Pro, except that you get points for installation creativity, attention to detail etc.


Ultra SQi
Ultra SQi is the first of the Ultimate classes, and if you're in here..... you've got the skills ;)
- As with Rookie and Street Smart, you have to obtain your equipment through normal retail channels. No industry backing is allowed.
- Scoring for the Ultimate classes is quite different (read: harder). Main differences are the introduction of a more extensive SQ section, as well as a more thorough install section, which rewards the use of flash install techniques like motorisation, or using equipment like PS2s and screens. These are collectively called Creativity Points. There is also no SPL scoring

Ultra Pro
This class is identical to Ultra SQi, except that you can be industry-backed. Think of it as being the same as the comparison between Street Smart and Street Pro.

Ultra X
This is the HIGHEST class available in IASCA UK. Scoring is exactly the same as Ultra SQi and Ultra Pro.
- This is the class proper show cars end up in. BBG's Audi, Focal's Bora.... find them here. I'd be surprised if a TTA member entered this class, but I'd be pretty damn impressed :D
- The only real difference to all the other classes (other than the quality of the competition) is that there are no power breakdowns. Enter with 100RMS or 3kRMS, it doesn't matter now....

A graphical representation of the class system, first: if you have NO industy affiliation:Rookie
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Street Smart
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Ultra SQi

Second, if you are industry-affiliated:Street Pro
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Street X
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Ultra Pro
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Ultra X

IMPORTANT NOTES
- There's nothing to stop you entering a "Pro" class even if you don't have industry affilation. Expect the standard of competition to be a bit higher though...

Competing in Rookie or Street
There are no limits to the amount or type of equipment used in the SQ competition except all sources, EQs and amplifiers must be designed to run at 12v. No equipment designed to run at 240v can be used. Speakers or drivers from home stereo origin can be used. There are no rules to the number of batteries, alternators or the amount of sound deadening.

For information on scoring, go to www.iascauk.com where you can view sample score sheets to see how the competitions are scored.

I think that should cover most things, lol..... I'll be adding other posts detailing scoring etc in the next few days/weeks. :) If you have any questions related to the information in this thread, PM/email me or Dale, or post a new thread in this Forum. I'd like to keep this thread clear as an information resource :)

HB

IASCA SQ JUDGING

Now that we've got the class structure explained, it's time to cover the way the judging is done at IASCA SQ events.

A rough idea of timescales is given, but bear in mind the order is not always exactly as shown belows :) This is also most pertinent to Rookie/Street level judging, but the process isn't really different for Pro/Ultimate.

When You Arrive
Bear in mind that you will have had to buy tickets prior to this, normally via phone or something. The IASCA site is a good resource for this information.

Assuming you've managed to find the event and get into the IASCA section, you're onto a winner. When you've parked up, you need to find some of the IASCA guys to register - basically: to say you're there.

At each event, you'll see the big IASCA van. It's white, it's covered in stickers, it's impossible to miss :) Not too far from this will be a little marquee/tent affair, probably with all the trophies etc under it. Find someone in an IASCA shirt and tell them you'd like to register. They'll ask your name, and then tick you off and hand you a big (A4) envelope. It's a lovely white affair with your name and class printed on the front. It also has 4 checkboxes for the judges to record when they've completed each section. Inside is the score sheet for the event.

You'll need to fill in the top section of the sheet and some info on the envelope, then just put it back in the envelope and leave it on your dash with the writing visible from outside. This helps the judges find your car. DO NOT LOOK AT THE SCORE SHEET ONCE THE JUDGING HAS BEGUN. You just have to be patient ;)

Install Judging
This is often (but not always) done first. It's a really simple process; a pair of judges will wander over and say hello. Be polite and friendly, the judges are good blokes :)

What they'll want you to do is give a quick presentation of your car. Basically, you wander around it with them, pointing out each feature of your install. Don't be afraid to mention everything.... the amount of sound deadening you used, the security screws in your MDF, the grille on your sub, whatever.

Make sure you cover the engine bay, show them that your power cable is routed neatly and securely, and your fusing is correct etc. The emphasis on install judging in Rookie/Street is on SAFETY. Although you're free to motorise things and have flashy lights, don't expect points for it. What they want to see is good wire routing and everything secure (so your amps won't move and your speakers aren't loose in the mounts).

The judges want to see EVERYTHING. So if your wiring in your boot is impossible to get to, you'll need photos. They also like to poke things :D Expect to see them grab speakers and try to pull them out, that sort of thing. There are only 5 points for the presentation itself, but it's worthwhile doing a good job of it, these are easy points. A little book full of install pics and some text about it also goes down well, or you can give a PowerPoint presentation on your incar PC if you're a flash git. ;)

They'll have a chat to you and listen to you talk about the presentation, then poke around on their own for a bit. After that, they'll sit in the car and score it, then shake your hand and wander off to the next car.

A quick run down of the points available for the Install section...

Installation Safety - is it going to kill anyone?
Batteries vented properly: if you've got one batt in the stock location, you've got 5 points. If you have a second batt in the boot, it need to be vented to outside air. 0 or 5 points.

Safety Equipment not Compromised: mounting a coax over your airbag isn't a good move. Nor is having a huge kickbuild that stops you pressing the footbrake. Common sense here. 0 or 5 points.

System Safe to Operate: is it really feasible for the driver to reach into the glovebox to change track? Or is the volume control mounted underneath the seat? 0 or 5 points.

Wire Size: this is an easy one.... are you using the right size power cable? I'll put the official IASCA table on the subject up in a following post. 0 or 5 points.

Power wires fused: Is your main fuse within 18in. of the battery? Is each electrical item appropriately fused (amps, EQs, XOs, whatever)? 0 or 5 points.

Wires protected (grommets): Another simple one..... are your wires adequately protected where they pass through metal etc. Just use some grommets. 0 or 5 points.

wires terminated: This can be a fiddly one, basically make sure that there's no exposed copper on amp terminals or sticking out of distro blocks. Use spade terminals etc wherever necessary to eliminate risks of shorts or shocks. 0 or 5 points.

Installation Integrity - is it going to fall apart?
Wiring: is it loose and flapping about? Do you have dangling wires in the footwell? Exposed copper? Neatness counts. 0-5 points.

Source units: is your HU secure in the slot? What about that PS2? 0-5 points.

Amplifiers: screw them down securely and it's another easy 5 points. 0-5 points.

Speakers: easily moved kicks or loose subs will lose you points here. Blu-tacked tweeters don't score well either :) 0-5 points.

Other devices: if you have any XOs, EQs etc, they are covered here. If you have no other items, you get 3 points. 0-5 points.

Presentation Scoring - can you talk the talk?
Vehicle and System Presentation: mainly covered above. Show the judges around, talk them through the install. Photos etc help. 0-5 points.

TOTAL POINTS: 65

SQ Judging
Assuming the Install judges haven't declared your system a danger to mankind, the next stage will probably be the SQ judging. It's quite likely you'll have to wait a bit between judging sections. Use the time to mingle with fellow competitors :)

For this stage of judging, you're expect to more or less p1ss off and let them get on with it. Say hello to the judges, shake hands, and then hand them the keys. As with the Install guys, it'll normally be a pair of them. For the most part, your engine will be off, but don't worry because they aren't lovers of really loud music. They will run the engine for a couple of minutes to make sure you're not suffering alternator whine etc. Expect this stage of judging to last an easy half hour, possibly even an hour. They'll supply all the CDs they want to use, you just supply the system.

It's beyond the scope of this reference post to really get into detail about the intricacies of the SQ section, so I'll just cover what each area is and how many points are up for grabs... note that you can't get a 0 score in anything except the Noise section.

Tonal accuracy - how real does it sound?
Sub-bass: 1-10 points.
Mid-bass: 1-10 points.
Midrange: 1-10 points.
Treble: 1-10 points.

Soundstage - does it have the right sense of scale and size?
Position: 1-10 points.
Width: 1-10 points.
Height: 1-10 points.

Imaging - are all the instruments in the right place?
Far left: 1-5 points.
Left: 1-5 points.
Centre: 1-5 points.
Right: 1-5 points.
Far right: 1-5 points.

Linearity - does the sound retain the same characteristics regardless of volume?
Soft (81dB peak/74 avg): 1-10 points.
Moderate (93dB peak/86 avg): 1-10 points.
Loud (105dB peak/98 avg): 1-10 points.

Absence of noise - is it quiet when it should be?
Alternator whine: 0 or 5 points.
Turn on/off noise: 0 or 5 points.
Floor noise: 0 or 5 points.

TOTAL POINTS: 140

RTA and SPL Judging
This section of the judging is simple and quick. It's entirely possible you'll have to wait a couple of hours before the judges get round to you though. When they're ready for you, they'll ask you to drive your car into the "lanes", which is basically a little marquee with the RTA in it.

The judge doing the RTA/SPL section will then setup the mic stand in your car. It's a lovely MDF affair with a space for the mic on the top. A different mic is used for RTAing and SPL, and the judge will provide the CD(s) and tell you which track to play. If you wish to sit in the car during either section, you'll have to wear ear defenders for safety reasons (also provided). A remote from outside is preferable though...

The process for each section is very simple, and is described below:
RTA: 0-30* points.
RTAs (real time analyzers) are complex bits of kit that basically look at the frequency response of your system. This is accomplished by playing pink noise (basically random) through your system. The RTA looks for a "smooth" response curve, the best way to get this is to get an EQ and set it up using an RTA, but good installation is the key to a good RTA score. I'll get TB3 to cover this in more detail at some point in the future... In Rookie/Street, a score over 18 is respectable, and getting over 23 is excellent. Top 26 and you're doing well :)

* scoring reduced from 40 to 30 for 2004 season

SPL: 0-35 points. (only in Rookie and street smart)
After the RTA reading is taken, the judge will swap the mic over to an SPL one, and give you another CD with a sweep track to play. Quit simply, you get a point for ever dB you hit over 100, up to a maximum of 135dB. If you get 128.7dB, you get 28.7 points. For this section of SQ, you're not allowed to remove seats or parcel shelves etc, your car must stay in the same physical condition throughout. Remember to put your sub level up though!

IASCA Membership
If you're an IASCA Member, you get 10 points. Simple as that. You may not agree with this, but IMO this is the EASIEST 10 points you can get. Membership costs £45 for a year, and you get a rulebook and some stickers etc...... all the details are on the IASCA site.

Other Notes
In Ultimate classes, the scoring for SQ and Install is slightly different. I'm not familiar with the rules in those classes, but I'll post them when I am. I also think I've forgotten something above, lol.

After the judging
When your RTA/SPL judging has been done, you'll be asked to leave the judging lanes. Then you'll have to wait a few hours before the scores are released and finalised, and then you'll get a trophy if you're worthy.

You'll have a lot of free time at events between judging sections, but be patient. Remember that the judges aren't paid to do this, and only do it because of their love for SQ. Take some time to get to know other competitors (and mingle with TTA ;)), but above all: have fun!

Cheers,

HB

IASCA Power Cable Sizes

Follow these guidelines for power cable sizing and you'll get the points you deserve :)POWER CABLE CALCULATOR
Recommended MINIMUM Gauge Size
Length In Feet For 0.5V Loss
Amperage
Gauge 20 30 40 50 60 75 100 150 200 500 750
00 57 38 29 11 8
0 61 45 30 23 9 6
1 60 48 36 24 18 7 X
2 57 48 38 29 19 14 X X
3 57 45 38 30 23 15 11 X X
4 60 45 36 30 24 18 12 9 X X
5 71 48 36 29 24 19 14 10 7 X X
6 57 38 28 23 19 15 11 8 X X X
7 45 30 22 18 15 12 9 X X X X
8 36 24 18 14 12 9 X X X X X
9 28 19 14 11 9 X X X X X X
10 22 15 11 9 X X X X X X X
12 14 9 7 X X X X X X X XWire must not fall on “X” part of chart, indicating current exceeds the capacity of the wire no matter how short the wire. Wire must not be any longer than shown on the rest of the chart.

Shamelessly stolen from the IASCA rulebook :)

HB