"Lebanon Tenn. - The Mobile Electronics Competition Association (MECA) is set to honor its competitors and supporters by hosting its 2000 Awards Barbecue on Nov. 12 in Lebanon Tenn.The second annual awards barbecue which is being sponsored by JR Electronics will be held at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center located off the 239B exit of the I-40 in Lebanon. MECA members as well as non-members will be treated to an all-you-can-eat southern BBQ. Cost per person is $10.The main thrust of this event which will also feature the Bass Battle 2001 and the Concert Car Showdown is to honor all the state and world record holders as well as hand out awards for unique feats reached by competitors. In all about 100 awards will be handed out that day.Another big part of this event is to introduce new rules that will affect the 2001 season. One of the main changes is in the street class for unmodified vehicles. What MECA has done is to add a class to that as well as approving the format of two new pro classes that have been added. The competition part of the 2000 Awards BBQ will begin with the Bass Battle where competitors can compete in four consumer street “pressure classes” (No modifications) two pro street “pressure classes” seven modified “pressure classes” and the “Radical X Pressure Classes.” This part of the competition will also feature the “Drive-By SPL Shoot-Out. Competitors will be able to compete for state records but not world records.For the sound quality judging there will be the Concert Car Showdown which will feature sound quality competition for beginners consumers and pro classes. Installation will also be judged for beginner consumer and pro classes. There will also be the RTA shoot-out and the Reality SPL with seven consumer and pro classes.Competitors will get a competition menu where they can choose from a list of events that day. Each competition costs $10. To attend the event members and non-members must call in advance. Check out MECA’s Website www.crankitup.net to get more information and to reserve a space.“We want to give the competitors a taste of what [the competition] will be like with the new rules allowing them to get familiar with them” said Steve Stern commissioner of MECA. “But we also want to give them something to think about over the winter so when we start up in March they’ll be ready.”MECA which has 950 competitive members 85 percent of those consumers started two years ago with much of its beginning revolving around a growing need for a competition that was different and unique something that was not only fair but fun. One of its trademarks is its unique competitions such as the Drive-By Shoot-out which has competitors drive by a microphone set eight-feet away which measures the pressure of each car driving by. This parade-like competition takes about 30 minutes to judge 30 cars making the competition not only interesting to watch but fast and fun for the competitors.“The competitors here are more into fun. Most are not your normal hardcore competitors” Stern said. “Most of the people here came here because they were sick and tired of the old stuff. And so that’s what MECA has become as most are here for the social aspect as well as the informational aspect of these events.”"