APPENDIX "A"

2009 CLASS AND DIVISION LIMITATIONS  

 Limited * = See Street Beat Rules
Limited * * = Behind "B Pillar" -- Below Glass

Following is a copy of the USACI Outlaw SPL rules for 2009. They have been edited to remove some typos in the original and hyperlinks have been inserted to assist you in finding what you need without having to read the entire text. The hyperlink immediately below this paragraph will take you to the rules that are currently published on the USACi Web site.

http://www.soundoff.org/supportfiles/07splrules.pdf 

USACI OUTLAW SPL GENERAL  RULES

DIVISIONS:

Stock      Click here to go directly to the Stock Division criteria.

Super Stock - No Wall      Click here to go directly to the Super Stock Division criteria.

Trunk    Click here to go directly to the Trunk Division criteria.

Modified      Click here to go directly to the Modified Division criteria.

Super Modified      Click here to go directly to the Super Modified Division criteria.

Port Wars      Click here to go directly to the Port Wars Division criteria.

Super Port Wars      Click here to go directly to the Super Port Wars Division criteria.
 

Outlaw SPL divisions are based on the configuration of the system and vehicle. Specific

guidelines for each division will be discussed in their respective sections of this book.

BATTERY LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED:

The physical size of each battery is limited to 800 cubic inches (13110 cubic cm) or less. (Height x Length x Width. Excluding the battery terminals.) The physical shape of the battery is irrelevant. These size limitations apply only to Stock 0-600, 601-1800 and 1801-300. Any class and/or division that allows unlimited batteries also allows batteries of any size.

One amplifier is considered one power supply, one system board, driving 1 or 2 channels. A 3-4

channel amp would be considered two amplifiers. A 5-6 channel amp would be considered three

amps and so on. A single heat sink with more than one power supply or system board may be

considered more than one amplifier.

A car audio system’s total wattage shall be determined by the highest manufacturer rated output

divided by the proper number to ascertain the 4 ohm power output, or the manufacturer’s 4 ohm

rating, whichever is higher. If any amplifiers rating cannot be determined, that amplifier will be

moved to the highest power class in that division until such time as a rating can be determined.

USACI reserves the right to independently test any amplifier to determine the true RMS power

rating and reclassify that amplifier as needed.

A competitor may not compete in a power class other than the one that his/her total system

power dictates.

Any and all amplifiers within the vehicle under test will be included in the system’s total power.

This sum will not include the power, if any, of the systems source unit (radio, cassette tape or CD

player) unless it is actively driving a speaker or a group of speakers. All amplifiers in the vehicle

must be operational and actively used in operating the sound system during testing or be

physically removed. At local events amplifiers may be left in the vehicle provided the event

director has the ability to definitively determine the amplifier is not in use.

Competitors whose systems include amplifiers that are not manufacturer rated, are modified

internally, or not commercially available will be required to compete in the unlimited power class

of their respective division.

POWER SOURCE: All audio equipment must derive its power from the vehicle power source. No

external power sources (battery chargers, etc.) will be allowed. In the case of a podium, power

must be drawn from the vehicle power source.

The test vehicle’s engine may be running during testing, but will be limited to 1200rpm. The

vehicle’s emergency brake must be set during testing. The Meter and/or SPL sensor may not be

placed in any position that may cause damage to them.

Outlaw SPL judges shall be appointed by the head judge or the event sponsors and are subject

to approval by USACI. A USACI Outlaw SPL judge shall not be allowed to judge any vehicle

being entered by an immediate family member, employee, employer or substantial customer. The

head judge may appoint an alternate to judge that vehicle. It is within the head judge’s or other

USACI Outlaw SPL official’s authority to decide the application of this rule to any disputes.

The head judge will determine if there is a specific judging order. Judging will end when all

vehicles have been judged. No score or refund will be given to a competitor who fails to have

their vehicle in the judging line before the judging has ended.

Any competitor who allows or causes more than a 5 minute “gap” between cars at the judging

station may have 1 point deducted from their highest score at the discretion of the event director.

Outlaw SPL reserves the right to run an event using either an in-place or specific order judging

routine. At any event it is the responsibility of the event coordinator or head judge to inform the

competitors involved of the details of that day’s judging format.

Some Outlaw SPL events may form two or more judging lines in order to expedite the judging

process. In such cases all competitors in a particular power class and division will be judged in

the same line. If an event is scheduled for more than one day, then all competitors in a particular

power class and division will be judged on one day only. It is the responsibility of the competitor to

seek confirmation of which day his or her power class and division is to be judged.

At an Outlaw SPL event, judging shall be conducted with each competitor’s vehicle being driven

through a judging line in an orderly fashion and under its own power. The vehicle must be

capable of entering and exiting the judging area under its own power. Vehicle malfunctions may

be an exception to this rule and will be evaluated by the head judge on an individual basis.

An equipment or vehicle malfunction is the competitor’s responsibility. Once the vehicle is in

position to be judged, the competitor shall be allowed a maximum of five minutes to correct or

repair any malfunction. After the five minutes have expired, the vehicle must be judged if possible

or given a score of zero. No repairs will be allowed after SPL testing has started. No refunds will

be given.

At most events competitors will be allowed to rerun their vehicle to improve their score or

standing. If a competitor chooses to rerun his or her vehicle, the sound system must be made up

of the same size speakers, the same number of speakers, and the same number of amplifiers as

was in the vehicle on its first SPL attempt. A change in brand or power rating is acceptable

provided the new equipment does not change the power class or division of the vehicle. There

will be an additional fee for reruns. All competitors must have an operational system in their

vehicle at the time of registration. This system must be the system the competitor competes with

at the event. Competitors may change equipment in case of malfunction, but entire systems and

enclosures may not be swapped.

Intent: The intent of this rule is to prevent competitors from sharing the same audio system in

more than one vehicle. This rule shall be interpreted by the head judge at the event and such

decision may only be appealed to the USACI rules and ethics committee.

In the rare event that two or more competitors in the same power class and division receive the

same final score, the winner will be determined by a run off. If after one runoff there is still a tie,

there may be additional run offs or a coin toss may be conducted by the head official. This will be

left to the discretion of the head event official.

The head judge or event director reserves the right to deduct points or ask any competitor to

leave an event if the competitor’s behavior becomes disruptive during the course of the event. If a

disruptive competitor is asked to leave, the competitor will not receive a refund. Any points or

awards the competitor might have earned at that event will be forfeited.

Competitors will be responsible for the actions of their guests at the event.

If the cause of the inappropriate behavior is believed to be alcohol or any other controlled

substance, USACI has the right to ban the competitor from competing in any sanctioned Outlaw

SPL events for a minimum of one year.

To help assure that every USACI Outlaw SPL event is conducted in a safe environment, no

weapons in the possession of a competitor or anyone accompanying a competitor will be

tolerated. If the competitor does not comply with this demand, he or she will be disqualified,

asked to leave the event site or be escorted from the site by the local authorities. Any threats

towards anyone involving a weapon, however casual, shall be deemed just cause for banning the

competitor from ever again competing in any USACI sanctioned event. No refunds will be given

for being disqualified.

If a competitor has made a plausible complaint, involving any unfair or illegal item which may be

hidden in another competitor’s vehicle in the same power class and division, and would require

disassembly of that vehicle or audio system to verify its existence, then the complaint must be

accompanied by a cash security deposit. (no checks) Such complaints may only be made after

the vehicle in question has been judged at that event and before any prizes are awarded. The

security deposit required to file a protest at a Regular or Double Points event will be $500.

Regional, Triple, and finals events will be $1000.

The Head Judge must have the security deposit in hand before any action may be taken. The

Head Judge would then appoint two qualified persons to disassemble the vehicle for inspection.

The competitor whose vehicle is in question may elect not to have their vehicle inspected by

disqualifying themselves from the event with no refund. If, in the Head Judge’s opinion, the

vehicle in question is found to be inconsistent with this rule book, the cash security deposit will be

returned to the competitor making the complaint and the competitor in question may be

disqualified from that event and all future USACI events for a period of two years. If an

inconsistency is ruled to be unintentional, then the competitor in question may only be disqualified

from that event. If in the Head Judge’s opinion, no inconsistency is found in the vehicle in

question, then the cash security deposit, less 20% USACI protest fee, will be awarded to the

competitor whose vehicle was inspected and it will be the responsibility of the competitor who

was protested to reassemble the vehicle or audio system.

A USACI member may protest the output of any brand and model of amplifier. The protest

procedure will entail the member sending a letter of protest to the USACI office containing the

make and model of the amplifier to be protested. A $250 nonrefundable protest fee must

accompany this request. USACI will acquire the amplifier and test the amplifiers at the USACI

offices in order ascertain if the amplifier’s actual output falls within the published output specified

by the manufacturer. If this amplifier is found to produce 130% or more of its rated power, that

amplifier will be disqualified until the manufacturer correctly rates that amplifier. The USACI

rating standard is 14.4 volts with a 4 ohm non inductive load measured from 20hz to 20khz at 1%

THD.

If a competitor questions his or her score or the possible error in the judging process by which

that score was achieved, the competitor may seek explanation by the judge or head judge of the

event. The decision of the head judge will be considered final at that event.

A competitor may petition the Outlaw SPL Rules & Ethics committee to reconsider either a rule

or a head judge’s decision. Neither USACI nor an event sponsor assumes responsibility for any

awards previously given another competitor, even if in error.

All occupants of the vehicle under test shall have proper hearing protection placed over their ears

if remaining in the vehicle for testing. Refusal to wear properly placed hearing protection or

removal of it during the test shall be cause for immediate disqualification from the event and no

score or refund will be given. Neither the competitor nor the judge will be allowed to be in any

vehicle in the Super Modified class. Competitors in Super Modified will be required to control the

audio system from outside of the vehicle and the microphone/sensor will be placed on a

microphone/sensor stand to be provided by the competitor. Only the registered owner of the vehicle
or his/her attorney-in-fact may be inside the vehicle during SPL testing. The SPL microphone/sensor
may not be placed on the same side of the vehicle as the competitor. Competitor must remain in the
front of the vehicle (forward of the "B" pillar during testing. (Updated 12/23/2008)

An audio system’s Sound Pressure Level will be measured using an approved sound pressure

level meter. Software for this test must be the current version of the USACI Outlaw SPL

competition compact disc. A disk will be provided by the director of the USACI event in case the

competitor does not have his own disk.

The SPL judge will be responsible for making sure the SPL meter is set up and functioning

correctly.

The competitor must have the vehicle ready to test prior to entering the judging lane. After the

SPL microphone/sensor has been placed, the software loaded, hearing protection properly

placed over the occupant’s ears and the system readied, the competitor should signal the judge

that he or she is ready for the test.

Once the test begins, the competitor has thirty seconds to try and achieve the highest score

possible. The music, tone or sweep may be restarted and/or the tracks can be changed as often

as possible within the thirty-second time window. The competitor may choose to stop the SPL

testing at any time before the end of the thirty-second time limit but the judge must be able to

verify that the correct software is being used during testing. The use of tone generators, doublers

or any other device that externally (outside of the closed signal chain) generates or alters the

frequencies that the system is playing during SPL testing is expressly prohibited and will result in

disqualification with no refund. Any tampering with the microphone/sensor or attempt to create a

measurement by any means other than SPL produced by the audio system will be considered

grounds for immediate disqualification and possibly being banned from future competition in any

sanctioned events. The senior USACI official present will investigate for any evidence of such

tampering and the ruling of this official is final.

The term “competitor” applies to the vehicle’s owner, an employee of its owner or an immediate

family member. If a competitor is unable to attend an event, he or she may designate someone to

drive the vehicle through the judging line. The designated person will be considered a competitor

and will assume all responsibilities of such. A competitor may not run any vehicle under his/her name
or membership number unless said vehicle is legally registered to the competitor in his/her state of
residence prior to the event date. (Updated 12/23/2008)

DEFINING THE TERM "PRO":

USACI Stock and Street Beat classes 1-4 are not open to "Pro" competitors. Any person meets the
following conditions is considered a "PRO".

(A competitor may appeal the 1 year rule by contacting the USACI office to receive a variance. Such
variance will be decided on an individual basis.)

Any competitor who does not meet the above conditions may still compete in a "PRO" division should he or she choose to do so. The competitor upon determining he or she prefers a "non-pro" class may move back to a consumer division provided he/she still does not meet any of the above criteria.

The competitor is responsible for his or her vehicle and audio system and any physical or

mechanical damage resulting from their use or misuse of the vehicle and/or the audio system

therein. It is the competitor’s responsibility to know and abide by the rules contained in this book.

If an amplifier rating cannot be determined by the head judge at any event it is the responsibility

of the competitor to provide manufacturers literature or other paperwork to verify the power rating

of the amplifiers in question.

A competitor member accruing 200 or more points within the competition season will qualify for

an invitation to the USACI World Finals. USACI reserves the right to invite competitors to the

USACI World Finals based on a “points curve”. This curve will be based on the number of shows

available to competitors within a certain region or geographical area and USACI will only typically

extend “special invitations” to the top qualifying competitors in that region.

A competitor may compete in any power class at the world finals provided the competitor has

accrued at least 75 of his/her 200 points in that specific power class. A competitor may compete

in multiple divisions if the competitor so chooses but must compete in the same power class

within those divisions.

USACI competitor members will accrue event points based on the following schedule.

First place                           15 event points

Second place                      12 event points

Third place                           10 event points

All other competitors             5 event points

At “DOUBLE POINTS” or TRIPLE POINTS” events the above values are doubled or tripled

respectively.
 

First place                                45 event points

Second place                           40 event points

Third place                                35 event points

Fourth place                              30 event points

Fifth place                                  25 event points

All other competitors                 15 event points

Judges may receive event points for judging an event. The accrual of events points for judging

shall be equal to a first place finish at that particular event. Event points accumulated by judging

may be used to qualify for finals but will not apply toward any points champion awards. Judges

opting to receive financial consideration for judging not receive points for the same effort.

Event registration will generally begin approximately one hour prior to the stated beginning time of

the contest. After the contest has begun, the event director, at his or her discretion may accept

late registrations and opt to add a surcharge to the stated event registration fee for late

registrants if he or she so desires.

Each vehicle can be entered and judged in only one power class but in as many divisions as it

may qualify to compete in. A separate registration and score sheet is required for each division’s

judging. A competitor may enter more than one vehicle in the same event but only in different

power classes. Vehicles may reenter that same power class as many times as the event

schedule will allow. (Retries)

All vehicles must be licensed and be “street legal” as per federal regulations to compete in the

Stock, Pro Stock or Modified divisions. Vehicles that do not comply will be entered and judged in the

Super Modified or Port Wars division. USACI Outlaw SPL will require all of the following OEM

equipment to be installed and fully functional at all times while being judged in the Stock, Pro Stock

and Modified divisions:

Headlights (OEM style and location) Tail Lights

Blinkers (Front and rear) Speedometer

Emergency Brake Windshield Wipers

OEM or equivalent Automotive seats OEM Windshield

The verification judge will verify the power ratings of each amplifier installed in the competitor’s

vehicle to ensure that the vehicle has been entered in the appropriate power class. It is the

competitor’s responsibility to prove the manufacturer’s rated power of the amplifier if requested.

Documents that are altered or not publicly available will not be accepted. The verification judge

may install a voltage meter in any vehicle in the Stock division to monitor voltage during

the run. While this is optional at single points events it will be mandatory at all multi point events.

If a competitor’s audio system does not, in the judge’s opinion, meet all of the following basic

requirements, the competitor may be disqualified from the event. The vehicle and audio system

must be fundamentally safe for the judging area. The audio system must consist of components

that use some form of 12 VDC negative ground power supply. The vehicle and audio system

must operate under its own power while being judged. Maximum voltage may not exceed 18 volts

DC in any USACI class. (Only voltages of 14.7 volts DC or less will be allowed in Stock.

While system configuration does play a large part in classifying all competitors’ vehicles, only

those competitors that do not derive any of their income from the selling or installing of any car

audio equipment or have received any car audio equipment or installation assistance from a

sponsoring car audio equipment manufacturer or retailer may compete in the Stock

division. Stock division competitors are unable to accept any financial assistance for travel

expenses from any manufacturer or retailer of car audio equipment.

The intent and spirit of the preceding paragraph is to allow the competitor with a limited budget

and technical knowledge to enjoy the fun of Outlaw SPL competition without the intimidation

factor of having to compete against professionals that may have a distinct advantage over them.
 

Competitors may not compete in the stock division if they meet any of the requirements for a “PRO”
competitor as defined previously in these rules.

Alternator, capacitance, battery, voltage, and amplifier limits are defined in “Appendix A” (located

at the frontof this book).

Pickups may have equipment (batteries, amps, crossovers, etc.) located in the bed. This

equipment may not protrude above the factory bed rail or more than 36 inches from the front wall

of the factory bed. (not the bed lip). No Speakers or enclosures are allowed outside the cab. Bed

cuts are not allowed. Factory panels may be removed in the cargo area to facilitate system

installation. Podiums will be allowed.

No modifications will be allowed to the interior of the passenger compartment or exterior of the

vehicle in order to facilitate the audio system. The floor, ceiling and dashboard must be OEM or

equivalent to include all fabrics, coverings and carpets. Speakers larger than 8" and any speaker

being used for SPL must be located only in the designated “cargo” areas behind the “B” pillar. In

passenger cars this would be either in the trunk or hatchback area. Enclosures in the cargo area

of all vehicles competing in the Stock division must be installed behind the rear most

passenger seats. Neither the enclosure, nor any device(s) affixed to the enclosure may protrude

above the top of the rear seat back or block the view out of the rear glass. Neither the enclosure

nor any devices affixed to the enclosure may protrude above the bottom of the side or rear glass

panels. No modifications will be allowed to the exterior of the vehicle and all portions of the

system must remain inside the vehicle. Inside the vehicle is defined as inside of the factory body

lines, roof, and floorboard. Equipment in or on trailers, hitch racks, luggage racks and so on will

not be permitted. No portion of the enclosure or audio system will be permitted to be located

outside of the vehicle to include the bed of a pickup.
 

Trucks, vans, SUV’s and cargo vehicles competing in the Stock division will be qualified

thus:

In full size trucks originally equipped with forward facing rear seats, the cargo area will be

defined as being under or behind the rear seat only. In trucks with side facing rear seats, the area

behind the “B” pillars will be considered cargo area. In both or either of these cases, the

enclosure or speaker will not be allowed to protrude forward of the “B” pillars nor may the

enclosure or any devices affixed to it protrude above the bottom of the rear or side glass panels.

This will also apply to any vehicle that is originally manufactured with no rear passenger seats. In

vans and SUV’s with OEM rear seats, the cargo area will be defined as the area behind the rear

most seats. Vans and SUV’s that are originally manufactured without rear seats cannot compete

in the Stock division.

On vehicles with removable or convertible walls or panels, all equipment and all parts of the

enclosure must remain inside the passenger area and may not protrude into or be located in an

open air “bed” or other storage area not covered by the same roof that covers the passenger

area. Jump seats in the cargo area, behind the “B” pillar, and below the lowest window may be

removed.

Exception: In the case of a single cab pickup truck the box, speakers, and amplifiers may extend

forward of the “b” post but must not extend further forward than the rear of the truck seat back.

Seat back must be locked in place and the seat mounting may not be moved to facilitate system

installation.

The head judge at the event will interpret this rule.

The microphone/sensor can be placed anywhere forward of the “B” pillar in the passenger

compartment with a microphone/sensor globe attached. Special panels or enclosures for globe

placement will not be allowed. The microphone or sensor may not be placed anywhere that is deemed "hazardous to the equipment" by the head judge.

Battery and Alternator may be upgraded, however the battery may not produce more than 13

volts while the engine is not running and the alternator may not produce more than 14.7 volts.

The driver or passenger’s seats may not be relocated from the factory mounting location.

Any construction or speaker placement that may manipulate the SPL meter may be considered

reason to reclassify the vehicle to the Port Wars division or disqualification. This decision will be

at the discretion of the head judge.

Bed cuts will not be allowed in Stock Class.

A center console may be installed provided the console is not designed in such a way as to

manipulate the interior of the vehicle for the purposes of SPL. This will be at the sole discretion of

the head official.

Rear passenger seats may be folded down during testing but may not be removed, nor may any

part of the seat be removed. Rear seat backs may be unbolted and folded over for testing but

may not be removed from the vehicle.

Amplifier may be attached to the seat backs and folded down during testing. In such cases the

seat must be able to return and lock into the factory position after testing. Factory panels in the

cargo area may not be removed to facilitate the system installation and must be in place during

testing.

The audio source (head unit, changer, etc) must remain in the vehicle during SPL testing.

Wireless remote controls may be used to operate the system from outside the vehicle and their

use is encouraged. Head units or other source units may not be removed from the vehicle during

SPL testing if they are part of the signal chain.

The vehicle emergency brake must be set during testing.

TRUNK DIVISION:

Trunk Division will use the “Stock Division” rules with the following exceptions:

PRO's and Consumers are invited to compete in Trunk division.

Modifications: Speakers larger than 8" and any speaker being used for SPL must be located

only in the designated “Trunk” area behind the rear passenger seats. Enclosures in the Trunk

Division must be installed behind the rear most passenger seats. Neither the enclosure, nor any

device(s) affixed to the enclosure may protrude above the factory rear deck. The rear deck may

not be cut out or modified other than to remove the factory speakers normally located in the rear

deck. Amplifiers must be located in the trunk area. Amplifiers may be attached to the seat back

and lean forward with the seat back during testing but must not interferer with the seat being

placed back into the factory position. Extra batteries may be located in the trunk but cannot be

located inside the passenger compartment.

Vehicles without a “Trunk” will not be allowed in this division. “Hatchback” vehicle are not allowed.

Rear passenger seats may be folded down during testing but may not be removed. Rear seat

backs may be unbolted and folded over for testing but may not be removed from the vehicle.

Amplifiers may be attached to the seat backs and folded down during testing. In such cases the

seat must be able to return and lock into the factory position after testing. Factory panels in the

trunk area may be removed to facilitate the system

No modifications will be allowed to the interior of the passenger compartment forward of the “B”

pillars. The floor, ceiling and dashboard must be OEM. Speakers larger than 8" and any speaker

being used for SPL must be located only behind the “B” pillars. The speakers and enclosure must

not protrude beyond the leading edge of the “B” pillars. This applies to all vehicles including cargo

vans and SUV’s. No modifications will be allowed to the exterior of the vehicle and all portions of

the system must remain inside the vehicle. Inside the vehicle is defined as inside of the factory

body lines, roof, and floorboard. Equipment in or on trailers, hitch racks, luggage racks and so on

will not be permitted. No portion of the enclosure or audio system will be permitted to be located

outside of the vehicle,

EXCEPTIONS: Pickup trucks with the rear of the cab and/or front of the bed cut out in order to

allow speaker or box placement in the bed are allowed in the modified division. In these

vehicles the floor of the truck bed may be lowered to the level of the floor of the cab provided

such change does not make any portion of the bed lower than the top side of the vehicle frame.

All modifications should approximate the OEM in appearance and function (updated 12/23/2008)

The microphone/sensor may be placed anywhere in the passenger compartment forward of the

“B” pillars with the microphone/sensor globe attached.

The competitor may elect to have the microphone/sensor placed on a microphone/sensor stand

supplied by the competitor.

The vehicle passenger compartment and the listening/measurement compartment shall be one

and the same. Driver and passenger’s seats must occupy the same air space. Passenger’s

compartment shall consist of the following boundaries;

• factory roof line

• factory windshield position

• factory fire wall position

• factory inner door panels.

Only OEM or automotive seats that are commercially available may replace driver and

passenger’s seats. Home made, custom made, or seats designed for use in other than an

automobile are not acceptable. The driver or passenger’s seats may not be relocated from the

factory mounting location.

All speaker enclosure or baffle boards, other than those in the doors, kick panels or floorboard

must be located behind the “B” pillars.

Any construction or speaker placement that may manipulate the SPL meter can be considered

reason to reclassify the vehicle to the Super Modified division or disqualify it. This decision will be

at the discretion of the head judge.