DARIN LAUGHARD
SHARES HIS LOVE OF CAR STEREOS & RACING
M
Y NAME IS DARIN LAUGHARD (PRONOUNCED LOCKARD). I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH ArDOT SINCE 1987, AND HAVE ALWAYS WORKED IN CONSTRUCTION FOR DISTRICT THREE RE OFFICE 32. I have been fortunate to work on many different jobs in our District while being here. In addition, I am known as “MacGyver” in our office because I can usually fix anything.
TUNES AND CAR STEREOS I have always been good in carpentry and found I liked
ENTERING THE WORLD OF COMPETITIONS I found the contest interesting and for me, it was on! I built a small system in my 1980 VW Rabbit and started competing myself at local shows. When I began competing, everyone I talked to about stereos thought it was all about how loud the stereo could get and to some point, it is. However, there is much more to it, including sound quality. A photo log of the things that judges cannot readily see has to be presented at competitions. They check to make sure the
working on my own cars. In addition, I have always liked music.
system is installed safely and will not cause the vehicle to catch
As a result of those loves, I built a stereo system in my first car
fire or cause problems with the other components of the car.
while in high school. The car’s biggest speakers were 6” x 9”s. After high school, I spent time living in Illinois and Michigan and when I returned to Arkansas in 1987, one of my buddies
The scoring system at auto stereo competitions is based on two things: “install quality” and “sound quality.” Install points are awarded based on the quality of the
had placed four 15-inch subwoofers in his Toyota truck. And
installation. Does it keep with a theme? Does it look like the
with that, he entered a car stereo contest.
factory would have installed it? Does it match the vehicle? (continued on page 24) ARKANSAS HIGHWAYS MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
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