Pro vs. Stock Question.

What defines someone who should be a pro vs. someone who is not?

Let's assume that they don't work for a shop (that's any easy one), but then do the following make someone a pro?

1.) Gets their equipment straight from a manufacturer not a retailer?

2.) Gets free recone/repairs on equipment?

3.) Gets special pricing on equipment (competitor pricing but not free)?

4.) Gets free equipment (even wire) from a manufacturer?

5.) Is a member of a manufacturers "competition team" that allows them to receive discounts on equipment?

6.) Gets prototype equipment to test with?

7.) Manufacturer pays for finals entry fees?

All that is said in the rules is:

•He or she works for a car audio dealer, manufacturer or distributor, or
• Receives financial compensation for using a specific manufacturer’s equipment, or
• A competitor’s immediate family member meets one or both of the previous conditions or
• A competitor who does not meet any of the previous conditions may compete in Pro
Stock by choice. Voltage in Pro Stock may not exceed 18 volts.

Which, by my reading, means that all of the above (1-6) can be considered stock as long as you don't get "paid" to attend shows. Can equipment be considered (financial compensation)?

The main reason for this post:

If a competitor has competed as a pro in the past and has done all of the above, what must be done to compete in stock again? Or is it once a pro, always a pro. Just curious as it is not clear in the rules.

what does it matter in my eyes...there is so many people in stock that either one, are competeing under their name with others equipment and builds are in their vehicle so that they can compete in stock, or they are gettin CHEAP stuff..not free just cheap so it doesnt matter.....stock is more competitive then prostock is just because of more people in it beating eachother up...for all i care prostock and stock should be together so we can all beat up on eachother....


i see what u are saying tho matt...it isnt defined very well at all...

Receives financial compensation for using a specific manufacturer’s equipment

the way i understand it this all falls under this statement......thats the way i understand it, and ofcourse there will be many different opinions.

2.) Gets free recone/repairs on equipment?

4.) Gets free equipment (even wire) from a manufacturer?

5.) Is a member of a manufacturers "competition team" that allows them to receive discounts on equipmemt?

7.) Manufacturer pays for finals entry fees

five isnt.....poop u can call any company and say u are a competitor and u will get a cut...

IMO Shedluv I interprit the rule about financial competition the way you do. I Believe that they way it is written means that you are getting paid by the Brand X manufacture to run Brand X equipment.

--BUT--

Because others can view "financial compensation" in other ways ... Anything direct from the Brand X manufacture can fall under this. Although a valid argument can be made regarding repairs and recones as warranty type service.

As far a s prototype ... if you use it in competition, then yes. If used "just to try" for other reasons then no.

i myself wanna know why you are enquiring about this there is always a reason whats yours

I think he wants to know how sense he has competed in ps before and fit some of the criteria...how does he get back to being a stock competitor....I could be wrong but thats what i read.

From ralph when I asked him 2 years ago about my situation.

I had an ad in the phone book for our small town, offering electrical and car audio services. No means a shop, but still did see some profit from it.

I ran prostock even though I had shut everything down the year before last, as I was told I would have to wait 2 years before stepping out of prostock.

So I ran last year, and this year under prostock. Next year I will more then likely stay, just due to the fact that is what I have equipment for.

compensation = something given or received as an equivalent for services, debt, loss, injury, suffering, lack, etc.;

so in my opinion you are given this equipment for free, in return you are competing for them and showcasing there product, if you werent show casing product or competing for them would you still be getting it for free? in this case it more than likely looks like you are getting stuff to compete for them, which to me = financial compensation, not neccessarily a paycheck, but something

bruce-bruce wrote:

I think he wants to know how sense he has competed in ps before and fit some of the criteria...how does he get back to being a stock competitor....I could be wrong but thats what i read.

That is correct, that's where this started. I heard 3 different answers from 3 different "well-experienced" competitors on whether I could go back to stock or not and after reading the rules, well it is just not well defined.

The 3 answers I got were:

Once a pro, always a pro

I could go back to stock if I had nothing in my vehicle from when I was a pro, all new equipment with all new receipts (including head unit, etc.).

I had to sit out a year and not compete then I could go back to stock, assuming I hadn't done anything as a "pro" in that year.

The main thing I saw with the way the rules are worded is how it is so vague. "Financial compensation" could mean anything from getting paid to go to shows to having a manufacturer buy you dinner after finals. It that was more clear, the I wouldn't have to ask this question. The simple answer should be:

You can go back to stock when you're not doing anything that makes you a pro anymore.

However, since the definition of pro is so unprecise, that is a difficult answer to figure out.

I am NOT pointing fingers at anyone, I am trying to find out for me, and anyone else in my situation.

got ya man just sounded like there was a little pain int he question you asked and i can see why it was there

Shedluv wrote:

Once a pro, always a pro.

thats my opinion.

In the words of Trent Reznor "The line begins to blur..."

good question matt....

I was actually thinking about this the other day. Some of the info is very informative, would be nice if the powers that be would make this clear for all.

If you'll remember. There was this same question last year. Someone in SQ was no longer affiliated with the industry and want to return to consumer cla ss.

I think the end result had to go the Rules and Ethics committee.

My opinion would be based on the fact that Prostock is not of your accomplishments but of you connections with the industry. So, if you are no longer affiliated with the industry and no equipment exsists from the previous install, then all is good. You're just a consumer.

opinions dont count and noone should care what others think about them anyways its minute and pointless

black and white is the real deal

I would say once a pro always a pro as well. If you were ever able to call yourself pro, or fit into the class you should stay on that level of competition. Learning how to do this stuff is like riding a bike, you just dont forget it.

I remember hearing somewhere that if you wre working at a shop and if you dont work at a shop anymore you still have to compete in pro for 2 years after? I forgot where I heard it from so Im not 100% sure thats a true statement.

once a pro is not always a pro and you guys keep yrying to punk people out wioth your damm opinions get over yourselves my god

some people oit there will be influenced by your opinion and how you veiw them but if it was me ide say fornicate you you anyways

The 'once a pro you have to take 2 years off' rule was meant for SQ people. The rules were the same for consumer and pro so there were no differences there. If you were a pro and built a championship car while in the industry, you had an advantage over most consumers. All you had invested was materials. The labor was yours and the product was free. Going against consumers as a pro was an unfair advantage.

SPL, in my opinion, is different.

Many 'true consumers' run Pro Stock because of 16 volts, larger numbers etc. I like that pro's can't compete in stock, as such you shouldn't be paid to compete and shouldn't be employed or a direct relative of someone who is employed in this industry. Cheap/free product has always been a gray area and up to much controversy. I won't debate that.

Anyway, to have to take 2 years off to go from pro stock to stock if you were there by choice doesn't make sense to me. If you were a true pro than that, I would say, would be a different story. One year off maybe. I think advances during a full season would erase any advantage that one might have gained from being a true professional.

well I know when I started I was in my first year of not being involved in the industry. Thus I paid for all my equpiment and batteries and such, and still have recipts to prove it. If it means sellingit all and buying again when If I decide to step down so be it.

Frankly I like pro stock, and plan to stay though

Not to start anything here, but I feel there are competitors competing in Stock that should move up to Pro. Not for any other reasons then they are that good. They have mastered the craft and should have to move up into pro. "Stock" is no longer "Stock" because of talented builders like them.

Gabe Sanchez wrote:

Not to start anything here, but I feel there are competitors competing in Stock that should move up to Pro. Not for any other reasons then they are that good. They have mastered the craft and should have to move up into pro. "Stock" is no longer "Stock" because of talented builders like them.

Good point maybe stock winners 1st place should move to pro the following year or something like that