However, the thunder from the engines was, until recently, the only full-frequency effect at Atco. All of the sound reinforcement squeezed its way into the world through anemic paging horns. Now, fully-weatherproofed, full-frequency Danley OS-80 loudspeakers backed by Ashly processing and amplification keep up (if only sonically) with the dragsters at Atco.
"We've been working with Atco for years, but I was only recently able to convince them of how much better the fans' experience would be with full-range loudspeakers," explained Kevin Rodio, president/CEO of Spellcaster Productions, the New Jersey-based live event and A/V installation company that designed and installed the new sound system.
"The grounds were covered with low-fi paging horns that were trying to pump music through, in addition to announcements. I brought one Danley OS-80 to the dragway for a demo and managed to cover the same area that had previously been covered by 50-plus paging horns. And of course, the fidelity was unparalleled."
Once the dragway officials committed to the new system, they only gave Spellcaster Productions three weeks to design, procure, install, and commission the new system. Danley and Ashly both stepped up, delivering the necessary equipment with all due haste so that Rodio's team could get the job buttoned up in time for big events on Memorial Day weekend.
(Jim Evans)
