2014 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Remaining Regional Schedule
Words: Dennis Berger, Nick Blohowiak, Ryan Coyne, Rob Dyer, Jeff Farmakes, Dean Garbutt, Trey Harris, John Mulvaney, Ed Owens, John Paci, Matt Pfotenhauer, Mike Rolf, Carson Wann, Shawn OMalley, Troy Crosby, Dan Scott, Rich Brand, Tom BartleyThe official 2014 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional calendar includes 12 remaining events from October, going forward. Masons can take up their trowels and decide who is going to compete for the title of “The World’s Best Mason.” The bricklaying competition consists of competing masonry teams, each with a mason and mason tender building a 26-foot, double-wythe brick wall.
The most bricks laid and counted under the quality rules wins the event. The winning Regional teams (competitions began in June) will go to Las Vegas on Feb. 4, 2015, to attend the World of Concrete/World of Masonry held in Las Vegas, Nevada. There, they will compete in the 2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National Event. This event has the world’s largest masonry competition cash and prize list, valued at more than $100,000.
The 2014 season has been a year of firsts for the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 program. At the 2014 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National competition, one South Carolina mason, Jerry Goodman, won both top honors: First Place and the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN Award. The double win was the first time that has happen in the existence of the program. On the Regional level another first occurred, this year will be largest Regional Schedule ever, with 23 Regional qualifying competitions set on the calendar. Regional competition dates run June through December at various locations throughout North America.
Established to showcase the skill, craftsmanship and pride of the masonry trade, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 is a bricklaying contest requiring all masons to meet the quality standards of the event. Each two-person team has 60 minutes to lay as many bricks as possible on a 26-foot, eight-inch-long, double-wythe brick wall that is constructed by following strict rules and procedures.
The competition has four awards. First, second and third places are based on the highest net brick count meeting the quality standards. The 4th award, and arguably considered the most coveted prize, the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN, is judged the most sellable wall with over 500 brick laid and zero point deductions. It has the second-highest award purse and can be won in tandem with each of the other prizes. Whether the competition is for a Regional Qualifying event or the National Championship, the walls are closely evaluated by carefully selected masonry officials carrying several years of bricklaying experience and training.
Be sure to become involved or attend the event, either as a masonry competitor, judge, volunteer, masonry student or as a trade fan. It’s an opportunity to network, support and promote the great trade of masonry in your area.
SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 Regional – Oklahoma
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Tulsa Technology Center – 3420 South Memorial Drive – Tulsa, OK 74147
Contact: Carson Wann (918) 230-6124 or Trey Harris (214) 728-4592
SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Ontario
Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: Conestoga College – 108 University Avenue East – Waterloo, Ontario N2J 2W2
Contact: Dean Garbutt (519) 240-7265
SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Pennsylvania
Date: Thursday, October 9, 2014
Time: 2:30 PM
Location: Fizzano Brothers Concrete Products – 1776 Chester Pike – Crum Lynne, PA 19022
Contact: John Paci (610) 656-1608 or Ed Owens (804) 291-8417
SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Illinois
Date: Friday, October 10, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: District Council Training Center IL - 2140 W Corporate Dr, Addison, IL 60101
Contact: Mike Rolf (414) 640-1373 or Shawn O’Malley (708) 476-3486 or Matt Pfotenhauer (630) 707-8200
SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – California
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Calstone / Peninsula Products – 1175 Aster Ave. – Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Contact: Rob Dyer – (510) 861-8067
SPEC MIX Manager: Tom Peterson (612) 750-8653
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – N. Carolina
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Tucker-Kirby Co. – 3825 Wilkinson Blvd – Charlotte, NC 28208
Contact: Troy Crosby (864) 414-0461 or Ryan Coyne (404) 702-5944
SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – New Jersey
Date: Thursday, October 16th, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Sparta Block – 477 Woodport Rd. – Sparta Township, NJ 07871
Contact: Dan Scott (201) 415-7748 or John Mulvaney (973) 229-0201
SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – North Texas
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: ACME / Featherlite – 3815 Singleton Blvd. – Dallas, TX 75212
Contact: Trey Harris (214) 728-4592
SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – South Texas
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Headwaters Construction Materials – 2088 FM 949 – Alleyton, TX 78935
Contact: Trey Harris (214) 728-4592
SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Alabama
Date: Thursday, November 6th, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Willcutt Block & Supply Co., Inc. – 1201 Kicker Rd East. - Tuscaloosa, AL 35404
Contact: Rich Brand (205) 215-9759 or Ryan Coyne (404) 702-5944
SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Alberta
Date: Friday, November 7, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: So. Alberta Inst. of Tech – Thomas Riley Building, 1301-16Ave NW – Calgary, AB T2M 0L4
Contact: Tom Bartley (403) 651-0650
SPEC MIX Manager: Tom Peterson (612) 750-8653
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Arizona
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Phoenix Brick – 1814 South 7th Ave – Phoenix, AZ 85007
Contact: Dennis Berger (623) 764-8369
SPEC MIX Manager: Tom Peterson (612) 750-8653
The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 program relies on a family of outstanding sponsors who support the programs efforts in KEEPING THE TRADE STRONG.
Platinum Level Sponsors
SPEC MIX, Inc.
Ford Trucks
Masonry Construction
Hydro Mobile
QUIKRETE
Multiquip
Belden Brick
Gold Level Sponsors
Prism Pigments
Marshalltown Company
STIHL, Inc.
Mason Contractors Association of America
Crick Tools
i.Q. Power Tools
Beta Max Hoists
National Concrete Masonry Association
For more information, contact Jeff Farmakes with SPEC MIX Inc. at 651-994-7120 or jfarmakes@specmix.com. You also can visit www.specmixbricklayer500.com and www.worldofconcrete.com.