SPEC MIX, Inc. releases 2010 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Regional Schedule

By Jeff Farmakes

Garrett Hood, winner of the 2010 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® National Bricklaying Championship.

SPEC MIX®, Inc., has released the 2010 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Regional Schedule. The schedule includes regional host contact information for all masonry competitors interested in applying to the competition. The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 program is the leading bricklaying competition with the world’s largest prize package. The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional’s are the qualifying competitions held throughout the US and Canada. The winners of these regional competitions go on to compete at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National competition in Las Vegas, Nevada. This event, held at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry trade show crowns the “World’s Best Bricklayer,” and SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award. These competitors from the Regional’s to the National vie for thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, with the top awards given out in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Established to showcase the skill and craftsmanship of professional masons, the general description of the bricklaying competition is as follows: Each team consists of a mason and a mason tender, and a defined work area. The contest requires all masons to meet the quality standards of the event (www.smbl500.com/documents/2009_bl500_rules.pdf). They have 60 minutes to complete their 26 foot, double wythe brick wall (www.smbl500.com/documents/2009_wall_drawing.pdf). Each regional competition has the first place winner going on to the National. Award places are based on the highest brick counts meeting the quality standards and competition rules. The SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award is judged the most sellable wall meeting a qualifying brick count. This award is the second most coveted award at the event, yet for some winning the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award is their main goal, and has the second highest award purse.

The 2011 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National will be held at the Masonry Construction’s Challenge arena during the 2011 World of Concrete/ World of Masonry trade show and is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January, 19, 2011.

2010 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional Schedule

SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional — Ohio
• Date: August 7, 2010
• Licensee: QUIKRETE Cincinnati
• Location: QUIKRETE Cincinnati – 5425 Kilby Road – Harrison, OH 45030
• Prize Ship to Address: QUIKRETE Cincinnati – 5425 Kilby Road – Harrison, OH 45030 – Attn: Brian Tillett
• Contact: Brian Tillett (513) 615-4986 or Patrick O’Toole (216) 513-9502
• Time: 11:00 AM
• SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856

SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Iowa & Central Illinois
• Date: September 10, 2010
• Licensee: Great River SPEC MIX & TCC Materials Iowa
• Location: Kirkwood Community College – 6301 Kirkwood Boulevard – Cedar Rapids, IA 52406
• Contact: Arlen Beck (563) 506-1152 or Scott Ellingson (515) 360-2319
• Prize Ship to Location: TCC Materials – 4487 Delaware Avenue – Des Moines, IA 50313 – Attn: Scott Ellingson
• Time: 1:00 PM
• SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856

SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional — Chicago
• Date: September 17, 2010
• Licensee: Packaged Concrete Inc.
• Location: Packaged Concrete Inc. – 1S950 South Lorang Rd. – Elburn, IL 60119
• Contact: Brian Petty (630) 557-8252
• Prize Ship to Location: Packaged Concrete Inc. – 1S950 South Lorang Rd. – Elburn, IL 60119 – Attn: Brian Petty
• Time: 1:00 PM
• SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856

SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional — Colorado
• Date: September 18, 2010
• Licensee: QUIKRETE Denver
• Location: QUIKRETE Denver – 2660 West 64th Ave. – Denver, CO 80221
• Contact: Riley Allen 303-819-7459/Brian Harms 303-819-7458
• Prize Ship to Location: QUIKRETE Denver – 2660 West 64th Ave. – Denver, CO 80221 – Attn: Brian Harms
• Time: 11:00 AM
• SPEC MIX Manager: Tom Peterson (612) 750-8653

SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional — Wisconsin, UP Michigan
• Date: September 24, 2010
• Licensee: QUIKRETE Wisconsin
• Location: QUIKRETE Wisconsin – W225 N6236 Village Drive – Sussex, WI 53089
• Contact: Roy Greenwood (262) 246-4501
• Prize Ship to Location: QUIKRETE Wisconsin – W225 N6236 Village Drive – Sussex, WI 53089 – Attn: Roy Greenwood
• Time: 1:00 PM
• SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856

SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional — North & South Carolina
• Date: October 9, 2010
• Licensee: QUIKRETE North Carolina
• Location: QUIKRETE North Carolina – Highway 74 West – Peachland, NC 28133
• Contact: Jason Stutts (704) 287-8551
• Prize Ship to Location: QUIKRETE North Carolina – Highway 74 West – Peachland, NC 28133 – Attn: Jason Stutts
• Time: 11:00 AM
• SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856

SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional — Northern California
• Date: October 16, 2010
• Licensee: QUIKRETE Sacramento
• Location: QUIKRETE Sacramento – 7705 Wilbur Way - Sacramento, CA 95828
• Contact: Rob Dyer – (916) 919-0463
• Prize Ship to Location: QUIKRETE Sacramento – 7705 Wilbur Way - Sacramento, CA 95828 – Attn: Rob Dyer
• Time: 11:00 AM
• SPEC MIX Manager: Tom Peterson (612) 750-8653

SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 Regional – Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Date: October 21, 2010
• Licensee: QUIKRETE Tulsa
• Location: Tulsa Technology Center – 3420 South Memorial Drive – Tulsa, OK 74147
• Prize Ship to Location: QUIKRETE Tulsa – 6204 E. 11th St. – Tulsa, OK 74112
• Contact: Carson Wann – (918) 230-6124
• Time: 11:00 AM
• SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856

SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Kitchener, Ontario
• Date: November 2, 2010
• Licensee: QUIKRETE Ontario
• Location: Conestoga College – 108 University Avenue East – Waterloo, Ontario N2J 2W2
• Contact: Dean Garbutt (519) 240-7265
• Prize Ship to Location: QUIKRETE Toronto – 1501 Whistlebare Road – Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5S3 – Attn: Dean Garbutt
• Time: 5:00 PM
• SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856

SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Florida
• Date: November 5, 2010
• Licensee: QUIKRETE Lakeland
• Location: QUIKRETE Lakeland – 4230 Maine Avenue– Lakeland, FL 33801
• Contact: Ryan Coyne (404) 702-5944 or Bryan Pinder (305) 684-0967
• Prize Ship to Location: QUIKRETE Lakeland – 4230 Maine Avenue– Lakeland, FL 33801 – Attn: Ryan Coyne
• Time: 1:00 PM
• SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856

SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Calgary, Alberta
• Date: November 5, 2010
• Licensee: QUIKRETE / Target – Alberta
• Location: Southern Alberta Institute of Technology - 1301 16th Ave. NW - Calgary, AB T2M OL4
• Contact: Tom Bartley (403) 651-0650
• Prize Ship to Location: QUIKRETE Target Products – Bay 9, 7635-44 Street SE – Calgary, Alberta T2C 2K6 – Attn: Tom Bartley
• Time: 11:00 AM
• SPEC MIX Manager: Tom Peterson (612) 750-8653

This 2010 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional schedule content is subject to change without notice at the discretion of SPEC MIX, Inc. Additional Regional’s may be added to the schedule. For the most current schedule information go to:
www.specmixbricklayer500.com.