Calling All Masons: SpecMix BRICKLAYER 500 Starts at 12:15 PST, Feb. 6

See the best masons in the world compete in the “World Series of Bricklaying” on Wednesday, 12:15 PM PST, February 6, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the main event of “Masonry Madness Day,” at the 2013 World of Concrete/World of Masonry trade show.  The final selection of the 2013 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National bricklaying championship competitors is complete. 

There is a total of 20 bricklayers competing this year. The competition is comprised mainly of the 16 winners from Regional bricklayer events that were held during 2012 throughout the US & Canada. Competition bricklayers come from states such as Ohio, Washington, Illinois, Utah, Tennessee, Colorado, Wisconsin, Iowa, Arizona, Missouri, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Florida, Northern California, and Alabama. In addition, masons from the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Ontario, and the countries of England and Australia will also be laying brick. The 2012 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National Champion, Leif Reints, will be returning to defend his title as well as the 2012 SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN National award winner, Scott Tuttle. 

Established to showcase the skill and craftsmanship of masonry, spectators witness a true test of human drama as 20 highly skilled teams consisting of a mason and a mason tender put their talent and physical endurance to the ultimate test. Each mason is required to meet the quality standards of the event as they build a 26 foot, 8 inch, double wythe brick wall. The competition has four awards:  1st, 2nd, and 3rd place are based on the highest net brick count after subtracting for any quality violations. The 4th award, the highly coveted SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN, is judged based on the most sellable wall, or the wall demonstrating the best craftsmanship, with over 500 total qualifying brick. Judging the 2013 event is a combination of 30 journeymen level bricklayers and masonry instructors from across North America. The judges combine for an average of nearly 25 years of experience in the trade.

The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 has the largest winner’s purse of any masonry competition with approximately $100,000 in gifts, cash and prizes including a 2013 FORD F-250 4x4 XLT truck fully loaded with special features. Many of the competitors attest that there is a great deal of strategy in play to win the event with some teams making their main goal to win the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award offering the event’s second highest valued award.

Before the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 begins, the day’s events are kicked off with the preliminary undercard events, the 2013 SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER® competition starting at 10:45 AM PST (local time), this is a contest that challenges the 20 mason tenders to set up the bricklaying station as quickly and accurately as possible, to meet the specifications outlined. With $2,500 cold cash on the line, this contest is truly an incredible test of physical endurance as each tender moves tons of material by hand.

This is followed by the MCAA’s Fastest Trowel on the Block, a 20 minute blocklaying competition, starting at 11:30 AM PST (local time), in which 12 mason blocklayers compete for $15,000 in cash and prizes. The first competition event is the MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge which will start at 9:00 AM PST (local time). Mason apprentices will be proving they have “The Right Stuff,” in this 3 hour bricklaying competition.

For more details visit www.specmixbricklayer500.comU This is the web site that will offer a FREE, LIVE  webcast connection of the 2013 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National while it is being held in Las Vegas. Webcast coverage will start with the 2013 SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER on Wednesday, February, 6, 2013, at 10:30 AM PST (local time). The main event— the 2013 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National broadcast will start at 12:15 PM PST (local time). Converted to major city local time zones for competitors that would be Denver 1:15 PM MST, Chicago 2:15 PM CST, New York 3:15 PM EST, London, England 6:15 PM GMT, and Sydney, Australia 5:15 AM EDT (February, 7).

2013: New Beginning for Mason Contractors

By John Smith Jr., Chairman, MCAA

I would like to wish you a prosperous New Year. As we move into 2013, we have many new challenges facing us. The current economic environment makes survival skills that much more critical to all of our suppliers and us. We must all look to the future for the better days that are coming. We must all continue to promote our businesses along with the masonry industry. There are many exterior wall systems and alternatives, but we all know that masonry is superior and is the system of choice after any full comparison of systems.

We also need to continue to educate ourselves in our industry and that of others. A great way to do that is to attend the MCAA convention in Las Vegas. Again, this year, we are a part of the World of Concrete. There are many opportunities Feb. 3 – 8, along with a host of educational opportunities to enhance your knowledge of business and masonry needs. The MCAA is offering three excellent programs: Masonry Quality Institute, Foreman Development Course, and a New Wall-Bracing Seminar. All of these programs will help position your company to take advantage of the coming economic recovery.

On Wednesday during World of Concrete, we are having a total Masonry day at the Convention Center – Masonry Madness Day. Outside on the Gold Lot, we will have the Masonry Skills Challenge, Toughest Tender Contest, the Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition, and the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500. During our membership drive, we are offering $1,500 in supplies to those who sign up for a two-year membership at the show. It is our quest to sign up as many mason contractors as possible into the MCAA, in order to become a larger force in the industry.

We also have four social events this year: the MAC-PAC reception, Opening Dinner, South of 40 Event, and Closing Dinner. These events will be outside of the Wynn Hotel. So, you will have the ability to see the Las Vegas Strip and all of its lights and brilliance. 

Lastly, we have set up numerous opportunities for networking with other contractors. The MCAA Committee meetings and MCAA Annual Meeting always prove to be excellent opportunities to hear what’s new in the industry and to learn what the MCAA is doing for you. On the show floor in the masonry area, we will have our enclosed classroom, where you can sit and discuss areas of our business. 

There are many different types, so please see registration information for areas that are of interest to you. We will also have Networking Round Table Discussion to focus on specific interests/needs of every individual. Topics include: CFOs/Controllers; Owners/CEOs; Estimating/Marketing; Safety/HR; Union Contractors; Field Personnel/Project Managers and Estimating.

Welcome to the show! The World of Masonry – part of The World of Concrete – has more than 40,000 square feet of products, tools and systems on display in one location! What a wonderful opportunity to gain new ideas and brainstorm with fellow contractors, suppliers and experts in the industry. Again, I hope to see all of you in Las Vegas for our 2013 convention.