The judging of the competition is based on a combination of quality craftsmanship; level, plumb, joint thickness and completion, plus height, as well as the quantity of bricks laid. This year masons from the USA, and Canada will compete for the title of "World's Best Bricklayer." The 2008 National Champion, Garret Hood, of North Carolina will be back to defend his honor. Inside sources claim his 2009 competitors have recently been running time trials that may push the maximum brick count from 781 units to as many as 900. Nick Blohowiak, SPEC MIX's contest coordinator, has witnessed every Bricklayer 500 and always overwhelmed by the workmanship and speed of the masons. "Coming from a family of great bricklayers it's easy for me to say that these are some of the best masons I've ever seen-their level of expertise and physical endurance is extraordinary. They give it all they can to put on a good show and the crowd loves it-this is what makes it all worthwhile for our sponsors and the SPEC MIX team."

You can see this competition LIVE in Las Vegas on February 4th at in the Masonry Construction's Challenge arena in the Gold Lot of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The action begins at 11:30 a.m. PCT with the SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER® competition where the mason tenders race to accurately lay out all the contest materials as fast as possible. Although it takes these men approximately 10-15 minutes to get the job done, the winner will earn every penny of the $2,500 top prize. Just after 12:00 p.m. PT the fans start getting restless in anticipating the start of the SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500. For the people who are unable to join the crowd, don't worry as both events will be WEBCAST LIVE - FREE, worldwide, at www.specmixbricklayer500.com. However, there is only one criteria, the minimum broadband of 700 KPS is required to view webcast.

In total, the event puts up $100,000 in cash and prizes such as STIHL masonry saws, Marshalltown loaded tool bags, Crick custom levels, given to the winners of the bricklaying competition. The Grand prize awarded to the champion is a new 2009 Ford F-250 XLT Super Duty 4x4 Truck.

Awards and prizes will be given for:
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500, 1st**, 2nd, 3rd (Highest qualified brick count)
SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN, (Most sellable wall over 500 brick)
SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER, (Fastest, most accurate set up time)

* The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 is an outdoor event; it will be held weather permitting. If weather delayed the event will re-schedule for the next day, same time and location. Check with WOC/WOM show management or SPEC MIX to confirm status the day of the event.

To put on an event of this caliber and level of success, the SPEC MIX team relies heavily on all its sponsors and contributors. SPEC MIX's Brian Carney will be the first to say, “The backbone of the Bricklayer 500 is our fantastic sponsors-without their support, contributions and energy, we wouldn't be able to put on the show that we do for these bricklayers and the great crowd it draws. It's pretty cool when all the leading brands of our industry pull together to promote masonry construction and its tradesman.” The sponsors of the SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 are listed below in order based on Platinum, Gold and contributing levels:

PLATINUM
SPEC MIX, Inc
Masonry Construction Magazine
Ford Trucks
Hydro Mobile
EZ Grout
Prism Pigments

GOLD
Marshalltown Tools
STIHL Inc.
Ash Grove Packaging
Mortar Net
MCAA
Acme Brick
Bobcat

CONTRIBUTOR
Crick Levels
GATORBACK Mortarboards
EZ Mix Products
Angelus Block
Sterling Equipment
Safway Scaffold
Blaklader
Building Lime

You don't want to miss this event! It has grown to be the major entertainment event at the show. But if you do miss it, the event will be archived at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 web site for all of 2009. The judging rules have been adjusted slightly this year so can check them out on the site as well.

For the most current information, and to view the Webcast LIVE on Feb. 4, 2009 at 1:30 Central go to www.specmixbricklayer500.com and follow instructions.

« GO BACK