Masons show their stuff in the SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500: Masonry Construction magazine's first-ever masons' challenge event showcased the skills of industry craftsmen

Masonry Construction, June, 2003

Seldom does a masonry crew labor to the cheers of fans, but nearly 1000 spectators rooted for 12 teams at the inaugural event in MASONRY CONSTRUCTION magazine's masons' challenge--the SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500. The competition was held during the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas and was designed to showcase the skills of expert craftsmen as well as the teamwork it takes to produce exceptional masonry structures.

Each team included one bricklayer and two mason tenders. The contest was held in two parts, both intended to resemble actual jobsite conditions as closely its possible.

The first event was the Tenders Competition to prepare the work area for the following bricklayer contest. The two-man tender team was required to arrange 1000 brick in four equal stacks at the appropriate working distance from the wall, place five mortar stands and boards between the brick stacks, and position ii pail of water, tempering can, and shovel in the center of the work area. The winners were Kyle and Kris Jones, Bob White Masonry, Rock Island, Ill.

No adjustments to the work configuration were permitted between the two competitions, but contestants did have 60 minutes to temper and adjust their mortar.

The main event allowed the bricklayers one hour to build a 26-foot double-wythe wall with a minimum of 500 brick. The masons lifted their own brick and trowels of mortar from no more than five spot boards and stacks of brick, and could be disqualified if a tender handed them any material. Each mason was responsible for raising his own quoins at each end of the wall, securing line and pins/corner block, and running each brick course.

Judges counted the brick used in each wall and evaluated its quality. Competitors could be disqualified fix having more than 20 voids or plumb exceeding 1/4 inch. However, no one was disqualified for work quality and the decision came down to a matter of speed. The fastest trowel belonged to Wayne Phipps of Mourer Masonry Inc., Batesville. Ark., who laid 539 brick in the allotted time (see related story on page 70). Second place went to Jim Baker, McGough Construction, St. Paul, Minn. (534 brick) and third place was won by Bob White, Bob White Masonry, Rock Island, Ill. (507 brick).

Because of the event's success, SPEC MIX, a Mendota Heights, Minn.-manufacturer of masonry mortar, grout, stucco, and shotcrete, decided to expand the program. Company licensees have joined forces with local associations to sponsor six regional Bricklayer 500 competitions this year. Regional contest winners will receive an expenses-paid trip to World of Concrete/World of Masonry 2004 in Orlando to compete in next year's Bricklayer 500.

Several other companies were instrumental in conducting the contest. Gold level sponsors of the competition were Polaris Industries, Cabela's, Kraft Tool, and MASONRY CONSTRUCTION magazine. Other businesses contributing prizes or materials for the event were Interstate Brick, Crick Level, Materials Packaging Corp. (SPEC MIX licensee), MultiQuip, and OmniQuip.

Contest Judges

* Dave Blohowiak, Geo. M. Hougard & Sons, Green Bay, Wis.

* Craig Copatz, Geo. M. Hougard & Sons, Green Bay, Wis.

* Bud Easton, Snow Jr. & King, Norfolk, Va.

* Kevin Kretchman, Snow Jr. & King, Norfolk, Va.

* Rick Nation, B.W. Dexter II Inc., Danielson, Conn.

* Gary Paseka, Billings Brick & Masonry Supply, Billings, Mont.

* Scott Pritchett, Snow Jr. & King, Norfolk, Va.

* Bruce Smart, Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1, Philadelphia

Participating Teams

* Better Built Masonry, Durant, Iowa; Ben Houghton, Dan Ricketts, and Glen Houghton Jr.

* CM Construction, Elkhart, Ind.; Bill Mitchell, Reiner Wiedenmanndt, and Alan Sieting

* D&R Masonry, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Dennis Scheer, Gary Dreanor, and Joe Lambert

* Frazier Masonry, Las Vegas; Perry Shane, Charles Weger, and Chad Stepanek

* G.G. Construction, Logandale, Nev.; John McClary, Martin Wozny, and Juan Madrigal

* Houghton Masonry, Blue Grass, Iowa; Glen Houghton Sr., Bill Farnsworth, and Scott Ellingson

* IMS Masonry, Orem, Utah; Tracy Allen, Heath Holdaway, and Craig Sainsbury

* McGough Construction, St, Paul, Minn.; Jim Baker, Dave Kortum, and Charlie Moen

* McGough Construction, St. Paul, Minn.; Todd Rose, and John Meyer

* Mourer Masonry Inc., Batesville, Ark.; Wayne Phipps, Mark Baker, and Rafael Vega

* Ramco Masonry, Las Vegas,; Juan Nieto, Jesus Nieto, and Salvador Sanchez

* Bob White Masonry, Rock Island, Ill., Bob White, Kyle Jones, and Kris Jones

Competition Wall Specifications and Quality Standards

* 3-inch double wall, length of 26 feet on bond

* Base course of concrete block

* One starter course of modular clay brick, placed on the block course and not counted in the contest

* Brick weighing at least 3.8 pounds

* Running bond with return ends

* Brick cut flush, no jointing

* Brick laid overhand on back wall

* Brick in the wall laid face out

* All mortar bed and head joints cut flush on both sides of the double wall

* Wall to be finished within two courses of each side

* Top surface of the last course laid checked for true alignment; level tolerance over the wall length within 1/4 inch