NASCAR’s Mark Martin Shifts Into Home Automation Overdrive
Mark Martin Powersports store becomes the seventh Martin-owned site in four years to be controlled and automated by an Elan control system.
Mark Martin, a soon-to-be NASCAR Hall of Famer, has evolved from a home automation skeptic to a believer. Martin now has not one, not two but seven Elan Entertainment & Control Systems, with the latest installation using the new Elan 8 interface at his new store, Mark Martin Powersports (see photos).
According to Ryan Heringer, owner of Jonesboro, Ark.-based Sound Concepts, the recent NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee overcame his qualms with automation to make managing his properties and businesses easier than ever.
“When we first met, [Martin's] home had an older control system from another company that didn’t work well, so he was not in love with automation,” says Heringer. “Today, Mark benefits from the ability to log into a system remotely and view his security cameras. It makes life easier, and it provides him with much-needed peace of mind. With the recent installation of his seventh Elan system, it’s clear that Mark understands the power of automation and values remote accessibility.”
Without a remotely accessible solution, it would be almost impossible for Martin to keep an eye on two homes, two airplane hangars in two different states and three businesses.
Mark Martin Powersports
At the new Mark Martin Powersports, the Elan system integrates the building’s seven zones of HD audio, the security system, fire alarm, surveillance cameras and garage doors.
This way, Martin and the store managers have full control of the facility. The system can send automatic updates of security events to their mobile phones.
For the Mark Martin Powersports staff, a wall-mounted Elan touch panel provides full access to the system. The touch panel lets staff select audio sources and set volumes for each audio zone, control the garage doors, and manage the graphics and videos on the digital signage displays. The simple interface also makes it easy to review surveillance camera footage and security system events in case of emergencies.
An Elan gSC10 System Controller is the brains of the new Powersports store, and with power to spare provides the owners the option to easily integrate more subsystems in the future, such as HVAC and lighting.
Elan Across 8 Properties
While each home and business location has its own set of needs and system features, it was important to Martin to use Elan across all properties.
Sound Concepts made sure that every property is easy to use, and they can all be monitored and controlled in a single phone app.
“What’s really great for Mark, his family and his employees is that the system works the same in every location,” adds Heringer. “Even though each property has a different level of integration, the interface is identical. That means any family member can easily use the system at their home or second home, and employees can make any necessary changes at work simply and quickly.”
The relationship between customer and dealer couldn’t be stronger, with Martin singing the praises of Sound Concepts and what they’ve done for his many properties.
“I think the real key to it, certainly for us, is the installation and service,” says Martin. “The Elan system is great and easy to use, and we’re over the moon with the service we get from Ryan and Sound Concepts. Automation like this is valuable, both at home and at my businesses.”
In addition to the new Powersports store and his homes in Arkansas and North Carolina, Martin has ELAN systems installed at his two airplane hangars, his race shop where they build race cars and the Mark Martin Museum. The systems in the airplane hangars integrate with security, surveillance camera and audio systems so Mark can check on the buildings at any time, and enjoy his favorite music while he’s there.
The race shop’s system is slightly more integrated, offering mobile control of the building’s lights, garage doors, security, surveillance and music. So far, the Mark Martin Museum mostly uses Elan automation to manage the customer-facing digital signage, turning them on and off at programmed times.
From Skeptic to Believer
This enthusiastic embrace of the Elan system is a big evolution for Martin, who had previous first-hand experience with a different automation system that was complicated and troublesome.
“I used difficult equipment in the past, but now, I finally found something that works all the time, and a great local company I trust to take care of it,” says Martin. “I always tell people it’s a lifesaver for any business or homeowner to be able to monitor who’s been on site, and then, of course, there’s the fun of just being able to control the lights, music, videos, any everything else from my phone, tablet or wall-mounted touch panel.”
Martin and Heringer continue to discuss future work, including expanding the capabilities of some existing systems and any new buildings or businesses that arise over the next several years.
“Mark is a wonderful client, and I eagerly await the next project we work on together. We love bringing our clients’ visions to life, and it’s even better when we know how much the client appreciates the benefits of the system,” says Heringer. “I really think it’s fair to say that we have a true Hall of Fame relationship in place.”
