CAR SHOW??

[RUNINAGT]

Anyone here ever hosted one and can give any advise on how to do one. We are considering hosting one here @ our shop. Our parking lot should be able to hold 100 cars, and still have parking for spectators. Obviously though I need to make it worth while for the company to go along with it. Ran it by the owner here and his ears perked up and is interested on the possiblities of a good outcome. We have enought venders that I think will be willing to help out and attend.
Just wanted to throw this @ ya guys/girls to see if I can get any of your thoughts.

Thanks.

 

[justabigkid]

Hello, my father has helped run many shows for the local olds club over the years and it is a lot of work. You can never have enough help and half of those that volunteer will disapear after a little bit of work.

Basically prep work is the key. Have your lot cleared and marked off the night before so you have less to worry about on the show day. You will need a couple people to greet people when they show up and park them and you might want a seperate table with a couple more helpers for people to fill out entry forms and pay.
Having a food vendor on site is a good idea since people are stuck on your lot for a few hours and a dj is recomended.
Trying to hook up with a couple of local mustang or ford clubs is your best bet because they will probably let you advertise in thier news letter for free and clubs are always looking for new places to host thier shows, a lot of clubs will do all the running around as long as you flip the bill for trophies.

 

[aaros]

me and a buddy did a monthly show for the last three years (not this year for var. reasons) and like justabigkid said its alot of work and its hard to get people to show to help set up. we had problems with people getting pissed because they didnt win trophys (sorry but at my show a numbers matching frame off, concorse hemi GTX thats drove ten miles beats a 68 shelby gt 500 that smokes like crazy when its backed out of its enclosed trailer.) the city would let us close off about three blocks and the first year we filled it easy, by last year we were doing good to pull 20-30 cars.
even though we handed out over 600 fliers a year people still didnt know about our show.
As for advice, contact the different detailers (meguires, egale one, mothers...) and ask for stuff to hand out. you might get lucky, but you have to do this NOW or they wont even look at your request. make sure that the local newspaper and maybe tv station knows about two weeks in advance, you might be able to get a write up about it the day before.
Its alot of work and alot of fun, after its over. youll talk to LOTS of people and its a good way to promote yourself as well as the business you work for.
FYI there is a new track opening here, one of the local clubs is going to run it, said we might be able to work a show and go day there. woot!

 

[RUNINAGT]

Ya I know it's a bunch of work, I have already contacted ourlocal venders and they said they would check into it. Im just curious if I still have enough time to hold this thing @ the end of July?? Also I am worried that we will not get any cars to attend..
We are in pretty good with the local dealers. Our tire dist. said they would be happy to set up there wheel display van, but then of course they want us to push the wheel sales, but that's just not our nitch.
Anyway guys thanks for your advise, we will put it to good use.

 

[aaros]

youd have to hussle but yeh you should be able to pull something together by the end of july. we always had the best turnout in july.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

We just had a small one at a local shop.

1. Planned 3 months in advance with notices on our local forums and word of mouth.
2. First come first serve.
3. If your hungry, bring food, if your thirsty bring food. We provide BBQ.
4. Have a sign and a person point where specators can park.
5. We also have a burnout hour. We formed a line, and had a section for controlled burnouts. We just make sure we have no cars in front of or around the area.

(Our show wasn't 100 cars, and most of us know each other. I wouldn't recommend a burnout hour with a show of that size because you don't want some moron ruining)something of someone elses.)