Need Advice: Car Show Pointers

get ready for some heavy cleaning. everything needs to be spotless. it will take you several hoiurs at least to get it ready. waht kind of show are you entering? some need a description sign, while others dont.

Car shows are politics. I have been showing for about 10 years off and on. I got to the point where i dindt even clean my car like i should have and still took a first place trophy. I have won over 50 1st place trophies, but like i said mainly from politics and from people who knew me.So dotn go with the intent to win, just learn from a few people and see if its what you want to do with your car.

Some clubs require that you have an ABC fire extingusher with your Stang. I know MCCNE has that requirement for their events in New England.

shade

Take something like an umbrella or pop up shelter to get some shade. It gets hot on sunny days.

Some things that you'll want or could use.

- Your window sticker (I have mine in a hard plastic folder dealy, helps bring people over to the car).

- California Car Duster to manage the dust during the show, especially on dark cars.

- Suntan lotion

- Chair(s) are a must.

Car shows are politics. I have been showing for about 10 years off and on. I got to the point where i dindt even clean my car like i should have and still took a first place trophy. I have won over 50 1st place trophies, but like i said mainly from politics and from people who knew me.So dotn go with the intent to win, just learn from a few people and see if its what you want to do with your car.

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Unfortunately I find this is the case now too. I had a spotless car with a few tasteful mods, I couldn't even muster a 3rd and why? NO SUPERCHARGER. The cars with a supercharger (and nothing else) automagically got the trophies. Absolutely mind boggling. One guy I know who has swept our modified category a few times has about 40k into his car on top of the purchase price. That's all fine and dandy but his car in a lot of ways is gosh and many people say that and agree but somehow he keeps winning, partly because I think people decide if he's going to have a supercharger on the car and have spent that much money absolutely raping the design elements of the car that he should get the trophy. We're talking completely Fast n Furious car design too. Sadly most of the attendees are into these cars (they're older) but he still get's the votes. Not bitter though.

I used to get enjoyment out of it, but honestly I have BOXES of trophies i do nothing with now.The real thing i wanted to acheive was a magazine article, and i had 2 done, so now its time to enjoy the car and do some racing.

I go mainly to check out other cars and learn something.
I've never won a trophy with my stangs, I did with my now
totaled 35th Ann. T-bird SC
But my 93 GT was in two magazines so that keeps me motovated.

You will probably enjoy cruises more. No competiton. Just parking, chatting with fellow car lovers and some driving.
Car shows, unfortunately, have become too political.
I was at one a few years ago with my 1966 Mustang convertible, that had never failed to win a first-place award. I watched the judges go by my car. They looked at the license plate, determined it was not from their home county, and kept walking. Funny, they didn't mind I wasn't from their when they took my entry fee.
At another show, the judge for my class also had a car in the class. Guess who won first place?
I'm not saying there aren't some good shows out there. There are. But after 100 or so more trophies, cruises are more fun, less expensive and less work. Enjoy your car. Don't sweat it for a chance to win a cheap piece of plastic.
If you are in Campbellsville, Ky. in October there's a good show at the university with no entry fee, free good, great prizes and some great awards. That show is an exception.

most of the shows I've been to the judges are the people who
have entered a car. so basically if your in the show your judgeing
eachothers cars. Nice way to do it I think.

I'm 38 years old and have been going to shows since I was a teenager (my dad had a show quality '33 Chrysler Imperial Coupe in stock condition). What I've learned from shows is this, the car has to be impeccable. That means a show quality paint job without streaks, swirls, etc...etc...etc... If it's got a horrible paint job, people will walk right by it without even stopping. Also, the interior should be spotless, even going so far as to remove the floor mats. A brand new looking carpet with a clean heal pad is much better to look at than floor mats with wear spots. There should not be anything other than the necessities in the interior (I've seen people with garters hanging from their rearview mirrors, clothes in the backseat, portable CD players with ugly wires laying on the seats, etc....etc...etc.... Under the hood, uniqueness and cleanliness goes a long way. Oh yeah, make sure each door window is down and that the rest of the glass is clean, with no streaks. That's about it as far as detailing goes. Cleaning the car is something that may take you 2 to 4 hours, depending upon what you need to do. Sometimes before a show, I may have to remove some trim and repaint it Black. Of course, this slows down the process! I clean the car the night before and when I arrive at the show, I only have to do a light wiping.

As for what to bring? Well, you need to bring all of your cleaning supplies and cloths, folding chairs, sunglasses, suntan lotion, cooler full of ice water and maybe a small umbrella that mounts to your chair. It certainly gets hot, especially in late June, July and into August.

Don't get caught up with winnning a trophy. No matter how nice your car is, there's somebody out there that has one that's nicer. Also, the trophy is only a $10.00 item anyway. Why get upset if you lose?

I usually vote for cars that are unique. If you've got 10 cars that basically look the same, it's hard to pick a winner. I look at EVERYTHING, including bolt heads, trim, straightness of the body, shine of the paint, overall appearance, etc...etc...etc...

My car has been to 8 shows since 2004 and I've won the "Editor's Choice" award for MM&FF magazine, a Best of Show for all Mustangs between 1974-1993, four first places, one 2nd place, and one 3rd place. I was able to do this without the aid of a Supercharger or a Turbocharger. I used a dual quad setup and detailed the hell out of the entire car. In the engine compartment, I glass beaded and primed/painted everything, including all bolts that hold the fenders and hood on. The only polishing that I do, is to my valve covers and air cleaner lid.

My advice is to make your car stand out, without the aid of every tacky gizmo that you can buy. Tasteful mods and changes will definitely be in your favor. Good luck!

Oh yeah, one more thing. Once you start accumulating trophies, don't bring them to the shows and show them with the car. While I've never done it (too much of a hassle anyway), I've heard judges mention many times that they're not fans of displaying the "bling".

I have to agree that the car shows are political. I took 2nd with mine and the car next to me had the same exact paint/stripes. The difference? I was a member of the club that sponsored the show. I'm not afraid to race the car so everyone in the club (judges) knows me and the car. BTW I lost to a Roush that the guy doesn't drive. He doesn't even bring it for the cruises. What's the use? The shows are great for networking and finding out what mods work/fit best.

I've been a member of a club for years that sponsors an annual show. Club members display their cars, they do not compete for trophies. It simply is not fair to enter a vehicle and then judge it or have a fellow club member judge it.
Kind of like having the president's brother as governor in a state that carries the election.

That is a pimp ass Cobra you have there, I'd vote for that for sure. I agree getting worked up over the trophy sucks, but when you see people who can't be bothered taking them down you kind of get annoyed, part of my competetive streak I guess.

I have a shelf of 7 or 8 trophies from car shows and the last 2 I won through a lot of hard work and that was great. I certainly enjoy shows just to get out, I had a better tan this last summer than I have since well I last owned a Mustang and showed it. ;-)

Watching the ladies walk by and admiring nice cars is certainly a nice reward. Unfortunately that can be mared by a political judging process or one that isn't executed properly. For instance at one show this last early Summer. The 05-06 category had 8 or so cars in it and 2 trophies. Other category like 71-73 or 74-78 had 3 cars and 4 trophies???

And back to Hissing's Cobra, I miss my Weld Draglights I had on my 81 T-Top coupe. I really wish I hadn't sold it now. Young and stupid. I knew it was rare back then, I am finding out now it was actually incredibly rare (though mine was no where near original outside of the fenders, the centre console and the t-tops.

Chairs, cooler full of drinks, food, camera, make a little sign for your dash, just saying a little about the car, and have fun. oh and clean everything 3 or 4 times. Most car show i go to are particapants choice, not judged shows. dont have any expectations adn you will have fun. oh and clean everything again. you dont want to get out there and see a bunch of dirt under the hood.

Great post and yes they are political, but its fun. I had a great time talking to the other entries. Its a great time.
CHAIR, drinks and a clean car....
GOOD LUCK

Thanks for sharing your experience with us Hissing, valuable information. I have never been to a show either. Obviously from my sig there's a reason for that, but someday...

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