entering my first car show....

I`ve done plenty of shows. If your not expecting anything makes it all the better if you do get something. Some people are trophy whores, get all bent out of shape if they don`t get something.
They forget the show is for good cause to help raise $.
Yep bring a chair and cooler, sit back, walk around talk to people plenty of car enthusiasts that love to chat.
Might not be bad idea to make fliers or have business cards to hand out, we walk around dropping fliers in cars and talking to people promoting shows. That way you can pick an choose your customer an cars.
 
I think you hit the nail on the head about drumming up business. I hit all the local cruise nights and shows I can and it`s paid off big time! I`m doing more corrections and coatings then ever before. So much so that I am booked out until mid June!

Anyway enough about that. Go and have fun. Don`t be afraid to talk with people and mention what you do during normal conversation. I keep a box of business cards under the hood and usually will get a few interesting people from that. I actually just booked a 900$ coating job on a Mercedes from a gentleman I met Saturday at show. Ya just never know! Good luck buddy!
 
I had butterflies the first show I entered. I knew I wouldn`t win any awards because my car wasn`t unique enough and the category for my 2012 Camaro is the 2000 and up. Pretty much all the shows around here the classes are manly based on year plus, they have a few special categories. I went knowing I wouldn`t win an award but went to have fun and look at other cars and to be a participant and not just a spectator. I have enter my car in a couple years now as I got tired of all the work to prep the car(black of course) to make it look presentable. I did win a few door prizes, that pays for part of the entry fee. I am not all that social but still manage to chat to other owners. My first show it was fun to sit back and listen to people chat about the cars when they look at them. Funniest was one kid said to his Dad "if I was going to buy a car like this I would buy the SS" I did all I could from laughing while the thoughts of "if only this kid knew what the value of a dollar was and wait until he is on his own and let us see if can actually afford the SS".

Go to the show if you can and just enjoy the sights and the sounds. Just keep in mind you can`t eat a trophy nor does your car run on one!
 
well I have a car that booked for tomorrow so unfortunately I have to make my first car show on another date
 
512Detail- Heh heh, I was about to apologize for being so late to this party, but now it`s called off anyhow :D At least you were motivated to get a good cleanup done.
 
512detail said:
well I have a car that booked for tomorrow so unfortunately I have to make my first car show on another date
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Business before pleasure. I`m sure you`ll find some enjoyment detailing and making an existing customer happy or making a new customer a repeat customer.
 
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LEDetailng said:
Cool, great for both you and Brandt. What category did you win? What did Brandt use on your car?
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last year I polished with essence and topped with PBL v2 but I`m sure he`s put some Polish Angel or something on there since then so I`m not really sure it`s all from me
 
I have topped Brandt`s work with Opti Spray Wax after every weekly wash and Polish Angel High Gloss on special occasions and before shows. Since Brandt`s handy work--3 shows, three trophies. Thanks again Brandt!!!!!!
Jay
 
so our car club is having probably our largest car show this weekend
I plan to attend since my car is pretty much show ready as it sits
paint recently polished and topped with essence, csl, exov3, and polish angel gold zirkon (last week)
trim has motor kote
engine bay recently cleaned with Polish Angel engine

just need to do the wheel barrels, faces, and refresh the tires and wells

not sure if I want to add anymore shine so I may just wipe it down with spray and gloss at the show Saturday when I clean off the bugs from the hour drive

there`s a top 50 award so I`m not getting my hopes up but you never know!

but honestly I`m horribly embarrassed at my the chips on my cuda style front grill insert - no shop around here wants to touch it because they say it may break or not reinstall properly when removed to paint
 
Good to hear your tackling the wheel wells..lol. That Cuda grill is sweet, always loved them. Front clip isn`t to bad to take off, couple YouTube videos out there. Good luck at show, hard to not recognize a black car shinning with all the flake popping. You will place.
 
HCF said:
Good to hear your tackling the wheel wells..lol. That Cuda grill is sweet, always loved them. Front clip isn`t to bad to take off, couple YouTube videos out there. Good luck at show, hard to not recognize a black car shinning with all the flake popping. You will place.
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thanks. I am thinking since my plates say WAXWSTR that I will take my `parking for wax wasters only` sign and put it on my dash as well as my poorboys car and the die cast I have that is the same color black as my car

I don`t really want to pop my hood and trunk, I could pop my hood I guess but most people admire how shiny I have been able to get the carbon fiber vinyl stripes on my hood so I like to show them off (although I personally think they look like crap from 3 feet)

It`s supposed to be hot and sunny so I`m hoping my car looks really good in the sun :)
 
At some shows, if the judges can`t see the interior or under the hood they will give you a "0" for those two areas. I`d recommend that you open the hood and trunk and either leave a door open or at least the window so they can see inside. Just MHO. Good Luck!!!!!
Jay
 
512detail said:
I don`t really want to pop my hood and trunk, I could pop my hood I guess, but most people admire how shiny I have been able to get the carbon fiber vinyl stripes on my hood so I like to show them off
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I like to have folks be able to see the engine bay and the top of my hood. That can be impossible to accomplish if the hood is opened all the way up.
In my case, I have made a little "stick" to prop the hood up. After a few tries...I found the right height so folks can see the hood and the engine bay.
My "stick" consists of a pvc pipe and two rubber stopper feet. I cut the pvc until I found the correct height. I painted the pvc black, added the feet and lowered hood.
Too high and folks can`t see the hood. Too low, it looks like you`re trying to hide the engine bay. It`s not good if folks have to bend over and down to look at your engine.

Never Enuff said:
At some shows, if the judges can`t see the interior or under the hood they will give you a "0" for those two areas.
I`d recommend that you open the hood and trunk and either leave a door open or at least the window so they can see inside. Just MHO. Good Luck!!!!!
Jay
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Interior:
At a minimum the two front windows need to be rolled all the way down. Anywhere where folks (and judges) can see inside the vehicle needs to be neat and clean.
I have lost a show (by 1 point) due to the fact that there was dust on my dashboard. This can be a constant effort at a 4+ hours car show with the windows down.
Option - There are devices (arms) that will hold you doors open. They hook to the door latch and will hold your door open part way and hold them in that position.
Opening the trunk - It is not required but it is recommended. If the trunk is open it need to be vacuumed & clean. This means there needs to be no "junk-in-the-trunk".

Raising the Hood:
This is a requirement at cars shows. Occasionally, it will be announced over the PA system (via DJ etc.) that judges are coming around...time to raise you hoods.
At all the car shows I`ve been to...besides what Never Enuff stated "if the judges can`t see the interior or under the hood they will give you a "0" for those two areas.".
If your hood is down when the judge(s) come around they will walk past your vehicle and not judge it at all. "The hood is down...they walk past..less work for them".

Side Note:
Reach inside the top of your wheel well. Rub you hand back and forth. Do you see dirt on you fingers? This is a common area that judges check to add/subtract points.
Side note to the side note. If you clean the wheel well area spotless and decide you want that "extra" during your arrival wipe down. Do not coat the inside with a dressing.
* The only thing judges hate worse that reaching inside a wheel well and coming out with dirty fingers is reaching inside and coming out with a handful of greasy dressing. ROFL
 
Thanks Merlin...I cleaned the wells with bold n bright, which is not very greasy but will probably leave something on their fingers, oh well

the wells were cleaned a week or so ago and I haven`t driven the car since but it still looks good

those show props you speak of, I am familiar with them...several people in the club use them on the doors hood and trunk

I haven`t decided if I want to start investing money into those type things or not

a hood prop, probably but door ones, not yet

I don`t know how I feel about windows all the way down but I guess I`ll see how it goes
 
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