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Tips for winning car shows?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 6:33 pm
by nebby58
I have a friend who wants me to enter a few car shows around the area. I would be competing in the high school competition. I don't know a lot about car shows, but my friend has a lot of experience with these things and says I have a good chance of winning. I just wanted to know some general things that the judges look for when judging. I think it would be fun to see a compact beat a full size. Any tips would help. Thanks!

Tips for winning car shows?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 7:57 pm
by fallvitals
Since you mentioned high school competition.. Lots of stickers. More stickers more points. And a big gaudy wing. Oh and weld on a Maxwell house coffee can for the exhaust tip.


lol, in all seriousness I haven't a clue. Just a nice, clean vehicle?

Re: Tips for winning car shows?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 8:43 pm
by nebby58
fallvitals wrote:Since you mentioned high school competition.. Lots of stickers. More stickers more points. And a big gaudy wing. Oh and weld on a Maxwell house coffee can for the exhaust tip.


lol, in all seriousness I haven't a clue. Just a nice, clean vehicle?
+1 on the muffler! :thumb:

Re: Tips for winning car shows?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 8:58 pm
by HenryJ
Open it up. You don't get points for what they can not see. Mirrors to see the undercarriage.
Detail it with a toothbrush.
Hide it or highlight it: If you have a chip in the windshield either fix it to invisibility or paint a suicidal bug on it to draw the attention to it.
Tires: Valve stems to the top and bowties right side up, brand centered up top and readable.
Cold clear water to wash. Don't soap the wax off.
Forget the car duster and get a Kozak Auto dry wash.
Have a presentation sign professionally done.

The list goes on and on... That's all I remember right now.

Re: Tips for winning car shows?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 9:02 pm
by nebby58
What I'm worried about is a place where I messed up on touch up paint. I also applied wax with a very fibery town and I have a lot of little fuzes under my wax that I cannot seem to get out.

Re: Tips for winning car shows?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 9:10 pm
by HenryJ
Clay bar.

Re: Tips for winning car shows?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 9:22 pm
by nebby58
HenryJ wrote:Clay bar.
Thanks. I'll give it a try.

Re: Tips for winning car shows?

Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 9:37 am
by Glassjaw
+1 on the cleaning. spend a couple hours or more and make sure you get EVERYTHING........spend a little more time looking at it for spots you missed. clean wax off of plastic with a an old toothbrush or something similar. clay bar is an awesome product., Ive been thru quite a few of them. i always used Black Magic tire wet for the tires after theyve been cleaned but i would wait until you get there before you put it on. If not youll get "fling" from the excess and the wheel spin.

If your gonna open doors and the hood make sure everything is clean. i always find some spots i miss even if i spend an hour wiping everything down with armor all. Maybe even have someone look it over to look for spots youve missed. Might be a bit excessive but i used to be a detailer. :D