Interested in entering a car show? If you want a chance at taking home the trophy, you’re looking at much more prep than a simple wash and wax.
Regardless of whether you own a coveted classic car, a unique one-of-a-kind rebuild, or a flashy new sports car, car show judges will scrutinize your vehicle with a discerning eye. They’ll be examining every inch from the inside to the undercarriage, under the hood, and sometimes even in the trunk. So, attention to detail is key.
A good thing to keep in mind when getting ready for a car show is that there are two vital and important stages to prepping your ride: the in-depth detailing you do at home before the show, and the last-minute touch-ups once you arrive at the venue.
So, is there a special order of operations to getting your car show-ready that will make it more effective and efficient? Well, let’s just say there are definitely lots of boxes to check when it comes to being competitive.
Key Steps to Elevating Your Vehicle to “Best in Show” Standards
As a general rule, the sooner you begin your show prep, the better. Getting ready for a car show takes diligence and requires much attention to detail that can have you putting hours into your car’s appearance.
Wash & Polish
The obvious first step in the process is to thoroughly wash your car. However, there’s an order to this step that, if done correctly, will maximize your efficiency.
Start by washing your car’s undercarriage and cleaning the motor and under the hood. You want to make your motor shine like it’s a crown jewel. Car show judges are most definitely going to be examining under your hood with the same needle-in-a-haystack scrutiny as an IRS agent.
Just remember that any degreaser you use under the hood can splatter up to your fenders or windshield, so wait to wash and polish the car until after this crucial first step.
Now you’re ready to wash your car -- and it’s not just a quick run through your favorite car wash.
You want to wash this car with as much care as you would bathe a newborn. Hand washing with appropriate car wash soaps (NOT dish soap, jeez) is the only way to go here. Start from the top down. Be sure to also clean and scrub your wheels with your favorite wheel cleaner. If you’ve got a classic car, avoid using a pressure washer. That old girl requires a more delicate hand.
Next, dry the car with a super soft and absorbent microfiber cloth or chamois. Pay plenty of attention to your tires and rims in order to make those wheels really shine and sparkle.
Shine & Protect
For any stubborn sap, tar, or other road debris, you want to apply a slightly abrasive polish or cleaner that’s sure to remove unwanted substances, as well as oxidation, scuffs, and swirls on your paint job.
Next comes a protective wax. Anytime you’re applying wax to your ride, especially if it’s a classic car, you’ll want to do it in the shade. Wax dries fast in the sun and the heat, and it can be a huge pain to remove properly. It’s best to apply your wax in thin, small portions that you can then buff to a pristine shine. Don’t coat your whole car and then try to buff it all at once.
Diligence when applying and buffing your wax can make or break your chances of taking home a trophy. So, make sure to leave yourself plenty of time for this step, and don’t rush the process.
Not only does the waxing make your paint job much shinier and more pleasing to the eye, but it also helps to protect your paint from further degradation, which, if you have a classic car, is vital to maintaining it properly.
A side note: be sure to pay special attention to awkward and often overlooked areas of your car, like door handles, inside the doors and around the hinges, cowl vents, etc. You want to thoroughly wipe down every square inch.
Give Your Wheels Extra Love
Your wheels and tires take a huge beating thanks to heat transfer, road grime, and brake dust. They require special attention with wheel-specific products that not only clean, but also protect.
Consider using a specially formulated high-temperature, synthetic wheel wax that will help repel salt, tar, dirt, and brake dust. Get all up in there with a handy wheel brush that’s sure to get those hard-to-reach spots where dirt and debris like to accumulate.
Don’t Forget Your Glass
Your windows and mirrors have to gleam and be completely streak-free. Be sure to clean them in the shade, since washing them in the sun is sure to leave streaks.
And for the love of all that you hold dear, don’t use household glass cleaner. Use an automotive-specific glass cleaner. If you drive a classic car with original glass, you may even need to apply a proper glass polish in order to help remove abrasions, swirls, and imperfections that make your glass look dull.
Detail & Condition the Interior
You'll want to tackle the interior with as much gusto and attention to detail as you did the exterior. Thoroughly vacuum every crack and crevice using special tools that get deep down between and under seats to remove all dust and crumbs.
If you have leather interior, using your favorite leather cleaner and conditioner is an absolute must. Be sure to shampoo any carpets and cloth interior with a portable car shampooer in order to fully eradicate any stubborn stains. Pay special attention to door hinges, door jambs, under the seats, and especially the trunk. Don’t forget the trunk!
Some car show pros will even use cotton swabs and toothpicks to clean vents and dig out crumbs and debris from around the shifter and any other especially small and tight grooves where dirt can wedge its way in.
Show Maintenance & Touch-ups
It can be an almost painful experience to have to drive your now spotless and perfect ride to the actual show, so be sure to bring along supplies to do last-minute touch-ups and cleaning once you’re parked.
Bring some basic touch-up supplies with you, like window cleaner, microfiber towels, polish, and tire shine. Give the car a thorough once-over and take care of any smudges, dirt, or gunk that you collected on your drive.
If you’ve got an older, classic car that can be a little finicky, it’s also a good idea to bring some extra coolant and oil with you, just in case.
Tip & Tricks
- If you have a classic car that you plan on showing, try to keep it as close to original as possible. Some diehard car show contestants will even install OEM air and oil filters.
- Know before you go. Each car show is different, and each judging ticket has different criteria on it, so if you can have a solid idea of what judges are looking for at that particular show, you can cater your car detailing and prep to highlight specific things that will help you stand out from the crowd. With so many pristine and beautiful cars to choose from, the difference between winning and losing is certain to be found in the details.
- If possible, park in the shade to keep you and the judges more comfortable. Be sure to bring a folding chair to sit in when you need a break. Having a cooler with drinks and snacks is also a good idea if you’re going to be at the show for an extended length of time.
- Put your windows down to let everyone know that it’s okay for judges and spectators to sneak a good look at your gleaming and pristine interior. Don’t forget to also pop your hood so that everyone can see your engine. Many judges dock points for vehicles that are displayed with their hoods closed.
- Have fun! And don’t be afraid to chat up any car show veterans to learn what their go-to tips and tricks are. Most car show enthusiasts are more than willing to share their knowledge and expertise with others.