my first car show. HELP!

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changedman

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2001 Mazda MP3
Yeah, yeah. I'm entering in my first car show (Autorama> www.autorama.com) Jan 14-16. There will be a few car magazines there doing stuff, and I need to have my car and display the best that I can, so I nede some help from experienced people who've done this before. Its a ISCA show, and im now a member, etc.

OK-> here are my questions. The rules state:
"gas tanks must be below 1/4 tank for entry" Yeah, thats an easy one
"All battery cables must be disconnected ans gas caps taped or have locking caps." OK- do they mean after I get to my 10x10 spot to disconnect the cables? Also, my stock gas door locks so you have to open in the car, and has stock cap. Do I need one that has a key? or what are they saying?
"A floor covering or drip pans must be provided under the oil pan and under the rear axle" Should i just get a 10x10 thing of black carpet? Or what?
"you must provide your own crowd barrier, cords, etc" What should i get for a crowd barrier? do i absolutely NEED one? will people be an ass an **** my car up if im not there and there is no barrier?
"Entries without a street legal exhaust may NOT be driven in or out of the building" Does this mean me? I have an exhaust, but its catless and theres lots of pollution, so what then? push it in?
"Absolutely NO ARMOR ALL" wtf? is there something i dont know?

This is my first show as I mentioned, and i REALLY appreciate any help from experienced members :D

Also, what should I use to display mods, etc? (plz provide links if possible)
Im THINKING of maybe one or two of these:
http://www.displays2go.com/product.asp?ID=4650
I'm not sure... help :)

Is there anything else I should know?
I'll be out of town until monday, so i'll answer and see replies then

THANKS AGAIN! :D :D
 
pdhaudio83 said:
OK-> here are my questions. The rules state:
"gas tanks must be below 1/4 tank for entry" Yeah, thats an easy one
"All battery cables must be disconnected ans gas caps taped or have locking caps." OK- do they mean after I get to my 10x10 spot to disconnect the cables? Also, my stock gas door locks so you have to open in the car, and has stock cap. Do I need one that has a key? or what are they saying?
"A floor covering or drip pans must be provided under the oil pan and under the rear axle" Should i just get a 10x10 thing of black carpet? Or what?
"you must provide your own crowd barrier, cords, etc" What should i get for a crowd barrier? do i absolutely NEED one? will people be an ass an **** my car up if im not there and there is no barrier?
"Entries without a street legal exhaust may NOT be driven in or out of the building" Does this mean me? I have an exhaust, but its catless and theres lots of pollution, so what then? push it in?
"Absolutely NO ARMOR ALL" wtf? is there something i dont know?
Click to expand...
The 1/4 tank of gas is easy just don't be an idiot like me and fill up a full tank 2 days before the show!

The battery cables get disconnected before you leave when you're done prepping.

A crowd barrier might be nice but I don't think its necessary. Are you going to be staying at your car the whole time or have someone watch over it while you're gone? I'm normally at my car from the start of the show to the end to make sure no one touches anything.

I never heard of the exhaust rule before. When I had to roll in, they opened all the windows and doors to make sure theres enough ventilation. I can guarantee you that no one had a street legal exhaust but I guess its really up to those that are running the show.


OH and good luck with the show! :)
 
what about the gas caps thing and what do you have- drip pan or carpeting?

and what'd you do for displaying your stuff?


THX :D
 
be safe and get the carpet, i did a show inside one time with my tahoe and leaked hydralic fluid on the floor and it cost me almost $300.00 to have it cleaned. so now when i do a show i always use carpet. if the carpet looks to plain for you and you know someone who airbrushes, have them airbrush a theme on there that will match the car. not to mention, not only will it save you money if you leak but it is reusable. my carpet with airbrush designs and mirrors cost me about $250.00 and thats because of the detail in the art work......powered by mazda, driven by imagination...good luck
 
Yup, your battery will be disconnected after you pull in and shut her down. There are event staff that come around and make sure your battery is disconnected and if you paid for electricity to power electronics in the car that it is connected properly. The same people will also tape over your gas cap. Even though we have locking doors, they will place a large piece of duct tape over the gas cap to make sure vapors and such aren't released.

I've never heard of the exhaust rule before either but I'm sure you'll be fine. You roll in with all the doors open so there is plenty of ventilation. They make you disconnect the battery so no one is starting the car up during the show and possibly giving people headaches from exhaust gases.

The no armour all regulation pretty much goes hand in hand with the drip pans. This is probably a convention center and they don't want their floors stained (Understandable). If your spray armour all on your tires, where does it end up? Most of it ends up on the floor and leaves a big stain. Just bring a nice tire gel and tire swipe to dress up your wheels.

I'd bring a carpet or the interlocking garage tiles that you can get in different colors. I would get a black and yellow combo to go hand in hand with your color scheme (kind of like the checkers board but yellow and black). If you didn't want to invest in this or the carpet you could just get a few plastic boot mats and place them under the engine. I got mine from K-mart for about $4 a piece and they are flat plastic mats with a lip to catch any fluids. Simple and out of site.

If you have a big area for your car, I would get a barrier. You can get plastic chain link from Home Depot and then just make pillars out of PVC fence posts in the 4 corners. I never had a barrier but I was always sandwhiched between other cars so there was no room for one. I was always near my car or had someone watching it for me while I walked around. You'd be amazed at what can accidently brush up against your car (Cameras, peoples zippers as their bending over to look in the car). Keep an eye out.

I bought a few plug in strobe lights and placed them in the engine bay facing up so it would attract people. My Prelude was red so I also had a red police cherry on the car. Lighting is always good to attract attention. I couldn't get creative because I was always sandwhiched in but it sounds like you have the room to do some things, like remove your wheels to show off braking systems and the undercarriage. If you have a theme, don't stray away from it - be creative.

It's a good idea to bring plenty of food and water and a folding chair. IT'S A LONG DAY and you will be tired so the chair will come in handy.

Good luck.

Mark
 
clean everything u can think of : entire motor, wheel wells, exhaust, UNDER your car is very important, degrease the door jams, the trunk, the tires, etc etc...

it takes a lot of work, but itll look nice at the end :)

and yah, hawaii wasnt too strict with the 1/4 tank rule.

and locally, to get a light setup or inverter, it was like $80... which is just stupid.

gl!!!

peace
 
yea CLEAN EVERYTHING!! when my car was judged the car was spotless... well I thought. he ran his finger under my sideskirt and it came up dirty :( thats a no no.
 
Yea, everyone basically has it covered.

1. Make sure its SPOTLESS -- every inch of the engine bay, wheel wells, etc

2. Once your in place (10x10.. HAHA thats what they all say but Ive never had that much room unless I was in a booth), then disconnect the battery (just negative is fine, and wrap it with elec tape to be safe).

3. You have a locking gas door -- your fine with that

4. Drip pan -- dont worry about it, never ever needed or been told to get one (and it was in EVERY indoor rule book).

5. Gas -- 1/4 tank is STRICT but you can get around it if u have too much (PM me for details)

6. Crowd border -- face it, you dont have a high dollar show car like Bob Mull ... let people get close and look at it. I personally dont like carpet either unless you are doing a FULL display with lighting, etc. Yes people will be stupid and will touch the car - or worse yet, sit in it -- tell them to get the hell out, and wipe off finger prints with detailer. I go thru like 1/2 a bottle each show as people feel my hood to see if u can feel the line between the painted part of the hood and the CF (you cant :) ) or to see if the airbrushed mazda logo is a sticker or not.

7. Ignore that exhaust rule -- your fine, your not running open headers and the car runs (doesnt have to be pushed in)

8. Armor all -- they dont want the floor stained, and its SLIPPERY when it gets on concrete. Use gel on those little foam pads to dress the tires (NO SPRAY ON STUFF)

9. That clear acrylic board thing -- not really necessary unless you do a FULL display. Good judges pretty much know what is done and what isnt, you dont have to give them a list.

Pe@ce
 
i never heard of the no armor all thing....also my exhaust isnt exactly legal and ive never had to push it in...nor did they say anything about it
 
For HIN if the car cant be driven you cant bring it in (but if u know the right people there are ALWAYS exceptions) and if you have an exhaust (no matter WHAT is is .. even straight pipes with no cats) and you can drive it, they let u in

Ive never heard of the armorall rule either especially since most people use it on their interiors (they all need to be shot, that stuff is the devil) .. but the spray on tire shine does leave concrete floors REALLY slippery so its a safety concern, plus it leaves that ugly half moon on the floor :)

Pe@ce
 
whao.O the mainland shows seems so much stricter?

and yes, gl to you :)
 
No Amorall, ok, can you use (spelling?)McGuire's? I use that anyways. If you can't use the McGuire's tire spray that'd suck for me, I get tons and tons of compliments on it and everyone asks what I used. I've never done an indoor show, this is an interesting thread. What is THE best product or thing to use for glass? I've tried wipes, and those suck. I heard a mix of water and alcohol is the best. I've seen the foam spray and it seems to work well, I have yet to try it out. Also I use McGuire's wax, I've seen Mother's in action and it is great too, what does everyone else use and what do you think is the best wax?

You know what someone needs to build is a model Protege, or toy car Protege. Like Jada toys. I usually use a bunch of RX-8 and RX-7s since there are no Proteges. I also got a WRX model I may try to convert to look like my Protege.

Oh yeah, this is your first show, but if you are fortunate to get a trophie, award, etc. Make sure you always display that and all others you get at shows. It helps to show your achievments. Maybe even a best time slip or dyno. A lot of people also have a large sign to show all the mods they've done and it helps show what people may not know what you have done. Vynil shops can do them for you.
 
Last edited:
Dont display trophies --- its pointless to brag and people like to steal em

Wax -- Coats Products Cherry Wet, Meguiars NXT, Turtle Wax Platinum Ultra Gloss .. all very nice

Glass Cleaner - Stoner Invisible Glass hands down

For tire shine, its best to use Meguiars Endurance Gel with a tire swipe to apply ... its cleaner too since u dont get overspray on paint and wheels .. but if u want to use spray, put newspaper down all around the tire to catch any overspay so it doesnt end up on the concrete.

Pe@ce
 
Protege5Gurly said:
Dont display trophies --- its pointless to brag and people like to steal em
Click to expand...

I was told by several judges to display trophies. I'm not saying you're wrong, just what I've been told by judges. It's not to brag, it's just a point of showing acheivments. It also says other people liked the car so should I. Over the last 2 yrs of doing shows I've asked judges questions it's a good idea to find out what they are looking for. One other thing is if you're going w/ a club show up together, and try to get spots together. It helps to show your unity. Some shows have club trophies.
 
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