Car show season is about to go into full swing, and with NOS Energy Drinks Forum Fest coming up this Saturday being the first competitive, multi-make car show for many people, I figured it would be helpful to write something up to not only get everyone on the same page, but also aid in scoring points with the judges. Before I begin, I’m sure some people might be wondering what credentials I might have to give advice on this subject. Well, I’ve been showing my bugeye WRX competitively since 2002, and since then my car has accumulated the following résumé:

- Best of Show – Battle of the Imports 2006 – Kent, WA
- 1st Place, Subaru Class – Commons Compact Cruise 2008 – Federal Way, WA
- 1st Place, Subaru Class – Show for a Cause 2008 – Lynnwood, WA
- 1st Place, Subaru Class – Bond of Bellevue 2008 – Bellevue, WA
- 1st Place, Subaru Class – Import Motion 2007 – Seattle, WA
- 1st Place, Subaru Class – Sport Compact Nights 2006 – Vancouver, BC
- 1st Place, Subaru Class – Sport Compact Nights 2006 – Vancouver, BC
- 1st Place, Subaru Class – Tuner Bash After Dark 2005 – Seattle, WA
- 1st Place, Subaru Class – ImportMix Live! 2005 – Seattle, WA
- 2nd Place, JDM Class – Battle of the Imports 2006 – Kent, WA
- 2nd Place, Subaru Class – Driven to Perform 2005 – Vancouver, BC
- Best Interior – Show for a Cause 2008 – Lynnwood, WA
- Best Overall Subaru – Battle of the Imports 2004 – Kent, WA
- Best Dressed Subaru – Specialty Subaru Car Show 2004 – Vancouver, BC
- 3rd Place, Subaru Class – Bond of Bellevue 2009 – Bellevue, WA
- 3rd Place, Subaru Class – Driven to Perform 2007 – Vancouver, BC
- 3rd Place, Subaru Class – Driven to Perform 2006 – Vancouver, BC
- 3rd Place, Subaru Class – Global Import Car Show 2004 – Tacoma, WA

On top of these, I’ve also been a car show judge for West Coast Subaru Show, Subiefest, and NWMotiv. Thus, I’d like to think I know a few things about showing cars

Anyway, given my experience on the subject, here are some DOs and DON’Ts for showing your car in a competitive show, and I hope everyone finds this helpful.

DO clean, clean, and clean again. And even when you’re done cleaning, clean some more. It’s not difficult to get full points on cleanliness. You should strive for your car to be cleaner than it was when it left the dealership, on the exterior, engine bay, and interior. Don’t forget to clean those wheel wells too, as far as you can reach. Some people go as far as cleaning the undercarriage and the inside of their wheels too. These are really easy points to get, but also very easy to lose.

DON’T leave anything inside your car that shouldn’t be there. This doesn’t just include garbage and drinks, but also CDs, baby seats, toolboxes, and cleaning materials. Either remove it completely from the car or hide it away from where you don’t want a judge to look (like your glove box).

DO talk be present at your car so that the judge look it over. You’ll want to point out the unique features of your car, pop the hood, pop the trunk (if there’s anything there to show off), open the doors, etc.

DON’T just park your car and never come back to it throughout the whole show, then wonder why your car didn’t win anything. If you’re not around for the judges to pop your hood and show off your awesome 700 whp built motor, you simply won’t get any engine bay and performance points, not to mention lose cleanliness points since the judge won’t be able to see your engine bay.

DO assume that the judges won’t know what might be unique about your car versus another. If you have a JDM red hazard button, as small of a mod as that might be, be sure to point it out. If you custom-fabricated a radiator shroud by yourself or made your entire interior covered in suede, let the judges know. If you have a rare set of Prodrive P1 seats, show the judge how they differ than the stock seats or even the JDM v4 seats.

DON’T assume that the judges are completely clueless when it comes to your car. Even if the judge might have never owned or driven your car’s make and model, don’t try to pull wool over their eyes. Judges can still sense BS when they hear it, and that definitely won’t look good. If you’re going to tell a judge that your car is both supercharged and turbocharged and rolls on genuine magnesium Volk Racing wheels, you better be able to prove it. Be proud of what you have and don’t try to talk your car up to something that it’s not.

DO remember that cars are judged on the complete presentation of the car at the show. You talking to the judge is a big part of the presentation, but it’s also important and advisable to show off other aspects of the car that people wouldn’t normally see. For example, I have a photo book of my car that documents each phase that the car went through, from being completely stock to my magazine feature in Performance Auto and Sound. Other people will want to show off their under braces, so they’ll put mirrors under the car so those braces can be seen without having to crawl underneath. I’ve often taken one of my wheels off to show off my blue Stoptech calipers. Having a theme for your car is always helpful.

DON’T use props that don’t fit the theme of your car, or nothing to do with anything else for that matter. Raphael’s sais from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles do not work well to keep your hood propped open. Quick detailer bottles also aren’t very good for that purpose either. Smoke machines are cool for movies, but not so cool to make your car look “epic.” Don’t use mirrors to show off your undercarriage if there’s nothing there to show off.

DO come prepared with everything you need for your car’s presentation and display, especially cleaning materials. It’s never fun to scramble around for a clean microfiber towel or 10mm socket.

DON’T leave all your cleaning supplies and used shop towels lying around for people to trip over and/or step in. The area around your car is just as much part of your display as your car itself.

DO make it clear to the judges what classes you’re entering into. Many shows classify cars not just by the make and model, but also by the number of doors, sheer amount of modifications, and even type of modifications. It all depends on the show of course, but if a judge wants to put your car in competition with full-on show cars just because you moulded on your rear spoiler (which for some shows is considered a “wild” modification), then make sure to let them know that your car is probably better suited for the less extreme classification.

DON’T try to get your car into a class that it doesn’t belong. For example, if the cars are separated by model year, but your car has been modified to have certain features (like headlights) of a different year, don’t try to get it into that other year’s class. If your car was born in 2005, then it should be in the class that includes 2005 cars, not 2002 cars, not 2006 cars, etc etc.

Aside from judging stuff, here are a few points on car show etiquette:

DO mingle around and talk to the other car show participants around you and on the other side of the show area too. You wouldn’t be showing your car if you didn’t think it was something to be proud of, so mingle around and check out what everyone else has done. Not everything will be to your taste, but at least try to appreciate the time and effort that others like yourself have put into their cars.

DON’T walk around like you or your car is the most awesome thing since sliced bread. We all had to start somewhere, and there’s no point in acting snobbish or elitist when everyone is just trying to have a good time.

DO be at the show on time, follow the directions of the staff, and be patient. With the sheer amount of cars and people in attendance, safety and security are of the utmost importance.

DON’T spool your turbo at 12 mph, start your engines just to rev them during the show, try to leave the show early, or ask for some type of special treatment that wasn’t pre-arranged before hand. It’s not hard to be respectful to the show staff, fellow participants, and the attendees.

DO have fun when you show your car! Enjoy the attention it gets, and all the people you’ll get to meet. You never know who you might make a connection with. I got my first position as an editor for Subiesport Magazine simply because I took a lot of photos when I was out showing my car.

DON’T take things so seriously. If you don’t win, don’t be a sore loser about it. If you do win, don’t act like Shawn Kemp just dunked on Alton Lister. There are definitely cases where you can have a very valid reason to complain about it, but do it in private and not in front of everyone else.

I think that should do it for now. If I think of anything else, I’ll add it to the top and post the update below. I hope this was helpful for everyone and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.