So you've acessorized your car with a set of 19-in rims, a pimpin' paint job, and one dope-ass body kit. Feeling pretty cocky cause your car is looking tight, you decide to step into the limelight, entering your first car show, fully confident to kick some ass and take some names. Sorry to break it to you buddy... but you don't stand a chance of winning!
Now settle down students. My name is Professor Showtime and for the next portion of this article I will be conducting a full analysis into the show car industry and what it takes to win awards. In order to grasp the concepts of what it takes to win a car show we will break down a typical judge and his viewpoints on what he or she looks for when scoring a show car. Now I know most of you students have attended or competed in a car show sometime in your lifetime but do you really know what the judges want? What do they look for? And are certain events rigged? (Silence in the classroom). Exactly my point. Well let's begin with the basics and get you started with some key pointers on preparing your ride for a show.
Cleanliness Is The KeyA show car should exemplify the "best of the best" when it comes to competition. Keep in mind you are competing at a show to win the hearts and minds of both judges and spectators. If your car looks like a complete shitbox, chances are all you'll end up receiving is a sneer from the judges and sympathy hugs from your competitors at the end of the day. Cleanliness underneath the sideskirts, dash, doorjambs, engine bay, undercarriage and trunk lids are important when prepping any car for competition if you plan to win. Elton Lo, an experienced judge at various venues and tuner/owner of Raceline Development best sums it up by saying, "If your gonna clean a car, clean the f*cking car...hit the wheel wells, aftermarket parts like underbrace strut bars, suspension, etc. Don't just clean the body and nothing else." At any given event, a judge will run his or her fingers under the front and rear wheel wells as well as under the side skirts to see how much time and effort was put into cleaning a vehicle prior to competition. If grease or dirt is evident, it's a guarantee points will be deducted for uncleanliness.
Going With The FlowThe first impressions are always the lasting ones. Applying this to show quality cars is no different in the import subculture. One of the main pointers a judge often looks for is how well a body kit flows with the shape and angles of the car. Director of ICSA (International Car Show Association) sanctioned judges for Extreme Autofest and HypeRfest, Bill Montgomery, states, " the most important aspect to bodykits is having a smooth, easy flowing bodyline. Bondo, chipped or scuffed paint, and flaws should be paid close attention to." Most judges will agree if you install a crazy chin spoiler, chances are you might want to consider matching sideskirts, rear bumper, and whale tail to complement your front end.
Customization Is The KeyWhen competing at shows, it becomes a necessity to customize your vehicle to differentiate your ride from the rest of the class. Custom parts are very important because it shows the product was made exclusively for your vehicle, ultimately displaying the car uniqueness. You've heard it a million times, people complaining that there are no aftermarket parts readily available for their cars. "That's a bunch of crock," says Lo. "Anything and everything can be made. It's just a matter of who to contact, where your imagination takes you and of course funding to pay for the job. If your on a budget and strapped for cash why not do it yourself?" The serious enthusiasts overcome obstacles and do whatever it takes to get the job done while the complainers are the ones who don't win shows.
Sweet Parts! But Are They Really Functional?We are all too familiar with the term "faking the funk." For those who are oblivious to the term it basically means being a "poseur." Poseurs can front the products on their cars such as gauges and lights but when it comes time to turn them on they don't work! Make sure every product and component you install in your vehicle is in proper working condition and nothing is half-assed in the car. NOS is a popular product among show and race enthusiasts. A typical scenario that judges see among show cars is the infamous bottle in the trunk with no nozzles in the engine bay or Roll bars slapped in the day before a show and tucked under the carpet minus the bolt thinking the judges don't check. "What's the point of side vents on certain show cars if it serves no purpose? Where does it go? What does it do?" says Lo. "Those vents are nothing more than cosmetic deceptions."