Below is a guide for you to use in prepping your car for the show. Whether you are in a stock or modified class, these are the things the judges are looking for. Most importantly, clean every bit of the car, and wax, polish, prepare, vacuum, etc., so it best represents you and your car. This list is not all of the things the judges may consider, but it should guide you in your efforts.
Exterior Quality - 15 points
What is the quality of the
bodywork and paint? If the bodywork has been altered, has it been done well? Is
the finish just shiny or deep and lustrous? Is the paint smooth or orange
peeled? Any overspray, runs, ripples, etc.? Dents? Chips? Are bodykit seams
smooth and straight? All panels aligned? Any doors sagging? Bumpers on straight?
Glass squeaky clean? All cars should have a perfect cleaning and waxing.
Interior Quality - 15 points
Is everything in good condition or truly excellent? Are the seats perfect
and clean or ripped and dirty? Is the headliner intact and tight or drooping and
baggy? Are the carpets clean and new looking or dirty and worn? Have
modifications, such as gauges or aftermarket seats, been hacked in, or are they
professional looking? Are the sun visors in good shape? Door panels? Every piece
of the interior should be perfectly clean and prepared; there should be no dirt
under the floor mats or junk under the seats. Look at the trunk or hatch. It
should be prepared to the same perfect state as the interior.
Mechanical Quality - 15 points
Does everything look neat and
well put together? Is the quality of the workmanship good or great? Are there
special features that deserve points? Are the systems securely mounted? Do the
systems work together harmoniously, i.e. do they appear to flow into one another
or are they just shoved somewhere? Is the exhaust system solid, or about to fall
off? Are there any fluid leaks? Is the engine compartment perfectly clean and
detailed?
Suspension Quality - 15 points
Are tires/wheels/shocks in good condition? Do they look perfect? What is the
extent of modifications to the suspension, and are they well done? Front and
rear stress bars? Camber plates? Special springs and shocks? Coilovers? Special
bushings? Anti-roll (sway) bars? Are the brake calipers/rotors/drums in great
shape? If there was a brake modification was it well done? Are the wheels and
tires appropriate to the suspension? Are the
wheels coated in brake dust? Is the finish of the wheels perfect or are the
wheels scuffed? Do the tires shine or are they scuffed and dirty?
Cleanliness - 15 points
This is self-explanatory. Every part of the car from front to back and top to
bottom should be clean. Things that should be shiny should shine. Things that
should be polished should be polished. This includes the trunk or hatch; the
glove box, the grille, the doorsills, and under the floor mats. No fabric or
leather should show stains of any kind.
Overall Concept And Integration -
20 points
This is a subjective category that needs some thought. The point here is the
total quality of the car in all of the categories above, and how well everything
hangs together. A million-dollar paint job with a poor interior does not score
high. Full engine work, but no suspension work should not score highly. What you
are looking for is a car in the class that YOU want to bring to a show like
this, which needs no apologies or excuses for anything. Where all of the
modifications are done correctly and equally balanced.
Display - 5 points
You should provide a display documenting the car, showing special systems,
recording the work in progress, dressing up the display area, etc. Displays can
be entertaining, informative, or both. This is a good place to pick up what may
be a crucial number of points. No display, no points.