Do you polish your car at shows?
Discussion
I've been out of the classic car ownership loop for 3 years, but will soon be presenting my bashful débutante at a couple of local car shows. In the past I have invariably cleaned my classic in advance of the show and left it be for the duration, but I know many of you like to keep on polishing at the event itself.
I have seen people arriving with protective masking tape across the entire front of their vehicles, which they remove for the show and then re-apply for the journey home. We're not talking Pebble Beach Concours quality vehicles either!
Anyway, each to their own, so I might even get the car care products out myself this time, although if the weather's as hot as today, I probably won't be arsed!
I have seen people arriving with protective masking tape across the entire front of their vehicles, which they remove for the show and then re-apply for the journey home. We're not talking Pebble Beach Concours quality vehicles either!
Anyway, each to their own, so I might even get the car care products out myself this time, although if the weather's as hot as today, I probably won't be arsed!
I had been known to careful clean and polish my car before a show or a club meet. I tended to prefer the approach of clean if first and then drive quicly on the way there so that you arrived with a suitable collection of squashed flies all over the front to show that it was used as nature intended.
while they were making everything look beautiful.
Now most of them have left and so it's not so easy to find good car cleaner within easy distance of the coffee shop.
LotusOmega375D said:
I probably won't be arsed!
Then I discovered the Poles in town were infinitely better at cleaning my pride and joy than I was. What's more I could laze off to the coffee shop while they were making everything look beautiful.Now most of them have left and so it's not so easy to find good car cleaner within easy distance of the coffee shop.
t excluded... 
I polish mine at shows. I find it hard not to.
Yes, I carry a detailing kit (various clean cloths and various sprays for paint, glass, trim and tyres) in the boot and mine is also fully cleaned inside, outside and the engine bay, before leaving for the show, too. And then when arriving home, should it be required.
Just cannot help myself and even if I resisted, my son cannot.
I don't own anything special. Just an old Ford.
Yes, I carry a detailing kit (various clean cloths and various sprays for paint, glass, trim and tyres) in the boot and mine is also fully cleaned inside, outside and the engine bay, before leaving for the show, too. And then when arriving home, should it be required.
Just cannot help myself and even if I resisted, my son cannot.
I don't own anything special. Just an old Ford.
urquattroGus said:
I almost enjoy turning up with a slightly dirty car.
Try to wash it before if possible, but sometimes don't have time.
I NEVER polish a car at a show, I'm embarrassed to and it goes against my "drive it not just polish it" ethos.
I was complimented the other day because my urQuattro (coincidentally) wasn't all polished up and "looks like it actually gets driven."Try to wash it before if possible, but sometimes don't have time.
I NEVER polish a car at a show, I'm embarrassed to and it goes against my "drive it not just polish it" ethos.
Mind you I probably would polish it, if the paint was worth polishing. But not at a show. That's just silly. I have a friend who used to be Mr Big in the Porsche 944 world – he would wrap his Cabrio in cling film before driving it to shows.
The police are raising money for charity this Sunday so want one of my cars. She has done two hill climbs and 725 miles since the last wash, and with the Le Mans Classic next week she will not get washed before Sunday!
ETA:- the forecast has changed dramatically with thunderstorms all day. I have a feeling the E-type will be going. It has a roof!
ETA:- the forecast has changed dramatically with thunderstorms all day. I have a feeling the E-type will be going. It has a roof!
Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 30th June 09:31
I try to make sure it's clean before I go to a show, and if it got really muddy I might try to find a bucket and sponge and clean it off, but only if I could get enough water. But I don't polish the car at a show - usually it's either a bit rainy, in which case a quick going over with a shammy (intentional - it's a make of synthetic cleaning leather), or it's sunny, in which case I'll perhaps wipe the dust off. More often than not, I'll leave it as I tend to keep it quite clean anyway - it's usually cleaned after a show.
I usually give my car a decent clean before going to a show, it's very far from concours though.
If I remember I'll take some cleaning stuff with me to wipe off any obvious grime accumulated on the way there.
I'm not precious about it but see no harm in having it well presented for others to look at.
If I remember I'll take some cleaning stuff with me to wipe off any obvious grime accumulated on the way there.
I'm not precious about it but see no harm in having it well presented for others to look at.
It's quite funny to read how some classic car owners look down on other owners who decide to polish their cars at shows, and then boast that they deliberately leave dead flies and debris all over the front of their car, to prove that it gets driven, and is not a trailer queen.
In both cases, the owners are obviously far too concerned with how their car is perceived by onlookers, one by how clean it looks, and the other by how used it looks.
Personally speaking, I always find it a bit disappointing to see a car on display with dead flies all over it, as my first thought is that the owner simply doesn't care enough to want their car to look as good as possible, rather than be reassured that the car is not a trailer queen.
In both cases, the owners are obviously far too concerned with how their car is perceived by onlookers, one by how clean it looks, and the other by how used it looks.
Personally speaking, I always find it a bit disappointing to see a car on display with dead flies all over it, as my first thought is that the owner simply doesn't care enough to want their car to look as good as possible, rather than be reassured that the car is not a trailer queen.
4rephill said:
It's quite funny to read how some classic car owners look down on other owners who decide to polish their cars at shows, and then boast that they deliberately leave dead flies and debris all over the front of their car, to prove that it gets driven, and is not a trailer queen.
In both cases, the owners are obviously far too concerned with how their car is perceived by onlookers, one by how clean it looks, and the other by how used it looks.
Personally speaking, I always find it a bit disappointing to see a car on display with dead flies all over it, as my first thought is that the owner simply doesn't care enough to want their car to look as good as possible, rather than be reassured that the car is not a trailer queen.
I think your analysis is flawed by your assumption that those who don't polish look down on those who do. In over 40 years of classic ownership I've never come across that, it's either been mutual respect or indifference.In both cases, the owners are obviously far too concerned with how their car is perceived by onlookers, one by how clean it looks, and the other by how used it looks.
Personally speaking, I always find it a bit disappointing to see a car on display with dead flies all over it, as my first thought is that the owner simply doesn't care enough to want their car to look as good as possible, rather than be reassured that the car is not a trailer queen.
I suppose it all depends on the show,how far you have driven and if you have stayed the night in a pub.
Normally I have my pride and joy all ready at home,drive it to the show and that`s it. I do carry all the necessary stuff in the boot just in case.
Like one last month,left home in show condition, then on the M40 it pissed down, stayed the night near the event. The next morning she looked as if I had just done the classic safari !! so it was the full valet kit out at breakfast time.
Normally I have my pride and joy all ready at home,drive it to the show and that`s it. I do carry all the necessary stuff in the boot just in case.
Like one last month,left home in show condition, then on the M40 it pissed down, stayed the night near the event. The next morning she looked as if I had just done the classic safari !! so it was the full valet kit out at breakfast time.
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