Car Show Prep

[Deldran]

I tried searching and it seems the search function here is not the greatest even used the google trick, but could find what i was curious about.

I do more autocross and such than car shows but i try to attend locals ones. most of them help a club or some other local organisation and they are just fun.

My question is what do you guys do to prep your car once you are at the show. Some shows I go to are a 30 minute drive. and my car can collect a bit of dust pretty quick.

What do you guys do to first get whatever your car collected on the drive to the show off without damaging the finish. Then what quick detailers/waxes have you had the best luck with. I remember i picked up a product once that was a great cleaner/wax spray but that was when i was young and i am sure i might have induced some swirls with it.

Thanks

[Dougw4355]

I tried searching and it seems the search function here is not the greatest even used the google trick, but could find what i was curious about.

I do more autocross and such than car shows but i try to attend locals ones. most of them help a club or some other local organisation and they are just fun.

My question is what do you guys do to prep your car once you are at the show. Some shows I go to are a 30 minute drive. and my car can collect a bit of dust pretty quick.

What do you guys do to first get whatever your car collected on the drive to the show off without damaging the finish. Then what quick detailers/waxes have you had the best luck with. I remember i picked up a product once that was a great cleaner/wax spray but that was when i was young and i am sure i might have induced some swirls with it.

Thanks
'

Maybe this will help

Link

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/19956-final-wipe.html

[Dougw4355]

oops


Maybe one more link from mikes articles

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/23128-tips-techniques-using-spray-detailer-remove-light-dust-fingerprints-smudges.html

[statusdetailing]

You might want to look into doing a waterless wash with Optimum no rinse. You can use onr for rinsless washing, waterless washing, as a quick detailer and as a clay lube. You can also touch up your wheels with it. If used correctly you will not induce swirls.


I'd take onr Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine: clay lubricant, optimum rinseless wash, no rinse car wash, optimum detailing products (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-no-rinse.html)
A Good foaming aerosol glass cleaner (sprayaway is actually pretty good and cheap)
and an aerosol dressing to touch up exterior and interior trim quickly and with no overspray Meguiars Plastic & Vinyl Coating, exterior trim coating, trim dressing, vinyl protectant (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-plastic-vinyl-coating.html) (This is an excellent non greasy product)
I suggest hyper dressing for tires but there are many good products out there.
Lots of microfiber towels (There are many good choices on AG) and one or two large plush microfibers for the waterless wash The Supreme Guzzler Waffle Weave Microfiber Drying Towel by Cobra is a medium size drying towel for cars, compact trucks and SUVs. (http://www.autogeek.net/cobra-waffle-weave.html) You will be able to use this towel hundreds of times. It's rock solid and soaks up a ton of water.
Good luck!

[vet]

When I go to parades, I take a QD along, plus window cleaner, and plenty of microfiber towels. I use either Megs QD spray, or ONR diluted to QD strength.

Not exactly the same as a car show, as I'm moving, and people don't see every little flaw if there is one, and the focus is on the flags and signage on the truck.

I've also taken spray wax (Megs) for a 'just in case' .

[Ray@Autogeek]

Pinnacle Liquid Crystal Waterless Wash Concentrate with Carnauba (http://www.autogeek.net/waterless-wash-concentrate-with-carnauba.html)

I keep a diluted bottle of this in my backpack with a good MF towel. I go to a lot of local car shows, motorcycle meets, charity drives etc. and I make sure my bike is always the shiniest one there :)

[Deldran]

Yea thats what i have been doing, in the process of getting a good stock of quality microfibers instead of the cheap stuff i have now. This last year i just used Meguires Ultimate Quick detail to get any dust or anything off the car and make it shine, but was concerned that the dust might have been causing swirls in the paint.

I think a waterless wash wax might be a better system. I can never keep my wheels clean, i could have them spotless and in a couple stops covered in dust again. I know I could get pads that dust less but doing AX need good pads, so thats something i will have to live with lol.

Thanks for all the reply's @Ray@autogeek. May i make a suggestion. Putting a custom google search also in the search bar for the forum would be a great help in finding some of these things

[RedXray]

Putting a custom google search also in the search bar for the forum would be a great help in finding some of these things

You could always do a search query on google that will only display hits from Autogeek.net.


site:autogeekonline.net car show prep

(just add your search key words after .net)

[Deldran]

You could always do a search query on google that will only display hits from Autogeek.net.


site:autogeekonline.net car show prep

(just add your search key words after .net)

Yea i did that still wasnt coming up with to much on this in particular might have been using the wrong key words though.

Alot of people do not know that google trick

[Meticulous-Detail]

Here is what I do.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/51086-shelby-50th-anniversary-celebration-car-show-prep-10-gt500-meticulous-detail.html

[07gtcs]

Depends on the Show and the conditions. My car is usually as spotless as it can be before I get there, so hopefully I don't have to do much. I carry just about everything you can think of, waterless washes, QD's, spray wax's, tire spray or gel and lots of towels. Most likely I'll do a WW then follow with a AD with Carnauba.