First Concours

[Reddwarf]

On Saturday I’m entering my Jaguar in the Jaguar Concours d’Elegance at the Las Colinas Country Club. This will be my first time to show a car. I’ve been slowly prepping the car over several days with multiple washes. In a nut shell, here is the process I did:

Wheels:
I started with the wheel wells. I scrubbed them as best I could and applied a coat of Mother’s Back to Black. The wheels were cleaned with DP Gel Wheel cleaner. The wheels got a layer of AIO. I finished the tires with DP Gel tire gloss

Exterior:
I washed the car using the foam gun and Meg’s GC
Then came the Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay

I spent all day with the PC on the car. The hood, trunk and some spots got PB SSR 2.5 with an LC orange pad. The entire car got PB SSR 1 with a white pad. I followed the process as outlined in the AG videos. I even applied polish and sealant to the water channel of the trunk.

I did reduce the scratches but not to the standards of Justin, Killr, Sufer, etc. I think I need to move up to PB SSR 3 or try the XMT line.

After the swirl removers, I applied PB Professional Polish using the PC on 3 – 4 and an LC grey pad. All buffing was done with Cobra MF’s.

After spending many hours polishing, I washed the car.

I applied Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant (3x) with at least 12 hours between coats. Many people have stated that the WDGS is easy to remove. Now I understand why they said that. It is amazingly easy to remove. It takes no pressure at all.

Today was the final prep before the show. I washed with Foam Gun and DP Extreme Foam Formula and followed with PB Spray & Gloss. I cleaned the interior with PB Natural Look and Connolly Hide care.

Glass got DP Glass restorer, DP Krystal cleaner and a layer of AIO.

I know I’m leaving out details of the many hours I spent on the car. I’ll sum up with a list of the products used:

Meg’s Gold Class shampoo
DP Extreme Foam Formula auto shampoo
PB SSR 2.5, 1, & Pro polish
Simichrome polish
PB Spray & Wipe
PB Spray & Gloss
Mother’s Back to Black
DP Gel Wheel cleaner
DP Gel tire gloss
DP carpet cleaner
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant
Cobra MF’s
Klasse AIO
DP Krystal Vision Glass Cleaner
DP High Performance Glass Restorer
Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay

I’m packed for tomorrow and ready to roll. I’ll take pictures at the Concours and update here with my first Concours experience!

DP Extreme Foam wash:

Car ready for PC:

After photos:

​

 

[Reddwarf]

I have no idea why the photos did not show in the thread. Maybe Flickr doesn't let it work this way?

 

[sparkie]

Beautiful car, outstanding work. I also have been thinking about getting some Poorboys SSR 3 from AG, just like you I need something with a little more bite.

 

[Totoland Mach]

Reddwarf: the Jag looks outstanding! Great gloss and reflection Sir!

Be sure to post your show results.

Toto

 

[ScottB]

nice work ... remember the small details. The rubber air dam under the car. The gas cap and surrounding area. Behind the license plate .... and after that drink beer, look at the women, and enjoy !!!

 

[FloridaNative]

Wow!! Your jag looks beautiful!! I love the Autogeek Rocks shot. Good luck at the show. Have fun. :cheers:

 

[joe.p]

The car looks nice. I wish you the best of luck.if you win AG is a winner as well. The Best Of Luck!!!

 

[Surfer]

Some scratches you won't be able to get out, some don't look bad but may be deep. I have two scratches on my hood (more like a hairline, not a keyed type scratch). OC with a yellow cutting pad on speed 6 did nothing except reduce very slightly. You can only see them when looking at a sharp angle and the light hits just right. No other swirls or marks on the truck, just those two.

 

[dengood1]

Looks great Reddwarf! Nice deep reflection....you can see that with the hose in the background. Next time try a finishing polish with a finishing pad instead of the white pad to jewel the paint for that final "pop", although it doesn't look like it needs it. It's amazing how much time it takes to get a vehicle prepped for a show like that. Did you do get under the hood? Details.....details......

 

[Ridebyshootings]

Have a great time and enjoy the show. Concourse judging is pretty tough and can be political at times so dont be dissapointed if someone gets nit picky over something about your beautiful ride. I usually just go with the intentions of having some fun and try not to get too wrapped up in judging. Andrew

 

[Reddwarf]

Thanks for all the comments! This my virginal concours event so I expect to get experience not high points. And, as Killr sugested, drink beer and watch the women!

I'm entering the Driven Class so the engine and trunk are not part of the judging. I did clean the engine area up a bit while doing all the work, but just general cleaning.

 

[dengood1]

OOPS! Sorry, I see where you did use the Pro Polish and the grey finishing pad...I need to learn to read!

Jag looks great!

 

[supercharged]

I love this Jag!

 

[sparkie]

Thanks for all the comments! This my virginal concours event so I expect to get experience not high points. And, as Killr sugested, drink beer and watch the women!

I'm entering the Driven Class so the engine and trunk are not part of the judging. I did clean the engine area up a bit while doing all the work, but just general cleaning.

Keep us updated!

 

[justin_murphy]

Red,
Sorry I haven't responded to such a great detail!
Looks amazing! Excellent work and attention.

Justin

 

[Reddwarf]

Concours Update

I did not stay for the awards banquet so I don’t know how many points I received. I’ll post the results when I get them.

In the meantime, here is an update on the day at the show.

I arrived and was told to park between a 2000 S-Type and an 87 XJS. I backed in and when I went to open my trunk I got a surprise! Talk about a coincidence, when the concrete parking lot was poured years ago, someone scrawled “DON” into the cement. That is my name, so is that weird or what?!

I used PB Spray & Wipe to clean up the exterior and the wheels. I added a layer of DP Gloss Wheel Gel to the tires. I cleaned a few spots and crevices here and there, and topped the car off with Wolfgang Instant Shine Spritz (the stuff that’s discontinued). A bit of Stoners IG on the glass and I was done.

Then I walked around admiring the other cars. The two most amazing ones were a 1967 E-Type. Had one owner with all the original documents like the shipping bill and purchase order (≈$4,600). It had been painted and the paint was flawless. The other cool car was a 1956 D-Type. What an awesome car!

What shocked me was the paint condition on most of the cars. Swirl city my friends! I feel so much better about the spider webbing I was not able to remove on my car. Apparently these folks have no idea of how to polish and use swirl removers. The 2000 S-Type next to mine was black with gold flecks. It was extremely dull. You couldn’t see the gold flecks. I only knew about them because the owner told me.

I saw people using rags, towels, and paper towels to clean their cars. Meguair’s QD and Windex seemed to be the dominant products.

As I said, I’m waiting to get the Judge’s results. But, I do know I made one mistake. A rookie mistake too. I did not vacuum under the floor mats! It was not very bad under there, but I’m positive I got points deducted for that. DUH!


Some pictures:

Don's parking spot (my green bumper is in the shot):

My car ready for the judges:

1956 D-Type Race car:

D-Type interior:

Immaculate, 1967 E-Type:

http://static.flickr.com/96/245682085_2fa93d7bb6.jpg?v=0

Light blue 67 E-Type, Green 69 E-Type:

 

[Surfer]

Love the old E ad D Types, classics:awesome:

 

[sparkie]

Cool pics, very sweet cars. What's up with the windex, I been told by other people that they use it on the paint. Man that's crazy! Did you drink beer and look at the women? Keep us updated, how you done on judging. I want to see more pics of your car next to other cars if you have them. That one pic you have of your car next to that other one, hands down, yours looks more outstanding.

 

[dengood1]

Did you drink beer and look at the women?

you don't think he was ACTUALLY taking a picture of the car in the 3rd pic do you? (look going up the embankment behind the car in the 3rd pic lol

1956 D-Type Race car:
http://static.flickr.com/88/24568205...79080d.jpg?v=0

 

[FloridaNative]

LOL What the girl?? lol Very nice pics Don and your car looks outstanding. So what did you learn from your first show car experience other than to vacuum underneath the mats??