My First Car Show, Need some help!

[bigtyme1]

Well guys over the past year I have really gotten involved with my son and the Cub Scouts, with that being said I wanted to bring something to the meetings that I could get involved in and enjoy it. Face it, I'm not one for sleeping in the woods with a raccon smiffing my feet or a Snake crawling in my shoes. I have decided to take on a Car Show in my local area as a fund raser for the kids. When I found out they only made about 1500.00 bucks for the whole year of 2011 I was amazed.

So Far Ive gotten a High School to donate there parking lot for about 240 cars, Picked up a few local sponcers, Working on Trophys and dash plaques this week. I really need some help from some of you guys and are sponcers if possible.

1: Im not sure how to handle the judging and how many catagories I should have.
2: I'd like to get some banners to hang around the area from some of are sponcers, I'll be glad to pay for them.
3: Should I do Give Aways or Raffles? We really need to make as much money as possible for the kids, it all goes to Camp and activities for them
4:I want to get as many cars from lat G as possible, In my area its still a growing sport and people still havent seen whats out there.
5: I need a out line of the card that normally goes on the windshield for the judges and a copy of a blank registration car to fill out

Please give me your suggestion and Ideas, I really would appriciate it. Ill post the car show details in the local show area.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Lets get ready for the show season, it all ends in vegas

[68 stang]

Why do you not have local businesses sponser a trophy. It gets their name out there, you collect a fee and you do not have to judge the show.

Ben

[awr68]

Really like this idea, Mark! The kids should really have fun with it!!

[JayR]

I, along with most others who don't have OCD love the way GoodGuys doesn't even use the word "judge" except for their very prestigious "Of the Year" Awards and it makes for a much cooler environment. Read through your Gazette at the list of "Picks" not "Awards" and check out the creativity and fun they put into it instead of creating a nit-picky environment like indoor car shows where some "expert" picks apart your car and deducts points for what he considers is wrong with it regardless of any style, stance or things real car guys deem important.

I'm not saying it's ok if I can fit my fingers in a door jamb but I'm not down with judges who deduct points for the inside of someone's transmission tunnel not being cut and buffed.

In short, give "Picks" to cars you think are cool whether it's a high school kid who bought a short bed work truck and lowered it himself and carefully painted the stock steelies with spray paint all bought with his paper route money or a car like yours with blood, sweat, and tears in it to make it everything it can possibly be but don't give judged trophies to the douche with the same completely out of style T-Bucket he's been waxing and showing since 1977 that happens to meet all of the antiquated judging criteria and trailers it to every show in the County with all the other trophies he's ever received and 20 yards of angel hair to poach trophies from people who actually drive their cars. Everyone who has ever been to a car show knows this guy.

He's the same a$$ hat who shows up to GoodGuys shows at 9 AM and asks where his spot is and what time judging starts and then throws a fit when there isn't a spot for him and goes on to tell everyone how much his car cost. He doesn't come back the next year and that's just fine.

Seriously, Good Guys should be the template for every outdoor show's awards criteria. It makes for a cool, friendly atmosphere and gives credit where credit is due.

I would have the kids sell raffle tickets for door prizes and count me in for t-shirts and hats to raffle and a banner to hang on the fence.

You have my number, Mark. Feel free to call and pick my brain.

[wedged]

Give Doug at March a call and tell him about this. Let him know you need some goodie bags.

When I ran a few shows we did participant judging. The car owners were the judges and had to pick 1 car for each catagory. They needed to fill in at least 3/4 of the catagories or they got disqualified from getting a trophy. This did 2 things- everyone went and looked at each others cars instead of just sitting in a lawn chair, and no one complained that it was unfair or biased. This type of judging did make it harder to add up the votes but it did work.

[RECOVERY ROOM]

Get some of the local automotive business to buy a class trophy and invite them to come and pick the car they like, That always works around here and it will cut cost. Call me also Mark if you need more Ideas

[redfire69]

Top "x" picks seems to work alot better. That way you're not tied down to classes which you'll have to realign depending on participation. Most successful "small" shows around here have top 20 or top 30, choice awards (read sponsor's picks), etc. Raffle tickets for door prizes (donated by sponsors, friends, etc) combined with 50/50 tickets always help for funding raising as well. A small registration fee should help too, don't forget about a waiver clause and any insurance requirements.

Getting friends involved and organizing teams ahead of time will make the event run smoother: check-in and parking, music, raffle & 50/50 ticket sales, food/vending, "judging", awards/MC, etc.

Good luck!!

[HRBS]

GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN !

Mark... I judged car/truck shows for over 10 years at a very well known venue. Its a very unappreciated position. Theres a reason I no longer do it. However, with that said ITS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS..... right ?

So depending on your "entry fee" and anticipated car count you should gather donations and sponsors from local companies as mentioned. We used to use Summit Racing for "Goodie Bags" and add cool stuff from local vendors etc. A 50/50 raffle also helps with proceeds.

As far as judging...... you will NEVER please everyone. Depending on funding I would suggest the top XX picks. This can easily be done by walking around. You can tell if a car has "IT" by walking by. A closer look will confirm or deny you decision. You can also add BEST OFs.... (ie Interior, Paint etc).

Now for the guys like JayR mentioned we used to have an extra area designated for "Elite Judging". This was an extra $5 fee and was done in a "Drive up" judging format. For those interested, they would be told a set time to get in 2 lanes. A team of 5 judges were assigned "areas of interest" and given 30-60 seconds per car to judge (ie one judge just looked at paint/body, another just at the engine compartment, one just interior, one undercarriage, and the other "overall"). Looking at only one area that judge was able to compare just that one area to all the others. They collaborated with a 6th judge that noted the scores and kept track of totals. While one lane was being judged the other had a chance to dust or do last minute cleaning before they were judged. So one lane at a time alternated untill the lanes were closed. We could judge 300 cars in a 2-3 hours.

Call me if you want more details.

[hifi875]

like was said earlier, have some top picks and have some celebrity/vip picks, ie. mayors trophy or something of that nature. 50/50 raffles are popular, and alot of the time the winner will even donate their 50.

[bigtyme1]

Thanks for all the great Idea's guys, Jason you nail it. I agree 100% that the way goodguys does it ,is the best way. so far I have 4 sponcers to help chip in for trophy's and maybe give aways. I still have a few months to get things together. I'm hoping some of my close freinds from Jersey show up

Jason, I appriciate your offer on the shirt, hats and Banner, infact I'll even set up a table if you want to give me some info to put out for you. I'll do the same for anybody that wants to help me out. I'll be glad to lay out your advertising.

Really liking the top pick judging and getting the sponcers to do it, I'm alos going to have the scouts pick out there favorit for the best of show. the plan is to introduce the kids to the cars and what it is all about.

Redfire, Thanks for the registration form. 50/50 is a given if I get the right crowd. I only have a 5 hour window to raise money so I'm not sure if we have time for a raffle too.

If I have the sponcers do the picks, should I still have classes?

Tell Doug to expect a call, he owes me anyway HAHA