[JRFox]

I am going to be taking my 69 Fastback to a local American car show for the first time on the 1st of September since I have completed its respray. I have also joined a local Mustang club that I have just discovered and they will have a club stand at the show and said I can have my car on the stand. So I am extremely happy about that.

I will obviously clean the car in the days running up to the show. But what do people do to get any driving dirt, etc off of their car when they arrive at a show? There would be no running water to use, so whatever I do would have to be completely carried there in my car. My car is by no means a Concours car, but I want it to look the best it can.

What do people do as a final clean after arriving at a show?

 

[Josep]

Bring her in a trailer, covered..!

Josep

 

[69Mock1]

Didn’t he just say his car is not a trailer queen ?..

 

[IndyFive-O]

Do ALL your cleaning prior to the show - inside and out. Get it as clean as you can.
When you arrive at the show just wipe it down with your favorite detailer spray and a quality microfiber. Wipe the wheels and engine bay down after you do the paint.

It all depends on how far your driving to get to the show, what the weather is like (if it is raining while you drive there) and how clean the car is before you leave your house. It really should only take you 20 minutes to an hour at the most to clean it up when you arrive - depending on the above variables.

 

[Bill Fraley]

You could also use Rain-X waterless car wash to clean it up at the show. Works just like a quick detailer.

Sent from my Z2_PRO using Tapatalk

 

[JRFox]

Thanks for the replies.

The car will have to be left outside overnight before the show. There is no rain forecast, so fingers crossed the weather will be okay. But even dew that will land on it overnight will leave dirty marks on the paint.

Things like detail sprays and waterless car washing are all new to me. I will need to Google some products.

I guess it is an American thing, but trailer queens are not seen that often in the UK. Even Concours cars get driven to shows. I have seen the odd trailer car, but it is normally some sort of race prepared car that is not road legal.

 

[65coupei6_2]

Chemical guys Speed Clean and very soft microfiber rags. I would top it with ceramic coat first.

 

[Josep]

Bring her in a trailer, covered..!

Well, obviously I was making a joke.!

Do ALL your cleaning prior to the show - inside and out. Get it as clean as you can.
When you arrive at the show just wipe it down with your favorite detailer spray and a quality microfiber. Wipe the wheels and engine bay down after you do the paint.

It all depends on how far your driving to get to the show, what the weather is like (if it is raining while you drive there) and how clean the car is before you leave your house. It really should only take you 20 minutes to an hour at the most to clean it up when you arrive - depending on the above variables.

Probably this method is the best choice for your car.

Josep

 

[myfirstcar66]

Never use dish soap or anything with alcohol on the body, they both strip vital oils from the paint. Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol makes an EXCELLENT cleaner for glass and chrome and it is very cheap. Perhaps a car cover or a portable tent with weighted feet to cover the car before the dew will make it easier to detail in the morning. You can Google show tips just as you can detailing products. And remember to have FUN ! !

 

[Blues Power]

0ne of the reasons I dont go to shows anymore

everyone spraying their cars down and the over spray gets all over my glass and chrome

clean it at home , drive it park it leave it alone

 

[DonP]

I like this method for waterless wash. You'll need a lot of microfiber towels.

For product I've used Wolfgang Concours Uber Rinseless Wash but hear that Optimum No Rinse Wash (ONR) is good too.


You're going to want to make sure you get the right microfiber towel too. There are different blend that affect absorbtion.

If you really want to geek out on detailing, check out the other videos on the AMMO NYC channel. As you can see in his microfiber vid, this guy really gets into it

 

[IndyFive-O]

If your just driving it over to the show in nice weather you don't need a waterless wash, detailer spray will work just fine.

 

[IndyFive-O]

0ne of the reasons I dont go to shows anymore

everyone spraying their cars down and the over spray gets all over my glass and chrome

clean it at home , drive it park it leave it alone

Not sure how that happens, a little mist on the towel is all they should be doing. However, I DO get irritated when the person next to me breaks out the aerosol can of tire shine and any slight breeze carries that crap all over.irate:

 

[JRFox]

Thanks for even more replies. Lots of advice, products to check out and some videos to watch.

And remember to have FUN ! !

And this is something I will definitely do. I do not take showing my car too seriously. I just want it to look nice and I am not into entering competitions and just like to turn up and enjoy all the different cars there.

 

[daves67ss]

You'd be surprised how much rubber gets on the back fenders. I wipe down the treads of my tires and make sure there are no rocks in them. Clean the bugs out of the radiator with a tooth pic. I use 2" wide blue tape reversed wrapped in a loop (sticky side out) and pick up all debris from the carpet. Get rid of finger print smudges on your chrome handles, etc. I like to use a bit of wax on a cloth to clean the bumpers and chrome. check for any dead bugs on the front end, parking lamps, head light trim rings, etc. Clean your antenna....this is missed a lot.


But like others said, do all your cleaning at home...then just simple touch up at the show.


Raining on the car does not get it that dirty....it's when you drive in the rain.

 

[RWBaeth]

I bought a set of clip on mud flaps for front and rear and pop them off when I get to the show. Helps keep the dirt and road oil off the lower fender skirts.

 

[daves67ss]

I bought a set of clip on mud flaps for front and rear and pop them off when I get to the show. Helps keep the dirt and road oil off the lower fender skirts.

I did that years ago and have yet to get a rick chip. irate:

 

[Garth66]

I find a spray bottle of distilled water really comes in handy for a last minute wipe down of the glass at a show for a streak-free finish. The commercial glass cleaners all seem to leave some residue, and consequently, streaks (especially if it's a warm sunny day).

 

[tx65coupe]

Chadwick's Triple Play makes the best I've used for a cleaning/detailing spray. If you need a store bought one, Griot's Spray On Car Wash is nice too. Those are the two I use.


I also suggest just washing and vacuuming etc ahead of time and then doing a quick once over after arriving at the show. One of these and a couple quality microfiber towels is all you really need.


If it is clean beforehand, and you don't have to drive far, it may not need to be cleaned at the show.

 

[tx65coupe]

I find a spray bottle of distilled water really comes in handy for a last minute wipe down of the glass at a show for a streak-free finish. The commercial glass cleaners all seem to leave some residue, and consequently, streaks (especially if it's a warm sunny day).

I have noticed this too, unless the glass is cool.