10 Rules For Proper Car Show Etiquette
If you are a 'Vette owner, sooner or later you will enter your car in a show. What do you need to do in order to honor the organizers and the competitors, and give the spectators the best possible experience? Obey these 10 simple rules so that you and your car will be welcomed time and again.
1. Plan ahead - Arrive on time!
Arriving on time is rule number one. It's not as easy as it sounds unless you do some advance planning. You need to allocate enough time on site to fully prep your car for the show and be ready at least 15 minutes in advance of the start time. You also have to account for possible traffic delays and any delays that could occur at check-in. Think ahead!
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2. Fully cooperate with staff instructions
Remember: the show staff are all volunteers. They got to the site at 4:30 am just so they could make everything run smoothly for you, the other entries, the fans, and the host organization. That's a lot of people and some competing priorities. Make their job easier; be cooperative, courteous, and kind. If you feel that you have not been assigned the right space or classification, follow the staff's directions, get parked, and then seek resolution for your concerns.
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3. Obey safety and courtesy rules with regard to your exhibit space
Seems simple, but this rule contains a lot of details:
1 - Don't try to save a space for your buddy's car.
2 - Keep all your stuff within your space.
3 - Observe all show rules with regard to display sign size, For Sale signs (most events do not allow them, or severely restrict their size), and other display features.
4 - Obey all local fire marshal safety rules: disconnect battery, secure gas cap with tape or lock, use fire-resistant signage, avoid cigarette smoking, use a drip pan to capture leakage.
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4. After the show begins, don't start your engine and rap the throttle!
You've set up your 'Vette and want to start it up so that it sounds nasty, intimidating, and loud. A few people start to notice and a crowd draws so you rap the throttle a few times because what harm could that do?. RESIST THE TEMPTATION! Your antics could get you disqualified. At the very least, they disrupt the flow of the show, piss off your fellow competitors, and bias the judges to your disadvantage.
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5. Patiently answer all your viewers' questions
You love your car and your hobby, and you'd like to see the next generation catch your enthusiasm. That means you should be prepared to answer any and all spectators' questions, no matter how basic or seemingly obvious. All the attendees have come to see your car and learn about it. Be available, pleasant, and approachable; be someone who is doing something positive to preserve the collector car culture.
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6. Have your car (and you) ready for the judging process
You may not be aware of this, but most judged events require you to make all areas of your car accessible to the judges. The judges won't open your hood, trunk or doors, so you need to do it. Also be sure to move or remove anything that restricts access to the vehicle, even to the extreme of removing your belly pan if you have one.
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7. Don't leave the show before it's officially over
Nothing kills the excitement of the crowd like a bunch of entries leaving early. Respect the spectators and the organizers -- don't leave before the show is officially over! If you know ahead of time that you will need to leave early, notify the event staff and arrange for your display space to be located so that your exit will be as inconspicuous as possible.
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8. Abide by the judges' decisions
You will probably disagree with some of the judges' decisions. You may even have been warned to be wary of favoritism. But it benefits no one (especially you) to be a loud, public, sore loser. Consider the feelings of the other competitors -- they would like to savor the moment and share their successes with their family members. You will have another chance at glory; keep a proper perspective.
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9. If you feel a need to protest, quietly follow the official procedure
There may be extreme cases where you feel you must lodge a protest in order to correct a systemic problem or a gross injustice. Fortunately, there are almost always formal procedures in place to submit your grievances. Know the procedures, proceed quietly, use official forms, be courteous to the staff organizers, don't make a spectacle! If your gripe is legitimate, your behavior may just be the difference between acceptance and rejection.
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10. Do not do a burn-out when leaving the show location
OK; this is the toughest rule to abide by, especially if you win (or are angry that you didn't win): NO BURN-OUTS when leaving the show premises. The primary reason is safety -- yours and the other drivers from the show and on the street. But also consider the reputation of the show organizers within the community. You don't want to be the one who provoked the city into banning your club from having any other events within its borders!
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To keep your mobile work of art rolling, check out the helpful how-to section of the Corvette Forum.