The local PCA began its show season in Milwaukee Sunday. It was a small turnout of showcars, but quite a few cars were in spectator mode. It's been a long time since I was involved in this and things have changed a bit. Here is my one and only tip for the show newbies - make sure your car is clean. I mean really clean. The judging was very good, fair (I think, from what I could see), and they gave you tips on what was good / needs improvement. Wow, however, don't let there be any dust anywhere! Our 928 got a 3rd, but few cars were in the class. My only arguement to the judges out there was the suggestion that I use dressing on the interior and tires. As a painter - silicone never gets near my car. I do use the silicone free products, but not much in the interior due to smell and degassing on the glass.

 

Who'd 've guessed? Isn't that why it's called Concours?
* Definition courtesy of PCA - www.pca.org

 

How did your car take 3rd without centercaps?

 

The car is pretty original. With 56k it still had the original TB until I changed it after purchase last year. I drive it in winter - it's my "driver", so I'm not full out for a show like this. It's for fun.
Jean-Louis and his wife showed up with his new race car (he drove it there - it has a temporary street set up!) so the show is the first fun spring meet. The serious guys have beautiful cars - the wife and I were there to just nose around. The 951 in the background is ours also. I entered that in the full on class and didn't place. That one had center caps.
Ours was the only 928. It's hard to get a 928 engine compartment to look good if you drive it since the fender areas are very hard to clean. The "cosmoline" makes the underside look strange also.

 

Larry--

How do the judges traet cosmoline on the lowers? Points off if its' there or not there? I've cleaned some of it off, and bolstered my laziness with the idea that the car was delivered with the stuff on it and it should still be there.

 

It would be a deduct ....

 

Looking good for a driver!

I love concours (yeah I'm weird). I judged one event and have shown in several others with decent results. Cleanliness is critical and takes a great deal of time and effort to achieve good results. Condition is also important but minor imperfections can be offset with Mileage.

Regarding interior products you may want to consider Griots Garage Vinyl/Rubber and Leather Conditioner, they both smell nice and I haven't noted any significant hazing on the glass due to off gassing. To remove any last minute dust right before the judging starts a indoors duster, compressed air (can) and a 3M lint roll all work awesome.

Did you get any more pics of your car and the others?

 

I was there, and I enjoyed your cars very much. Thanks for bringing them out.

 

First tip is that it is a Concours not a Concourse. (Look it up.)

Our late and unlamented trophy supplier spelled it wrong for the second (and last) time on our awards last year.

The fun part is that, having done our name badges and awards for upwards of 30 years, they think they still have a lock on our business. Sorry - incompetence does not impress.

James

 

Interesting note on the spelling - I looked it up in "The American Heritage Dictionary of the American Language" specifically becaue I wasn't sure of the spelling. They have it as I typed it: 2. A coming, moving or flowing together, ( "great crowd, to come together, and other definitions dealing with "broad roads or thoroughfares"). These definitions didn't seem correct and "concours" isn't in the edition I used. As a science major I prove the usual stereotype regarding English ability in the pen protector set, so I live by spellcheckers.
I do use the Griot's products and I like them. Many say that many "private label" products are merely repackaged items from 'Turtle Wax' or the like, but I like the Griot's stuff because they tell you about silicone. Their stuff works, so I use it.
There wasn't much competition at this meet. Despite this, the cars at the top were very nice indeed.
The 'cosmoline' would need to go if you compete against cars that don't have it. It just looks bad on any 928 that's driven. I know many guys on the list have nice engine compartments, but cars from the 80's era are busy underhood and don't clean up well.