Australian Car Shows are a great day out for the whole family to enjoy. And while there are obvious rules on entry, there are a number of Unspoken Rules of Car Shows which are just as important to know.
Auto show, car show, motor show … there are a few different names but they all lead to the same place; a meeting of like-minded car enthusiasts who are excited to see the latest innovations, exotic cars or just to talk shop with other car lovers.
The first type of car show is run by the automotive industry and features new ideas, launching products to potential customers. The other style of gatherings are more informal events where enthusiasts bring along their own cars for people to see; these aren’t typically organized by big companies but rather locals or amateurs who want others to enjoy what they have in store – usually, free-of-charge instead with a fee at door like most larger shows tend do!
There are also two reasons why one might attend a car show. One is because you are in the market to buy a car and would like to see all of the new models in one place.
The other reason is that you live and breathe cars and want to enter your own car into a show, or you just like to talk to other car lovers.
Local car shows
For those attending a local car rally for the first time, be aware there are unwritten rules for these kinds of events:
Don’t touch without asking
A car on display isn’t an invitation to jump in and start touching whatever you want, or a place to lean up against the car while chatting. The owner of this car would have spent hours detailing and polishing their vehicle before coming to the event and so the last thing they want is hand prints all over it within minutes of the show starting. They are probably more than happy for you to get in and take a look at their pride and joy, just make sure you ask first.
Watch your kids
Taking your kids to a car show is a great way of spending some quality time with them and sharing your love for cars. Just keep them near you at all times. It can be quite distressing to car owners if they have kids climbing all over seats and on top of the car because the parents have been side-tracked and forget to keep an eye on them.
Be polite
If you don’t like a car that is at the show, or you don’t think the owner has done the best job of doing it up, keep that opinion to yourself. The old adage ‘if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all’ really applies here. The people who have bought their cars along to the show take great pride in their work, and they are there to share their project with people. It is not cool to scoff or belittle someone’s car when they are standing right there within earshot.
Industry events
If you’re going to an industry-run car show because you are in the market for a new car and would like to see what new and exciting innovations are out there, follow these tips to get the best out of the day:
Compare them all
You might turn up to a car show with the exact car make in mind that you want. Don’t be tempted to just visit the stand for that company only, without even looking at the competitors. This is the one chance you’ll have of looking at everything that is out there all under one roof without having to go from caryard to caryard all over town, so you may as well make the best of it and check out all the different cars. You might surprise yourself, and come across something that is amazing that you hadn’t considered before. But even if you don’t, knowledge is power and it’s nice to know you’ve armed yourself with all of the information that you need in order to have made the right decision for you.
Talk and question
A car show is a great chance for you to have a really good chat with the reps, without the pressure of them trying to make a sale. Ask all of the questions you want, they’ll be more than happy to talk to you, that’s why they are there! They will also be happy to give you demos and tutorials on things you would like to know more about, like how to operate the sat nav system or the stereo.
Take your time
You’ve paid for your ticket to get in, why rush it? Allow yourself a minimum of two hours to make it from one end of the show to the other, chatting with representatives along the way. Sometimes it is a good idea to skip the opening day of a show as that is when it will be most crowded and you may not be able to take the time you need.
Entering your car into a show
If you are thinking about entering your car into a local car show, you’ll need to get your car prepped and ready for the big day. Set aside a few hours the day before (or the morning of if you have the time) to use your AutoSmart detailing products on the car. Give it a good polish, glaze and wax so you have removed any minor imperfections and have your pride and joy shining so much it catches the attention of all of the other show-goers.
Don’t forget to clean the interior of the car as well, as people might want to take a look inside. Leather conditioner, steering wheel polish and a good vacuum will help. And last but not least, keep a good microfiber towel on hand at the show so you can touch up the car when it starts to show finger prints. No matter how careful or mindful the other car lovers are, you can’t avoid all marks when there are that many people taking a look at the car.
There are so many great car shows and events in Australia. Don’t forget the major ones that are well known such as the annual Street Machine Summernats Car Festival and MotorWorld Sydney which is launching this year.
