Have you ever wondered what the point of a car show is?  After all, what could possibly be so much fun about accumulating so many cars in a single area?  Most people do not realize, but car shows are about so much more than simply lining up a bunch of beautiful cars for people to admire.  There are typically contests that are involved in the shows as well with awards handed out in several categories including Best Overall, and often Best Restoration and other similar categories.

For those who are bringing cars to the show, it is a chance to show off the handiwork that they have put into the car, and also a chance to see how others feel about their work.  Of course, some people are lucky and walk away from almost every show they enter with a prize, but generally this does not happen.  Most people put months and even years of work into a car before they leave a show with a prize. 

This can translate into thousands of dollars worth of work often.  Dog shows are for dog lovers, and car shows are the equivalent but based around cars.  Because of this the competition can sometimes be quite stiff, but in general terms they are still a ton of fun to watch.  There is hardly ever a time when someone is unable to find something to do at a car show that does not interest them.

From the dozens to hundreds of cars that are entered there are only small handfuls that will leave with a prize or a place as one of the top cars.  The fun of looking around and seeing who wins, combined with seeing the beautiful cars, and also participating in some of the other activities that are going on make it a great way to spend the weekend.  There are many people who spend all of their weekends looking around for a car show to attend.

Not everyone who is dedicated to attending car shows actually have cars.  Some of the people who enjoy car shows the most do not have a car, and may not even have an interested in getting a car that would be able to enter the car show.  Deciding if you are interested in attending the car show is often dependent on your personality but realizing that there is much more to the car show than simply walking the rows and rows of cars is often enough to catch many people's interest.

While car shows are not always considered a sport, they often help to foster great sportsmanship amongst competitors and can be a great way to share experiences and learn plenty about cars.  If you are interested in getting involved in the car shows then sometimes attending a few shows before you enter can be a great way to learn as much as possible about what the judges are typically looking for so that you can improve your vehicle to improve your overall chances of walking away as a winner.

Just think in a single location there are so many gorgeous cars that are all beautifully restored and you can spend all of the time you want looking and dreaming about each one.  There are so many people to meet as well that you can have a lot of fun and you may discover that car shows are your favorite weekend activity that you never knew about.

Most people have no idea just how dangerous the idea of taking a car to a car show without insurance can be.  Have you ever imagined what would happen if there was something that went wrong and there were was no insurance protection in the event that the paint was scratched, the doors dented, or even the glass broken in a window?

It is best to ensure that you have plenty of insurance that will cover your needs.  This may mean having additional coverage over the standard insurance that most people have on their vehicles.  You should always ensure that you purchase enough coverage to cover the vehicle regardless of what occurs.  This means that you need to carefully look over your policy that you currently have. 

Many policies have limitations and restrictions on what they will pay, and have lifetime limits on the policy.  You need to be well aware of this before you go to the car show.  Take the opportunity to really carefully study all of the information in the policy to determine where your coverage is lacking.  You may be able to modify your existing policy or you may need to purchase a supplemental policy to fill in the gaps.  Regardless of which method you choose to take, you need to ensure that the entire amount of the vehicle is covered.

Many people make the mistake of only insuring a portion of their vehicle.  You must realize that when you are dealing with car show worthy cars they are almost always valued at much greater than standard resell rates would cover.  You may discover after a problem occurs that your insurance will only cover a percentage of the vehicle.  This is a nightmare to discover.  Always talk to your insurance agent and ensure that you have enough coverage that will pay the appropriate amount in the event of damage. 

You certainly do not want to be caught off guard if your car sustains substantial scratches at the car show to discover that your car can only receive a maximum of $1,000 in insurance money.  You also need to discuss with your insurance agent if your vehicle needs to have an inspection to document the physical condition.  This is often important on very expensive policies or full coverage insurance.  You want to ensure that all damage is paid for, rather than the insurance company possibly claiming that damage was pre-existing.

If you shop around you should be able to cover your car for only a few hundred dollars a month, which compared to the cars that can cost as much as several hundreds of thousands of dollars is only a fraction of the cost.  Choosing good insurance coverage will ensure that you are able to enjoy your vehicle all of the time, rather than being forced to pay for repairs out of pocket after a car show.  Remember, it is important to have adequate protection for your car before the car show, rather than waiting until after your car has already been damaged some how. 

Most people have much more coverage than they ever need on their prized cars, but it is worth the additional money for the piece of mind that you have knowing that your treasured car will be repaired if a problem occurs.  Another option that you have is discuss with the event sponsors whether they will be providing insurance to the people showing their cars.  Some do offer insurance; however most do not provide coverage. 

If the idea of car shows to you brings to mine a huge field with dozens or even hundreds of old and antique cars spread around you may decide that this simply is not something that you are interested in.  But did you know that there are also car shows that the car manufacturers hold to show off the newest makes and models they are releasing to the general public?

Theses shows are spectacular with a few cars of each design that is being featured located strategically around the showroom.  Most people are not able to actually drive the new car, but they can certainly get a good up close look at the car and see exactly how it will look when it is released on the market for everyone to purchase.

These events are sometimes open to the general public and other times they are limited to only those who are invited to the event.  Typically, if the event is by invitation only the company sponsoring the event will invite a few news stations, as well as some of the car critics to come see what their newest car looks like.  This can sometimes be a very exciting adventure, and there are times when they will give away tickets for admission so that others can attend as well.

These car shows tend to differ a bit from most car shows that you are used to, most car shows have vehicles of multiple models and makes all around the fair grounds, however at these car shows there is not as much diversity that you can see.  Of course if you have any questions about the newest cars this makes the greatest place to be to ask about the new models.  There are always plenty of staff people on hand that can answer your questions about the newest model for you without any problems.

If you are looking for these car shows, you generally have to work hard to find out exactly when they are located.  Most car manufacturers do not readily announce the show to everyone.  They do however still tell some of the major car lots that sell their vehicles and also let some of the new stations know when and where the show is.  This allows everyone the opportunity to find out when they can attend if they are interested.  It is important to realize that these car shows are vastly different from other car shows, there are not multiple old cars around, and there is also strict security at these events.

Many of these events also have dress codes of what is considered appropriate to wear.  Ensure that you ask about all requirements before you travel to the event to ensure that you are fully prepared when you arrive.  Depending on the location of the car show you may need to arrange for a hotel room, it is very important if you need to book a hotel room that you do this in advance rather than waiting until the day of the show to attempt at booking your room.

While there may not be tons of cars to see at these special car shows, they are often a great experience and it is an amazing treat being able to see all of the newest cars before they officially roll into the car lots for the public to see themselves. Being able to see these special cars in advance is a rare treat that many people enjoy.  It is something that you can arrange if you know where to check ahead of time, but just showing up at the car show the day of the show will generally not help you get inside.

If you plan your trip ahead carefully, you can have a lot of fun.  Of course taking some pictures of the car show can be a great way to remember the special car show that you have attended and make a great souvenir that you can always treasure.  Once you have successfully gotten into one car show you will likely find it is much easier to get into future car shows.

Have you ever wondered exactly why many people organize and participate in car shows?  After all, it seems that the only purpose is to walk around and look at car after car that is restored or in the process of being restored.  How much fun can it possibly be?  If you have ever attended a car show you know that they can be an incredible opportunity to view some incredible pieces of machinery that have been restored.

Many people also enjoy attending car shows to see some of the different cars that are entered and highly enjoy walking around and seeing how the different cars vary.  It can be a great source of inspiration for many people who are either working on a car, or dream about working on a car.  Of course, there are also those who merely enjoy admiring the gorgeous cars and never have any plans on building their own.

Regardless of whether you own a car or not, going to see a good car show can be a great experience.  The people who own cars that are submitted have spent often hundreds of hours working on creating the perfect masterpiece that is designed to be a proud representative of the style that the car once had in its original life.  Of course, some people also take the car and turn it into a custom piece of art with numerous modifications that make it hard to recognize the original vehicle.

Most car shows also have competitions where someone will be responsible for judging all of the cars that are entered to determine which are the best looking, most unique, and best restored for example.  To many whom own a restored car there is nothing better than winning a prize saying that others agree that their car is the best.  Some of the prizes involve money or ribbons and others are just a certificate.  For most owners of the winning car they simply want the recognition.

There are different types of car shows that are organized as well.  There are some that are designed for the upscale car lover.  These tend to be semi-formal events with people dressing up and pulling out only their best clothes to attend.  Many of these types of events do not involve children, or at least very few children.  The other style tends to be very laid back with most people wearing comfortable clothes such as jeans and t-shirts and bringing their entire family along. 

The choice of which type of car show is best suited to your tastes depends on your own personality but there are plenty of options available no matter which style you prefer.  Many people enjoy car shows so much that they travel all around the country and even the world to find a car show that they are interested in seeing.  This is a great way to spend some quality time with your family and enjoy looking at the gorgeous cars at the same time.

If you have a car to enter, it is an amazing experience that can be a lot of fun.  Many people who attend car shows are able to gather numerous opinions about different things they can do with their car.  Additionally most owners walk away with at least one offer from someone to buy their car as well.  This can be a great time to show off your pride and joy and see just how much others appreciate your hard work as well.  After all, everyone is looking for acceptance and finding out that people love your car when dozens and hundreds of gorgeous cars surrounds them is an incredible feeling.

As you can imagine a car show is about so much more than simply looking at the cars.  Making contacts, viewing the gorgeous cars and meeting new people are all just some of the great aspects that await you at a car show and besides being able to see all of the gorgeous cars well maintained and in their perfect condition is such a true thrill.

If you are looking for a great antique car show you are certainly not alone and there are dozens of shows each year that are ready and waiting to satisfy your craving for gorgeous old cars.  There are car shows in almost all locations around the world that focus on older cars and this is the perfect opportunity to get your fill of these beautiful cars.  But how do you really locate the show that you are interested in?  There are plenty of great car shows that are available and with some tips and suggestions; you are sure to find the show of your dreams.

Start looking on the Internet.  There are thousands of shows listed on the Internet and with some decent research skills, you can move past the hot rod and street shows and are merely left with the antique car shows.  If you are determined to really put forth a good effort, you can typically find a show for each weekend for a year or more.  Finding the car show online can allow you to easily narrow the search down to just your particular area, and it can also allow you to search for shows that are only in a particular area you choose or during a particular time of year that you specify. 

Another option that you have is looking in the antique car magazines.  There are always shows going on, and the antique car magazines are typically only going to list the antique car shows that are going on.  Additionally, many of the magazines are able to usually offer these lists broken down by both month and region in which they are held.  This can help you to easily organize several trips at the same time, rather than cross-referencing information to even schedule a single trip.

One of your other options is to check with the antique car clubs that are in your area.  Many of the members are likely to participate in these shows so they generally know exactly when the shows are, where they are located and plenty of other useful information.  Always look for the clubs that are particularly specializing in antiques in order to get the best results.  If you call just a general car club, they may not be able to help you with antique car shows since most of their information will be lumped together by date, rather than type of car featured.

Look at your local newspapers as well as city calendar to help you as well.  Often these resources will list car shows that are coming up and are great sources of new car shows.  The good news about these is they are usually in your local region as well, but the options that are listed tend to be very limited this way because there is almost nothing that will be listed in different regions or even states.  The options will be much smaller, and additionally they are not generally announced as far in advance using these methods.  This can make planning in advance a bit of a hassle particularly if you are trying to organize numerous car shows for the same weekend, or fill up an entire summer with tons of antique car shows.

If you have a membership in a car club yourself look to your monthly newsletter to give you a bit of information.  These newsletters typically list all car shows that are coming up in the near future and will only list basic information but generally give you the information several months in advance.  This can allow plenty of time to plan out the trip if you need to travel and can be a huge timesaver.

Your last option is to ask around at each car show that you attend.  Most car shows are going to know about other shows that are around the same time.  Asking some questions of the organizers or even looking for a program of the car show will generally be a great way to help locate the next great antique car show that you are interested in attending without having to do hours of research.

Deciding which type of car show thrills you the most is not always easy, after all there are so many and your options are so large that it is sometimes quite easy to be confused and lose track of which are which, and what you like, as well as which you dislike.  The easiest thing to do generally is to determine which type of car you are most interested in; this then helps you to narrow down the field.

Some of the most popular car shows are the antique car shows, and also the street rod and hot rods.  These are all different and feature different types of cars.  Everyone who enjoys one type is not always thrilled and fond of the others.  If you enjoy and appreciate the finer things in cars and really enjoy looking at the gorgeous cars of yesterday then the antique shows may be perfect for you.  If however, you really enjoy the idea of looking at cars that are created with the idea of racing you may find that this is not your style to look at antique cars.

For those who love speed and racing the street rods and even the hot rod shows tend to be a much better solution and offer a much more fun experience.  There are generally plenty of shows in both categories and seeing the different cars can be quite thrilling and exciting.  In addition, there are also car shows that are geared towards specific models.  This is typically most common in higher end cars, but is sometimes done for lower models as well.  If you are interested in a particular model such as Ferraris there is nothing better than going to a Ferrari show and being surrounded.

Once you have determined the type of car show that you are interested in you can start looking around.  If you find a car show that you are unsure about, call and ask the event coordinators what types of cars will be present.  Generally, you should be able to gather enough information before the show that you can avoid those that are not of interest to you, and instead focus on those shows that you do find interesting.  Feel free to ask questions, and you are going to have a better time.

You may discover that if you subscribe to a magazine that specializes in the type of car that you are interested in you have a much easier time locating the shows that interest you.  Most street rod magazines for example are not going to list car shows for trucks or even antique cars.  The process of elimination is usually heavily used and typically, only car shows applicable to the magazine are published and advertised to help make it easy for people to find exactly what they are looking for. 

There are some newsletters that you can sign up for as well.  These newsletters typically publish the dates and locations for various types of car shows all around the country and even tend to list a few international shows in case people are interested.  While the number of shows that are listed tends to vary depending on the style of the car, it can be a great source of information and make it much easier than having to search all around to find the car that you are most interested in. 

If you are planning a car show or if you are planning on going to a car show you are probably wondering about some of the fun activities that are available there for entertainment.  Of course, not everyone who goes to a car show enjoys the cars, so there are always plenty of other activities just in case so that it can be a fun event for the entire family.

Your first main activity that usually draws people is of course the cars themselves.  It is usually a good idea to have at least a few categories that you can award prizes on, such as best overall car, and any other categories that you can think of.  This is usually a great way to really have some fun for the people who own the cars at least.  Plus many of the visitors to the car show tend to enjoy watching the award process.

There are often some other activities such as dancing and singing as well.  Most car shows will offer some entertainment that can allow you something fun to do.  While the music may not always be live there will usually be something that you can listen to and dance to.  If you are more of a closet danger you can usually just sit and enjoy watching others dance as well. 

Other fun activities can include face painting for the kids, and even contests for door prizes and raffles.  The types of prizes that are offered tend to vary from each car show, but there are generally tons of prizes that are available.  While most people thoroughly enjoy attending the car show, there are also some aspects that can allow you to really branch out their love of cars.

One of the best aspects is of course being able to look at all of the incredible cars.  There are so many cars from different eras and of course there are plenty of cars that are great sources of inspiration for those who are interested in restoring their own car.  There are some car clubs who organize car shows and car races at the same time.  Deciding what your favorite part of the car show is can depend heavily upon your own personality.

If you are looking for a great weekend then going to a car show is a great idea.  Finding something for everyone to enjoy is usually possible and you are almost guaranteed that you will have a fabulous weekend.  Taking the entire family out to a car show is a lot of fun, and can be a great way to allow your family and children to learn to enjoy your love of cars.  There are always plenty of car shows around that you can enjoy and see and with a bit of planning you may be able to squeeze in more than a single show in a week as well. 

Look to car shows as a great family activity and you are sure to thoroughly enjoy the time you are able to spend with your family.  Let the kids have their faces painted, sign up for the door prizes and even take the time to admire all of the gorgeous cars that are on display.  You may even discover that aside from all of the incredible cars that are at the car shows, you may decide that you want to start working on a car of your very own.  Going to a car show can be a great source of inspiration at times, and if you family enjoys the car shows with you, then it makes the perfect activity for an entire family to work on.

So enjoy your time at the car show and have plenty of fun sharing your experience with your family.  You can even look around at the car show as a great way to become inspired if you are already working on a particular car since there is no reason at all that you cannot use some of the ideas that you gather at the car show for inspiration.

If you are interested in really helping your car stand out well at the next car show that you enter, there are some things that you can do to help really ensure that your car is presenting the best image possible.  There are likely to be dozens if not hundreds of others cars present, so you need to ensure that your car puts forth the best wheel possible in order to really make a good impression on the judges.  Taking a car that is not properly prepared will usually leave you walking away empty handed, no matter how good your car normally looks or how unique it is.

Your first step should always be cleaning the outside of the car.  This includes all crevices on all places around the car.  Do not forget about cleaning the wheel wells, tires, door handles, window seals, license plate and all other places that can get dirty.  Even if it looks clean, clean it again just to ensure that it looks good. 

Once you have finished the exterior of the car you can start moving inside.  It is a good idea to do a good detail cleaning on the car before you go to the show.  This includes cleaning out all of the air vents, seat belts, and window seals on the inside, dash gauges, switches and anything else that is visible and viewable.  You should also pay extra close attention to the pedals, door handles, window handles, and upholstery.  If the upholstery can be cleaned sufficiently using a vacuum cleaner then it is a faster process but also be sure to shampoo any stubborn stains.  You should also take the time to use protectant wipes on all of the vinyl or leather inside the vehicle to ensure that it is protected and shiny so it looks good.  If you have any wooden accents, ensure that they are also protected and shiny as well.

Wash the windows several times thoroughly both inside and outside.  You need to ensure that there are no spots, streaks or smudges.  Anything that looks dirty should be cleaned again, and even after the first time you clean them it is wise to clean it again just to ensure that there is no dirt or debris left on the windshield.   You should also carefully pay attention to all mirrors and any chrome that is on the vehicle and ensure that everything is shiny and looks like new.

The tired should also be cleaned as well, but you may need do to a brief touchup on the tires once you arrive at the car show.  You should always ensure you bring the supplies to clean the tires while you are there, rather than just cleaning the tires before the show.  If the tires are not dirty on the way, then you can possibly omit cleaning at the show, but always ensure that at least the sides of the tires are perfectly clean and there is no dirt or debris.

Your final steps should be ensuring that the car is waxed and polished before the show.  This can then be touched up if necessary at the show itself but makes the paint job on the car really pop and look quite impressive.  Having a clean car that is not waxed can be a bit of a disappointment for the judges so taking the extra time to wax the car is a great extra step that can score major points with the judges when they make their rounds.

Overall, your car should always give off a car powerful, clean and stately impression at the car shows.  Unless you are taking a car that you are working on as a work in progress for demonstration purposes you should never take a car that is dirty or in pieces.  Only taking beautiful, clean, shiny and completed cars is one of the best ways to ensure that the judge's notice all of your hard work, rather than the dirt on your vehicle.

There are numerous ways to plan a car show, but creating a car show that is memorable and encourages a lot of people to attend can sometimes be tricky.  There are some tips and suggestions that can help you ensure that you are planning the best car show possible to encourage the most people to attend and check out the cars.

Start with the cars.  If you are looking at pulling cars from numerous car clubs, start sending out flyers announcing your show at least 2 months in advance.  Many car clubs organize activities and you want to ensure that they know about your show far enough in advance that they can tell members.  Additionally, you want to ensure that you are telling numerous car shows, most members will not bring their cars so telling 5-10 car clubs is not a bad idea if you have room for a huge turnout of cars.

Bathrooms, bathrooms and do not forget the bathrooms.  Many people do not plan properly and organize a great car show, but forget the bathrooms!  Most people are not comfortable walking far away from their car so you need plenty of bathrooms spread out across the entire show to ensure that there are not huge lines and that those bringing their beloved car are not forced to walk 10 miles to the nearest bathroom.  You may have to have bathrooms brought in if the location is not designed well for bathrooms initially.

Food and drinks are also essential components.  You can choose to do this several ways.  You can rent out space to local restaurants and charge them a space rental fee and allow them to supply food and beverages to visitors and guests or you could provide the food and beverages yourself.  However, be aware that if you attempt to provide the food and beverages yourself you are adding a huge list of things to do.  Your best option may be letting the professionals rent some space and provide the food.  Most restaurants that would be interested already have the equipment they would need to use at the car show as well, which once again makes your job much easier.

Bring some form of entertainment, even if you are just bringing a stereo system and tons of speakers try to ensure that there is an area for people to have some music, chairs, tables and so forth.  This in addition to maybe some games and face painting for the kids will allow everyone to have a great time.  Additionally, if you can afford it you might want to spring for a live band.  You can usually find a great band at a cheap price especially if they think they are going to get lots of exposure and you allow them to sell their own CD's and shirts at the car show.

If you are organizing your car show during the heat, ensure that you have some shade.  You may need to pull out some tents or canopies for this, but it is essential to help avoid heat strokes and other medical problems.  Additionally, try to avoid having car shows in the dead of winter unless you are having the show in an inside area.  You do not want visitors to freeze anymore than you want a heatstroke.

Your final considerations should be with those who are bringing cars.  How are you going to ensure that they can easily get in and out of the show?  You need security for the cars as well so ensuring you have staff that are knowledgeable about where each car goes and can help ensure that they are safe is a very wise idea.  Realize if the people bringing the cars are upset, they are going to give your event a bad name and talk.  This can severely hurt your attendance in the future if you try to make the event an annual occurrence.  However, with some careful planning you can ensure that everyone is happy and the car show is a raving success.

Have you considered taking your children with you to a car show but not sure how they will act?  Many parents are concerned about the behavior of children but with some careful instructions and careful guidance there is no reason at all why children cannot be a part of car shows.  In fact, taking children to car shows can be a great way to encourage children to enjoy working on cars and also help teach them lots about the inner workings of cars as well.

Parents who carefully explain proper behavior to their children are much more likely to enjoy a positive experience at the car shows.  Parents who do not teach their children proper behavior skills are not likely to have an enjoyable or even positive experience.  Children in general are very curious, if they take the time to carefully consider their behavior and work to teach their children how to behave in crowds and importantly towards the vehicles at the show you may be surprised at how well it goes.

You need to understand that if you are taking small children the best place for them is in a stroller.  This will help prevent them from getting hurt or damaging a vehicle and also helps to ensure that they are not badly worn out trying to walk around the entire show.  Additionally, a good stroller will also give them a place to take a quick nap when they get really tired.  Trying to take a small child without a stroller could turn into a nightmare quickly especially since children tend to get very heavy, quite quickly.

You should also think ahead to snacks and drinks for your child.  If you know the car show will have plenty of drinks and snacks you may not need to take many, but you should still take a couple of things.  Without anything, you could have a complete meltdown on your hands if your child is overly hungry while waiting on food from a vendor.  Having a small pack of crackers in your pocket can give your child something to snack on while you wait on the food that you order and ensure that they are kept occupied rather than pitching a tantrum if they are hungry.

You should carefully teach your children that it is unacceptable to touch things that are not theirs.  This is especially important when it comes to the cars.  Without this lesson, you may find your child running around and touching all of the vehicles, which can potentially cause damage to them.  While not all touching can cause damage, your child may not realize that hitting a prize car with a rock is unacceptable.  The owner of the car will not find it cute, or adorable and you are likely to be forced to pay for the damages.  Teaching your child not to touch what belongs to others is much cheaper.

You should also ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the car show.  While dressing appropriately as an adult is important, it is even more important for children.  Adults have a much easier time regulating body temperature than children do, so dressing your child appropriately is a wise decision.  Most often, you may discover that it is necessary to dress your child in layers to ensure that you can keep them at the appropriate temperature. 

Taking the time to take your child with you to a car show is a great way to bond and with the appropriate planning in place it can be a lot of fun.  Just always be sure you supervise your child closely to ensure that they stay safe and that the vehicles around them are safe as well and you are sure to enjoy your experience.