Things I did different for this years Concours Season

O

Onehole

New member
Garage

* New wall mounted Vac with computer cleaning attachements for interior detailing



http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...pid=00917775000

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/tmt/conyourvacto.html



* New wall mounted retractable air hose (for compressor)



http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...0&bidsite=CRAFT



* New moveable storage draws for MF Towels & Applicators

http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=271&PRODID=62065&FEEDCNT=3

10 draws for clean and 10 draws for dirty



Products

* Used Klasse SG on door jams and alloy wheels instead of wax



* Switched to Griots Leather Conditioner (better smell and wipes are easy to use)



* Started using Griots rubber cleaner for rubber trim



* Switched to Stoners Trim Shine for engine detailing



* New white inspection gloves



* Switched to Raggtopp cleaner and protectant for Cabrio Top



* Switched to MF towels

http://www.pakshak.com/



Car

* Had front half resparyed mid season to address some very minor rock chips.



* Some interior trim replaced under warranty



* Bought new "D" latch for front trunk and had it Powder Coated. Since the latch chips, I install this new latch at the event



Accessories and Final Prep

* Service covers for seats. Use them while cleaning car and also when I take car to show



* New set of mats specifically for shows



* Bought new smaller fold up chairs to allow more room for other stuff



* Bought a portable power supply to run Vac without having to plug into cig lighter outlet



* Created a 43 page PowerPoint checklist for the event. Each page a photo of a part of the car with arrows and a checklist of what needs to be done/check http://www.brackenrig.net/Concours Check List_files\frame.htm



Example of one page...

checklistexample.jpg




* Made up special detailing kits:

trunk.jpg


largecase.jpg


largecasecontent.jpg
othercase.jpg
polishcase.jpg




* Bought 2 travel blankets (vinyl one side) for gound work at event



Planning

* Planned all events months in advance. Completed major detailing efforts (polishing/waxing etc) weeks in advance.



* Used compressed air to dust everything prior to it going into car



* Kept a complete record of all deductions and broken them down by area and type (type as in prep error, event error, car problem) and then looked for trends, so I could focus more attention in certain areas

failures.jpg




*Completed all paperwork before the event (usually paperwork handed out at the event, but I made copies so as to not waste time at the event)





.......and a bunch more stuff I have forgotten :)
 
Great Ideas :up :up



Being as organized as you are, you will definately have an advantage over the competition.





That powerpoint presentation sounds like a must-have.

Mind sharing with the Autopia crew? :bow
 
Now that's impressive. Well done!!



Friends and wannabe's, take special note. This is the level of detail you need to be at in order to just be competitive at a real concours event. Slappin' on a couple coats of your favorite mail order crud might cut it at your local high school car show, but you'll get your doors blown off at anything more serious.



JB, rock on, man :up :up
 
I really like the travel cases. I always bring some of my detailing stuff on trips since when I get there, my car needs attention. Cases like that would take up less space since I could use smaller bottle sizes and fit everything into a smaller container. :up



Your level of oranization is amazing! I really like how you track the areas that you've lost points, that is sure to give you a leg up on the competition and help you improve even more.
 
Wow, JB. I'm really glad I'm on the other coast so I don't see you at my events! :)



I used to think I tracked your obsession pretty evenly, but you've taken it up a notch with the installation of a new trunk latch AT THE EVENT! The worst I do is put the removable radio face and all the rubber storage liners in ziplock bags for the event.



I look forward to reading your checklist. It really is unbelievable how much work a total prep entails. After installing my winter wheels, I detailed my summer alloys indoors. At least 2 hours were required ON EACH WHEEL to get all the brake dust out, particularly from all the inside concave surfaces. I didn't even do this for my last concours, but at your level it would be essential.
 
Wow, JB. I'm really glad I'm on the other coast so I don't see you at my events!
Click to expand...



This so true !!! I am so glad that I own a 300ZX and don't have to compete against Porsches :D



That is so impressive JB..your organization is incredible...:bow
 
JB thank you for sharing your experience, you've certainly helped me imeasurably over this past year and I look forward to learning more.



Some questions:



What size of Plastic case did you purchase for your show setup? Did you also find all the spray bottles at the container store as well and are they good quality?



Lastly....I'm glad I have an MB, no way I could compete at your level.:bow
 
MBZ 500E said:
JB thank you for sharing your experience, you've certainly helped me imeasurably over this past year and I look forward to learning more.



Some questions:



What size of Plastic case did you purchase for your show setup? Did you also find all the spray bottles at the container store as well and are they good quality?



Lastly....I'm glad I have an MB, no way I could compete at your level.:bow
Click to expand...



I'll check the size of the cases when I am back home later this week. Yes I got all the bottles from the Container Store. They are nothing special, but they work.



Thanks JB
 
Wow, JB! I am completely in awe. Your checklist and spreadsheet are awesome. I'm printing them out now, and am getting all sorts of idea about how to turn my boring list into an illustrated list. You're da best! :bow
 
I want to misplace a bottle just to be entertained for a few minutes while you go KWAZY. :) I would only let you go insane for a few minutes. :o I'm so mean.
 
Thanks for the compliments guys.



A couple more items I just remembered.



1. Purchased a canopy. This was actually the best investment of all. It allowed me much more control over when I could prep my car. At my place I got shade early monring and late afternoon. With the canopy I was able to schedule the prep work to fit in with other commitements, not shade. Without a canopy, you better be single ;)



2. Purchased a set of trip pod lights. These were great for late night detailing in the garage and particularly good for trunk prep work.



3. Purchased a set of rhino ramps. These make preping the nose of the Boxster much easier. Also very good for wheel prep
 
JB,

What color canopy did you purchase?

Are your tripod lights, halogen lights. I really like the halogen as the light brings out defects.



Do you have the check list as single downloadable file?



Eric
 
edschwab1 said:
JB,

What color canopy did you purchase?

Are your tripod lights, halogen lights. I really like the halogen as the light brings out defects.



Do you have the check list as single downloadable file?



Eric
Click to expand...



Canopy is white, with 3 white walls.



Yep...halogen lights



The file is PPT and its too big to email. If i can find the space I will put it up on my web site.



Thanks JB
 
Already posted this over on the Garage Forum, but these pics show a lot of items I referenced in the message that started this thread.



set1.JPG




set2.JPG




set3.JPG




set4.JPG


The white bins are for clean and the black ones are for dirty. They are on wheels so they can be easily moved to where I am working:



set5.JPG




set6.JPG
 
Having competed nationally with Jaguars for 10+ years I can appreciate the levels of perfection you have to achieve. Increasing your concours scores 1/10th can cost you a lot of money (remember, my cars were 40 years older than yours ;) ) and a lot of time.



My XK150 had half the storage space of the Boxster. Imagine how creative I had to be! You have it easy! :)





Hey, JB...is that an old Peugeot hanging in the garage?
 
~One man’s opinion / observations~



I’m totally impressed



Looking at your pics of the garage set-up I now realise I’m not the obsessive compulsive neat freak my gf accuses me of being (I showed her the pics, got me off the hook, thanks)



~Hope this helps~







Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/



justadumbarchitect * so i question everything*
 
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