I've been headhunted -- (..or bonnet-hunted?) There is going to be a local car show here in Juneau next weekend, and I've been asked to put my baby in the show.

I've never been in a car show before...

I've never been TO a car show before...

I guess this is part of the celebrity status that comes with owning a MINI.

So... I've agreed to do this. What should I do? What is the best way to show off a MINI?

The Information sheet mentions a "display card" -- I assume this would be info about the car. What should I put on it? I don't know what would be of most interest to other car owners.

I have a stock MCS/CR with sunroof and white roof and bonnet stripes, and running lights.

By the way, since we live in a rain forest, the show will be indoors. I just looked at the floor layout and they have decided that my car will be in the lobby outside of the main show room (apparently next to another MINI).

Oh... and what should I put under my car to keep it from soiling everything?

HEEELLLLLP.... I'm not ready for this!

 

Here is what I would do:

1. Wash and wax the life out of it!
2. Give it a nice interior detail
3. Get 4 12'' x 12'' pieces of wood 1/4'' thick to put under each tire.
4. Possible buy a few large mirrors to show off the under body
5. Get an eisle to display common questions like MPG cost ect...
6. HAVE FUN! Car shows are full of nice people! Dont WORRY!!! :impatient

I wish I could be there!

 

If your car is being displayed outside and more of a daily driver I wouldn't worry about the mirrors underneath. Its a fine idea but I usually only see them on cars that have been detailed underneath.

For the display card, maybe just the make & model, the year, and your name as the owner. If you're being fancy having one with the MINI wing logo on it would be cool. Maybe you should put "no drooling" on it too. j/k If the car had been restored or won any awards, won any races, etc. the display card would be the place to say that also.

Enjoy the show.

 

Just wash and dry your MINI a little more thoroughly than usual and bring some tried-and-true detailing supplies to spruce it up a bit just prior to the show start. Put the basics on the sign...year, make, model...maybe something on MCS engine specs...and perhaps that it's a daily driver.

Then, I totally agree, try to just have fun and enjoy the passersby. You might be ready w/ some MINI facts...like gas mileage, handling, where the nearest dealer is...stuff like that. You might also brush up on the new stuff for '07 since that's right around the corner, and a little MINI history might be good, too. Folks'll like that.

Some car shows can be pretty competitive but if you don't "go there" in the first place and notch the whole competition thing back a bit, people will just enjoy talking about your car, especially if they know up front it's a daily driver and not cocooned somewhere. Seems they invited you because they want a good looking MINI in the show so I wouldn't expect to be under some judges microscope.

Since this is your first show, be sure to walk around and learn...you'll get some great ideas for next year.

Sounds like fun!!

 

Just make sure she is clean and have fun! I take my Studebaker to shows and often we show up having not really cleaned it up super good. When we get there we give the wheels the once over and make sure the glass it spotless (our business of course.) It is not so much a chick magnet, more like an old farmer magnet. "we had one of those cars..." the stories are endless but that is the fun part of a car show, meeting and talking to all sorts of people.

You will have a good time!

Motor On

 

The most important objective is: HAVE FUN! Otherwise, it is not worth doing the show....

 

My wife was just up in Juneau on business and commented on seeing a Mini up there. We thought that was funny since Juneau is landlocked and doesn't have too many miles of roads to drive. The Mini she saw was Grey. I guess you must have a Mini buddy up there! Good for you guys!

 

You'll need to wipe the dust of the car at least every 4 hours, I had left my wife's Z28 at a car show for 3 days one time and nobody dusted it off even though it was a club's boot with members I knew, I guess I didn't ask them to wipe it off, when I went to take the car at the end of the show I was so embarrased, the car looked as if it had been parked in a gravel pit for a week, that's when I learned to be there or have someone wipe the dust off for me from time to time.
If you have time, I would take the wheels off and clean them inside and out and wash the wheel wells as best you can and put some protectant where you can see the inside of the wheel well, something like ArmorAll will do or whatever you prefer.
Look at the car once it's on it's spot and make sure there is no trace of dirt visible, if you can see it everyone else will, there is better product than ArmorAll out there but you get the idea, you can apply some on a rag and wipe all the plastic parts.
Also avoid spraying anything on your car if it's near a detailed vehicle because that crap flies around and will land on the car next to you, I had a 69 Z/28 that was just out of the paint shop after spending in excess of $42k on that car and the guy beside me had sprayed his car I don't know for how long but when I got back my car was covered will little pin head size drops of whatever that was he was using and I couldn't get it off my car, it was streaking like crazy, I spent hours trying to get that off and didn't succeed, let's just say that I was not having fun, the show had started and people where looking at the car and here I was trying to clean the bozo's mess, so be careful and respect the car next to you if you spray anything.
I assume you are not going to be judged, or I'll give you more pointers, but I think I covered the basics, if you're not planning on staying, have someone wipe your car when they think it's needed, I'm sure you'll find someone who won't mind, I usually offer the guys around me to wipe dust of their cars if they are not planning on staying and that's a good way to break the ice and make friends, then they usually will offer to do the same for you.
I still own 2 show winners but don't do this anymore, I got tired of it.
Have fun, as for your sign, you can find a lot of fun stuff on the MINI web site and in your own owner's package.