• PLANNING
  1. show should be planned in advance, so it can be effectively advertised
  2. if utilizing vendors (recommended), proactively seek vendors that appeal to both car folks & spectators
  3. where possible, try to coordinate with other organizers to avoid competing shows in a small geographic area. Most show organizers may be located at HotKarz.com
  4. if you must schedule a competing show in close proximity to another, consider a merger. Instead of two small shows, you could create one big show that generates greater interest - and greater profits to share
  5. you can offer many more classes, more and better trophies by enlisting sponsors. A sponsor would sponsor a CLASS, and would pay the cost of the trophies for that class. MC would announce who each sponsor is, upon awarding trophies given out in a specific class. Cheap advertising for businesses.
  6. lesser sponsors could contribute small promotional items (with their advertising on them) to be given in a "goody bag", or additional prizes to be offered on a special, free ticket given to each participant upon registering. That ticket would be good for all "door prize" drawings
  7. with sponsors paying for the trophies, the organizers can more easily afford dash plaques & ribbons to put in goody bags
  8. If possible, consider including events. A show would be the ideal place for the Scouts to run their Pinewood or Powderpuff Derbies, for example. And it would attract more spectators. Or valve-cover races.
  9. consider inclusion of something to keep younger children occupied
  10. Plan the classes well. Too few classes, or the wrong classes, can break a show. Common classes included here.
  11. Three trophies per class is normal. Adding a Best of Show and People's Choice adds interest. A special trophy, such as "Kids Choice", "Ladies Choice" adds more interest, and can involve others who might normally not be involved
  12. Offering pre-registration at a discount can help offset losses in the event of bad weather or other unplanned conflict. Or consider pre-registration (so you know what to expect) that does not require pre-payment. A lot of folks do not want to pay early, then the show gets rained out.
  13. As people register, add them to a mailing list, and send them a flier by May of the following year, so they can plan to attend
  14. plan how the field and classes will be set up. Consider possibility of attracting more vehicles than planned for
  15. whatever else you do, submit the info about your show to HotKarz.com at your earliest convenience, so it can get posted. Submit by mail, or email to ptwoodycrew@aol.com.
  16. don't forget facilities - rent porta-potties, if necessary.

• SETUP
  1. each classification area should be well marked, of adequate size and easy to find. If possible, create a map if your area is very large
  2. have people available to assist participants in finding their class parking. Allow for extra room if needed
  3. your people & registrars should know enough about cars to know if someone is not in the appropriate class, and make any necessary changes. Enforce the classes.
  4. Vendor areas should be separate, but close. If vendors don't get the foot traffic and earn money, they will not return next year
  5. Shows begin early, and drivers start out even earlier. Have coffee and donuts available near the registration table EARLY

• CLASSIFICATION
  1. the more classes & trophies you advertise, the bigger your show will likely be
  2. minimum number of classes for a good show is 18. The better shows have 24-28, or more.
  3. do not include classes unless you have reason to believe there is a real interest. It harms a show to have a class, such as tractors for example, if no tractors will show up
  4. a list of common, suggested classes is found here, organized by importance and level of general interest. Note that there are exceptions to any rule, so the list is only a guideline
  5. participants should be required to register in the most appropriate class. For example, if the car is a '57 Chevy, and you have a class for '55-'57 Chevys, he should not be registered for Special Interest. If it is a customized '57, he could register in a '50's Custom class, or in the '55-'57 class. Any truck should be in a truck class, unless it is truly odd & unique, in which case it could enter as Special Interest. Rule of thumb: each vehicle should be placed in the MOST appropriate class, to avoid dissention among others in a class
  6. if your Special Interest class has too many vehicles, your classification system is poor
  7. if possible, do not inadvertently exclude vehicles by excluding classes. Many shows do not offer a class for 90's-present, for example, even though there are many nice, customized new cars that would like to be included. If they cannot, they end up in Special Interest, even though there is no "special" interest in that vehicle.
  8. Avoid large, all-encompassing classes that would include too many vehicles. If you have one class for trucks, for example, you could end up with 50 vehicles in that one class. You should avoid having such lopsided classifications. Participants do not think it is fair for one class to have only 1 car, and another has 50. Plan ahead.

• JUDGING/BALLOTING - as a rule, there are two primary methods for judging - by points, or by popular vote

  1. Points
     • judging is done by a committee who really knows cars. Point system is set up based on things like condition, paint, interior, cleanliness, scratches/dings, detail etc.
     • most professional shows are by points. Most "regular" shows are not, as trained judges are scarce
  2. Popular Vote
     • voters can be any one, or combination of, participants, spectators and organizers. By allowing spectators to vote, you dilute the "buddy system" problem of peer voting.
     • participants normally should not be able to vote their own class, by crossing out their class on their ballot
     • with the exception of "special" trophies (i.e. "Grand Poobah's Choice"), voting is usually done by participants, spectators and organizers combined.
     • People's Choice should be chosen by the spectators only, if feasible, and Best of Show should be chosen by organizers only. But this "rule" is not cast in stone.

• AWARD CEREMONY
  1. it's easy to forget it IS a ceremony, but don't. Ceremony is good for the soul
  2. if sponsors supplied the trophies, give each a good, solid plug when you announce the class they sponsored. Let them write the plug, if they wish, as long as they keep it short. All other sponsors should also receive credit at this time
  3. Plan for, and allow for, folks taking photographs/videos upon presentation
  4. prior to trophies, make adequate time to draw for prizes, if applicable.

As an example, the Kiwanis Car show in Concord NH gets sponsors to provide as many as 100 or more prizes, most valued at $5-$25. Pizzas, car washes, a case of oil...last year it took them nearly an hour to raffle off all the prizes.

Any organizer who wants a successful, profitable show should put themselves in the shoes of the participants and spectators. Do it right, and they will come. Do it wrong, and you find yourself sitting alone in an empty "field of dreams".