Is there such a thing as too many car shows? Not for the Classic Car Enthusiast! Car shows can be a fun and easy way to bring people together. They are also great for raising money or increasing awareness about a group or organization or even classic cars themselves. While planning a classic car event can seem like a daunting task, with a little effort, some help and great planning, your event will be sure to be a success. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Choose a Date and Time
Think of a time that doesn't conflict with other big events in your area, unless you want your event to coincide with the event already being hosted such as community days or parades; which can be a great draw for car enthusiast. If you live somewhere with a temperate climate, you might also want to consider a rain date. Also consider the amount of time for your car show. Most people don't want to sit around for hours and hours upon end – five hours is adequate and give your self plenty of time throughout the day of the event to wrap up loose ends (judging, ballot counting, etc.) so that the event can end on time.Location
First and foremost, make sure there is adequate parking. Your car show will have a hard time being successful if there is no where for people to park! Also consider the type of surface the cars will be parked on. Most, if not all classic car owners would rather avoid a gravel parking lot or dusty field.Cost and Fees
Depending on the type of show, registration fees can be anywhere from $5 to $15 onwards up to $50 or donation only. Consider a price break for those people who want to register early. This will not only help you get an idea of how many people are attending but also make registration move faster on the day of the show. Also take into consideration the administrative fees involved of putting on a show including rental fees, printing costs, prizes, insurance, etc.Goodie Bags
Classic Car owners love goodie bags. These can be filled with anything from car related gadgets to informational flyers. Many items can be donated from local businesses or companies. Goodie bags should also contain a Dash Card the driver can fill out and place in the window to display information about the car. Classic car websites, such as OldRide.com, provide these for free if you post your event on their website.Dash Plaques
If your budget allows, hand out dash plaques to car entries. Classic car owners take great pride in collecting dash plaques as they document the shows they have attended. These can be made out of metal, plastic or magnets and should be available at a local print shop.Door Prizes and Raffles
What better way to draw participants than by offering them free stuff! Raffle tickets can either be purchased or given as part of the registration fee/goodie bag. Consider soliciting local businesses to see if they would be willing to donate prizes for the raffle or at least offering a discount. Some good ideas to think about when looking for prizes are car washes, oil changes, car care products, gas cards or gift certificates. Another raffle idea is a 50/50 draw where the proceeds are split between the winner and the organization.Judging
Some larger car shows often award trophies in various categories to car show participants. Trophies can be awarded and decide upon by either trained car enthusiasts or peer-judges and can be broken down into a variety of categories including best of the decade, best make, overall popularity, etc.Food and Music
Consider allowing food vendors at your car show to provide participants with food and refreshments, or perhaps your organization or another can provide this to raise extra money for your event. Check with you local Health Department to make sure you have all the necessary permits. Set the tone of the event with some background music. Oldies are great for a classic car show.Restrooms
A must have for any car show is clearly accessible restrooms. If there are no restrooms nearby rent outhouses.Advertising and Publicity
A lot of people will find out about a new car show by seeing advertising or flyers displayed around town. Create a flyer for your car show with all the details about the days event. It is also helpful to attend car shows before your event and inserting your flyer into the front seat of other people vehicles. Also place listings in your local media outlet as well as classic car websites such as Hemmings and OldRide.com. Also set up signs the day before or the day of the show so people can easily find the show.Day of the Car Show
Help, Help Help...you can never have too much. Make sure that you are covered in the areas of registration, parking cars, selling raffle tickets, judging, handing out ballots, setting up and tearing down. And most importantly have fun and enjoy!
