Auto Detailing: Tips on Prepping Your Car for a Show One of the joys of owning a car is the opportunity to have them displayed at car shows. Aside from bringing together auto lovers and buyers, car shows are a privilege to receive recognition for all your hard work. There are things you can do to improve the chance of bringing home the trophy or at least turning people s heads while showcasing your vehicle works. It is very important that you do this first in order to remove all the dirt and tiny particles that could have a negative effect on your car s detailing and paint job once you are done with it. Make sure that you use a car wash detergent that is proven and tested to be of good quality, and is formulated to fit your specific need. First you will have to select between an electrically and pneumatically powered devices. Electrically powered device can be used by plugging into a wall socket however they need maintenance and the weight is heavy. Pneumatically powered buffers, on the other hand, are lighter and need lesser maintenance but require great compressed air source if multiple units are utilized in the same compressor. *Look into safety components of your vehicle associated with the tires and wheels' performance, such as brake calipers, wheel wells, and suspension. Use a plastic liner protectant to coat them as it will also add finer details into your vehicle. *Do not neglect the side, front, and rear ends of your vehicle wheels. Then, place either an aluminum foil or plastic bag to protect those areas on the engine that must not be soaked with water, or else it could suffer from mechanical damage. These parts include the distributors, coils, spark plugs, air intakes, among others. Once you have secured all parts, spray the engine cleaner solution onto the entire engine surface. Clean It First You should first clean your vehicle thoroughly by bringing it to a carwash or just washing it yourself. This will get rid of the dirt and dust that can hinder the shine during the polishing. The dirt on the paint will also scratch the paint if you do not clean the car properly. If you are using a mechanical buffer, you might increase the chances of developing blemishes and scratches unless you get your car washed.