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A guide to preparing cars
It is apparent to the organisers of the event that many of
the clubs that regularly display cars on the day are not entering
a team simply because they don't know how to go about preparing
their cars for the competition.
Many clubs assume that one of the usual teams will always win. Not
necessarily! Consul, Zephyr, Zodiac did it twice. More variety would be most
welcome. There are financial incentives for your club too.
YOUR CLUB CAN WIN!
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Plan ahead. Appoint someone to manage your team well in advance of
the event.
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Cars don't need to be fresh restorations, or new, just very clean
and original.
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Don't expect the car's owner to do all the work alone. What owners
would decline having their club clean their car? A very ordinary car can
be transformed by 'many hands' in a short time leading up to the event.
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Pool the resources of all the useful trades-people on your membership.
Seek advice on cleaners, solvents, paints, etc. Get the car up on jack stands;
wheels off and remove all the easy bits.
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Make a list of willing club members and roster them to work in groups
in evenings and weekends, e.g. give four a wheel arch each. When you think
it's clean, swap them around and they'll do what the first person missed.
If you can get both cars together under one roof it can become a good social
event.
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Many people think its crazy, but concourses are won with cotton buds
and toothbrushes. That pay-out your club gets from the Intermarque Concours
will more than cover the cost of some cleaning supplies. Attention to detail
is essential. You must clean everything, everywhere, right down to inside
the tail pipe!
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Worn or unoriginal parts, tool kits, documentation and handbooks can
be swapped, stolen or borrowed from other cars. Have the clubs 'old hands'
check originality.
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Start with a water blaster, steam cleaner or a trip to "Washworld"
(take your own ramps) and save a lot of labour on degreasing the engine and
underside.
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If you can't clean it then paint it or plate it. Touch up bombs and
paint pencils are essential. Use plenty of newspaper and masking tape.
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If you can't hide a defect at least make it spotlessly clean. You'll
lose fewer points. Wax, Armourall and silicone everything, but not the pedal
rubbers or anything else that could compromise safety!
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