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IDEAS FOR A TRUE SHOW DISPLAY
WHAT DO YOU do when you have one of the hottest show cars in the country and need something to take you to the next level? What do you do if you have a very nice modified car, but want something more? How about a true show display setup? We have talked to a number of people in the industry, including some of the most qualified judging sanctioning bodies, and they have given us plenty of insight into what’s hot and what’s not in the world of show car displays.
Andy Goodman, the head guy at NCCA, is a big believer in show displays. We had time recently to pick his brain for some new tricks to teach you, die-hard show enthusiasts. The first thing you have to do is think about what you want to display around your car. You have to remember that the theme should flow with the way your car is built. Is your car Euro-style, or do you feel that it is JDM-slanted? Does your car have more of a racer feel? If so, play off these themes. All these styles can play a major part in your display setup. Remember that the presentation is part of the judging totals.
After you have thought through a couple of ideas, it’s time to put them into action. There are many display elements that really make a statement. We have used a few ourselves in the past and we can tell you from experience that they definitely help you in the scoring column. One cool display that we used once was to jack up the back of the car and place two display wheels under the rear tires. This adds some flavor, and it looks better than just having the car sit flat on the ground.
This idea was given to us a couple of years ago by a friend from Absolute Imports, an East Coast crew that knows how to bring it out at shows. They used to show a yellow Civic coupe with a sweet display. They put display wheels on one side of the car so it would sit sideways. It was a hot idea back then and it can still be seen at shows today. You want your display to stand out in the crowd. Even if you have the hottest car at the venue, you are still among hundreds of other competing cars. So if you have a display that makes a strong statement, it can only help bring out your car at a show.
Another tip is to open up the car so people can see all that your car has to offer. Leaving the car closed can be boring, and if the interior, trunk, and engine compartment are out there, it doesn’t help show what you have modified, which can be very important. It’s good to show off your interior and if your doors are closed with the windows rolled up, you just can’t do that very well. Tricks and tips are always good when it comes to displays, so we talked to a few top guys, and here are a few things that they are doing right now. Take off your hood and place it behind or alongside your car.
This allows people to see your engine bay without having your front window and interior blocked. Another cool trick is to open your trunk and display your audio modifications.
One cool thing that we have seen is to open your door and put a piece of rope—or maybe even a company flag—between the hinge and the door. This allows people to look inside the car but keeps them from going crazy trying to sit on your expensive racing seats. You can also make a removable door ajar linkage that will lock the door open in one position. Make it out of thin tubing and have it chromed or paint it to match the car.
Also, think about the kind of show you are displaying at. For instance, HIN, Showoff, Xpression or Xtreme Showdown? The type of show can play a huge part in your display concept. If you are going to a HIN event, you’ll want to be equipped with lights, strobes and neon, and a smokescreen can make a huge impact on your show display. Using these props can enhance your setup and bring more attention to your car. You don’t want to go too crazy and overpower your car; you want your display to flow nicely and complement the car.
Here are a couple of new tricks that has yet to be seen, but we guarantee they will be at HIN and shows across the country. This takes some serious time, planning, and—not to be overlooked—some extra cash. How about adding a kiosk, featuring a TV and a full display? On the TV you can show a video or a DVD on how you built your car. This can give spectators, judges, and competitors an insight into your creation.
This would take some time to do, but it would be super hot.
Another cool idea would be to bring a poster-board display to the show. What we mean is something that can be done simply, but can help you out big-time in the display category. What you can bring to your display is something you would see in stores at the mall. All you would have to do is get some metal display stands and print out, say, four posters of your car. We’re not talking about pictures of your car and anything else—use some creativity and go a little further.
How about adding pictures of your car and a modification list, so everyone can see what you have done and the type, style and make of parts you did it with? This helps your sponsors, too. You can even make the last poster a picture of your car with a thank-you list to your sponsors. Companies would really appreciate that.
Go a little further and take a before-and-after picture of every part of your car to show the differences. Take a picture of the car from the side when it’s stock and then take a picture from the side fully modified. Now everyone will know how your car was transformed from stock to shock. Give them a de- tailed look at what it takes to build a show car. You have to remember that a lot of people coming to these shows have no idea how many long nights and how much hard work and money you have put into your car.
What we’re thinking about doing is making the display a Japanese street. You must be thinking, “What the heck? How are you going to do that?” Well, we are going to Japan and bringing the street corner here (no, just kidding). We are going to paint a canvas and place it under the car. It is going to look just like a street corner in Japan. Imagine pulling up to a stop sign in Japan and seeing a Candy Orange Silvia waiting to make a left turn. Well, that is what we are going to bring to the shows as our display, a painted canvas replica of a street in Japan, writing, and all.
To take it a step further, how about a Japanese stop sign? Or maybe even a Japanese mailbox on the corner? These are just some of the things that we have thought about and would love to see more of at shows. There are so many more ideas out there, but we will leave some of them up to you. Hopefully, we can see you and your new displays at a show in the near future and offer them to other readers as new ideas. Remember: This is a hobby, so share, have fun, and be creative.
