I attend 90% of the local shows here in Alaska and up here old, clean and shiny with attention to detail are big winners. I've seen some real bling and custom body work that just amazed me on newer cars that lost to a old stocker that looked liked it just rolled out the factory. I wouldn't expect any of the Lexus's I've seen on CL to win anything up here, they're just too "new". There seems to be a greater appreciation for well restored originals up here, it's just a different mindset. Frustrates a lot of the younger competitors.

 

yeah.. i guess my whole concept is too plain? iono.. i'm gonna do led's in the trunk and soon there will be a huge nos bottle back there all chromed out hehe iono what else to do.. i don't want to go ricer, no matter what

 

oh - and those pics aren't from the show lol

what gets me is that they were lookin' at all the **** on my car and said "oh it's mostly stock, huh?" like the judge got down on his knees and was starin at the suspension and didn't know they were TEIN's?? c'mon lol it was a really bias competition so i recently found out.. most the cars knew the judges and that's how they won lol

 

From shows I go to the nicest, classiest ride doesnt win. The one with the lambo doors, 5k watts of neons seems to be the crowd favorites I think you should mod your car how you like and if it does good at shows then great, if not then oh well, just have fun. I think your car looks great. One thing I think is you need something covering the opening in the win spoiler, not saying an intercooler, that would be nice, but maybe some mesh or something. Some TVs would also help.

 

Here's a suggestion that I've seen done that tends to help a little bit with the judges. Signage. Create or have made a nice sign that lists all of your mods. For instance, painting your calipers and putting a Lexus decal on them, to most people that would be taken as a stock item with no work done to create that effect, especially with the Lexus decal on there. After all, wouldn't you expect a $50K+ car to have something like that? So many newer cars come with nice options you do need to point out what you had done or did yourself to the car. LED's in the tails? Who's going to know unless you tell them.

 

That looks like a good list to do for now

 

I wouldn't sweat it too much. Did you go to win, or to have fun?

First of all, you don't even know with certainty what class you were in. If you were lumped into a general "Luxury" class you were probably competing against other higher-end cars (I saw a Mercedes in one of the photos). With your car, the judges likely saw a car with wheels and a body kit (body kits don't show up well on black cars); many of your modifications are not highly visible.

Also, black cars are very subtle (but classy) and do not typically create a stir with the general public or magazines- when is the last time you saw a black car on the cover of a magazine? It doesn't happen very often!

What do you know about the judging at that show? Was is strictly a popular vote? Were the judges car enthusiasts? Or volunteers from the PTA?

Your car looks sharp. I can see a few items I would enhance or change (the exhaust looks strange offset in the bumper cut-outs, for one), and make sure you detail the heck out of the car. I can't tell you how many times I've been to shows and seen filthy wheel wells, dirty carpets and seats, rusty brake rotor hats, etc..

 

i'm over it lol i'm just gonna continue on my VIP path then maybe compete again..

rich - thanks! yeah.. i tried to find mesh but nothin' is big enough i might get an intercooler for now and add the FI later (hahaha) and i'm savin' up for TV's - i want performance first

gwe - thanks i'm definately gonna have a nice little plexiglass sign made to list all my mod's and etc.

socal-
i entered to win lol it wasn't much fun.. it was small, too hot, cost too much, contests (hop, bikini, tatoo, sound) were all weak lol .. the judges were bias - gave the votes to people they knew.. there was a people's choice one, but was too easy to cheat.. the show overall was very poor.. they gave "best mazda" to an integra and gave the wrong awards to wrong people so it was hectic and there were a lot of angry people! yeah - i gotta have the piping custom done so it sits in the middle lol (the rear was made for quad
tips ) thnx for the compliments as well

 

Do not put an intercooler unless you have the engine mods to back it up. We have a couple "interfoolers" here in FL and they get cracked on all the time hence the name.