by Neil Knight

Created on: August 14, 2009

Car Show Attendee Etiquette: Six Rules for Enjoying a Scratch Free Car Show

I recently returned from a fun-filled car show with my shiny black Mustang GT. I pull into my garage and got ready to put my car under its car cover, only to discover a couple of new scratches on my paint, plus a sticky, gooey full handprint on the front fender. How did all these scratches get on my car? Who left their sticky gooey handprint all over my car? It makes me wonder if it is worth taking my car to car shows, when it comes back with signs of inconsiderate car show attendees not realizing what the proper etiquette is while attending a car show.

Now, the vast majority of car show attendees realize that the cars are to be seen, admired, gawked at, visually inspected, and examined by the discerning eye, but not touched, leaned against, bumped, rubbed, or handled in any way. Someone who has spent hours and hours waxing and polishing their car knows that one careless onlooker can leave a mark that destroys those hours and hours of TLC.

So, it is with this in mind, that I propose a set of Car Show Attendee Etiquette Rules:

1. Look all you want, but please don't touch.

Some people just can't resist the temptation to touch! Especially something that is shiny. It draws them like a magnet. They just have that urge to rub their hands across a nice shiny surface. Or, you get the person that just can't seem to stand up without leaning on something, so they put their hands on your front fenders and lean on your car, like they are at the OK Corral and leaning on the corral fence. Well, proper car show etiquette means that you don't touch anything that isn't on your own body! Look all you want, for as long as you want, but, just resist that urge to touch or lean on the cars. You should always ask permission before you touch anything.

2. Don't rub against the car when leaning over to inspect something

There is often something in the interior of the car, or in the engine compartment, that deservers closer inspection. Something has caught your eye, and you want to explore it a little closer. That is all fine and dandy, as long as you can do it while still obeying rule #1 above. But, here is the kicker... You need to make sure your pants of other items aren't rubbing against the car when you are doing a lean-over. Belts, rivets, snaps, and other clothing items can cause expensive damage to the paint. You also need to make sure you aren't getting too close

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