Car Show
Car owners pay to show; the public comes to look.
What it is
Owners pay an entry fee to show cars in a parking lot or park. Visitors come free or pay a small fee. Add trophies, food, and music.
Typical net: $1,000 to $6,000 (rough estimate only. Food sales and sponsors add a lot.)
Step by step
8 weeks out
- Find a large lot
- Pick classes for trophies
- Ask the lot owner for written permission and a rain date
- Contact 2–3 local car clubs
6 weeks out
- Contact local car clubs
- Order trophies
- Ask local auto shops to sponsor trophy classes
- Make a registration form (name, phone, car year/make/model, class)
4 weeks out
- Post on car show calendars
- List the show on regional car show calendars and Facebook groups
- Plan food: your club, or a food truck that gives you a share
2 weeks out
- Plan parking map
- Draw a parking map with rows by class
- Line up restrooms (building access or portable toilets)
1 week out
- Confirm judges
- Count pre-registrations and order dash plaques
- Print ballots for People's Choice
Day before
- Mark parking spots
- Check the weather; decide on rain date by 6 PM and post it
Day of
- Park cars by class
- Judging
- Trophies at the end
- Volunteers at 6:30 AM to set cones
- Gates open for show cars at 7:30
- Judging 10 AM–noon
- People's Choice ballots due at 12:30
Tips that work
- Partner with a local car club. They know the owners and bring 20+ cars.
- Keep classes simple: Pre-1960, 1960–1979, 1980–1999, 2000+, Truck, Motorcycle, Work in Progress, plus People's Choice and Best of Show.
- Let pre-registered cars in first and give them a dash plaque. It feels special.
- Have a rain date printed on every flyer.
- Sell food: a BBQ plate or burger stand often makes as much as entry fees.
- Get a DJ or ask someone with a good speaker to play oldies.
- Award trophies at 1:30 sharp. Owners want to leave on time.
Volunteer jobs
- Chair: Runs the day
- Registration: Signs in cars
- Parking crew: Places cars
- Judges: Pick winners
- Food: Concessions
- Sponsor seeker: Asks shops to sponsor trophies
- Ballot counter: Tallies People's Choice
- Announcer/DJ: Music and announcements
- Safety lead: Keeps walkways clear, has first aid kit
Supplies
- Registration forms
- Dash plaques or numbers
- Trophies
- Parking cones
- Ballots
- Sound system
- Cash box
- Judging score sheets and clipboards
- Wristbands or stamps for spectators (if you charge)
- First aid kit
- Pop-up tent for registration
- Trash cans and bags
- Extra fire extinguisher
Permits and insurance
- Get a certificate of insurance from the venue
- Ask if your club's general liability insurance covers this event
- Check city rules for signs and public gatherings
- Ask the lot owner for written permission
General tips, not legal advice. Check with your city, county, and state.
Getting the word out
- Post on local car club pages
- Flyers at auto parts stores
- Ask a radio station to mention it
Sample announcement
Shine and show! The [Club name] Car Show is [date], 9 AM–2 PM at [place]. All years, makes and models welcome. Registration $[price], free for spectators. Trophies in [number] classes, food, music, and a People's Choice award. Benefits [cause].
On the day
- Cones out
- Registration open early
- Restrooms available
- Judging sheets ready
- Trophies announced