Motorsport and track days · MT-16

Show and Concours Preparation Checklist

A free printable car show prep checklist — entry paperwork, exterior, interior, engine bay and underside detailing, the display kit and judges' feedback.

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2 pages. Choose your paper size — both versions are laid out identically, so neither one gets shrunk to fit.

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A4 58 kB US Letter 58 kB

Fill it in type and save

A4 104 kB US Letter 104 kB

The fillable versions have real form fields — open them in any PDF reader, type into them and save. Printing help.

What this sheet is for

Prepare a car area by area rather than in a panic the night before, and keep what the judges said so the next entry starts from it.

Who it is for

Owners entering club shows, concours classes, marque days and judged displays, whether the car is original, restored or modified.

How to use it

Get the organiser's judging sheet or class rules and prepare to them.
Work through the exterior, interior, engine bay and underside in that order, ticking as you go.
Pack the display kit and the history file the day before.
After the show, write the judges' comments and any flaws you know about into the last table.

What is on the sheet

2 pages, in this order:

Page 1

Printed under the title: Preparing a car for a show, a club concours or a judged class — detailing area by area, the display kit, and a record of what the judges said so next year starts from it.

Prepare to the organiser's sheet. Judging criteria, points and class rules are the organiser's, and vary from show to show — get the sheet they judge from before you start, and work to it. This list is the order to prepare in, not a marking scheme.

Write-on lines: Show / event · Date · Car · Class entered

Entry and paperwork

Entry confirmed, class checked, arrival time and gate noted
History file, restoration photos and ownership papers packed for display
Windscreen card, class number or rally plate to hand

Exterior

Wash, decontaminate, polish and protect — panel by panel, in the light
Chrome, brightwork, badges and trim cleaned and checked for tarnish
Glass inside and out, wipers, seals and rubbers dressed
Wheels, arches, tyre sidewalls and valve caps
Panel gaps, stone chips and touch-ups noted for the judges' walk-round

Interior and boot

Carpets, mats, seats, headlining and door cards
Dashboard, switches, gauges and glass faces
Boot, spare wheel, tool roll and jack laid out as original
Seat belts, sun visors, mirrors and period accessories in place

Page 2

Engine bay and underside

Engine bay cleaned and dressed, with fluid levels checked for leaks
Hose clips, labels, plating and correct fastenings checked
Underside, sills and exhaust cleaned as far as the class expects

Display kit for the day

Cover, chairs, shade, info board and stands
Detailing kit for touch-ups on the field, cloths and water
Drip tray, wheel chocks and anything the organiser asks for

Judges' feedback and known flaws — carry these forward to next year

Table, 13 rows: Area · Comment or flaw · Fix before next show

Questions

Does the sheet follow a particular concours marking scheme?

No. Each organiser has its own criteria and points, and they differ widely. The checklist is the order to prepare in; the marking scheme is theirs, so get it before you start.

Is it only for original cars?

No. A modified car in a judged class needs the same run through, and the feedback table matters just as much. Only the class rules change.