27/02/2022
Since Campfest is around the corner, lemme offer up some advice to all the guys competing etc
This should help people understand what judges look for and why they choose one car over another etc
I’ve spoken to judges about how cars are scored etc numerous times and lemme say it straight, the points in each category is key. Focus on that and you have a winner on your hands.
1. No one cares where/how the car was built, leave your sob stories about how you built this in your aunt’s kitchen whilst preparing for exams and still feeding the dog. I promise you literally no one cares except your mom. And the judges don’t have a pity party section to score on. If you go up against a car with R500k thrown at it and it beats your R30k effort, tough s**t deal with it and look to that build as to where you can improve.
2. Flashy isn’t better. The judges don’t care about your mirror ball from the rear view mirror of it means that the interior has zero flow. Bright colors etc aren’t needed to win points, it’s about overall feel and flow. You cannot swap seats and think that your interior is done, the interior is a complex place that has many places where you can improve and change.
3. Bags and wheels alone don’t make a show car, sorry.
4. Paint. Stock paint can beat a full respray regardless how amazing that colour change can be, IF your paint is flawless. Again judges don’t care if you drove from CPT to compete and have stone chips etc, it’s up to you to make sure the paint is protected and flawless when the car comes up on stage. And no STICKERS DONT HIDE S**T PAINT AND FLAWS
5. REMOVE YOUR TRASH AND JUNK FROM THE CAR BEFORE IT GOES ON STAGE. Judges don’t want to see empty beer bottles, coke cans etc rolling on the floor or in cup holders. Have some respect and clean up. Same goes for the outside regardless how dusty it is on the day.
6. The judges work off the same scorecard for every car, not just their feelings. SO LEAVE THE POLITICS OUT OF IT. There are multiple judges scoring the same things and the points are averaged out, so don’t hate on the judges or their scores and have the damn respect to take their scores as final and deal with it if you didn’t win. Maybe approach a judge and ask their opinion after the show as to where you lost out or gained etc. LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE.
7. You’ll be ok if you lose. Promise. It’s the ability to pick up areas you failed in and improve every year that makes a great competitor, not a cry baby after the show.
8. JUDGES ARE HUMAN. They make mistakes, have a bad day, stand in the sun all day judging the same cars etc. Just remember that. Be relaxed about it and leave your kak attitude in the campsite. Let them do their job without the hate.
9. HAVE FUN. It’s a car show, yes you’ve poured your heart and soul into your car to make it to the event. But don’t forget that the real reason modifying cars is awesome is cause they supposed to bring you joy and happiness, and once you’ve got the show, relax, chill out and it’ll all be ok. Don’t spend the whole weekend being a sour poes because Joe Soap has better wheels.
10. REV AT YOUR MA’S POZI. Klaar. Leave that kak at home dankie
11. DONT PULL SPRINGS OUT AT THE SHOW AND CLAIM STATIC LIFE. The judges see that s**t and you lose points. Do it right and get the correct springs made up etc to be proper static low. You not fooling anyone with your jacks
If you made it to be selected for big shows, remember your car already has something special to it so you already a winner
That’s what I thought of off the top of my head.
Good luck to all entering🙌🏻
