First Full Detail Prior to First time Show Entry

[1Bad TT]

Well the time came for me to apply my first coats of wax to the new paint on my car. It just so coincided that it was also the weekend before my car was entered in its first show. The show was the Sports Car Classic and Concours D'Elegance in Littleton, CO on 06-04-06. I have been using Mequiars Show Car Glaze #7 on my car while I waited on the paint to fully cure.

When it came time to detail the exterior of the car for the show I washed the car using the Deep Crystal Car Wash with a Chenille wash mit. I dried the car with Microfiber towels and then applied a coat of Show Car Glaze #7, applied with a microfiber applicator and removed with Microfiber towels. Next I applied three coats of Deep Crystal Carnauba wax buffing out each coat after it was applied with microfiber towels.

It was my first time ever showing my car and I was the only Dodge Stealth at the show so they grouped me into the Dodge Viper Class. Needless to say this made me a little nervous however, at the end of the day I placed Second in the Viper Class with a total of 248 points out of 260. I was very happy and am really excited about the rest of the show season. Right now I am registered in a show every weekend for the rest of the month of June.

Well enough jabbering onto the pictures. As always any tips or constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.

This first picture is my all time favorite picture of my car. This was taken the night before the show.



As was this one.



Funny thing is I only took like 2 or 3 pictures of my car at the show and like only 20 pictures overall. It seemed like I was always busy wiping something down or waiting on the judges.





Cheers,
Matt

[GMZ]

Dont hold out! Tell us how much RWHP!!! Looks great too!

[TH0001]

Wouldn't that be 4whp? or Fwhp? Looks awesome btw!!!!!!

[Mowerpan]

Big Wing? Otherwise very sharp looking car. Just gotta get that hood painted ey?

[Murr1525]

Looks good Nice reflections on the white.

This might make for an interesting read for you, esp with having light and dark colors together there.

A Lesson From White Paint

[35th Anniversary SS]

Not too big on the big wing thing... but car show judges love that stuff! Looks pretty nice.

Twin Turbos Stealths are 4WD, except its called AWD for anything other then a truck. I would also like to know the AWHP (all wheel horse power).... I bet you have at least a few things done. That TT 6G72 motor responds well to a few little inexpensive tweaks.

Funny thing is I only took like 2 or 3 pictures of my car at the show and like only 20 pictures overall. It seemed like I was always busy wiping something down or waiting on the judges.

Get used to this...

I used to do car shows a lot and youll find that last minute detailing will take over your mind until the judge judges your car.

I will soon be getting back into car shows... I cant wait!

Good luck with future shows!

[Mister B]

Hi Murr1525,

You may want to check your "A Lesson From White Paint" link. I am not sure that is the link that you may have intended. I did not see anything about white paint.

[Murr1525]

Hmm..lemme check.. maybe the link changed.

http://site.bettercarcare.com/articles.php?articleId=39

Hmm, it is acting weird. Wonder if the site was updated some. The pics in the article dont work, and I dont know why the blue link wont work.

EDIT:

Adress did change slightly... the above link works... guess I'll have to make sure of I dont use the old link now.

[Mister B]

I see the article now.. you are right, the pics do not show up though.

The addresses are slightly different.

The 2nd link will take you to the article.

http://www.bettercarcare.com/articles.php?articleId=39

http://site.bettercarcare.com/articles.php?articleId=39

[1Bad TT]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I'll definetly check that article out on detailing white cars. I love my paint the pearl is absolutely incredible looking.



I just finished detailing the car again for the Extreme Autofest Show at Bandimere Speedway tommorrow. It's amazing how much work you have to do to maintain a daliy driver as a weekend show car. It is definetly
worth it though and on the plus side its nice driving an imaculate car.

As for the wing it's a Veilside GT III pure Carbon Fiber wing weighs 6lbs and it seems to be a you either love it or hate it deal. I personally love it and couldn't imagine my car with the factory "bannana wing". The hood is also Carbon fiber so I won't be painting it. I love the way it ties into the wing and breaks up the white. The CF doesn't seem to show up well in pictures but the weave is absolutely beautiful. The beauty of the hood is the scoop is ducted to the air filter and rear turbo for cooling. The hood also has two vents that let out all of the heat that the turbos generate.

I also installed the widebody kit (front and rear) myself, deleted the rear antena and wiper, and relocated the fuel filler to the passenger side rear deck via a Sparco polished fuel filler cap and funnel. My brother-n-law painted the car for me at his shop Ace Custom Auto Body and Paint in Boise, Idaho.

35th Anniversary SS your right its rated in AWHP. I have done a couple of relatively minor mechanical mods to my car:

Twin Clipped and ported Dynamic Racing 13g turbos (running 12lbs of boost, for now that is)
3rd gen lifters
Kevlar T-belt
K&N FIPK
DEFI D-linked Boost and EGT Gauge
MMCD Data logger
MBC

I have the following items sitting in my garage waiting to go on hopefully next weekend which is when my custom 3 inch cat back will be done.
DSM 450cc Injectors
SAFC II
HKS EVC IV Boost Controller
Custom SS Downpipe (pre/main cat deleted)
AEM UEGO Wideband O2 gauges
Blitz DTT DCII


Haven't had it on the Dyno yet but I can tell you this, its significantly quicker than it was when I bought it I am really looking forward to getting her on the Dyno by the end of the month so I can tune my new setup.

I bought the car in April of 05' after the previous owner slid it into a guardrail. I have put a ton of work into the car thus far. Last year was the year of the body, this year is the year of mechanical mods, and next year I will be doing a full custom interior.

Here's a couple of pics of the car right after I bought it in April of 05'





Matt

[gb387]

1Bad TT.... The car looks great! I remember the post on the body work you did, not sure if it was on MOL but I did see it.

Great photo you just posted with the 'Dodge' in the bummer really shows off the paint!

[Murr1525]

Well, the article is more a comparison between white and other colors, and lessons learned, not so much how to care for white. But the lessons learned I think are worthwhile.

Your carbon fiber hood is clear coated as well?

[1Bad TT]

Just finished reading that article and it was an interesting read. Makes me very happy to not have a single stage paint job because my paint is anything but boring and dull .

When we painted my car we shot it with RM product and its a three stage pearl. We sprayed 3 coats of white base, 3 coats of pearl, and 3 coats of clear. For the painters out there by the time we were done my brother in law had sprayed a gallon and a half of clear @ $389.00 a gallon

Matt

[1Bad TT]

Yep both the spoiler and hood were clear coated for UV protection, can't have that pretty black CF going yellow on me.

Matt

[35th Anniversary SS]

Great turn around on that car... well done!

Im sure that thing is a blast to drive with those mods. Good luck with the other mods! I know all to well when you have a pile of goodies to go on and just looking for the time to do it.