Getting That Deep Show Shine for Your Next Meet

Always start with the wheels. If you do them last, you'll splash brake dust and grime all over your clean paint. I use a dedicated wheel cleaner and a soft brush. Don't forget the wheel arches, judges love to stick their heads in there.

Cover the car in a thick layer of snow foam. Let it sit for 5 minutes (but don't let it dry!). This softens up the bird bombs and Sydney-to-Melbourne bug splatter so they wash off without scratching.

Use the two-bucket method. One with soapy water, one with clean water to rinse your mitt. It's the only way to be sure you aren't dragging grit across the clear coat.

Spray an iron remover (like Gtechniq W6) on the lower panels. If it turns purple, it's working. This gets rid of metallic fallout from brakes and industrial areas that a normal wash misses.

Run a clay bar over the wet paint using a lubricant. If the paint feels like sandpaper, keep going until it's smooth as glass. Truth be told, this step makes the biggest difference in how the final wax looks.

Use a big, plush drying towel or even a leaf blower if you have one. Water spots are the enemy of a show car, especially with our hard Australian water.

Pull the car into the garage or under a gazebo. Use a bright LED torch to look for swirls. If you've got them, you'll need to do a light polish.

Using your DA polisher and a finishing pad, work in small sections (about 50cm x 50cm). You aren't trying to remove deep scratches here, just clearing up the 'fog' in the paint to bring out the depth.

Use an Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) mix or a dedicated panel prep spray to wipe away any polishing oils. Your wax needs a 'naked' surface to bond to.

Apply your chosen protection. If it's a show, I usually go for a high-quality Carnauba wax. It gives a depth and 'glow' that ceramic coatings sometimes lack. Apply it thin! If you put it on too thick, it's a nightmare to buff off.

Vacuum everything twice. Use a soft brush to get dust out of the air vents. A customer once brought in a classic Charger and the judges docked points for dust inside the cassette player, no joke. Be thorough.

Clean the windows twice. Once with a wet cloth, once with a dedicated glass cleaner. For chrome, use a fine metal polish to get that mirror reflection.

Check the door jambs, the fuel cap, and under the boot lid. These are the areas people forget, but they make a massive difference to the overall 'vibe' of the car.