Tip of the Month - Plan a Schedule

To help Concours d’Elegance Australia nominees prepare for 10-10-10, we are providing tips and advice each month.

Concours d’Elegance Australia's tip of the month is Plan a Schedule. It may seem like months away from Concours d’Elegance Australia 10-10-10 however it takes a significant amount of time and effort to prepare your vehicle. Our tip for this month is to work out a schedule from now until 10-10-10 for your automobile or motorcycle.

We have broken down the next few months into stages to help you prepare your vehicle(s) in time. Rolls

Stage 1: 5 months or more before Concours d’Elegance Australia 10-10-10

Starting to prepare your vehicle months in advance is recommended to prevent any last minute panics. Areas that can be worked on are as follows:

•    Research the authenticity of your vehicle to ensure it matches the original manufacturing specification.
•    Arrange and tidy your workspace.
•    Inspect your vehicle thoroughly to identify any areas, which need to be repaired, or replaced, such as oil leaks, worn or broken seals, rust, ripped interior, etc.
•    Have dents repaired and paint chips touched up.
•    Order cleaning products.
•    Check you have the correct spare tyre and it’s clean.
•    Order tools if necessary to help complete the job.

Stage 2: 1 – 2 months before Concours d’Elegance Australia 10-10-10

A month or two before the Concours is a good time to start focusing on cleaning and preparing the exterior and interior of the vehicle. Areas which can be worked on are as follows:

•    Prepare the exterior – cleaning, claying, polishing, waxing, etc.
•    Prepare the interior – cleaning, vacuum, etc.
•    Clean the interior leather – this can be a particular tough area to bring up to Concours standard and may take a few attempts.
•    Clean the storage compartment.
•    Clean door jambs including polishing and waxing them.
•    Repair and/or clean rubber trim
•    Clean the battery and surrounding areas
•   Clean alloy wheels

Stage 3: 1 – 2 days before Concours d’Elegance Australia 10-10-10

A day or two day before the Concours is vital, as this is the time where you are putting the finishing touches to your vehicle. The main areas you should be concentrating on are as follows:

•   Final interior clean and vacuum including the storage compartment
•   Clean windows and mirrors
•   Wash the car
•   Cleaning external rubber and vinyl

Here is a sample timetable to help you plan in advance:

Stage 1	10 Weeks +	Organise your workspace. Buy all the necessary cleaning and polishing products and tools.
Stage 1	10 Weeks +	Ensure the authenticity of the vehicle is in accordance with the original manufacturing specification.
Stage 1	8 Weeks +	Repairs including chipped paint, scratches and dents are completed.
Stage 2	6 Weeks +	Clean spare tyre, tool kit and any other accessories being presented at the Concours.
Stage 2	4 Weeks +	Clay, polish and wax vehicle.
Stage 2	3 Weeks +	Deep clean the interior, including doors. Restore and clean leather.
Stage 2	2 Weeks +	Clean and prepare storage compartment.
Stage 2	1 Weeks +	Clean engine and final check over the condition. Interior detailed.
Stage 3	Day before	Wash, vacuum and clean the vehicle thoroughly including dress rubber and vinyl. A final wipe down of the engine.

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