Show Prep – Show Survival Kit
February 15, 2020
One of the best parts of classic car ownership is without a doubt, the shows. There is nothing better than polishing the old car in readiness for a day in the sun with other like minded enthusiasts. We go to the shows to immerse ourselves in our hobby, to check out the other cars, to hopefully score that long missing part or parts. Shows are good, because they top up our enthusiasm for our hobby, they encourage us to put some miles on our cars, and they give us joy.
However, it’s not all joyous. Shows, especially if you’re exhibiting and thus ‘locked in’ from start to finish, can also be long and tiring. They can be downright expensive, too. Five quid for a bacon roll, three quid for a usually terrible coffee. Then, there’s the fact your legs will be screaming murder by the end of the day. Your phone will have gone flat. And if you’re really unlucky, you’ll have sunburn, too. Happily though, we can avoid some of the negatives with the kit below.
1) Camp Stove
A camp stove isn’t just for camping, it has a vital use when it comes to car shows, too. Have one of these in the boot and you’ll find a brew or a bacon butty is never far away. And as this camp stove costs a mere £15, you’ve only got to use it three times before it’s paid for itself. Plus, you get to eat the bacon you like and drink the coffee that actually tastes of coffee, not whatever that brown water is they’re charging £3 for in the converted camper van.
When you’re locked into the show field for a full day, you’re not going to have a three-pin plug to hand. And you don’t want to rely on the 12V socket in your classic, as you drain the battery. What you need, in order to keep your phone or any other USB device going is a power bank. But don’t get a normal one. Get this, solar power bank. It simply can’t run out of power, which is brilliant. And it keeps all your devices charged, two at a time thanks to twin USB ports.
Car shows are often vast, and as such, it’s more than acceptable to get tired legs. However, the last thing you want to do is sit in your car. Comfy though it may well be, there’s something rather uncomfortable about sitting in your car while people are looking at it as part of the show. Cue awkward smiles and forced conversation. Instead, get yourself this comfy, robust and foldable chair. It’ll fit in the boot, you can recline in comfort and it even has a little pouch in which you can keep your supplies.
If you’ve bought the camp stove above, you’re also going to need somewhere to put your tasty food, and of course, the milk. You don’t want them to get warm and, um, fragrant over the course of the day. A normal cool box with ice packs is okay, but only for so long. What’s better is a refrigerated cool box. One that you can, with this lead, power off your power-bank. It’ll keep your food and drink chilled all day long. And don’t think it’ll sit empty in winter. This useful box of tricks can keep things warm, too. Outstanding.
5) Monopod
You’re at a car show, so you’re going to want to take pictures. And the best pictures are achieved when you use a tripod. However, a tripod is a cumbersome thing to lug around all day. What you need then, is a monopod like this one from Manfrotto, experts in all things photographic. It works in the same way as a tripod, but with just the one leg. You still have to hold the camera steady, but this handy telescopic stick will take care of the weight and most of the stability. You’re guaranteed to get perfect shots every time.
