derBayerische July /August 2022 - 19

T H E 3 8 T H D E U T S C H E M A R Q U E C O N C O U R S D ' E L E G A N C E
With only a small chance of
rain in the afternoon, the decision
was made to stay the course and
return to the fields of Occoquan
Regional Park in Lorton, VA for a
gathering of all things automotive.
This year marks the 38th time that
we gathered with members of the
National Capital Chapter of the
BMW Car Club of America (BMW
CCA), the Greater Washington
Section of the Mercedes-Benz Club
of America (MBCA) and the
Potomac Chapter of the Porsche
Club of America (PCA) for this
terrific show.
Concours judging in BMW
language, is more of a " Clean Car
Contest " , with groups of judges
assigned to inspect and report line
by line on your house-keeping
abilities. Points are accumulated or
subtracted in four main areas:
Exterior (50 points possible),
Interior (50 points), Trunk (30
points), Engine Compartment (40
points). Is there dust in your glove
box? That's a half point subtraction.
Dirt specks in the leather seats?
Another half point off. Now you see
why attention to every detail is the
difference between winning and
whining.
Getting a car ready for this
event takes place long before the
morning of the show. Countless
hours in the garage of washing,
out in a climate-controlled garage
under the soft blanket of a car cover
waiting and dreaming of runs to a
Cars and Coffee event or the
annual Concours events.
Being totally anal, I finished
preparing my M5 early, in midMarch.
I put the cover over her
and said, " no dust, please! " I had
already buffed the tail pipes inside
and out including polishing the
entire exhaust system to the rear
axles. Suspension parts were hand
polished and wiped down. Wheel
wells cleaned, tires and wheels
scrubbed, waxed and protection
chemicals applied and wiped down.
Leather on the door panels retreated
for the third time. Glass cleaned,
Interior vacuumed for the fifth time
with a soft boar's hair brush taken to
each and every vent blade, gauge,
trim part (after a good cleaning and
protection chemical wipedown).
Yes, I pull each wheel off the
■ (Top) NCC's BMW CCA tent at the entrance of the display field.
(Above) Mike DiAndrea's 1974 2002tii.
claying, buffing, waxing, disassembly,
parts hand washed and dried,
towels to Q-tips to work the cracks
and crevice cleaning, door jams,
weather seals, seats & door panels,
carpets, dash vents, roof rails,
glass, trunk detailing, under hood,
■ (From the Left) Michael Balling's 1979 320i. Fred Zell's 1988 M6.
wheels & tires, and on, and on.
I started on my M5 way back
in November 2021, after coming
back from the O'Fest in Hilton Head,
as it had rained during the event.
My car NEVER sees rain or snow or
even wet leaves. Instead, it hides
car, wipe down the wheel wells with
303 Aerospace Protectant, let it set
up for 24 hours then wipe with a
microfiber cloth. Speed Shine on
the brake calipers and suspension
parts, while the tires and wheels get
the bench treatment with a toothbrush,
soft cloths, and hand
retouching to ensure maximum
perfection on 20-year-old wheels
inside and out.
Here are some tips and tricks
July I August
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derBayerische July /August 2022

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