Concours and clear bra?!?

[rsnodgrass]

What is the consensus of clear bra'd cars at top PCA concours events like Parade? How does that impact judging?

I'm considering a full hood and front fenders clear bra on my low-mileage '77 930 as the metallic paint is in excellent condition still. Car was repainted once, but the high cost of quality paint jobs these days make clear bras worth considering. Estimates consistently run about $2k in the Pacific NW for Xpel Ultimate. Sizable money, but still only 10-15% the cost of a glass out paint job.

Thoughts?

[porwolf]

Why not use an old fashioned one-piece bra for regular driving. Same protection and if in new condition and handled carefully it protects perfectly. I have used this one since I bought my car in 1979, 50,000 miles ago. And the paint still looks brand new, and no scratches or blemishes from the bra at all. Plus it is easy to take off and put back on.

[boxster03]

I'm not a concours judge but I say they would ding you - but so can non factory paint

[Cooper911SC]

I read this post a few hours ago and my thought was a knee jerk "NO" for a true Parade level or open class Concours car. I have been thinking it over this evening while installing a bra on a 14k mile '04 996 Turbo for a client.

Have to state Caveat,
1) I prepare Concours cars for a living
2) I also install clear bra film
3) I am a PCA Zone 8 Judge.

Here are my thoughts/rationale:

At a Zone or regional level PCA judges on cleanliness. The clear bra would simply be judged based on that. ie: edges clean of wax and dirt residue, film has been maintained and is shiny like the rest of the paint.

Take the car to a National PCA level or an open class Concours and the game changes.

What is the provenance of the vehicle, how original is it, how original looking/true to original is the restoration? Those become a big factor.

That being said, it is my opinion that an original car or a high quality restoration with a few minor carefully/professionally applied paint touch ups will fare better than a car with a clear bra installed on it.

I would not consider trying to sell/install a clear bra on a client's Duesenberg or a Glockler Porsche.

All that being said, what are your goals and plans for the 930? If you are thinking of doing a season or two of Concours events and then driving the car, wait on the bra and deal with touch ups.

If you primarily want to drive the car and might do a few Concours events in the future then maybe the clear bra install now is a better choice.

As a data point, I prepared and handled a client's '97 993 TT a few years ago for a full season of regional PCA Concours. The car was an 8k mile original cream puff. It had a clear bra on it that I installed.
On average the car took a 2/10ths deduction in Full Concours each show.
(Many shows only a 1/10th deduction).
We flat out lost 1 show because of "dirt at the edge of bra".
A 2/10ths deduction. It was a B.S. deduction to avoid a tie breaker. We rolled with it because that is the PCA game... win some, lose some, deal with the politics.

Those are my thoughts. Hope to see you at Parade Monterey.

Cooper

[wayner]

How about applying clear plasti-dip rubberized spray paint yourself for daily driving and then once you get to the concourse event, peal it and give it a cleaning before the judges arrive?

(test it on something first so that you can't blame me

[widgeon13]

Number 1 symptom of OCD = Overzealous cleaning

[rsnodgrass]

Thanks for all the thoughts. Really appreciate the insights from a PCA judge. That was really helpful. Thinking more about it, I probably won't take this car to National events since I'd need to do more serious prep that I'd like to on this car...I have other Porsches for that. I'll noodle on this a bit more before making a final decision on clear bra.

I won't have my cars judged at regional PCA events anymore because of the ridiculous cleanliness judging (e.g. there was a spot of dirt under my windshield wiper at a recent concours!). The regional judges had no appreciation for originality and one even took me aside later in the day to recommend painting the fan blade red as it really pops and he's won many PCA shows that way!? I'll definitely still take cars to PCA events, just not as judged entries.

[wayner]

I think it is unfortunate that as the level of prep has increased over the years, the likelihood of going home feeling bad about something you should be really proud of has also increased.

[PCA7GGR]

The one piece bras can leave hairline scratches on the top of the fenders from buffeting.

[ClickClickBoom]

Been thinking about doing this for El Chup, then I realized the parking lot door dings, numerous rock and deer dings would detract far more points. Pretty sure the Skittles and French fries under the seats are gonna cost too. So I am forcing myself to refrain from such events and drive the car for fun.....

[ParkerFE]

Just enjoy driving. Rock chips from regular use add character IMHO. I hate the bra the PO put on my 88 cab. But, I'm afraid to take it off as it may pull paint with it.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by ParkerFE

Just enjoy driving. Rock chips from regular use add character IMHO. I hate the bra the PO put on my 88 cab. But, I'm afraid to take it off as it may pull paint with it.

+1

"dirt at the edge of bra" Why would one want to even enter into an event like that?

[R K T]

Originally Posted by KNS

+1

"dirt at the edge of bra" Why would one want to even enter into an event like that?

It's called "Competition"!

Competition whether it's racing, rallying, a tech quiz or concouring.
I got caught up in the concours world a few years ago starting with the most basic "wash & shine". It was fun. But then the bug bit. Hard. Within two years I was at the top winning Full Concours with my '55 356. At that level it was definitely not fun anymore, even after winning, the blood sweat and swearing was not worth the plastic trophy that is now in a box in the attic. No more of that!

As a PCA Concours judge, I would ding a car about a point for a clear bra if it were at Parade. Maybe a tenth of a point at the local level.

WayneR......No truer words were ever typed!

[KBOUSTANI]

i like the magnetic bra.no scratches and protect your car.

[nineball]

you guys got it easy. my dad has a '36 chriscraft that he competes with and those guys are super anal! you lose points if one of the hundreds of flathead screws is not perfectly parallel with the ground.