Summer car shows and cruise nights have been staple form of entertainment around the United States for many many years. There's just something about putting the top down and heading out on a warm summer day. Car lovers flock to cruise night to photograph and converse about all things antique car related. They are certainly a great time for many people. Unfortunately, cars sometimes get damaged by spectators or even other car owners. You should proceed with caution at a car show to make sure it makes it out without any scratches or dents. Because a lot of car shows occur around the 4th Of July, today's article will be about how to avoid damaging your classic car at shows this summer.

An easy thing to do is to not park anywhere near gravel or dirt. Other over zealous drivers may try to spin their tires causing gravel and rocks to fly up.  This debris can fly up and scratch your paint, or worse leave pucks in the windshield. Parking can prevent a lot of the potential damage cars can sustain at cruise nights. Park strategically and leave enough space between you and the other cars. 

Part of damage prevention occurs on the way to the car show as well. Be careful not to run over potholes while driving to the car show. Choose roads that are paved well and don't kick up a lot dirt and debris. You'll want to do an initial check on your classic car before taking it out for the summer to make sure it is road safe. Check the oil, tire pressure and make sure your brakes are looking well. Also, check the weather conditions before heading out to the show. 

To keep belt buckles, purses and other pieces of clothing from scratching your car, you may want to print up a sign that politely ask onlookers to give a the car a foot of space while looking. Many other car owners understand this and will not get upset by this request. You can also print brochures to display outside the car to keep the car safe from people getting too close.