How to Choose Awards and Dash Plaques for Your Car Show
A great car show brings together memorable vehicles and the people who care for them. The awards you choose help celebrate that effort, while dash plaques give participants something to remember the day by.
Planning both together makes it easier to create a consistent look, organize your award categories, and prepare personalized details before your event. Here’s how to choose the right combination for your show.
Give participants a keepsake with dash plaques
Dash plaques and winner awards serve different purposes. A dash plaque commemorates participation, while a trophy or award plaque recognizes a particular achievement.
Custom full-color aluminum dash plaques can carry your event’s identity across every participant’s keepsake. At Chrome 57, you can submit your own artwork or get help creating a design for your event. Stock sizes are available, and custom sizes can be requested.
When planning your design, think about the information participants will want to remember: your event name, date, location, and organizing club. Keep the layout readable rather than trying to fit every detail into a small space.
Choose your award categories first
Before choosing trophy styles, decide what your show will recognize. Categories might include Best of Show, People’s Choice, Best Engine, Best Paint, or vehicle classes organized by era or type.
These are starting points, not rules. The best categories reflect the vehicles attending and the way your event is judged. A small club gathering may need only a few awards, while a larger show may need several classes and placements.
Create a working list of categories and quantities before selecting products. That helps you avoid ordering too many awards in one category and overlooking another.
Match the award style to the recognition
Different award styles can give your categories a distinct character.
Award plaques offer a broad surface for personalization. Full-color printing, engraving, or a combination of both can help connect the winner’s award with your event’s dash plaque design.
Acrylic, glass, and crystal awards offer a range of shapes and sizes for custom etching. They’re worth considering when you want a clean, presentation-focused design for a standout vehicle or special recognition.
Automotive resin awards bring the theme of the show into the trophy itself. Designs featuring pistons, spark plugs, steering wheels, gas pumps, and classic cars can complement the category being awarded. An engine-themed trophy, for example, can be a fitting choice for an engine award.
Build a consistent event look
Your dash plaques and awards don’t need to be identical to feel connected. Repeating your event name, logo, colors, or a central design element can help them belong to the same show.
Consider the personalization method as you develop that look. A full-color design and an etched design may need different treatments of the same logo. Clear artwork and a readable layout are more useful than squeezing in extra decorative details.
Prepare the personalization details
Before finalizing your order, check the spelling of your event name, award categories, dates, and club information. Decide whether winner names will be included or whether the awards will be prepared by category in advance.
If your event uses multiple placements, make the distinctions clear. Consistent wording such as “First Place,” “Second Place,” and “Third Place” helps keep your award list organized.
Review any artwork proof carefully, especially details that repeat across every plaque or trophy. Catching one incorrect date before approval is much easier than discovering it at the awards table.
Plan ahead for your event
Start the award conversation early enough to discuss quantities, artwork, personalization, and your required arrival date. Confirm timing before making plans around delivery, particularly if you need custom artwork or several award styles.
Keep a final copy of your category list and approved design details. It gives your organizers a useful reference when sorting awards and preparing the presentation.
Create awards your participants will remember
The right combination of dash plaques and personalized awards helps your event recognize both participation and achievement. Start with your categories, choose styles that fit your show, and bring everything together with consistent design details.
Chrome 57 offers full-color aluminum dash plaques, personalized award plaques, etched acrylic, glass and crystal awards, and automotive resin trophies. Contact us to discuss the right options for your next car show.