How Car Show Expert handles judging
Every piece of the digital judging workflow is designed to speed up show day — and to produce a result that entrants will respect.
Judges score on their phone — no app to download
Each judge gets a link to their judging interface. They open it on any smartphone, tablet, or laptop. No app store, no account required. The interface is designed for one-handed use at show field pace.
Structured 100-point scorecards by class
Set up scoring categories for each class — paint, chrome, interior, engine, overall presentation — with weighted point values that add to 100. Every judge sees the same rubric, which is the foundation of a defensible result.
Per-class judge assignments
Assign different judges to different classes. A judge only sees the vehicles in their assigned class — not the full show. This prevents cross-contamination of scores and keeps judging focused.
Live score tallying — no manual counting
Scores aggregate automatically as judges submit them. The organiser sees a live leaderboard per class. When judging closes, winners are ranked by total score. No spreadsheet, no calculator, no transcription.
DNP (Did Not Present) flagging
Judges can flag a vehicle as Did Not Present if it isn't on the field when they arrive. DNP entries are excluded from scoring automatically. No manual list management required.
Export results for awards and records
When judging is complete, export the full results to PDF for the trophy ceremony, or share a live results page with attendees. Results are stored permanently against the show.
The judging workflow from setup to trophy
- 1Set up your judging classes and scoring rubric before show day
- 2Invite judges by email — they get a link, no account needed
- 3On show day, judges open their link and work through their assigned class
- 4Scores appear in the organiser's live leaderboard as they're submitted
- 5When all judges finish, close judging — winners are ranked automatically
- 6Export results to PDF for the trophy ceremony or share a live results page
Why digital scoring matters
Paper scorecards have three failure modes: transcription errors when you total by hand, disputes when an entrant questions the math, and lost cards. Digital scoring eliminates all three. Every score is recorded, totalled, and permanent.
Common questions
- How do judges access the judging interface?
- You invite judges by email from the show's Staff page. They receive a link that opens their judging interface directly — no account, no app, no password required. They can access it on any device with a browser.
- Can I use my own scoring categories and point breakdowns?
- Yes. You define the scoring rubric for each class — categories, labels, and point weights. Car Show Expert calculates totals based on your setup. You're not locked into a preset scorecard.
- What if two vehicles tie on points?
- Ties are flagged in the results view. The tiebreaker is at the organiser's discretion — by convention this is usually the chief judge's ruling. Car Show Expert shows the tied scores clearly so you can make the call.
- Can judges score offline?
- The judging interface requires a connection to submit scores. We recommend confirming your venue has usable mobile data before show day. If connectivity is a concern, a paper scorecard backup is always worth running alongside digital scoring.
- Is digital judging available on the Free plan?
- Digital judging is an Expert Show feature. Expert status is a one-time per-show upgrade. Once unlocked, that show has digital judging permanently — including if your subscription changes.
- Can I restrict what judges see?
- Yes. Judges only see the classes assigned to them and the vehicles in those classes. They cannot view other classes' scores, registration data, or organiser settings.