As I've already excitedly expressed, the Footman James Classic Motor Show at the NEC was an absolute cracker of a car show. Several vast halls of the National Exhibition Centre full of classic cars, racers and rarities.

I was happy and interested as I made my way through the halls, constantly coming across cars I'd never expected to see at a 'classic car' show. Don't let the name fool you, it's not about rickety old relics with about as much horsepower as a kitten's cough, but recent history street and track racers, and some nicely modified rides, too. Cars like the Metro 6R4, gorgeous MK1 and MK2 Golfs, and a full range flying Fords, from Escort to Capri and Cosworth.

Zipping from car to car, stand to stand – over 200 club stands and 450 traders – and the camera is filling up nicely and I'm looking to be right on time to cover the whole event in detail, before the show closes. Or so I thought. It wasn't until late in the day that I came across the Meguiar's Club Showcase.

Sixteen perfect examples of iconic cars, all valetted to within an inch of their metal, and all displayed on a floodlit, hand-built, mansion of a show stand. Hats off to Meguiar's, 'the world's leading manufacturer of automotive surface products', but it only made my photographic mission all the bigger.

Working with enthusiast's car clubs across the UK, the polishing professionals had bought together an eclectic array of incredible cars, from the ultra-exotic to the wonderfully-run-of-the-mill; all of them truly mint examples.

As I ran around with an overheating camera, trying to catch all of the gleaming beauty before me, I realised that there was actually a tougher task than my own quick-fire shoot-on-the-hoof – some unfortunate judges had to pick a 'Best in Show' out of the sixteen stunners. Apparently, in the end, there was only 9 points separating first and fifth place. Awesome work owners, awesome work Meguiar's. And the winner is…