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05-05-2013, 08:12 PM | #1 |
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Taping front of car for track?
Was all set to have a good chunk of the car covered in clear protective film, and then the weathermen called for up to a foot of snow in the Twin Cities on the day I was supposed to take the car into the shop to have this work done. It would have been a 45 minute drive downtown on a good day, so dealing with a foot of wet, heavy snow in rush hour traffic heading downtown with a rear wheel drive sports car didn't appeal to me, so I canceled. Due to work and family commitments I'm not sure I can get it back there before I head to the track in late May.
My questions for the track folks: - What kind of tape do you use to protect your car at the track? Just regular painters tape? - Is there any special cleaning you need to do after you remove the paint? - How long does it take you to tape up the car? - What portions of the car do you tape up? - On the "pain in the rear end" scale - with a 1 being super easy and a 5 being you'd never try it again; how much of a hassle is it to tape up your car? Thanks. |
05-05-2013, 08:37 PM | #2 |
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Don't use normal household painters tape, there is separate automotive painters tape where the adhesive is not as strong. If your bumper has original factory paint this is less of a concern but if you had a respray done at any point, painters tape can actually pull the paint off. If you encounter wet weather on track and allow the tape to dry before removal, chances of pulling paint are even higher.
I try to wash the car before I apply tape. Ideally the car will also have been detailed prior to beginning of the season. Last thing you want is to apply any tape while there's debris on the car. Assuming the front end is clean, I used to tape the whole front end, first 6" of the hood, and the area behind each wheel. I would typically do this all the night before so the car was protected even on the way up. I've seen folks who who also cover up headlights, fogs and mirror covers. Over the years I've stopped taping the car up so much, once you accept that the car is longer a garage queen I only cover up certain areas. Plus having a clearbra for general protection helps. The areas behind the wheels I mentioned: Last edited by 3002 tii; 05-06-2013 at 10:07 AM.. |
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05-05-2013, 08:40 PM | #3 |
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Painter's tape, blue or green, leaves no residue, easy to put on easy to remove. (Not duct tape like I saw on a poor Corvette one time--ouch.)
I don't bother anymore since my bumper needs a respray anyway. But in the past, it's taken me 10-15 min to tape up the complete front end--bumper, headlights--in a protective blue condom of blue tape. |
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05-05-2013, 09:23 PM | #4 |
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I use racers tape. http://www.racerstape.com
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05-05-2013, 09:25 PM | #5 |
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You will get 'tire worm' marks on the car, even in places that will make you shake your head and wonder 'HOW'.
In my experience, the easiest way to remove the rubber 'tire worm' marks is use a clay bar. Pulls the mark right out of the car with no paint damage. |
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05-05-2013, 09:41 PM | #6 |
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i don't even really bother with any tape anymore, I normally fully detail my car twice a year that will take out most of the scuffs you get from tracking. I do however use racers tape just to give my car a little color and makes it easy to distinguish from far away so my friends see me coming from behind or for friends spectating.
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05-05-2013, 09:42 PM | #7 |
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Thanks guys, this is very helpful. I've got a 3 hour drive to the track, so not sure I want to make that drive with blue tape all over the car. Maybe that's just my ego coming into play...and I don't have a very big ego. So if the weather cooperates then I'll just get her cleaned up before I head up there, then tape it in the hotel parking lot the night before, or the morning of.
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05-05-2013, 10:00 PM | #8 | |
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05-05-2013, 10:13 PM | #9 |
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I agree, over the years I've taped the car less and less. I will say though the tape isn't so much to protect the paint from tire marks but actual paint chips from debris. I once lined up behind a Z06 with r-comps and when he pulled out I thought my car had gotten sandblasted lol.
Last edited by 3002 tii; 05-06-2013 at 10:08 AM.. |
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05-05-2013, 10:24 PM | #10 |
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My car is still 98% garage (not trailer) queen. When I first bought it I wanted to keep it pristine for the next 20 years. But my Porsche-racing buddy - along with many of you - have convinced me that life is short, cars can be repainted, other cars can be purchased, etc., etc. So I've decided to live on the wild side a bit and take it out to the track. But I must admit that when I see this baby all cleaned up and looking pretty, sitting there at dusk - as I saw her tonight while picking up sushi for the family - I just fall in love all over again with the car. I'll probably err on the side of taping her up too much this first time. If I fall in love with racing then maybe I'll splurge on the film, or just live with the chips.
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05-05-2013, 10:58 PM | #11 |
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I always tend to do more rather than less when it comes to tape. If your drive to the track is far, taping also makes clean up particularly easy because you can just peel off the splattered bugs.
I usually spend about an hour taping up my car with multiple layers. I know I'm OCD about it, but she's my baby and I like to keep her as perfect as I can More pics here: http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=812379
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05-05-2013, 11:16 PM | #13 | |
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The lower half of the front bumper (particularly fangs) and the areas on the side skirts in front of the rear wheels take the biggest beating.
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05-05-2013, 11:28 PM | #14 | |
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05-06-2013, 12:36 AM | #16 | |
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racers tape is awesome because it tears in a clean straight line so its easy to make numbers.
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05-06-2013, 07:41 AM | #17 | |
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The only tape we specially sell for that purpose would be the ISC helicopter surface guard tape seen online at: http://www.findtape.com/shop/results...=helicopter-og However that tape is designed for more permanent applications and is not designed to remove cleanly. You could try a removable protective film tape like Patco 5560 (see http://www.findtape.com/product463/info.aspx); however that's just a polyethylene film so wouldn't offer the protection a polyurethane film like the helicopter tape would. If the tape doesn't have to be clear you could also try a gaffers tape if it is only going to be on for one day - a tape like the Pro Tapes Pro Gaff seen online at http://www.findtape.com/product199/info.aspx could be tried. Doesn't exactly give me the warm fuzzies. Looks like I'm going with generic painters tape from Home Depot??? |
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05-06-2013, 09:46 AM | #20 |
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Why bother? If you're going to tape, go ALL OUT like this:
Because no matter how much you tape, you'll get tire marks and chips in places you didn't tape. I've got a couple of minor chips on my A pillar and have gotten chips on my door panel. Unless you're willing to tape those areas too...And if you are, you're better off buying a beater track only car and leave the Coupe at home.
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05-06-2013, 10:08 AM | #21 | |
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05-06-2013, 12:52 PM | #22 |
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I just returned home from getting my second clear bra applied.
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