I create and cut a lot of vinyl decals/stickers and the material that I cut for cars comes on a roll, 24" wide and 10 yards long. Thickness is about 3mil.Typically the rolls are about $19 and come in lots of colors. If I wanted to protect the finish from small stones and flying rubber, I would use that stuff and maybe even layering it up for extra protection since its so inexpensive.
BTW: Make sure you get the removable adhesive type vinyl, not all vinyl is the same, and in fact, most vinyls are permanent in nature. The stuff you want is known as Oracal Exhibition 631 - it will remove leaving NO goo. Just peel it off! I've left decals on my car for months and they remove cleanly with no effort or goo left behind.
__________________
He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless dead.
[quote=HeadHunter]Never tried it, but I just saw a commercial for a duplicolor spray on protectant that comes off with soap and water. Worth a look...
I looked into this also. It's to thin even with several coats. Seems like it would be a false sense of security. Used to blue tape or the clear stuff called Track Wrap, the problem is that unless you spend hours getting it completly flat, sand will get underneath then at speed it will slap the sand and small pebbles against your paint causing more damage. I'm proud of my track rash, people ask me "How did you get that scratch on the nose?" Then I say "Watikins Glen" and they go,; "Oh my god, you take your Vette to the track?!" They would never understand!
__________________ "Racing is life...everything else before and after is just waiting." Steve McQueen
after doing a bunch of track days this summer, here are my conclusions:
Clear bra 3M material works great on the areas it covers. it is practically invisible, deflects most debris without damage and it's easy to remove tire rubber from it.
For the areas it does not cover (on my car):
I tried clear racing tape. it is a bitch to put on perfectly. It protects well, but leaves a little bit of adhesive when removed. A little too much hassle for my liking, but great if you want to protect the paint for more than 1 day. Oh and it is not cheap.
Blue masking tape. Easy on easy off. Looks funky but I dont care. Easy to reapply during the track day.
Problem: I did not find any workable solutions yet to protect the hood or the windshield. They take a lot of damage and it is too much area to cover with tape. The hood will be in serious need of repainting after another season.
I ran a regular GM Corvette bra (not the Z06 GM bra). It is two piece and covers the entire nosepiece and the first 6 inches or so of the hood. It stays on even at 140 mph and really protects.
I blue taped the headlight covers.
I put some blue tape on the backs of the wheel wells and low on the quarter panels--cleans up easily, and tar remover can get off anything else, as you usually get some tire snot and brake dust on the lower parts of the doors and on the rear.
I know of nothing to protect the windshield from getting pocked. The plastic rear brake duct surrounds get pocked, too, but I suppose you can tape these if you wanted to.
[quote=Subw00er]I create and cut a lot of vinyl decals/stickers and the material that I cut for cars comes on a roll, 24" wide and 10 yards long. Thickness is about 3mil.Typically the rolls are about $19 and come in lots of colors. If I wanted to protect the finish from small stones and flying rubber, I would use that stuff and maybe even layering it up for extra protection since its so inexpensive.
BTW: Make sure you get the removable adhesive type vinyl, not all vinyl is the same, and in fact, most vinyls are permanent in nature. The stuff you want is known as Oracal Exhibition 631 - it will remove leaving NO goo. Just peel it off! I've left decals on my car for months and they remove cleanly with no effort or goo left behind.
Longdaddy ...
I bought some medium thickness clear static cling roll stock ... ~ 36" wide ... I haven't tried it, but I believe one can lay it across the hood, tape the leading edge and perhaps the edges under the hood sides, and it would be fine.
Windshield ... I am clueless ... just counting the pits.
Second on what QuickZ says ... my brake ducts are so bad I quit trying to tape them ...
__________________
^VIR Turn 3 '08^-MungoZ06-'03 QS/ModRed - NCCC, NASA NCM Member - Z06 Fest IV,V,VI,VII
I used the carpet protector stuff this year at the Milwaukee Mile. It was $13 for a 24" x 50 foot roll at Home Depot. It goes on ugly. Semi clear with "low stick adhesive". I left it on overnight and I am still trying to get some of the adhesive off. Bug & Tar, Prepsol, Turpentine, Mineral Spirits, and Simple Green wouldn't touch it. Soapy water and lots of scrubbing seems to work best. 6 weeks later I still have some on nose of car.
I wouldn't recommend this product.
Resurrecting this old thread ...
Plasticover wants to work with the track folks ...
Don't know if its the same company, but these folks want to work up a product that works for tracked cars:
I used walmart film last year at WGI and it did not stay on well. Also used the "static cling" stuff taped on, ... also a PITA
I have a roll of the plasticover carpet protection plastic on order and plan on trying it at VIR. 24" x 200' . It's more expensive ... but I'm tired of putting on blue tape.
I exchanged emails with Paul @ plasticover and told him my objectives.
He responded, and here's the deal:
"If you'd like, you can circulate the coupon code 'trackplastic' which will give any purchaser 25% off on the product cost of their order.
The only thing we ask is that they provide feedback directly to us first to help tune a product for your use. We'd like to have the opportunity to get the feedback and make adjustments to the product first rather than putting out any bad press on the forums. of course, if you love it, we have no object ions to that....
Please let us know how it works. For carpet, it is rated for 60 days of use but we would not recommend that on an automobile surface. We'd recommend starting with 1 day of use, 2 days max as it is untested on this surface and we do not assume any risk for this trial use.(emphasis added by me)"
I plan on laying on a good wax base before applying ... and I'm going to put it on Sat late afternoon and (if it stays on) take it off Tues evening.
I'm also getting some 4" wide, clear "helicopter blade protection" quality tape from saferacer. I'm trying them both - I'll report back here.
DennyM
I have been using a clear shelf paper from Target. Its like 18" x 12' and costs about $4. Keeps the 150 MPH bug splatters in check, and random rubber skid marks as well-- but stones and debris cuts thru it... I cover the entire rear fascia sinec my car runs a bit rich and clean up on the rear is a snap. No glue residue unless you leave it on for a week...
Denny-- let us know how that carpet protector does-- and the residue it leaves.
__________________
'01 Speedway white/mod red int. RapidMotorsports 427 package, LS2 Block, 573 RWHP, 529 FT LB, 1 7/8 Kooks with no cats or mufflers, RPM Transmission & Quaife Diff, Pfadt Coil-Overs & the propeller!
Well, since I started this thread I might as well tell you what I do these days - nothing. I bought the car to play and now it looks like the Anti-Garage Queen. What got hammered the most are the brake ducts (kinda fuzzy now) and the lower rear portions of the door perimeter - both on the door itself as well as the body. The rockers have a nice even sandblasted look to them, Quicksilver does a nice job hiding that damage. The front of the car is doing pretty well; stubborn bug guts come off easily with a clay bar.
I figure I can get a paint job later, if I really want one, with all the money and time saved by not screwing around trying to prevent the inevitable.
Like DennyM, I wish I could protect the windshield somehow.
DennyM - hope to see you at the PhoenixCMR event this August at The Glen.
Brian (RacingFast) ... I'll get back to you on the plastic. Got some residue, but that's part of my weekend cleaning and prepping for Summit next Fri.
Kmagvette ... I'll be at the Glen with PhoenixCMR in August. I registered in March to make sure I got a garage slot! Iim trailering up this year, but prolly will still be running on Nitto's ... see you there!
AutoForums.com is the premier network of enthusiast-owned
enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
We operate more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share
experiences and opinions as a community.
I'm proud of my track rash, people ask me "How did you get that scratch on the nose?" Then I say "Watikins Glen" and they go,; "Oh my god, you take your Vette to the track?!"
... just counting the pits.
and clean up on the rear is a snap. No glue residue unless you leave it on for a week...
Linear Mode
