Racer's Tape / Painter's Tape / Blue Tape

[Flash G]

Originally Posted by Evil Twin

I stopped bothering using tape years ago. While I'm sure it helps limit chips, it's just too much bother. But I like the S4. Every once in a while, at the track, I see someone (usually it's the driver's first event) with tape all over the front half of the car. Always makes me laugh.

Not true. I got my Exige out of the body shop before the Starshield was reinstalled and I headed to the track. It's the best way to protect the front paint from rock chips (without the starshield) and protect the sides/rocker panels from that rubber goo that flies off the tire.

I won't get many points for artistic application, but it did the job....

(Got it at Home Depot - 3" wide rolls)

[R'elise Me]

The best stuff I've used is red vinyl stucco tape available at Home Depot or White Cap. It's designed to protect painted and glass surfaces from the ravages of a stucco spray gun. Even sandblasters use it. It peels much more easily than blue tape cuz it comes off in one large area if you layer the tape on correctly and peel it from back to front.

Blue tape sucks - sharp stuff just goes right thru it. It's just thin paper. Just my experience especially at Willow Springs where the rocks are very sharp.

[Bleu Omdurman]

Originally Posted by fishguy

the thing I liked about it was it made cleaning the car easy after a track day if you put it in spots where you get allot of rubber from tires of other cars hitting you.

I use the Blue tape for the same reason. If I am planning on detailing the car, then I won't use it, if I recently detailed it, then I do.

Sometimes, I am putting the car in a show soon after an event and want the cleaning job to be easier.

[scootrkitz]

what about for highway driving across some states? blue painters tape good? or not tough enough?

[Mr. Know]

Just because it's blue, doesn't mean it's the good stuff...
I use this Welcome To FrogTape.com

[agirls]

I was too lazy to read all of the posts, but sometimes I'll use painter's tape and then regular duct tape on top of it. Better protection than just blue painter's tape, stays on better, and I can color coordinate and buy black duct tape or something.

[Noizemaker]

The blue tape isn't very thick, but i used it at the last autocross I did. ... too bad I took a cone down the side of the door! I'd feel confident using it for bugs, etc but i'd be shocked if it stopped a ding from occurring. Dunno if i'd bother using it again.

As an aside, that Audi will never die! I used to work with one of the guys who did that cross country drive. Seems like such a fun way to do it because you get to graffiti the car.

Went to the S2000 Homecoming last year, strangely NONE of us who travelled inter-state to get there taped our cars, but so many of the california people did it was crazy. At least they had fun with the tape though! (Note where it did them 0 good though.)



I love the killsheet.

[RacyTracy]

I don't think I'd use blue painter's tape for cross-country. I'd be afraid once it got wet, assuming you'd hit rain, it would be a real pain to remove...kind of like masking tape.

[scootrkitz]

good responses, I am thinking of using the painters tape, but I will double layer it in some places, and I am only going to Indiana, I'm coming from Kansas, so it will only be across two states, I am hoping it does not rain though.

[SweetDaddyD]

I use (and sell) this:



low tack easily removable vinyl. 2 pairs for $25. They install in 2 pieces per side (instead of hundreds of strips of tape), then use the extra material on the sheet to put additional layers in the high impact area right in front of the rear tires. And unlike blue tape it doesn't make your nice car look all ghetto. I've never understood how people spend so much money on their car to not be racing an old beater miata, E30 or whatever (which will still be plenty of fun to flog around the track) and then make it look so crappy with blue tape and blue tape numbers. They should ban it just like clubs don't let people in wearing sneakers and jerseys, or certain golf courses require a certain appearance.

[Mr. Know]

Originally Posted by SweetDaddyD

I've never understood how people spend so much money on their car to not be racing an old beater miata, E30 or whatever (which will still be plenty of fun to flog around the track) and then make it look so crappy with blue tape and blue tape numbers. They should ban it just like clubs don't let people in wearing sneakers and jerseys, or certain golf courses require a certain appearance.

Agreed! However, I use the frog tape mentioned earlier to hold in my turn signals, not for protection.

[agirls]

SweetDaddyD- how come you don't sell anything for the lights? Everyone tapes those up on the track. But back to the tape....I didn't realize the OP was asking for street driving. That's crazy! Just my opinion though.

[MontinolaRacing]

Originally Posted by SweetDaddyD

I use (and sell) this:



low tack easily removable vinyl. 2 pairs for $25. They install in 2 pieces per side (instead of hundreds of strips of tape), then use the extra material on the sheet to put additional layers in the high impact area right in front of the rear tires. And unlike blue tape it doesn't make your nice car look all ghetto. I've never understood how people spend so much money on their car to not be racing an old beater miata, E30 or whatever (which will still be plenty of fun to flog around the track) and then make it look so crappy with blue tape and blue tape numbers. They should ban it just like clubs don't let people in wearing sneakers and jerseys, or certain golf courses require a certain appearance.

That looks great and I completely agree with you! BAN BLUE TAPE from track days, its getting a little ridiculous guys... Use sweetdaddyd's solution and you can have a respectable looking car still

[MontinolaRacing]

Originally Posted by agirls

SweetDaddyD- how come you don't sell anything for the lights? Everyone tapes those up on the track.

There is no need to tape up your lights during a track day...

[SweetDaddyD]

Originally Posted by agirls

SweetDaddyD- how come you don't sell anything for the lights? Everyone tapes those up on the track. But back to the tape....I didn't realize the OP was asking for street driving. That's crazy! Just my opinion though.

I do. I sell the black stuff and also paint protection film for the lights. I'll be putting a store on my site soon that I can update easier.

The black stuff doesn't stretch a lot so it does wrinkle over the headlights if you don't cut it in half. It gets the job done though.

[rnr]

Originally Posted by SweetDaddyD

I've never understood how people spend so much money on their car to not be racing an old beater miata, E30 or whatever (which will still be plenty of fun to flog around the track) and then make it look so crappy with blue tape and blue tape numbers.

Because I cant be bothered to keep vinyl numbers clean and unwrinkled between events. And no I wont leave them on the car because IMHO they make the Elise an even bigger target for the cops.

If magnetic numbers worked on the Elise I would definitely get a set of those.

[SweetDaddyD]

^ Just buy new numbers from me then everytime
I can cut you a deal on a few sets of just simple numbers so that you don't have to worry about tape.

Surprisingly I have never been pulled over since I've had the stripes and numbers on my car, and I should of been a few times. (knocking on wood all over now....) And I have 46K miles in my car and even do road trips in it- so it's out there on the road.

[LarryB]

Been using the 3M #471 Vinyl Tape, for a few year now. Did a good 1200 mile road trip (WCLM) and 2-3 track days and a few autocross on them. Just pulled most of it off after a good 7 months. Comes clean off. After having the clear film replaced a few times, don’t mind the look of the black stuff.

SDD- glad to see your offering this.

[scootrkitz]

Originally Posted by LarryB

Been using the 3M #471 Vinyl Tape, for a few year now. Did a good 1200 mile road trip (WCLM) and 2-3 track days and a few autocross on them. Just pulled most of it off after a good 7 months. Comes clean off. After having the clear film replaced a few times, don’t mind the look of the black stuff.

SDD- glad to see your offering this.

awesome larryB! how long have you had your headlights like that? (painted shrouds).

[elisesile]

My ugly ass tape job using cheap Big-Lots painters tape. Probably won't be so enthusiastic on my 2nd track day.