[jgalaxy]

Gents, I need your wisdom and guidance. I've been doing 6-8 track event per year and my car's paint is slowly chipping away. What products can I use to tape up the car that goes on easy and comes of same?

Thanks,
JL

[just4kickz]

uhhh 3m painter's tape? seems like what most people use. if you want it to come off as easily as you put it on, make sure you overlap the tape, and you know where the bottom most piece is...lol

[longodj]

3M Painter's Tape works great!

[LOLrance]

Just use clear contact paper. It works like a charm, super thick and actually protects against rock chips (unlike painters tape). And on top of it all, its VERY cheap and cant be seen in photos.

A somewhat closeup of how it looks on the car.


From far away. Can barley even be seen.

[The HACK]

I dunno. Blue painter's tape is a sure sign that you're a noob. If you're really HARDCORE track junkie you leave your front end unprotected. It's a track car, it's NEVER going to stay relatively clean no matter how much you tape up. If you're going to start with the front bumper, you might as well tape up the entire car at that point. I mean, I've discovered rock chips on the side of my door and as far up as the C pillar.

My plan is to just repaint the front bumper when I can't stand it and use Dr. Colorchip to fix the smaller chips that I occasionally get up on the side of the car. $300 every 3 years is better than spending that much time taping up the front of my car.

[longodj]

Originally Posted by The HACK

I dunno. Blue painter's tape is a sure sign that you're a noob. If you're really HARDCORE track junkie you leave your front end unprotected. It's a track car, it's NEVER going to stay relatively clean no matter how much you tape up. If you're going to start with the front bumper, you might as well tape up the entire car at that point. I mean, I've discovered rock chips on the side of my door and as far up as the C pillar.

My plan is to just repaint the front bumper when I can't stand it and use Dr. Colorchip to fix the smaller chips that I occasionally get up on the side of the car. $300 every 3 years is better than spending that much time taping up the front of my car.

haha! yea...I just replaced my front bumper

[nicknaz]

I use 3M painter's tape. that said, I only tape up my license plate only and the headlights if club rules require it.

I think I get more rock chips from driving around the freeway than I do at the track.

the best use of painter's tape IMHO is to put a strip on the top of the windshield to put on tech and run group stickers because those don't come off the windshield cleanly

[longodj]

Originally Posted by Nick Nazareno

the best use of painter's tape IMHO is to put a strip on the top of the windshield to put on tech and run group stickers because those don't come off the windshield cleanly

Wow Nick...that is genius! Why the hell didn't I think of that?!

[The HACK]

The best use of painter's tape for me is to put a strip right across the bottom 1/2 of the windshield to remind me to NEVER look below that line near the horizon.

[Lowcruzr]

Originally Posted by Nick Nazareno

I use 3M painter's tape. that said, I only tape up my license plate only and the headlights if club rules require it.

I think I get more rock chips from driving around the freeway than I do at the track.

the best use of painter's tape IMHO is to put a strip on the top of the windshield to put on tech and run group stickers because those don't come off the windshield cleanly

That wins the Tip-of-the-day award!! I've been doing that since my second or third school. Works great.

[aus]

Originally Posted by l4wr3nc3

Just use clear contact paper. It works like a charm, super thick and actually protects against rock chips (unlike painters tape). And on top of it all, its VERY cheap and cant be seen in photos.

A somewhat closeup of how it looks on the car.


From far away. Can barley even be seen.

That's what I use too. It's cheap, and easier to put on big pieces.

[jgalaxy]

Originally Posted by The HACK

I dunno. Blue painter's tape is a sure sign that you're a noob. If you're really HARDCORE track junkie you leave your front end unprotected. It's a track car, it's NEVER going to stay relatively clean no matter how much you tape up. If you're going to start with the front bumper, you might as well tape up the entire car at that point. I mean, I've discovered rock chips on the side of my door and as far up as the C pillar.

My plan is to just repaint the front bumper when I can't stand it and use Dr. Colorchip to fix the smaller chips that I occasionally get up on the side of the car. $300 every 3 years is better than spending that much time taping up the front of my car.

I wasnt too keen on doing the 4" blue painters tape. All that time wasted. I'd rather have it painted every other year as well. Hardcore junkie .... 10 track days is realy only luke warm and makes me a wanna be hardcore junkie - LOL. I'd leave it as is but but the pock marks are starting to look a little bad. It's my daily driver. I got clobbered a couple of times this year sitting on the ass of some cars as they went over parts and rubber crap that struck me.

Clear contact paper might be the answer. Anything has to be better than 4" strips.

[jgalaxy]

Originally Posted by l4wr3nc3

Just use clear contact paper. It works like a charm, super thick and actually protects against rock chips (unlike painters tape). And on top of it all, its VERY cheap and cant be seen in photos.

A somewhat closeup of how it looks on the car.


From far away. Can barley even be seen.

You use 3M clear contact paper? Other product? Been trying to source something like that. 12" or 24" rolls?

[jgalaxy]

Originally Posted by longodj

haha! yea...I just replaced my front bumper

Hahaha. I'll end up doing that soon. My Hamman lip is toast from this winter snow plowing effort. Friggin KWs just too low. LOL.

[aus]

Originally Posted by jgalaxy

You use 3M clear contact paper? Other product? Been trying to source something like that. 12" or 24" rolls?

Probably the clear shelving paper at Target or Walmart, in the kitchen section. Road and Track mentioned they used it in an ariticle with nice cars a few years ago.

[Hit_Apex]

Originally Posted by longodj

3M Painter's Tape works great!

Looks good too!