Painters tape before autocross?

jeremicium · 05-28-2010, 03:45 PM

Me and the wife are bringing our cars to the track for the first time this weekend. We'll be running slaloms, skidpad, emergency lane changes, and autocross. I noticed some people put the painters tape in strategic areas and others do not. Recommendations from people with track experience? is it worth putting the tape on? Or more trouble than its worth?

thanks.

vwong · 05-28-2010, 05:53 PM

I don't do that stuff because it ruins an otherwise perfect photo-op. Besides, at autox, you will only hit cones. Cone marks can be removed easily.

S4to335 · 05-28-2010, 05:55 PM

Yeah...it makes you look like a douche bag. I use to autocross a bunch.

jeremicium · 05-28-2010, 06:50 PM

Thanks guys!

S4to335 · 05-28-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremicium

Thanks guys!

Now, with track events where idiots in front of you go off..and throw gravel at your car repeatedly...THEN I would consider blue painters tape on the very bottom lower front valence. Have I ever done it before? NOPE.

330MX · 05-28-2010, 11:22 PM

Have a great time running the car! As others mentioned, no need for tape at autocross. Up to you for open track days. Run a few of them per year and you will get chips and pits in your front bumper/hood. IMO the time is better spent checking over your car mechanically, studying the track, and talking with experienced drivers.

zeenon53 · 05-28-2010, 11:29 PM

The only time it would be acceptable is for numbers and if the track requires, headlights. If your that worried you should just get a clear bra.

mid-corner fun · 05-29-2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S4to335

Now, with track events where idiots in front of you go off..and throw gravel at your car repeatedly...THEN I would consider blue painters tape on the very bottom lower front valence. Have I ever done it before? NOPE.

Last year I witnessed the car in front me lose a headlight because the guy in front of him decided to take a short trip off the track, no time to react. I don't care about chips etc you'll get these no matter what on the open track but losing a headlight makes it one expensive DE day. Since then I always tape my headlights (see avatar pic)

aus · 05-29-2010, 05:17 PM

Get clear shelving paper at Target or Walmart. It's the stuff people put on kitchen shelves. It's cheaper and thicker than painters tape. It also comes off clean if you take it off within a week or so.

jeremicium · 05-30-2010, 11:23 AM

Thanks again. I do have the ventureshield clearbra already. No one else had tape...i would have felt like a doorknob showing up in a lowly 335...the only one taped up. no damage or marks after hitting a few cones. I'm completely addicted now! Most fun you can have with your clothes on! AND, now I understand what understeer is...no matter how much i read about it, I just couldn't grasp it...til feeling it around corners.

[u2b]<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B5bQ8kzz_S4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B5bQ8kzz_S4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>[/u2b]

ThinkPink! · 05-30-2010, 08:33 PM

This is what I recommend next time you're at the track!!!

The HACK · 06-01-2010, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S4to335

Now, with track events where idiots in front of you go off..and throw gravel at your car repeatedly...THEN I would consider blue painters tape on the very bottom lower front valence. Have I ever done it before? NOPE.

I just have the front bumper painted every 3-4 years. I picked up more chips driving on the freeway than on the track anyway.

JoosyJoos · 06-01-2010, 12:39 PM

Not worth doing unless you wanna do a cool tape job.... I've been known to do that while waiting the 3 hours or so for my heat to start.

TriniJots · 06-01-2010, 01:22 PM

I did the tape job on my dad's M3. didn't take too long to do and it worked perfectly for a low price. If you are really concerned about chips and scratches i would recommend putting painters tape.

bklynbimmer · 06-04-2010, 11:42 AM

I used some heavy duty clear contact paper(from Staples) for my last track day .....at the end of the day the contact paper took a beating but my car did not!

Plus it didn't ruin the pictures!

05-28-2010, 03:45 PM	#1
jeremicium Major 171 Rep 1,178 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 328i Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tacoma, Wa. USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00] 2009 Porsche Cayman S [0.00] 2016 BMW M2 [0.00] 2001 Honda S2000 [0.00]	Painters tape before autocross? Me and the wife are bringing our cars to the track for the first time this weekend. We'll be running slaloms, skidpad, emergency lane changes, and autocross. I noticed some people put the painters tape in strategic areas and others do not. Recommendations from people with track experience? is it worth putting the tape on? Or more trouble than its worth? thanks.
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05-28-2010, 05:53 PM	#2
vwong Lieutenant 31 Rep 595 Posts Drives: All Euro Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (3)	I don't do that stuff because it ruins an otherwise perfect photo-op. Besides, at autox, you will only hit cones. Cone marks can be removed easily. __________________ 2010 Audi S4 6MT 2009 BMW 335i Coupe 6MT YouTube Channel
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05-28-2010, 05:55 PM	#3
S4to335 Brigadier General 434 Rep 4,380 Posts Drives: 2014 Audi A4 / 91 Track Miata Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i sedan [8.00]	Yeah...it makes you look like a douche bag. I use to autocross a bunch. __________________ Car is now gone .... :-(
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05-28-2010, 06:50 PM	#4
jeremicium Major 171 Rep 1,178 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 328i Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tacoma, Wa. USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00] 2009 Porsche Cayman S [0.00] 2016 BMW M2 [0.00] 2001 Honda S2000 [0.00]	Thanks guys!
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05-28-2010, 11:22 PM	#6
330MX Second Lieutenant 37 Rep 258 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: West Coast iTrader: (8)	Have a great time running the car! As others mentioned, no need for tape at autocross. Up to you for open track days. Run a few of them per year and you will get chips and pits in your front bumper/hood. IMO the time is better spent checking over your car mechanically, studying the track, and talking with experienced drivers.
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05-28-2010, 11:29 PM	#7
zeenon53 Major 39 Rep 1,154 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: obx iTrader: (3)	The only time it would be acceptable is for numbers and if the track requires, headlights. If your that worried you should just get a clear bra.
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05-29-2010, 05:17 PM	#9
aus Major General 892 Rep 9,032 Posts Drives: Odysse Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	Get clear shelving paper at Target or Walmart. It's the stuff people put on kitchen shelves. It's cheaper and thicker than painters tape. It also comes off clean if you take it off within a week or so. __________________ Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
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05-30-2010, 11:23 AM	#10
jeremicium Major 171 Rep 1,178 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 328i Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tacoma, Wa. USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00] 2009 Porsche Cayman S [0.00] 2016 BMW M2 [0.00] 2001 Honda S2000 [0.00]	Thanks again. I do have the ventureshield clearbra already. No one else had tape...i would have felt like a doorknob showing up in a lowly 335...the only one taped up. no damage or marks after hitting a few cones. I'm completely addicted now! Most fun you can have with your clothes on! AND, now I understand what understeer is...no matter how much i read about it, I just couldn't grasp it...til feeling it around corners. [u2b]<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B5bQ8kzz_S4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B5bQ8kzz_S4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>[/u2b]
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05-30-2010, 08:33 PM	#11
ThinkPink! Private First Class 24 Rep 101 Posts Drives: E92 335 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (3)	69 This is what I recommend next time you're at the track!!! __________________ Click here to take a look at some of my E90 inspired t-shirts!
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06-01-2010, 12:39 PM	#13
JoosyJoos Major 113 Rep 1,347 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [0.00]	Not worth doing unless you wanna do a cool tape job.... I've been known to do that while waiting the 3 hours or so for my heat to start. __________________ 1997 M3 Coupe - BMWCCA I-Prepared #22 2006 M Roadster - 23,000 miles and slowly counting
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06-01-2010, 01:22 PM	#14
TriniJots Driver 102 Rep 659 Posts Drives: 2021 M340i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Florida iTrader: (3)	I did the tape job on my dad's M3. didn't take too long to do and it worked perfectly for a low price. If you are really concerned about chips and scratches i would recommend putting painters tape.
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06-04-2010, 11:42 AM	#15
bklynbimmer Private First Class 10 Rep 145 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (2)	I used some heavy duty clear contact paper(from Staples) for my last track day .....at the end of the day the contact paper took a beating but my car did not! Plus it didn't ruin the pictures!
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