Race Numbers. What do you use?
Discussion
What are you sprinters using for race numbers. So far I have printed the numbers on white A3 cards, sprayed them with several coats of clear varnish on both sides and attached them with masking tape. Other competitors with road going cars seem to use magnetic numbers but they don’t stick to fiberglas very well ! Are any of you using the self adhesive stick on ones, if so do they peel off OK without marking the paint ? The Blue book says you must have a white background but I see lots of people at Hill Climbs with just the numbers and no background, what do you do ?
Some people use stick-on numbers and just throw them away each time. I'm a cheapskate so I stuck the sticky numbers onto white A4 sheets and then put them in a plastic wallet which is taped to the door with masking tape. Some people laminate them which is even more convenient. Never had any problem with the numbers sticking too well, but sometimes in the winter it's marginal whether they'll stick to wet bodywork. I make sure not to polish the car for 6-8 months before the event just to be on the safe side. 
Thanks Pete. I am also considered to be a bit tight but I prefer the term “careful” That is why I have printed the numbers using a very large font ( 850pt) and then varnished. I have a great pile of these but seldom seem to get the same number twice. It occurs to me that the stick on and throw away numbers may actually be cheaper and a whole lot less hassle provided they don’t rip the paint of the door.
I used A4 laminated sheets with a different no. printed on each side. Only printed them when I needed them (but sod's law meant I needed a new no. at each event!) Stuck them on with pvc tape and no problems with paintwork. I polished my car before so the tape would come off a little easier - not because I wanted my car to be all shiney, honest! 
I made my own numbers by;
- Make up a Word document with 0 - 9 at the appropriate size (72 pts to the inch - you don't have to use MS's font sizes, just type the size you want in points.) Print the numbers 0 - 9 four times, plus a couple of extra "1"s. If you have a duplex printer, you can print the numbers on opposite sides of one sheet, otherwise just use 2 sheets back-to-back. Don't put the same numbers together (i.e. "2" on both sides) in case you're number "22", for example. The extra "1"s are for the odd occasion you have a number over 100...
- Laminate the numbers using self-laminating pockets. Far and away the cheapest supplier of these is Viking stationery (www.viking-direct.co.uk/) providing you can stand the torrent of junk mail that will wash through your letter-box.
- I stick the numbers together with white gaffer tape and stick them to the car with black gaffer tape, to give the "white background with black surround" that the MSA prefer. (I've only ever seen someone queried over their numbers once, when a very dark blue Elise had black numbers stuck directly to it.) The best place to buy gaffer tape (and lots of other things) is Screwfix; www.screwfix.com.
You can see the effect here;
www.borough19motorclub.co.uk/img281.jpg
Some other points;
- If you're running a TVR, some scrutineers want a small notice saying how to open the doors. I made and laminated a small sign to tape to the doors under the mirror. ("Door open under mirror" with a little arrow pointing at the button)
- You should have a sign indicating the tow point(s). I don't have them and no-one's ever said anything. In fact Griffs and Chims don't have anywhere to attach a rear tow anyway. Some people loop some webbing round a chassis member and tape it to the rear of the car. I've never bothered.
- You should have a sign showing how to stop the engine - usually pointing at the ignition key.
- YOU MUST REMOVE THE NUMBERS BEFORE DRIVING ON THE ROAD!!!!! Several Police forces routinely prosecute people for driving with race numbers on the road, seeing it as de facto evidence of "racing". No matter how unreasonable you think this (and I do too) it is nonetheless true. Don't just stick some tape across them, TAKE THEM OFF!!!!
- Make up a Word document with 0 - 9 at the appropriate size (72 pts to the inch - you don't have to use MS's font sizes, just type the size you want in points.) Print the numbers 0 - 9 four times, plus a couple of extra "1"s. If you have a duplex printer, you can print the numbers on opposite sides of one sheet, otherwise just use 2 sheets back-to-back. Don't put the same numbers together (i.e. "2" on both sides) in case you're number "22", for example. The extra "1"s are for the odd occasion you have a number over 100...
- Laminate the numbers using self-laminating pockets. Far and away the cheapest supplier of these is Viking stationery (www.viking-direct.co.uk/) providing you can stand the torrent of junk mail that will wash through your letter-box.
- I stick the numbers together with white gaffer tape and stick them to the car with black gaffer tape, to give the "white background with black surround" that the MSA prefer. (I've only ever seen someone queried over their numbers once, when a very dark blue Elise had black numbers stuck directly to it.) The best place to buy gaffer tape (and lots of other things) is Screwfix; www.screwfix.com.
You can see the effect here;
www.borough19motorclub.co.uk/img281.jpg
Some other points;
- If you're running a TVR, some scrutineers want a small notice saying how to open the doors. I made and laminated a small sign to tape to the doors under the mirror. ("Door open under mirror" with a little arrow pointing at the button)
- You should have a sign indicating the tow point(s). I don't have them and no-one's ever said anything. In fact Griffs and Chims don't have anywhere to attach a rear tow anyway. Some people loop some webbing round a chassis member and tape it to the rear of the car. I've never bothered.
- You should have a sign showing how to stop the engine - usually pointing at the ignition key.
- YOU MUST REMOVE THE NUMBERS BEFORE DRIVING ON THE ROAD!!!!! Several Police forces routinely prosecute people for driving with race numbers on the road, seeing it as de facto evidence of "racing". No matter how unreasonable you think this (and I do too) it is nonetheless true. Don't just stick some tape across them, TAKE THEM OFF!!!!
I slap a white roundel on for the season and then apply black numbers when I arrive at each event. I used to carefully peel off and re-use the numbers, but then I realised what a pathetic cost saving that represented in the context of sprinting a TVR and I now positively relish ripping off the numbers and throwing them away!
>> Edited by adriand on Thursday 16th March 12:19
>> Edited by adriand on Thursday 16th March 12:19
I guess the lamination is not a lot different to the several coats of polyurethane varnish, the clever bit as you ( zumbruk) have pointed out is to do the numbers individually not in pairs as I have been doing, then they are more likely to be reusable.
Question for adirand, when you take the roundels off do they leave a mark or is the paint OK ?
Question for adirand, when you take the roundels off do they leave a mark or is the paint OK ?
Sticker removal is the only time I use a hair drier! If you gently warm the stickers they seem to come away a lot easier and I've never had a problem with the paint heading in the same direction. The real skill is having the patience to get them onto the car without air bubbles!
The only snag with my approach is that you end up driving round with white spots on the side of the car (as I'll do at least 8 events it's too much faff and expense to replace these each time). Fortunately, I'm sad enough to think they look quite cool, coupled with a nice subtle TVR Speed Championship sticker when parked in Tescos!
Cheers, Adrian
The only snag with my approach is that you end up driving round with white spots on the side of the car (as I'll do at least 8 events it's too much faff and expense to replace these each time). Fortunately, I'm sad enough to think they look quite cool, coupled with a nice subtle TVR Speed Championship sticker when parked in Tescos!
Cheers, Adrian
steve,They lied to me. They said that the letters on my car read TVR Griffith lol I assure you that you will be quicker than me on the 9th. Looking forward to the new season and you getting closer to me. Make sure that the doors have a good coat of wax on them and then stick your white numbers onto glass then peel off and stick onto the door. They should then lift without taking the paint off. See you on the 9th Ben
adriand said:
The real skill is having the patience to get them onto the car without air bubbles!
Cheers, Adrian
B&Q sprayer with a bit of Fairy Liquid in the water to spray the lettering and the car and a decent signwriters squegee does it for me. (not quite so easy in the winter, need a hair dryer then)
Ben, I will only be getting closer to your times if you do the decent thing and take off two or more plug leads. My car may be a bit quicker now but it is still handicapped by the same driver. I do agree however it looks as if I may be slightly quicker than you on the 9th. Good tip about sticking numbers on to glass first and also the comment about “how to open the door signs” have thought that before but not actually done anything.
Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff