What do you guys use for numbers on your FD's? I don't want permanent numbers, of course, and I don't want to run with my windows up to use shoe polish. Has anyone tried the static stick type number decals? Will they come off at speed?

 

I assume auto-x..

Are the doors on the FD steel? If so, get to your local sign shop or hobby store for some plain magnetic sheet. Also find some vinyl numbers, I found mine at the local Tap Plastics.

Apply the vinyl to the magnetic sheet, then cut the magnetic sheet to fit.

Boom, magnetic #

Never used static, but Friends who have said they come off pretty easily.

 

Aluminum doors. I thought of magnetic, but I'd have to put them on the rear quarters. I need these for AutoX and SOLO I.

Don't know the speeds usually reached on the tracks here, they don't run on the full Mosport track, so we don't get the big straightaway. So the static won't stick at speed?

Someone told me about a liquid chalk that is supposed to wash right off the paint. Ever heard of it?

 

drag racers use it, but it's almost impossible to see on paint other than a very dark color..

FWIW, I use mags on the Trans Am on the rear quarters, we have the same sort of deal (fiberglas door)

PaulC

 

Magnets stick just fine to my FD doors... Just go get a sheet of white magnetic stock from a local sign store and cut to shape.

 

Hmm, I thought the doors were aluminum?

 

Nope. All the body is steel except the hood which is aluminum.

My magnetic autox numbers stick just fine to the doors.

 

Look up McMaster Carr online, they sell magnetic sheeting. That's where I got mine. They're cheap and ship fast (they're like Grainger).
Then i got some shelf paper from Wal-Mart, printed some template numbers on my computer, traced them onto the shelf paper, cut them out, stuck them onto the magnets and BOOM! perfect numbers...well...sort-of perfect...
Either that or you could have any sign shop make you some but it's going to cost you...
Cory

 

Or you could just go to your local Home Depot or Lowe's (or whatever equivalent in your area) and pick up some heavy duty vent covers. Trace your own letters/numbers and cut 'em out. I find they work very well on the doors for either Solo I or Solo II. However, I did find that putting them on the quarter panels is not as stable as the doors. I lost a couple numbers from the quarter panels at higher (+70mph) speeds. After switching over to the doors, I have not had a single problem with the vent cover magnetics. That includes some 120+mph time trialing.

 

WOW! All the body is steel?!?! I had NO idea! I thought that only the doors and rear hatch were steel...amazing!

Btw, what's bad about racing with the windows up? You create drag if the car isn't sealed...try opening the window at 140mph!

 

It makes it harder for the emergency crew to get your broken *** out of the car when you go off-roading.

Cory

 

make's sense...you DO create quite a bit of drag though at high speeds, those pop out acrylic glass windows are the only way to go if you're serious.

 

I don't want to run my A/C during an autocross or lapping day that badly either.

Checked on the liquid chalk at a small art store by my place, all I got was a blank stare. I did find a couple online sources.

 

You don't have to turn on the AC to get fresh air. Do it a couple laps and see if you can attain faster times and higher speeds...I'm curious to see the results

 

Um, Chronos... In the US, forget it, there isn't a road race series out here that I know of that will let you run with closed windows, pop out plexi or not.

U.K, Austraila, Japan, sure. Not in the US.

PaulC

 

Just like Silkworm said, forget the windows up idea. Sure there is less drag but there are good reasons you're not allowed to use them. Besides, everyone else on the track has theirs down too so it's not like anyone has an advantage.

On a side note I wear a full face helmet but without the visor thinking I didn't need it since I am in an enclosed car. Someone pointed out (think it was you, Silkworm?) I most certainly will need the visor if the windsheild breaks and glass is flying (another reason to have side windows down). Thanks for straightening me out; my visor stays on my helmet now.

 

here is a link to the guy who supplies just about all of the graphics to the cars around here...

good prices, quick service, friendly guy etc etc... Too bad he had to go and put a v8 in his autocross 1st gen....

http://www.protapesigns.com/

 

Walmart, etc. has something called Glass Chalk, which may be what you're thinking of. I've used it on my window glass in a pinch, but it's not _quite_ as easy to get off as they lead you to believe. Sometimes it takes some elbow grease if it's been on there all day on a hot dry day. Also, little bitty flakes can get stuck to the paint, and are really fun to get off. And it tends to stain the rubber window weather stripping when it drips on it while you're cleaning.

Mind you, on the whole, it's not terrible at all.. and it's oodles better than someone "helpfully" putting numbers on your paint with masking tape.. (ask me how I know).. but Magnetics are the way to go.. just get a "california car duster" or something to make sure there's no grit on the car or the back of the magnetic before you put it on.

For my magnetics, I went to Office Depot/Staples, and they had magnetic inkjet paper... 8.5x11" bought 4 sheets for.. $5 or $10.. and wrote on them with the Glass Chalk.. very visible, very cheap.. (number on one sheet, class on the other, a set per side.).

I'm a cheap bastard..

 

I tried that printable magnetic stuff from Office Whatever and it fell right off my car...first run. It WAS cold out that day but I never chanced it again.

Cory

 

Hmm.. I haven't had any problems even when the temps were in the low teens (Farenheit) this year.. but this is on an FC.. maybe there's a difference. Anyway, good to know.

 

I bought the Home Depot vent covers, but the material was so flimsy I figured it'd fly off. I stopped by a sign shop; for $20 the guy printed me 6 - 5inch numbers, silver vinyl on heavy duty magnetic flexible material. Works like a charm, have it on my doors where I don't think a lot of wind hits it due to aerodynamics, and have done 130mph or so.

The windows down at those speeds are also not too bad; I can talk to my instructor without helmet to helmet mikes with no problem. Once again I think it has a lot to do with the FD's aero's.

 

Just realized, you can see the numbers in this thread.

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=155602

FWIW.

 

Dammit, stupid MS PhotoDraw .... doesn't understand jpeg. Well, try again tomorrow. &*%^$!*

 

I beleive the windows down thing affects FD's more than other cars just because the way the car is designed, so that kinda sucks...