How do you protect your Viper at the track?

[VIPORXXX]

I have seen some guys at the track 'tape up' and install plastic
tape(?) on there Viper to protect them from damage. I've got a couple of track events coming up and want to protect my Viper and keep it looking perfect.
What do you recommend I do?
What areas should I protect?
What product(s) should I use?
If there are any previous threads on this, please advise.
I appreciate your help
Thanks,
Fast Eddie

 

[Dion Fisher]

There's basically no way to track a car and keep it perfect.. Other drivers will be wearing stickies even if you're not they pick up rock and guess what? yup, windshield repair..

Rubber blobs get into the frontal areas and also bounce of body parts leaving streaks the car gets filthy because even if you're the fastest guy out there you're lapping slower drivers....

If you want to keep the car in show condition I wouldn't take it to the track or even drive it on anything but deserted roads for that matter.. If you are willing to have a couple blemishes go out and have a blast!!

 

[luc]

Dion is right on.

Don't take a car on a track,being open-track or racing,and expect it to come out of it the same way that she got in.
Beside sand blasting the front of the car and the sills, mistake and accidents happen.

I do may be 25 races/open-track a year (not with my Viper because I don't want to damage it)and at almost every single one there are body contact, engine catching fires and spins.

We racers have a saying: If you are not willing and prepared financialy and emotionaly to damage/loose you car,don't take it to the track.

The saddest part is peoples that take their only/daily driver car to the track and crash it.
That happen almost every time and their reaction is also always the same.
Their eyes fill up with tears and their 1st question is about their insurance.

Beside that,if you worry about damaging your car, you will NEVER be able to drive to your or your car limit.

Driving on a track require 100% concentration and if you mind is distracted by something else,you are more prone to make a mistake.

Don't want to discourage you but in my opinion, the very fact that you ask this question, tell me that it would be a bad idea for you to take your Viper to the track.

Luc.
00 GTS street car
69 Mustang race car
65 Shelby race car
94 Formula V race car.

 

[Jerry Scott[CO]]

There are ways to deal with running your car at club track events. This is different from racing and usually does not run the risk of body contact with another car, but can run the risk of going off the track. I have found that you can fully protect the car in all of the rock prone areas with 3M paint protection film. It does save the paint on the fascia, the mirrors, behind the wheels, the side sills and the headlights. I also have found a film product called Edge Guard that I use to fully cover the windshield and it works very well. I have had it on the car for three years and leave it on for street and track. It is mylar on one side and polycarbonate on the other, and is applied the same way that you apply 3M. It is very tough and optically very good for a film. It is a bit difficult to find, but I bought a $60 roll from a warehouse and still have a lot of it left. Don't try using the 3M on a windshield, since it does not work. You will find that it will let in light and that's about all. You can see nothing through it.
Jerry Scott

 

[VIPORXXX]

A follow up to my original post about protecting my Viper at track events.
I will attending Viper Days at Watkin Glen and PDA at Pocono learning how to handle my Viper. I am not planning on racing to win anything. I will be running Hoosiers (just got them)on the Viper and I have been told they kick up whats ever on the track. My concern is to minimize any damage to the paint and glass.
Jerry Scott, thanks, this is what I think I looking for.
Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Fast Eddie

 

[Vreracing]

I love to drive my Viper around town. Keep it clean and shiny. Roar through traffic. For racing though we use F bodies and Modifieds. This is what we spend a good part of the week repairing from having been on the track.

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[K Adelberg]

The above is all great advice. I have used 3M tape and it works well. Last time I used shelving paper from Home Depot. There was a limited selection and it was checkered white and blue. Kinda looked like I made a run though the park and picked up a pinic cloth. Great material for laughs at the track, but kept the rock chips off.

 

[JonB]

1) Most race tracks are swept daily. There is very little rock or gravel to be thrown up, unless someone goes agricultural. Then, the corner workers alert you with a flag, and sweep up after you. {God Bless Corner Workers}

2) Tire bits (marbles) are another matter, and can be the size of a marble or the size of a cigar. They don't do permanent harm and the rubber mark comes off easily with a cleaner-wax.
As a novice, you won't travel close in another car's wake.


3) I realize that dated tracks with older, inferior surfaces (like Watkins Glen?) may have occasional bad spots, but for the most part I feel driving on track is less of a concern than driving on public roads! I have thousands of track miles with NO rock chips at all from on-track

 

[Ron Hickey]

I took my yellow 01 GTS out for a couple of Viper Days events. The first event I put down a lot of yellow racing tape on the lip of the wheel wells, lower fascia, etc. The yellow car really shows up the black rubber marks you pick up on-track. And afterwards, cleaning off the adhesive from the racer tape was worse than anything else. I did not use racer tape on the second event.

If you want to keep the car garage-queen perfect, don't take it out on-track. But if you really want to have fun with it, there is no other experience like on-track.

 

[VIPORXXX]

Thanks guys for your suggestions. Sounds like I should probably buy some 3M stock along with their tape.
Since I plan to attend several Viper Days/PDA type track events over the next couple of months my concern is to do what I can to protect my Viper while I'm having the time of my life.

Again, thanks to all,
Fast Eddie

 

[ACR Joe]

I only participate in non-competitive events (PDA, Track Time, etc.).

To minimize the track effects (notice I said minimize), I first apply a coat of Zaino to make post-track clean-up that much easier and effective. I then install a full front end mask and mirror masks. Finally, I apply Scotch 3M Long-Mask Masking Tape to the area on the hood just past the mask, about 8" of the windshield visor, and about 10" on the leading edge of the roof. Bonus points for also covering the the leading edge of the side sills, fender lips, etc.

I was with Sean of NJ when he painted the latex stuff on his car. Several non-cognoscenti (present company included) found this to be quite humorous. Sean is right, it did afford some level of protection (< a mask) and pealed away quite nicely.