Taping my car up for a long roadtrip

C

chevyguy28

New member
Hey everyone,



I am thinking of driving from San Diego to Monterey and back with my black C32. I've decided to tape the front end up, but it may not make any difference in the long run. Can anyone recommend a place to buy racer's tape or painter's tape? I'm not sure exactly which one to buy, because this trip could take up to four days, and that seems a long time to keep tape on the surface.



I found this thread on the topic so far:

http://www.autopia.org/forums/showt...perpage=18&highlight=racers tape&pagenumber=1
 
BTW, Justin, I think I've been on a few runs with you -- Palomar mountain back in late July of last year (I was riding in an E30 M3), and the Irvine Fatburger cruise back in January...
 
Ah yes Ben, I remember you! I have only been to one meet (I guess the fatburger meet had a different C32). You are the talented photographer, yes? How much do you charge? LOL. Some nice moving shots of a group canyoning sounds fun.



Ouch,

Bras are not for me. With tape, I can basically make a custom skin to cover almost any part of the car.
 
JustinTRW said:


Ouch,

Bras are not for me. With tape, I can basically make a custom skin to cover almost any part of the car.
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?



Hhmmm....



Bra - :up

Bra + tape - :up



Tape along - :confused:



Sorry I don't get it. How could you get the protection that a bra offers with tape?

car%20bra%202.jpg


At a lot of Porsche concours events I see folks taping wheel arches, and around headlights etc....but it is always in conjuction with a bra.
 
JustinTRW said:
Ah yes Ben, I remember you! I have only been to one meet (I guess the fatburger meet had a different C32). You are the talented photographer, yes? How much do you charge? LOL. Some nice moving shots of a group canyoning sounds fun.
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LOL. Yeah, I'm the "talented" photographer...there's a thread about my website in the Automotive Photography section of Autopia right now, actually.



I charge way too much :). $1450 is a standard day rate. I'm on schedule to get a Canon Digital SLR this summer, though, so I can do some nice shots at all the events after that.



Are you doing the SoCalEuro caravan up north on like May 17 or something?
 
When I went on the NOPI Nationals tour I drove with my buddy. We went from Detroit to Baltimore then down to Atlanta. He has a custom front clip so no bra for the car. We wrapped the front in seran wrap. It fell off 5 minutes down the express way. :lol:
 
There is a clear coating that you can get to go on over the paint that will protect from rock chips and such. One place calls it "invisible front end shield" it's made out of a urethane. The advantage to it being that it won't rub the front end like a bra and it also doesn't obscure the paint from the sun. If you use a bra for a while you'll notice a difference in the paint color under the bra versus not under.
 
I use the 3M Scotchcal Paint Protection Film like they make the clear Stoneguard and Expel front end coverings out of. I just get the bulk rolls instead, which come in various widths, thicknesses and lengths.



My favorite is part # 84804 - 8 mils thick, 4" wide, and 40 yards long.



Tape the front end up, and peel it off when you get there. I know it stays on at obscene speeds (168 mph), in rain, and for several days of necessary, and removes without residue.



Order it from an automotive paint store that carries 3M products.
 
Gotta agree with the others a bra is going to offer a lot more protection on a long trip than tape. I also have seen rocks tear through the 3M stuff as well. I bought my car used so I already have a few nicks on my hood but, for every day driving my next car will have a 3M bra and a heavy vinyl bra for long trips or for trips where I know I will be running into places where I might get damage from flying debris.



2760mustang.jpg
 
Ben Carufel said:
I charge way too much :). $1450 is a standard day rate. I'm on schedule to get a Canon Digital SLR this summer, though, so I can do some nice shots at all the events after that.
Click to expand...



Are you serious about that price?



So, what all does $1400 get you?
 
The photographer, on location (which would be plus travel expenses as it will be next week when we go to Oregon for 10 days), taking pictures. Processing and film are extra, are are assistants, polaroids, neutral density window film, and other various other little things like that...



Assistant rate is ~ 250 a day for the 1st assistant, ~150 a day for the second assistant...



I'm the 2nd assistant :).
 
Ben Carufel said:
The photographer, on location (which would be plus travel expenses as it will be next week when we go to Oregon for 10 days), taking pictures. Processing and film are extra, are are assistants, polaroids, neutral density window film, and other various other little things like that...



Assistant rate is ~ 250 a day for the 1st assistant, ~150 a day for the second assistant...



I'm the 2nd assistant :).
Click to expand...





Ahhh, I see. So you work for a photographer?



What are you going to be shooting in Oregon?



And to keep it on topic. Will you be driving and what will you be doing to protect the vehicle on the road trim?



:)
 
I was thinking to not go with a bra because they take some time to install correctly and I don't feel like going through the effort for just a one time use. The tape forrest suggests seems to do the trick...
 
Intel:



Yep, I work for a commercial photographer. 70% of our clients are catalogs, 30% are architectural clients (interior designers, architects, planners, etc.).



I'm a second assistant. I've been working with him since November...I graduated HS in June of 2002 and started as an apprentice while I went to school full time but decided I didn't really like college and hired on with him full time :).



The Oregon trip is a 10-day shoot for a Santa Barbara, California based clothing company named The Territory Ahead...



And we're flying ;)...
 
Proper racers tape will leave a residue... it is just like duct tape. I have used 3M masking tape, it stays on and pulls off easily. However, it provides minimal protection.
 
Justin, are you taking Hwy 1 up to Monterey? I did that last year and it was pretty, but really long. If you haven't done it before, I'd make sure to carry a gas can with you. I started running low and not knowing where the next gas station was, I had to fill up for no-name unledded at $3/gallon when gas prices were at $1.20 elsewhere.



Btw, lots of bugs out there so some protection is a good idea. The main issue with the bra would be that otehr than the time to install, if it's not put on properly it can scratch if soemthing gets underneath it. I'd put racing tape under the edges of the bra if you decide to go that route.
 
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