20 replies to this topic

[Brandon]

Forgot to say:

Approves of this forum post.

I know, I know, I know...it sounds "dirty" but that's why I want to wax it.

Does having a wax layer on your paint make it easier to remove the usual black streaks (plus anything else on the surface) you get from the goobers flying off other cars? Or does that just add to the work already done between events with the presumption panels and/or paint will be needed if not during, then at the end of the season?

Obviously colored donuts on the sides are going to be a bit harder to remove but I was curious if any racers do some weekend wax-on/wax-off of their racecars?

Thanks!

[Johnny D]

I use Simple Green to make my whites look there best.
(me hold a bottle next to my face with me smiling)
J~

[svvs]

Brandon:

Now, try to forget my old white paint scheme. you know, the one that was decorated with bugs, tree bark, leaves, and missing paint.

Wax makes it much easier to get crap off the car. Hands down. My new years resolution (and new paint scheme resolution, and "now I have an enclosed trailer resolution") is to keep the car clean and waxed.

Also I have a great chemical to take the rubber off. We use it to clean roofing tar off things. I'll bring a bottle to LRP for you. Much easier than bug and tar remover.

[dmathias]

Wax off

[Cy Peake]

I put on a coat of wax in March after all the fenders have been replaced and are freshly painted. Then I use a spray wax detailer between events. When the tire worm streaks get excessive, a liquid cleaner wax from any of the big names works well. I saw that Mothers just came out with a rubber remover designed for this very purpose. After July I stop caring about all the dents and tire rings and just wash it once a month and add cover-up stickers as needed.

[Brian Ghidinelli]

You wash your racecars??! Seriously, wax helps a lot, because the rubber mark is on top of the wax and wax is easy to remove (compared to paint...).

[Keith Novak]

For getting off rubber boogers, WD-40 works very well. For nastier stains like tire wall or bumper marks, 3M adhesive remover works well.

[wheel]

At the Reno air races I was told that the difference in speed, in the T6 (Texan/SNJ) class, was the quality of the wax job. This is a spec class, with all the airplanes as spec as we are. This may also apply to the SM class.

[Muda]

Nu Finish removes rubber marks easily.
Car shines as a side benefit.

Pre-wax does very little.

[Dave Metz]

Wax it. WD-40 for rubber +1.

[Brandon]

I'm glad no one's yanked the wheel of the bus straight for the ditch and said something about polishing a "helmet".



Thanks to all with your replies.

Can we keep the thread going with "How do you paint your cars? Color + clear? Color only with a good rub/polishing to bring out the shine?

[Cy Peake]

Rattlecan thats's close to the desired (factory) color when sprayed at below freezing temperatures.

[AJ Roderick]

I'm glad no one's yanked the wheel of the bus straight for the ditch and said something about polishing a "helmet".



Thanks to all with your replies.

Can we keep the thread going with "How do you paint your cars? Color + clear? Color only with a good rub/polishing to bring out the shine?

We just did some body work to our car. color + clear then buffed it. makes me wish we did the entire car. Not to mention it came out about 2x smoother. It also depends on the paint you use. From what I can tell, the car was painted with enamel. We didnt use enamel when we redid the side

[AJ Roderick]

And about waxing the helmet.... I just got mine custom painted and I use Lucas SlickMist on it. Cleans up nice and adds a nice shine when you wipe off with a microfiber towl

[Keith Novak]

At the Reno air races I was told that the difference in speed, in the T6 (Texan/SNJ) class, was the quality of the wax job. This is a spec class, with all the airplanes as spec as we are. This may also apply to the SM class.

I'm having a hard time believing that. Unless wax has some effect on the boundary layer, air velocity at the surface is still zero.

[joeg5982]

Rain-X for removing rubber streaks; WD-40 for removing old sticker adhesive.

Wax your car at every opportunity...worth at least 5 seconds...

[Sphinx]

I'm having a hard time believing that. Unless wax has some effect on the boundary layer, air velocity at the surface is still zero.

I'm not an engineer: why would you be surprised that it would reduce drag? At least at the leading edge of the surface?

[Weekend Warrior]

I'm having a hard time believing that. Unless wax has some effect on the boundary layer, air velocity at the surface is still zero.

Keith.... HUSH UP! Let 'em wax on, wax off... nice clean fast Miata....

[Motor City Hamilton]

This thread makes me wonder what Ralph Machio has been up to... well... besides Dancing with the Stars.

http://www.funnyordi...h-ralph-macchio

Caution, may contain swears.

[Elliott Skeer]

Never have waxed my car, but I do Simple Green it after each race day (especially at Willow Springs, record # of bug kills there) And after each weekend I take a clay bar to it. No rubber mark is a match for that tag team