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EvanB
EvanB GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
5/23/11 10:41 a.m.

Anyone have permanent race numbers on a car that still gets driven on the street occasionally?

I just picked up a 92 Miata that I am going to use for Rallycross. I will probably rarely drive it on the street since I have a nicer Miata for that but it will be registered and driven to events.

I was thinking of getting some of the GRM door number panels and just sticking them on the car with numbers and leaving them on rather than dealing with magnetic sheet.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
5/23/11 10:53 a.m.

Subscribed. Relevant to my interests. I was planning on doing magnets on the Escort, but swmbo asked why we didn't simply just paint the numbers on.

JThw8
JThw8 SuperDork
5/23/11 10:54 a.m.

I street drive the Wartburg occasionally. It still has all the numbers and stickering from all 3 events it was in last year.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
5/23/11 10:57 a.m.

I don't see why that would be any different than any decal or numbering on commercial vehicles. It might get you some additional attention from law enforcement though so you should probably be on your best behavior.

chandlerGTi
chandlerGTi New Reader
5/23/11 11:10 a.m.

When I get home I will post pictures of my old GTI with numbers and sponsorship sticks all over it. I daily drove it also. No problem.

Duke
Duke SuperDork
5/23/11 11:25 a.m.

In addition to LEO attention, there is the opposite problem. There used to be a really nice CSP CRX in my neighborhood, that had all the real sponsor stickers and numbers on it permanently. It got street driven regularly, if not daily. I think it got stolen 3 times in 5 years.

Klayfish
Klayfish Reader
5/23/11 11:27 a.m.

Sure you can. When I had my FFR Cobra, I knew lots of people who had Cobras and put the "meatball" numbers on permanently. They never had any problems. I left my numbers on many times after an autox or HPDE, never got pulled over.

madpanda
madpanda New Reader
5/23/11 11:39 a.m.

Yeah, I'm with Duke. I just worry abou theft not police. Since my toy cars often end up getting parked for extended periods of time at my work or on the street (I'm an apartment dweller). I don't put any decals on them permanently that might indicate the cars are worth more than they look like they are worth. No numbers or "performance brand" stickers, GRM stickers are OK

JoeyM
JoeyM SuperDork
5/23/11 11:44 a.m.
Duke wrote: I think it got stolen 3 times in 5 years.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_jersey&id=7819220

wire in another cigarette lighter, put a phone in the trunk.

Also, if you have the option, bring Hongs. It would probably go something like this

peter
peter Reader
5/23/11 11:47 a.m.

Do numbers make the street-racer crowd want to race you, or do they make them afraid of you? That's another group whose attention you may wish to avoid.

chandlerGTi
chandlerGTi New Reader
5/23/11 11:56 a.m.

I never had an issue. When I stripped the graphics I seemed to get more high revvers than with them.

Ranger50
Ranger50 HalfDork
5/23/11 11:56 a.m.

I drove my NMRA Factory Stock car with permenent numbers all over the places and no cops bothered me.

Duke
Duke SuperDork
5/23/11 12:14 p.m.
JoeyM wrote: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_jersey&id=7819220

That is quite possibly the worst-written news article I have ever read.

jrw1621
jrw1621 SuperDork
5/23/11 12:19 p.m.
peter wrote: Do numbers make the street-racer crowd want to race you, or do they make them afraid of you? That's another group whose attention you may wish to avoid.

Coming home from an autox with the Miata, I had a kid rev on me (no numbers showing.) I reached over and put on my helmet then clearly let him beat me.

In a similar story, an easy way to get cars to move out of your way is showing up behind slow cars on the expressway with your big white helmet sticking over the windshield of your Miata.

iceracer
iceracer Dork
5/23/11 12:36 p.m.

I see two or three vehicles often that are all stickered up to resembles some sort of performance car. I doubt that any of them have ever been driven on a track. So why not .

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
5/23/11 1:40 p.m.
peter wrote: Do numbers make the street-racer crowd want to race you, or do they make them afraid of you? That's another group whose attention you may wish to avoid.

Probably afraid. They know deep down that they aren't real racers.

mtn
mtn SuperDork
5/23/11 2:35 p.m.
Duke wrote: In addition to LEO attention, there is the opposite problem. There used to be a really nice CSP CRX in my neighborhood, that had all the real sponsor stickers and numbers on it permanently. It got street driven regularly, if not daily. I think it got stolen 3 times in 5 years.

CSP CRX is probably a thief magnet with or without stickers.

curtis73
curtis73 GRM+ Memberand Dork
5/23/11 2:39 p.m.

Its been a while, but I recall finding the specific CA law that prohibits race numbers on the street. Stupid law because it was very interpretive. Theoretically you could have been cited for having an "Earnhardt #3" on the back window of your pickup.

There were totally illegal race cars without numbers on the street, but if you put a number on your Yugo it was illegal.

geomiata
geomiata Reader
5/23/11 3:15 p.m.

my rallycross swift has a 3 permanantly posted on the back window. i dont get any attention from 5-0, probably cause its "a glorified metro".

wbjones
wbjones SuperDork
5/23/11 3:56 p.m.
curtis73 wrote: Its been a while, but I recall finding the specific CA law that prohibits race numbers on the street. Stupid law because it was very interpretive. Theoretically you could have been cited for having an "Earnhardt #3" on the back window of your pickup. There were totally illegal race cars without numbers on the street, but if you put a number on your Yugo it was illegal.

just one more reason for my NOT living in TPRC....

my STS / CSP / TTE CRX (Black with orange roll bar padding) is driven to and from events ( and occasionally ) around town numbers and stickers all over it... so far no problems... and yeah I get revved occasionally ... I just wave and go on about my business ... eventually they give up

it stays under a car cover when at home + I live way up the side of a mountain .. pretty far out in the sticks... could get jacked but lots less likely than for an apartment dweller

vwcorvette
vwcorvette GRM+ Memberand Reader
5/23/11 6:31 p.m.

I leave the "77" on the side of the Vette cause I don't want to keep replacing vinyl. Biggest problem is people asking if it's a 77 when it's a 75. Yeah, big difference right? Well the 77s never said "Stingray" on the side!

donalson
donalson SuperDork
5/23/11 6:48 p.m.

Don't see why not... saw a few with the "3" on the door... at the junkyard today

LopRacer
LopRacer New Reader
5/23/11 6:54 p.m.

Similiar to WBJones I occasionally take my track prep'd, Full caged, and permanently numbered and stickered civic out on the street. I used to drive it to events until I aquired a tow dolly. I have had a few street Ricers try to rev or race me but mostly they are just shocked that I actually take it on track. I also live up on the side of the mountain and doubt I will have much trouble from thieves. Maybe it's all the borken down cars in the Yard that scream "Hello a man with a gun lives here". I do get the occasional attention from LEO but usully between the facts that it is a real "Race" car and therefore I keep racing off the street and my little state issued "I am not a Felon" card and that I am approaching 40years of age. They may pull me over but they do not write me any tickets.

shadetree30
shadetree30 Reader
5/23/11 8:32 p.m.

I had to take a drivers' test for points (yes, I know) and borrowed a friend's SSC Rabbit with numbers and a bar. My examiner was a lady State Police-person and I opened the door for her. Halfway throught the course she said "There's nothing wrong with your driving. I suspect an occasional attitude, right? Finish up and park it. You pass."

novaderrik
novaderrik Dork
5/23/11 9:03 p.m.
Duke wrote:
JoeyM wrote: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_jersey&id=7819220
That is quite possibly the worst-written news article I have *ever* read.

it no look bad too me..

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