With the old vinyl removed,...
With the old vinyl removed, the car is ready to accept a new wrap. A neat feature of the wrap is that if you have replacement body panels you can get them covered and have spares ready to go should you have an unplanned "altercation."
It's a novel concept that can pay dividends to a race program: A racer can change the look of a car in an afternoon or design a radical graphics package that can be applied over and over again if the car gets damaged in a crash. Or, in the matter of a few hours, the look of a car can be completely changed if a new sponsor comes aboard.
The fact that you can keep your car looking like it just rolled out of a custom paint shop for a relatively low price is an amazing proposition. For several years, racers at the highest levels have possessed the ability to wrap their cars with a giant vinyl decal printed to look just like a painted car. While this is a cool option, until recently the cost of wrapping a car could easily reach over $8,000.
For those of you racing on dirt, another real advantage is that the vinyl wraps seem to help repel mud. This can be a real timesaver when you are trying to keep the car clean. Another real advantage is that when a small area of the car becomes damaged the vinyl wrap can be repaired, creating a look that seems as if the damage never happened.
The process starts at the...
The process starts at the computer with either generating a new design or getting ready to duplicate an existing graphics package. This is the time where you can let the designer know exactly what you want. Let your imagination run wild. The idea is that if you can imagine it, the computer can make it a reality.
What does it cost to wrap a car? Depending on the type of car and the complexity of the graphics package, the cost can vary between $500 and $1,000, including installation.
I talked to Chuck Kuehl, one of the local hotshoes in the Modified class here in Arizona, and he informed me that he was getting the right side of his car redone. So I decided that it was time for a better education on my part. Later I found myself at BRT Signs getting ready to watch and learn just how this wrapping is accomplished on a Saturday night racer.
The whole process is something that every racer should think about doing. It does not require the investment in specialized infrastructure that painting requires. A number of shops across the country do this type of work. It is as simple as asking around at the track for the names of people in your area who do. If you have an idea for a graphic design for your car, then a well equipped graphic designer can make it happen for you. You may even save money by wrapping the car yourself.
The author can be reached at: Vahok.Hill@cox.net
Once you have chosen a look...
Once you have chosen a look or have recalled a package from memory, it is a simple matter of printing and laminating the wrap.
Prior to applying the wrap,...
Prior to applying the wrap, it is necessary to clean the body, usually with a Windex type of cleaner. The whole side was cleaned with a soft, clean towel.
Place the decal on the car...
Place the decal on the car and use masking tape or painter's tape to put the decal in place. Take your time and make sure that the wrap is positioned correctly.
Once the wrap is in place,...
Once the wrap is in place, the lower section is lifted and the backing is removed. This will expose the adhesive side of the wrap. Cut off the backing paper and begin to place the wrap on the car's body.
Using a plastic applicator,...
Using a plastic applicator, work the wrap onto the car. The wrap is not just a decal, as the underside is textured to allow trapped air to work its way out as you squeegee the wrap smooth.
Once the lower section is...
Once the lower section is done, repeat the process on the upper half of the wrap. Take your time.
The next section of the wrap...
The next section of the wrap is applied in the same way as the first section. If your body is installed in sections, this is a good time to make sure any edges are cut so you can remove and replace a damaged section.
Make sure the sections are...
Make sure the sections are aligned. They are easy to mismatch.
Make sure you have a good...
Make sure you have a good selection of sharp knives to help make all the required cuts. Again, take your time and make sure the knives are sharp. You want to cut, not tear, the wrap.
The remaining panels are installed...
The remaining panels are installed in the same fashion as the previous wrap panels.
The last panel on the right...
The last panel on the right side completes the installation, and now it is time to take the last look to make sure that all of the air bubbles are worked out from under the wrap.
The completed car looks great....
The completed car looks great. The right side looks like it should. The sponsors will be happy that the car will "pop" once again. The entire installation took just over two hours. It would have taken many days and a great deal of money to get this type of graphics package if the car required painting.