Road Racing / Autocross & Time Attack Road Racing / AUTOX, HPDE, Time Attack

Why tape your headlights?

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Old Jan 3, 2004 | 05:01 PM
  #1  
sleepin91teg's Avatar
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Default Why tape your headlights?

Im curious to know why guys who autocross and road race, place tape over their headlights, whats the purpose?
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Old Jan 3, 2004 | 05:06 PM
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krshultz's Avatar
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Default Re: Why tape your headlights? (sleepin91teg)

To keep rocks from cracking the lenses and the resultant shattered glass all over the track.

On most cars nowadays (with plastic lenses) it just looks pimp Seriously, it keeps the lenses from getting crapped up. A cracked lens with today's all-inclusive headlight buckets could spell an expensive repair on a car that's driven on the street.

I know my Integra has a shared cover (under the bumper skin) between the high and low beams on each side. I imagine that such a part, if available, would be more expensive than a 3 buck roll of tape.
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Old Jan 3, 2004 | 05:41 PM
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Default Re: Why tape your headlights? (sleepin91teg)

In my particular case (plastic lights).. it keeps rubber marks from becoming permanent. Plastic scratches and marks easier than the paint. Breakage is a non issue, especially with the painters tape we all tend to use. Painters tape will NOT hold together a broken glass lense.

dale
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Old Jan 3, 2004 | 06:12 PM
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Default Re: Why tape your headlights? (phooka)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by phooka &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...Painters tape will NOT hold together a broken glass lense...
dale
</TD></TR></TABLE>

True. Today I tried racers tape, and it's much better than the painter's tape. I think that will hold the glass together.

Got my racer's tape here: http://www.ioportracing.com
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Old Jan 3, 2004 | 06:31 PM
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Default Re: Why tape your headlights? (Vitt1)

Just don't use racer's tape on the body of the car. It's basically duct tape, with similar residue when you take it off. A b!tch to clean...
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Old Jan 3, 2004 | 06:34 PM
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Default Re: Why tape your headlights? (sleepin91teg)

Ahhh i thought it was something line that! Thanx a bunch guys!
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Old Jan 3, 2004 | 06:56 PM
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Default Re: Why tape your headlights? (phooka)

Painter's tape does hold together broken glass lenses. Go ahead, ask me how I know.

Warren
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Old Jan 3, 2004 | 07:11 PM
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Default Re: Why tape your headlights? (Warren)

Warren,

How do you know?

TIP: Put wax on paint before you put on racer tape. Don't buff off. Install tape over wax. Tape will come off easily when time to remove..
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Old Jan 3, 2004 | 08:12 PM
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Default

Don't just tape, be cool with some http://www.lamin-x.com. Little props to my racecar sponsor
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Old Jan 4, 2004 | 07:17 AM
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Default Re: Why tape your headlights? (genxguy)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by genxguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just don't use racer's tape on the body of the car. It's basically duct tape, with similar residue when you take it off. A b!tch to clean... </TD></TR></TABLE>

You know what? I think I lucked out then yesterday because it was a really cold day. Maybe that's why it didn't stick on my paint. I have a G3 Integra, and since the round lights sit caved far deep the front, I put tape all accross covering both holes at the same time, creating a buffer zone (after I taped the glass itself). I'll have to keep in mind the wax next time I do this.
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Old Jan 4, 2004 | 03:16 PM
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Default Re: Why tape your headlights? (Vitt1)

I got flip-up lights, so I dont think I have to worry about that...Gotta love the 80's.
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