Hey gang... Just getting ready for JIBE and I've spent a little time in the shop putting together my number plates for my VTT Stinger-XR Hybrid bug. Working off the notion posted in an earlier thread:

Quote: Originally posted by sunset-Jim

Just a side note to the reference above. If your plates don't adhere to the rather strict guidelines, don't fret. The only real requirement is that your number is legible from a reasonable distance. Artistry is never discouraged.

I went relatively simple with my idea in order to save myself time (you know... Full time job, part time school, new baby, etc etc). I had my wife (a former graphic designer turned mother of 4) help me on carstickers.com (https://www.carstickers.com) to use one of their customizable templates to make a couple of vinyl stickers with my Pilot Number on them in a 10"x8" oval format.



Once I received them I was hit with a twinge of guilt as I thought "oh cr@p,... I should've had Davis do these for me"... (Davis being MyAikenCheeks) to support a buddy's business, but it was too late, and I was happy with what I had.

I scored a 4'x4' piece of coroplast (corrugated plastic) for free from work, which I could cut down and so I went to it. After digging out my kite sticker stash, I ended up with these:



I picked up some Velcro strapping today and finished up the job:





Cool thing is about the carstickers.com order is that I got a smaller one to put on my actual car



I've seen pics from a few guys who got fancy with their plates, so let's post some pics here and see what we get!

Looks good bro! I had to add a Velcro strip on the bottom. The plate kept wanting to have that "flap" effect.

Well, you just saw mine but I'll post it here since now there is a thread for such.

Nothing fancy here, But figured I would show mine anyway.
You can see down in the bottom corner, mine says "the prez"
It's what Dino calls me whenever I talk to him.




I must say that the black widow plate is pretty nice!

Good job Rich!!!

Mine is plan and simple.

As the one who had to see the numbers as they passed by a 50mph and write them down for the lap count at ibb during the napka races, I will let you know that the basic white placard with the black numbers/letters was the easiest to see and record. It was told to a couple people who had black placards with grey or something numbers (we knew everyone and I had to ask what was the number of that buggy that just flew by) that it was tough to see their number/letters as the racers were close together.

I like the fancy placards as much as the next person and I would have some myself, but for the purpose of racing, white and black.

If I may make a suggestion from a guy who wants to see the white black placards and I like to show the fancy ones, MAKE YOUR PLACKARDS DOUBLE SIDED.
One side is your fancy show off side and flip it around and it is white with black numbers/letters. Use velcro to hold them on.
Show your fancy side for everything but the race, and flip them to show the white black side for the race. The extra cost of the second set of numbers/letters is minimal for helping the race master see and record the info as you zoom by.
This would have made things a lot easier for seeing and recording the needed info.
As for the size and font of the info, skinny tall is not easy to see.

If you could help the race master with making the race side of your placard as the rules prescribe, I WILL THANK YOU RIGHT HERE AND NOW. THANK YOU! You will make the race masters life a bit easier.

I also have white plates with the black numbers as well. Not that I will ever race but yeah, rules are rules.

Very good to know, Jeff... I completely understand what you're saying and I think the double sided placard is a great idea!

If I ever get an opportunity to participate in a NAPKA event where there is an officiated race, I'll get a number set to put on the opposite side if my placards, but as for now, I'll pretty much always be in the "everything but the race" category.

Thank you Race Master Earl!!!

You need to come back to JIBE and teach me some more stuff!!!

Just the standard regulation plates....nothing fancy YET

I love green and black together.

I too thought I'd never be in a race, but I must say there is no reason to be intimidated from getting in one if you have the opportunity. I didn't win either of the heats I was in, but I can't wait for my next chance to get the angles right. My plates are just white with black letters.

most of my life my hobbies were all about racing, racing motorcycles, cars and RC's, so I have pretty much used up my desire to compete and deal with all the drama that usually comes with it so I went fancy

A better pic of Dirtslide's Plate

If you want both fancy and race legal then have some race plates that just velcro on. just a thought.

Quote: Originally posted by MDK

If you want both fancy and race legal then have some race plates that just velcro on. just a thought.

when I went to ww and jibe last year I had 3 buggies all with placards and velcro was the way they went on and off for traveling. using zip ties is easy and cheep, one draw back for me was that there was one zip tie that twisted around the siderail and cut my arm as I rubbed against it while flying. Dont cut the loose end off because it leaves a sharp pokey that hurts when it bites you. I like velcro.

I wish I still had a pic of my yellow bug with the yellow fender and yellow placards with my yellow helmet. My wife likes yellow, it was the only way to buy a pricey buggy without getting in trouble.:saint:

Great looking buggies here.....Everyone has seen both of mine so....no pics...I am doing another set for WW this year. Think I'm going to have to keep that tradition up...one for every event...They look cool too hanging on the wall in my basement next to the buggy...

I did just want to chime in on the attachment part...BigKid said zip ties...which do work great but you have to cut them everytime you want to change (listen to him thought about not cutting the extra end) Those things are sharp when they touch the inside of your arms....learned that one just like Jeff did....

The ones I am currently using and work great are the ones you see on MDS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s buggy....I purchased mine at Wal-Fart in a container of 8 made by Reese hitch....about 5 bucks..and they look nice too.

I am available to anyone who needs help wanting to make their own...I have tons of resources and knowledge being in this type of business (graphic arts, furniture fabrication, and the sign industry)...just let me know....

Still counting down the days to WW.....W A H O O !!!!!!!!!! :D

So Bruce, does this new material bring the cost down at all...? I do understand that most of the cost is associated with the time/labor involved, but just thought I'd ask.

Dirtslide, thar is a SWEET looking speed machine... Something tells me you are a fan of Sysmic

That's the first Sysmic Bug I've seen in person, the French make a nice looking bug.

I've been using the same materials since the beginning...They are expensive and add up quickly...I will do a break down on some standard pricing for the things I use to make the racing tins...I originally used this plate material so that I could make compound curves in my plates to fit my buggy without having wrinkles in it...If you want flat plates then you can use other substrates....However you are limited to what will then stick to them (paints and adhesives) are extremely hard to work with when going on plastic.... they don't adhere well.

I went to school for hand lettering and gold leafing so to use vinyl is a no no for me...it's a personal thing & as some of you that have used vinyl for your letters I'm sure the sign guy wasn't cheap either. I would think that they charged most people around 20 bucks for the numbers (one color).

I'll put a break down of pricing on here soon. The only thing I was talking about are the bungee type things w/ the balls ont he ends for holding on peoples' panels...

Quote: Originally posted by cheezycheese

So Bruce, does this new material bring the cost down at all...? I do understand that most of the cost is associated with the time/labor involved, but just thought I'd ask.

Not sure if you'll remember this from another post:

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

So I'm a new to NAPKA, and having seen other's pilot numbers, I always assumed that they were automatically assigned to you based on where you fell in line or where you were located etc. Having just joined, I learned that as a part of joining was Choosing your numbers... I am one of those people who has trouble choosing things, feeling like it has to mean something at least interesting. For me, I chose US 593... A lot of the numbers that are ones of significance to me were already used, so I took a nickname that my wife (and inlaws) calls me and one I've been called since college, "Spe" (pronounced "Spee") and chose numbers close to the letters: 5=S, 9=P, and 3=E... Kinda silly, but the nickname is one I've always enjoyed so I thought it made sense.

With that in mind, I bought some T-shirt transfers and wifey helped me make this:





Just for fun.

:D

this is what i made up before going to JIBE
Only problem with the plates is setting the buggy low they sometimes hit sand going through ditches or pulling the buggy up and down steps. I still need to make velcro straps for them too.

Those were some killer plates Mark!!