Race Car NUMBERS

[TSR]

I have noticed over the last couple of years that the size & shape of the race numbers on the side of the cars have changed. Can anyone tell me if there was a rule for number size, and if this rule has changed recently. As car in the 80s & 90s their number seemed to be more uniformed than todays cars. Can anyone help with this question.

[D.R.T.]

I believe V8 Supercar numbers can be any size, shape, font, colour, angle or position on the vehicle.

However eveyone else must walk the very tough line of car identification numbers or face the consequences. Eg. Being sent home from a race meeting.

Cams, we love your work.

[Nado]

I read something in the rules that the number must be white in a black box (or something similar to that) but it also mentioned that the officials have the right to allow anyone a different style on request.

[HRT433]

according to the V8 operations manual, there are guidlines for the size, shape and position of the numbers....but its obviously not too heavily enforced...

[Phase3]

I like the modern trend of numbers intergrated into the livery, beats the old black number in a white box......

[PVDA]

The best thing to happen in recent times is the number on the upper conrner of the windscreen which is easier to read trackside than the number of the side.

[TSR]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

I believe V8 Supercar numbers can be any size, shape, font, colour, angle or position on the vehicle.

However eveyone else must walk the very tough line of car identification numbers or face the consequences. Eg. Being sent home from a race meeting.

Cams, we love your work.

Thanks DRT

[RotorFan]

Originally Posted by PVDA

The best thing to happen in recent times is the number on the upper conrner of the windscreen which is easier to read trackside than the number of the side.

Also, I've always wondered what the yellow things are on HRT's car.



Other cars have them too of course. HSVDT had one at Indy (maybe other rounds too) with planes tiled over it instead of the horizontal lines.

[HRT433]

I could be wrong, but don't they indicate which car is the 'lead' car in the team, or simple just quick way to distinguish between the two cars while on track.

As for the numbers on the wndscreen, the operations manual outline very specifically the size shape and position of these, maybe they prefer just to enforce this rule and to be more releaxed about the numbers on the sides of the car.

[RotorFan]

Originally Posted by HRT433

I could be wrong, but don't they indicate which car is the 'lead' car in the team, or simple just quick way to distinguish between the two cars while on track.

Ah I think you're right. TK doesn't have them.

[Armageddon]

Originally Posted by HRT433

I could be wrong, but don't they indicate which car is the 'lead' car in the team, or simple just quick way to distinguish between the two cars while on track.

As for the numbers on the wndscreen, the operations manual outline very specifically the size shape and position of these, maybe they prefer just to enforce this rule and to be more releaxed about the numbers on the sides of the car.

I think you are right with that HRT433, I don't think it is always used for the number one car though, but it is used to identify the cars easier.

The ops manual also is specific about the Colour of the Windscreen number.
Extract from V8Supercar Operations Manual Division D - Sporting Rules.
D 22.1 Windscreen Numbers
22.1.1 On the windscreen of all Cars must be displayed their competition number which
must be positioned on the upper area of the passenger’s side of the windscreen.
22.1.2 The numerals must be:
22.1.2.1 150mm in height, and
22.1.2.2 printed in Helvetica Bold; and
22.1.2.3 ‘Day-Glo yellow’ in colour; and
22.1.2.4 placed 50 mm from the lower edge of the upper windscreen band and 50
mm from the side edge of the windscreen.

I raised the Question of Numbers to TEGA one day and never got a response, I basically wanted to find out why the rule was there but not inforced? This was about the door numbers just as they started to change there styles.

Extract from V8Supercar Operation Manual Division D - Sporting Rules.
D 22.5 Competition Numbers
22.5.1 At all times while participating in any V8 Supercars approved activity:
22.5.1.1 Cars must have competition numbers affixed; and
22.5.1.2 no two (2) or more Cars may have the same competition number
displayed.
22.5.2 All competition numbers must conform to the minimum requirements set out in
Schedule D7 of these Rules.
22.5.3 Prior to 10th February 2006, all Teams must submit for approval to V8 Supercars a
complete Car colour graphic illustration or photograph representing the proposed
number font and colour scheme that the Team intend to use in 2006.
22.5.4 V8 Supercars will reply in writing to each Team within 7 days of receiving the
proposed number font / colour scheme either granting approval or suggesting
modifications to meet the minimum requirements under these Rules.

And then there is still Schedule D7 which specifies size, spacing etc. which is still part of the regulations, can be found right at the bottom of the 'Division D - Sporting Rules section.

[racer69]

Black on white or white on black in a box, the only way to go.

I think the likes of what we see on the GRM cars and the Glenfords cars look shocking, they are turning it into NASCAR at every level!

At least when JPS Team BMW ran their cars with gold numbers, they were still in a box!

[mtpanorama]

Yes, but you can pay a small "donation" to CAMS to be allowed to run whatever type of number you want. Also with the advent of computer timing they seem to have become more lax on the side number requirements.
You still see some odd interpretations of the number rules at state championship meetings though that the scrutineers dont seem to worry about anymore.They need to change the rules and include the fluro number on the side windows on both sides of the car, then it is easy to identify who is who

[Lowndesfan6]

The stickers under the Ford/Holden Windscreen banners are simply to distinguish between the cars in the same team.

Having these markings doesn't mean you are the no. 1 driver, although, most of the questionable no.1 drivers have them.

[Crowestar]

I'm with racer69 bring back the black number in the white box. Even if they do what most other touring car championships in the world do and use the same font, the same size box on every car so they look like they belong to each other

[storyline]

Ever since CAMS went down the road of allowing teams to pay a 'fee' to have a non-standard number in V8's there have been problems with numbers on this particular category (and then Procar and Formula Ford joined in the game although, in their defence, they forced a particular style of font on all their cars).

The problem is - the decision is based on viewing a static image of the vehicle - CAMS do not appear to understand that viewing a static image of a car and then viewing it at race speed yield two completely different results. Many cars which 'looked good' in an image, became totally unreadable at speed.

As for white on blac/black on white, it was found a number of years ago that having a white on black number on cars with the speeds these cars are doing renders the number almost unreadable - the contrast between a slim/small white number on a large black background was found to be extremely hard, if not impossible, to read on some cars that chose to go the smallest 'legal' size route (HRT was the team that 'discovered' this problem.

[Armageddon]

Originally Posted by Lowndesfan6

The stickers under the Ford/Holden Windscreen banners are simply to distinguish between the cars in the same team.

Having these markings doesn't mean you are the no. 1 driver, although, most of the questionable no.1 drivers have them.

I notice that Team BOC/BJR are running these on both there cars.

[Craner Curves]

Different colours though, so you can distinguish between JB and BJ.

[Armageddon]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

Different colours though, so you can distinguish between JB and BJ.

I realise that but isn't having it on the one car acheiving the same result?

I was reading V8X and there was talk about the TPR cars carrying mono coloured numbers. The quote was 'White on black looks great but we're not to sure if V8SA will approve the mono race number. We could see it back in colour by Adelaide.' This was under a photo of the number on the doors, the only thing I could think they realy mean is the V8SA Logo above the number. Next time have a look and you'll see what I mean.

[jc1965]

Anything has to be better than the White background black numbers the JPS M3's had to carry at 87 Bathurst..........

[StuiE]

Black number on white background is best, all should be in the same font too

[smokinJ]

I know team Dynamik rocked up at one track with an approved paint scheme,
only after they rolled out for practice they were told that the font was wrong
Simon Wills also being the teams sign writer was out to 3 in the morning changing the schemes of the two cars

but then again who ever said they got a easy ride by officaildom

[smokinJ]

double post sorry