Racing numbers in the 1950s and 1960s

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by morninggents

Back in the 1960s at club level we used white fablon rectangles (with corners 'rounded') cut from large rolls purchased at hardware stores. We cut individual numbers from a roll of black fablon having made cardboard templates of numbers from 0 to 9. Just about every race meeting was a different number but we peeled the old numbers off and stuck them lightly to the underneath of the bootlid to save for future use. Tightfisted, I know, but pennies were worth something back in the day.

As morninggents says, we sometimes used stick on numbers, but on occasions we used the services of a signwriter that would normally be on duty at sign-on time. This would usually happen when we didn't know what our race number would be for that day, as in the days before the interweb, we might not know until we turned up for the race day.

[bobsmyuncle]

Originally Posted by morninggents

Back in the 1960s at club level we used white fablon rectangles (with corners 'rounded') cut from large rolls purchased at hardware stores. We cut individual numbers from a roll of black fablon having made cardboard templates of numbers from 0 to 9. Just about every race meeting was a different number but we peeled the old numbers off and stuck them lightly to the underneath of the bootlid to save for future use. Tightfisted, I know, but pennies were worth something back in the day.

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

As morninggents says, we sometimes used stick on numbers, but on occasions we used the services of a signwriter that would normally be on duty at sign-on time. This would usually happen when we didn't know what our race number would be for that day, as in the days before the interweb, we might not know until we turned up for the race day.

Gentlemen thanks so much for the input I really appreciate it! Morninggents what a brilliant nugget regarding lightly tacking the numbers under the bootlid!

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by morninggents

Back in the 1960s at club level we used white fablon rectangles (with corners 'rounded') cut from large rolls purchased at hardware stores. We cut individual numbers from a roll of black fablon having made cardboard templates of numbers from 0 to 9. Just about every race meeting was a different number but we peeled the old numbers off and stuck them lightly to the underneath of the bootlid to save for future use. Tightfisted, I know, but pennies were worth something back in the day.

In true Blue Peter fashion we had "sticky backed plastic" by the roll and made our own numbers until well into the 80s. IIRC they peeled off badly and left nasty shadow marks which were really difficult to clean off.



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[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by midgetman

In true Blue Peter fashion we had "sticky backed plastic" by the roll and made our own numbers until well into the 80s. IIRC they peeled off badly and left nasty shadow marks which were really difficult to clean off.



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Aha, but one trick was to apply car polish to the panel first before sticking on the (er?) sticker, then polishing off around it. That made them easier to peel off again afterwards and helped to prevent the residue leaving a mess.

[midgetman]

All these years I never knew that!

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[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by midgetman

All these years I never knew that!

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Every day is a school day Max, you never stop learning!

[FoxyRacer]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Pot of paint and a brush even cheaper!

Len Taft of Nottingham Sports Car Club was the man with the poster paints in the 60s and 70s.