21 replies to this topic

[noeman]

I have a large blemish in paint on my drivers door. Rather than having it re-sprayed that would stick out from the car a few people have suggested putting those white round race numbers on my doors to cover it up for time being. I like the idea as it would make my car look a bit sportier, I've seen ha few minis with these on but is legal/Ok?

[beardylondon]

I would presume so, it is just a graphic after all, albeit a big one. Think of all those Italian Job minis that drive around with their decals on permanently, never an issue, unless offensive!

[GraemeC]

Perfectly legal, despite a few urban myths.

Most of the myths are based from a little bit of fact in the competition world. A rally car competing on the road needs special insurance. If you retire from a rally then the numbers should be removed as you are no longer ‘in an event’ so the competition insurance is no longer in place. However your normal road insurance won’t cover you for competition, so if the numbers are left in place they will use it as a get out clause.

[InnoCooperExport]

My dad used to tell me back in the day you could lose your competition licence if you were caught with competition numbers out on the road outside of a rally. 

[Cooperman]

Real rally or race cars or competition drivers will never have numbers on their doors when driving normally on public roads and not actually competing, although it is not unusual for the white squares to actually be painted onto the doors of a rally car. My full-spec historic rally 'S' has white squares painted onto the doors because the white fablon is difficult to apply and can look scruffy.

A number on a white background on a road car just shouts out 'Boy Racer'. It looks pretty silly as well. "Look at me, I'm a racing driver"!

I'm not sure the normal road insurance is invalid if a rally car retires from a rally. Once retired one is no longer entered in a competition and unless there is a clause in the normal insurance which prohibits any stickers on the car, then normal cover will apply. I know that I have often driven my rally cars complete with rally plates from the point of retirement to where my trailer was parked without removing the numbers.

[Ethel]

Just paint police down the side in foot high capitals, that'll cover it. ?

[Mini Manannán]

Just paint police down the side in foot high capitals, that'll cover it.

 

 

While you might not get away with 'police', Polite would be OK I think

[whistler]

Real rally or race cars or competition drivers will never have numbers on their doors when driving normally on public roads and not actually competing, although it is not unusual for the white squares to actually be painted onto the doors of a rally car. My full-spec historic rally 'S' has white squares painted onto the doors because the white fablon is difficult to apply and can look scruffy.

A number on a white background on a road car just shouts out 'Boy Racer'. It looks pretty silly as well. "Look at me, I'm a racing driver"!

I'm not sure the normal road insurance is invalid if a rally car retires from a rally. Once retired one is no longer entered in a competition and unless there is a clause in the normal insurance which prohibits any stickers on the car, then normal cover will apply. I know that I have often driven my rally cars complete with rally plates from the point of retirement to where my trailer was parked without removing the numbers.

We used to have to remove them after a rally or at least put a diagonal black tape or masking tape on them to show that we were no longer on a competition.

[Retroman]

My understanding is you can do want you want re white sqares or circles

 

The problem might come if you put numbers on

 

I think the MSA blue book says not to run on the road with numbers unless crossed out

 

They should have a cross of black tape across, thats what I do

 

A jobs worth copper might argue you are racing on the road, don't know if he could bounce you into court or not

 

Not sure if they have the man power for such stuff these days

[Avtovaz]

R.6.1.Any means of identification fixed for theCompetition must be removed when a Competitorretires, is disqualified from, or completes the event.

 

 

so it part of the rules you have to remove them, ive driven home from most events forgetting to remove them, but also the car is usually that dirty you cant read them anyway!

[luismx123]

I have a large blemish in paint on my drivers door. Rather than having it re-sprayed that would stick out from the car a few people have suggested putting those white round race numbers on my doors to cover it up for time being. I like the idea as it would make my car look a bit sportier, I've seen ha few minis with these on but is legal/Ok?

do what i did and get a magnetic roll off/foil ebay for 20€. 0.4mm thick, 1m long x 1m wide. I cut a square and a circle from that and can swap anytime i like as they hold on the door perfectly!

[blackbelt1990]

The rule about covering numbers on the road was dropped from the MSA blue book this year.

[Avtovaz]

i quoted from the 2019 blue book

 

page 297its still there

[GraemeC]

I'm not sure the normal road insurance is invalid if a rally car retires from a rally. Once retired one is no longer entered in a competition and unless there is a clause in the normal insurance which prohibits any stickers on the car, then normal cover will apply.

In theory, yes. But if you were involved in an accident with event numbers on, especially where liability was contested, it is almost guaranteeable that your (or the other parties) insurance would hold it against your they could see a way to wriggle out of a claim.

[GraemeC]

R.6.1.[/size]Any means of identification fixed for the[/size]Competition must be removed when [/size]a Competitor[/size]retires, is disqualified from, or completes the event. [/size]
 
 
so it part of the rules you have to remove them, ive driven home from most events forgetting to remove them, but also the car is usually that dirty you cant read them anyway!

But the MSUK rules have no legal standing and certainly couldn’t be applied to someone who doesn’t hold an MSUK membership card, sorry ‘licence’.