Spent a couple of days at the track last weekend. There were two very wet areas of the track that never drained so the car really built up a thick dirty film from the spray. I didn't think much about it since I knew I'd be cleaning it pretty quickly and the car was waxed right before the event.

Well I'm trying to clean it now and it's practically baked on! I started with regular car soap and warm water. No effect. I then tried a little bug and tar remover. Nothing. I cleaned one small area, dried it, and then used wax. With a LOT of rubbing I got it to come clean but I'm not comfortable using this method as it's basically grinding the grit around the paint.

I've been tracking in the rain for over a decade and have never had this happen in the past. Anyone have a similar experience or can shed some light on the best way to clean it up?

 

Where were you when this happened? Any idea what the rain (asuming it was rain) may have washed up from the track other than the usual?

 

I was at MotorSport Ranch outside of Ft Worth, TX. Had a lot a rain around here the previous week and these two areas of the track are notorious for staying wet long after the rain because of the poor drainage.

I have no idea how this time is different then others since I've run in the rain at MSR many times.

Just a wild thought was maybe all the drilling they're doing around this area has somehow effected the water. But that's just a WAG.

 

I was afraid you were going to say MSR. I was planning to go there this month, but couldn't make it, so I am going there next month for the first time. Hopefully it will be dry!

I was recently told by a clear film installer that a mix of 50% meguiars bug & tar cleaner and 50% water was a good / safe cleaner for this sort of thing as well as for cleaning wheels. I have not tried it yet, so I don't have personal experience.

 

I'll give it a shot under the rocker panels and see how it does. Thanks.

BTW, you'll love MSR especially if you do the 3.1 track.

 

Let me know if that works, I may need it! MSR looks like a lot of fun. Based on web photos I would say MSR should be a great time. My previous experience is Memphis Motorsports (closed now) and Barber.

I noticed you are in Highland Village, I used to live near you in Frisco. Great area. My wife desparately missed the shopping!

Are you with Mav PCA? If so, maybe I'll see you there in Oct.

 

What about trying a .99 cent bottle of Isopropyl alcohol from CVS? If you're worried about the alcohol percent, then try an $8.00 bottle of vodka from the liquor store?

Just a thought?

 

Never thought of using alcohol. Got some in the garage. I'll give it a try.

 

Are you nuts? I only use single malt to clean my pcar. Oban works well.

Vodka.... What are you? Some kind of nouveau rich?

 

I am a MAV PCA member and used to run with them all the time but haven't been to one of their events in several years. I've been running with Driver's Edge in the last few years.

I think you should be really happy that your wife doesn't have the same access to shopping as she did!

 

I use Simple Green on my rockers and it gets the road and track tar off. Bigger globs take a bit of work but straight up it works better than Dawn.

Interesting idea about the drilling, but the fracking material shouldn't be making it to the surface.

 

I was at MSR last weekend as well and had the same grime after washing! What did you ultimately use to remove it?

 

Just got home a few moments ago with Simple Green, Green Dawn, Orange Dawn, Turtle Wax Bug and Tar remover, and rubbing alcohol.

I'm about to open up a can of chemical Jihad on its *ss and see what happens.

 

DING DING DING DING!!! We have a WINNER!

That didn't take long but the winner is Simple Green. It's not effortless but it's not bad either.

I had already washed my car to get all the main grime off and it was completely dry. I applied a generous about of SG and let it sit a minute. Then with a clean dry micro-whatever towel I could wipe off the remaining residue with 2 or 3 applications.

I'm not sure that was in that water but it sure is making a lot of people mad. I've heard from about 8 folks out there that have the same issue.

Well, I'm off to finish the car and get it ready for waxing. Thanks for all the help!!!

 

I was at ECR 3 weeks ago when they had a Biblical proportion plague of locusts.

After each session my intake grills were 60% occluded by locusts, many alive with their heads trapped in the grill mesh. They had to be scraped off with a credit card after each session or they would have restricted airflow to 0 (zero) after 1 1/2 sessions.

Each side of the dual airboxes had 15 complete or darn near complete locusts in it.

I didn't have time to clean the car until the next afternoon so you can imagine what the garage spelled like in the morning. Had to buy a fresh gallon of SG for that.