The renovation was quite a challenge starting with removing 67 years of grime and multiple coats of paint. Amazingly the company that built the rotator mechanism is still in business and could still provide spare parts!

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At Apex we love challenges and we enjoyed returning this familiar sight back to its former glory. As part of the renovation the neon was updated with energy efficient LED lighting that consumes as little as one third the power.

The answer, huge radar speed trap screens. The sign placement decision at Mazda Raceway was pretty easy – there are two bridges, both of which are located over fast sections of the track.

We chose full color 3ft x 10ft screens as we wanted maximize the viewing distance for folks in the grandstands. Also, this size gives us an LED matrix of 64 x 256 pixels which is pretty good for displaying sponsor logos, messages, etc., even full motion video. All four screens can either show the same information, or completely different data at the same time. For this application we laid over 4,000 feet of fiber optic cable back to the timing and scoring building to give total control throughout an event.

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For a simpler one-screen system without all the fiber optic cable the radar gun would need to be within 50ft of the screen. This configuration might be mounted on a rolling platform that could be placed inside the pit wall at either end of a front straight away (depending whether you are running clockwise or counterclockwise), and simply point the radar gun over the wall at the track.

In its simplest operation you might switch it on in the morning, then off at the end of the day! The way it works is that when the radar gun detects an approaching vehicle the speed displayed comes on, and will notch up or down as faster or slower vehicles go by. After the last vehicle has gone by the speed display will hold for 5 seconds (you can set the hold time), the screen will then either go blank until the next vehicle approaches, or it can display a logo or other preset informational message.

To change the messages, or change the operation during the day you’d walk up and plug in a laptop computer. At Laguna Seca however full control is achieved at any time throughout the day via an Internet connection.

The race announcers love it, the fans love it; it adds a whole new dimension to the racing experience! Clubs will pay to rent it. Sponsors will pay to have their logos displayed, and marquee sponsors will want their “stamp” on it (you may have noticed the “ZOOM ZOOM” tagline on the Mazda displays).

YouTube videos can be found here…
1) IMSA & FIA 2011
2) CanAm 2011 Friday
3) CanAm 2011 Sunday

Road & Track Article

We also created a sand blasted foam sign 12 feet by 6 feet for the front of their new monument sign.

Did we mention flags and flag poles?  Yes we do that too!!

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But quite often with the right materials and some creativity the results can be very pleasing.

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Light-boxes come in many shapes and sizes, some freestanding, some mounted on walls, some mounted on poles.  Replacing panels is often a very cost effective way of updating or refreshing a light-box sign.  Apex Signs & Graphics can also repair and refurbish all of the internal electrical components if your sign needs repairing.

Older light-boxes can also be retro-fitted with LED lighting which can dramatically reduce your power consumption!

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Coming soon…

Plaques can be Cast, Architectural, Etched, or made to ADA specifications. A variety of methods are used to manufacture plaques – all using prime materials of the purest alloys. From lead and mercury free bronze, high-grade aluminum, lead-free brass or even stainless steel, we can provide the metal you need to make a lasting impression.

Recognize someone for a job well done, a retirement, winning an award, memorialize a loved one, or commemorate a historic place with a unique plaque.

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Monument signs vary from complex to very simple. Materials include cement, stucco, rock, aluminum, and wood. An increasingly popular material today is high density urethane foam!

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• Foundations

Usually concrete or steel posts, engineering calculations often needed.

• Sign Body Options

Include cement, redwood, sign foam, natural rock, aluminum fabrication, and stucco. Stucco

Internal lighting External lighting Sign Face Options: Dimensional logos Bronze/aluminum text Gold leaf Sand blasted wood Etc., etc., etc!

An “ADA Sign” is a sign with Braille and tactile letters designed to be easily read by individuals with disabilities. The Americans With Disabilities Act has resulted in the publishing of guidelines that specify where and what type of sign should be used in public places.

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A common myth is that ADA signs must be blue and white! Not so. An ADA sign can be almost any color, provided that the contrast between the text and the background meets that ADA guidelines.

Apex Signs uses high quality Rowmark ADA acrylic to manufacture ADA signs, this color chart link will take you to the Rowmark ADA color compliance chart.

We can also provide sand carved, photopolymer, and even wood laminate ADA signs.

	For Wholesale, Retail, and Contractors
	100% ADA Compliant
	California Code Compliant
	Design Service Available
	Embedded Tactile for Excellent Tamper-resistance
	Manufactured by Apex in Salinas

Follow this link to the US Government ADA advisory web site…