The transformation of pit boxes since the mid - nineties has been a phenomenon in itself. Back in'94, anyone walking into a Formula One garage would have just seen bare walls with maybe a few banners draped around the area. Nowadays it seems that no expense is spared in ensuring that the 'state of the art' garage is no less a reflection of a showroom or meticulous workshops. Gone are the days when a team used to turn up with a trailer, a car and a toolbox. Back then, anyone who had a 'pretty' garage was deemed to be a wealthy team and their approach was all rather arrogant and distasteful. How things have changed and teams these days cannot travel anywhere without a dynamic and impressive display. No longer is it a luxury but now very much part of what is expected for a race team to present to their fans.

Showtrax International, primarily were behind this move during the nineties to liven up and provide a showplace for the public to look at whilst the teams were preparing their machines. Since that time, the company has provided walling, flooring, overhead gantries and many other items to over 3000 teams worldwide. All of their products however were not only designed to be attractive and robust, but also to be very practical and conducive of good working conditions to improve efficiency. The company has built its reputation on being innovative in their thinking and producing equipment that is very user friendly and extremely durable. Working, these days, not just with teams but also circuit owners, Showtrax have expanded their range of products to include external gantries that have permanent fixings on the garage walls. These have made a massive difference to the owners that have continually had to make good after teams had reeked havoc with their drills on the fabric of the garage and the pit walls!

Showtrax International's latest move forwards has been to see the introduction of lightweight seamless walling. Because of the cost of the materials, at the present time it is mainly aimed at the very high profile teams. However, recognising how important graphic representation has become in the garage, the idea of producing a walling system that shows no framework, is the ideal way. However, it has not been as straight forward as some might think. Easy enough to manufacture flat panels, but as soon as you want to go around corners and off at various angles, that's when it starts to get complicated and even more expensive.

Showtrax have developed the idea of using the channeling and locks from their own framework system and built them into an aluminium honeycomb panel. This means that the team can build their garage using part framework and part seamless. It keeps costs down to a minimum, increases the flexibility and enables teams that already have the Showtrax system to develop areas where they can carry large uninterrupted graphics and logos. 'I know it seems really simple' commented Alistair Frary, Showtrax Operations Director, 'but nobody has ever thought of doing it this way before, so teams end up with all sorts of odds and ends to create flexibility in their walling. That all costs money and why re-invent the wheel?'

The new walling is available in a range of colours and sizes and utilising their own existing locking mechanism, makes the walling fast and simple to put together.