I changed to flaps. They look much better. I used to wipe them clean with petrol and they looked good. The only problem is if you scratch them. The dirt gets in and you never get it out!!!
I heard a story on the NSRA forum about a guy that had an accident with flaps and tore half his wing off when it came a draft from the tyre.
Don't know what whitewall paint is like, but I think we might need some as someone scuffed our whites' when we went to Lavenham (not his fault I have to say.)