Joshc
I did go for originality.
However, firstly I feel that you need to sit in your car and design your dash based on what is easily visible to you as the driver.
If you are on the track consider a shift light - stops you getting carried away. Mine is next to the steering column and hits my eye easily once I hit the rev zone.
I personally do not like gauges sitting up on dash tops, or worse still outside on hood/bonnet tops - this is a street machine thing or high performance racing. Just my opinion.
...just keep browsing the galleries, you will see some different layouts. I have seen different wood, vinyl, late model car dashes on the galleries here...
.. Just as
HighPlains Drifter has suggested.
Just my $0.02 worths