OldGrey's thread got me to talking to one of my friends about cars/motorsports items and we now have a debate about the best type of removable/re-usable race and track day signage. I say the good quality magnetics are good for over 100 mph. He says no way, you should use re-usable vinyl. What say the hive? Anyone ever lost any magnetic graphics at 100+ mph?
I used all magnetic stuff on a street/drag car 20 years ago and never had any issues. Car ran 11's @ ~120mph. Of course, that was pretty short duration at speed... 
If I was planning on that, I'd probably put a bit of tape on the leading edge to keep it from lifting. I haven't tested it myself.
They stick pretty well. My experience is that my magnetic numbers (approx 12" high, cut out in the shape of the number) by themselves (no tape) didn't come off the door of my Miata even doing 130 mph into turn 1.
This was when it was warm. Cold magnetic numbers aren't as flexible and won't conform to the curves of the door as well.
It really depends. I've seen magnetics fly off at autocrosses a lot.
Where can you get removable vinyl? Is it like the static "window cling" stickers that can be taken off and repositioned or is it a better grade of normal car vinyl graphics?
The quality of magnetic numbers can vary widely. Good strong flexible ones on a nice flat door can stay on at 135+. Weaker ones with any kind of leading edge issue can peel off at 30.
A lot of it is car dependent.
The magnetic roll from McMaster-Carr is awesome. I drove for something like a month with the numbers on the car.
The DIY magnet kit sheets from the hobby store suck. They fly off, curl up, even when taped down sometimes.
Key seems to be getting the THINNEST magnetic sheet that is durable. Thicker is heavier and less able to conform to curves.
For rallycross, I just use one of those window markers they sell for drag/bracket racers and write the numbers on the back side windows. If you've got tinted windows, the white numbers are very visible and they stay until you're ready to wipe them off (or until it rains too much).
Used Magnettic numbers for years. We found that round ones stayed better than square/rectangular ones and a strip of clear packing tape at the leading edge was cheap insurance.
I have white magnetic numbers with blue lettering which are bordered with blue as well. I generally use painters tape to secure the top and bottom of my numbers and have never lost one while doing that.
The magnetic numbers fall off of my Corvette even when parked, they suck!
pinchvalve wrote: The magnetic numbers fall off of my Corvette even when parked, they suck!
Have you tried staples?
Some bevel the leading edge of the magnetic sheet.
They come off the vette at zero miles per hour.
So, I'm thinking the iZoom magnetics should be just fine for track speeds. Any conccurance?
Knurled wrote: The magnetic roll from McMaster-Carr is awesome. I drove for something like a month with the numbers on the car.
I got magnetic sheet from McMaster-Carr and it was fine at autocross speeds, but blew off when I tried to run home and grab something I forgot. So at, say, 55-60, it cam right off the rear doors of DD#1's car. This was the heavyish stuff at about 16x20 with rounded corners.
Huckleberry wrote: They come off the vette at zero miles per hour.
But, on the plus side, they have the same performance at nearly 1000 times that speed.
I've made multiple sets from motocross #s and magnetic sheets and never had one fly off. Of course I don't think I've gone faster than 80 MPH on the drive home with them on.
I lost my hood placard on the highway on the way to the races, the guy behind me was pissed.
I typically use static numbers on the inside of the rear windows and it's never been an issue. I bring windex along, spritz them and stick them on.
For running on a big track with traffic they want them on the body so as not obstruct your view.
How do you store those after you take them off?
84FSP wrote: I typically use static numbers on the inside of the rear windows and it's never been an issue. I bring windex along, spritz them and stick them on.
On the same sheet of non stick backing that they come with. I have a little makeshift cardboard folder with a bunch of diff numbers and letters to enable whatever is needed. Think it was like 30 buck for a double set of numbers and letters a-z and 1-10 10 years back.
Wow, awesome- thanks for that! I always wondered how reusable they were. It looks like they are!
84FSP wrote: On the same sheet of non stick backing that they come with. I have a little makeshift cardboard folder with a bunch of diff numbers and letters to enable whatever is needed. Think it was like 30 buck for a double set of numbers and letters a-z and 1-10 10 years back.
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