Autograph Cards

[NateJG24]

I go to the August race at MIS every year, and I get my pit pass and spend the Friday and Sunday getting a many drivers as I can to sign my cards. The past few years, I have either bought a hobby box, or I'll go on Ebay and buy the base get of that years VIP cards. I've noticed that some cards take ink better than others. The 2007 Press Pass VIP cards I think are perfect because they have the driver on the left, and room on the right for them to sign. Problem is, I think they Scotch guarded the damn cards because it's as though the ink repels the card. They don't sign nice at all. But the 2008 cards are perfect, and the ink goes on perfect. If anyone does this as well, having drivers sign thier cards, is it the card, or the kind of Sharpie? Is there a certain kind of Sharpie or other marker I should buy that will make the autograph look any better? I will post a photo of my 07 VIP card I had signed by Kurt Busch later as an example. I was so depressed last year, I had Logano sign my 09 VIP RC, and it looks like crap.

[GoldenTrout]

Really comes down to the finish on the card. I have found that the silver paint sharpies work the best ahearing to most finishes. I usually do a pen test on cheaper commons from sets I am going to get autographed so I know which to use for each card.

[MCXC1987]

Rub it on blue jeans usually works for me, use a pencil eraser, or use baby powder. Little things to take off the gloss.

[Jolietracing]

You can also rub it with your thumb.

[wrigleyfield]

Ya the glossier the card the harder a normal Sharpie sticks to the card. Here is a pic of a Kenseth I got last year on an 07 VIP

[NateJG24]

You got it right. That's what mine look like to. You know what's funny, some if the 07 VIP didn't do that when signed. That's why I figured it depended on the Sharpie or marker used. You notice when you get an Autographed card from a hobby box, the autograph is usually overtop a dull surface decal. Should find something like that and apply it over the gloss.

[sexyheifer]

like the kenseth cards!!!

[Lesracing]

The coating is the UV coating they put on the cards to protect them. One easy trick to help break down the coating and not hurt the card doing it is to rub the card on a piece of glass or a table top made of a material like fomica. This helps "rough up" and or scrape off the coating without doing any damage to the cards. I have done this for years and it's worked well for me.

One sure way to tell if the UV coating is on a set of cards is to take a low end base card and sign your own name on the card. If it dries quickly but leaves a mottled or marbled signature, the card still has a UV coating remaining.

Good Luck and get lots of GR8 signatures!