How much sleep do you get?
Discussion
I have to admit that I love my sleep more than is healthy and only a couple of times in the 14 years I've been going to Le Mans, have I managed to last the whole race without sleep. I often last until somewhere around 2 or 3 before flaking out in the tent and waking when it's light. It's a shame because the sunrise can be stunning but more often than not my body clock wins.
How many of us regularly manage to last without sleep and what are your secrets?!!!
How many of us regularly manage to last without sleep and what are your secrets?!!!
I'm a light sleeper and go for the full week, so by Saturday night I'm pretty knackered. I've never made it through to dawn so go to bed midnightish, get whatever patchy kip I can manage which isn't a lot on Tertre Rouge and get woken up by the sudden lack of noise if there's a safety car period. Then get up about 4 to see the sun up, it's one of the best parts of the race.
I've managed 2AM and then back at 7AM which was great, and various combinations (Involving missing Saturday due to our dear Dutch friend Pino with his Pinocello!).
What I can't understand is the fans who don't watch the end of the race. I would love to hear a response from some of them because I genuinely don't get it (unless you have to catch aferry home for work), I love being at the finish, cheering or crying the ones who sprint or limp across the line. In an endurance race that is the important bit surely? I've watched the sun come up over the track but I have ALWAYS been there for the final moments.
(Very) Oldwolf
What I can't understand is the fans who don't watch the end of the race. I would love to hear a response from some of them because I genuinely don't get it (unless you have to catch aferry home for work), I love being at the finish, cheering or crying the ones who sprint or limp across the line. In an endurance race that is the important bit surely? I've watched the sun come up over the track but I have ALWAYS been there for the final moments.
(Very) Oldwolf
For years now i have grabbed a few hours sleep in the tent from about midnight and then get up just before dawn, have a leak and then watch the race as the sun rises from the banking outside the camp site (TR), always my favourite bit of the race, back to the tent about 6 and then try to grab a couple more hours, as we leave after the race a few hours sleep is a must rather than driving back to calais unsafely.
I have never stayed up the whole night but I did 19 hours trackside one year, I need quite a lot of sleep generally so I have to get something else I self destruct!
Normally we head down to arnage just before sunset, then down to mulsanne till about 1/2AM. Back to camp, possibly some more watching from after Dunlop (we are on TR) then a nap till before sunrise.
Does vary every year though depending on how the race is going. I do like my sleep but I really enjoy the night racing.
The transition from day to night at arnage and seeing the brake disks come bright really is one of the best bits for me.
Normally we head down to arnage just before sunset, then down to mulsanne till about 1/2AM. Back to camp, possibly some more watching from after Dunlop (we are on TR) then a nap till before sunrise.
Does vary every year though depending on how the race is going. I do like my sleep but I really enjoy the night racing.
The transition from day to night at arnage and seeing the brake disks come bright really is one of the best bits for me.
Since I've been camping off site at La Suze (to get some sleep in before the day) I have a parking spot in Rouge and drive in at about 9.00 on the Saturday and have breakfast watch some of the support races then have lunch. A little vin rouge with lunch then that's it for drinkies until Sunday evening.
During the race we watch for a while and then have a break, wander about the bankings towards Tertre Rouge and then as it gets dark wander down the pits. Sometime around 1.00 ish I'll drive round to Arnage for a couple of hours to watch the brake discs glow and get close to the cars. Then back to the tent for a couple of hours shuteye before getting up to be back at the track for breakfast. Then watch until the end nipping back to the car for brews of industrial strength coffee from time to time. After the finish it seems relatively easy to get back to La Suze where we sit about drinking wine and eating a simple meal before we hit the sleeping bags to get in as much recovery as possible before the drive back to Calais on Monday.
I take it steady on the drive and try to stop and walk about every two hours or so. This year may be a bit different because we are coming back on Tuesday so we will be staying somewhere en-route to Calais.
During the race we watch for a while and then have a break, wander about the bankings towards Tertre Rouge and then as it gets dark wander down the pits. Sometime around 1.00 ish I'll drive round to Arnage for a couple of hours to watch the brake discs glow and get close to the cars. Then back to the tent for a couple of hours shuteye before getting up to be back at the track for breakfast. Then watch until the end nipping back to the car for brews of industrial strength coffee from time to time. After the finish it seems relatively easy to get back to La Suze where we sit about drinking wine and eating a simple meal before we hit the sleeping bags to get in as much recovery as possible before the drive back to Calais on Monday.
I take it steady on the drive and try to stop and walk about every two hours or so. This year may be a bit different because we are coming back on Tuesday so we will be staying somewhere en-route to Calais.
1st time LM for me and I've been training by going out Saturday night till early morning on Sunday, then up at 7h30 am for kids tennis and gym.
The other week I pulled an all-nighter, went to work after a shower (I work on Saturday mornings), survived on energy drinks. Was fine for the day.
Am hopeful I can pull it off. Will certainly try.
The other week I pulled an all-nighter, went to work after a shower (I work on Saturday mornings), survived on energy drinks. Was fine for the day.
Am hopeful I can pull it off. Will certainly try.
Last year was my first - I also like a full 8 hours a night, so I was never going to try to stay awake.
Hit the sack at about 11pm on the Saturday and was up for 3:00am to wander from Porsche Curves, all the way past the start/finish straight and on to Dunlop Bridge and Tertre Rouge for sunrise - quite possibly the best few hours of the entire weekend. We wandered back to the campsite at about 7:00 - 8:00 and caught another couple of hours kip before catching the remainder of the race
This year, we have pushbikes, so I intend to get over to Mulsanne for some night-time photos of glowing discs etc
Hit the sack at about 11pm on the Saturday and was up for 3:00am to wander from Porsche Curves, all the way past the start/finish straight and on to Dunlop Bridge and Tertre Rouge for sunrise - quite possibly the best few hours of the entire weekend. We wandered back to the campsite at about 7:00 - 8:00 and caught another couple of hours kip before catching the remainder of the race
This year, we have pushbikes, so I intend to get over to Mulsanne for some night-time photos of glowing discs etc
We've always included Arnage and Mulsanne corner as part of our nighttime routine and finish off on the start finish for sunrise. Back to the campsite maybe 5am for a short sleep before coffee and deciding where we'll easygoing the end of the race. It can depend on the campsite though and the walking/stumbling distance between track and sleeping bag.
OvalOwl said:
Since I've been camping off site at La Suze (to get some sleep in before the day) I have a parking spot in Rouge and drive in at about 9.00 on the Saturday and have breakfast watch some of the support races then have lunch. A little vin rouge with lunch then that's it for drinkies until Sunday evening.
During the race we watch for a while and then have a break, wander about the bankings towards Tertre Rouge and then as it gets dark wander down the pits. Sometime around 1.00 ish I'll drive round to Arnage for a couple of hours to watch the brake discs glow and get close to the cars. Then back to the tent for a couple of hours shuteye before getting up to be back at the track for breakfast. Then watch until the end nipping back to the car for brews of industrial strength coffee from time to time. After the finish it seems relatively easy to get back to La Suze where we sit about drinking wine and eating a simple meal before we hit the sleeping bags to get in as much recovery as possible before the drive back to Calais on Monday.
I take it steady on the drive and try to stop and walk about every two hours or so. This year may be a bit different because we are coming back on Tuesday so we will be staying somewhere en-route to Calais.
Ssshhhh.... Don't mention La Suze or it might get busy!! Access back and forth to parking Expo is good.During the race we watch for a while and then have a break, wander about the bankings towards Tertre Rouge and then as it gets dark wander down the pits. Sometime around 1.00 ish I'll drive round to Arnage for a couple of hours to watch the brake discs glow and get close to the cars. Then back to the tent for a couple of hours shuteye before getting up to be back at the track for breakfast. Then watch until the end nipping back to the car for brews of industrial strength coffee from time to time. After the finish it seems relatively easy to get back to La Suze where we sit about drinking wine and eating a simple meal before we hit the sleeping bags to get in as much recovery as possible before the drive back to Calais on Monday.
I take it steady on the drive and try to stop and walk about every two hours or so. This year may be a bit different because we are coming back on Tuesday so we will be staying somewhere en-route to Calais.
About 9-10 yrs staying there now. Looking forward to a few drinks outside the hotel.
On topic.....
Been going since '03 and in the early years went for the diehard 24hrs trackside. Achieved it a few times. But you could never avoid that horrible nodding half sleep whilst sat in the grandstand when you suddenly come around with a really painful neck. Usually felt awful on the Sunday.
It's really difficult to go 24hrs plus with no shut eye what so ever.
It was great doing the hardcore way with a strange knackered satisfaction Sunday evening. Maybe the sense of testing endurance also.
These days though it's away from the track at around 1900 on Sat. Go get dinner somewhere. Back to track for a couple of hours in the dark 2200-0000. Back to the b&b, sleep till around 0900. Then back to circuit from around 1100-1500. More sociable weekend.
I've nodded off a couple of times in the grandstands with earplugs in... I find the muted sound of the cars very relaxing, reminds me of a Sunday afternoon dozing through the F1 after a good Sunday lunch!
Usually head to bed around 1am, and try to get up at about 7am... haven't managed to wake for sunrise, but might try it for the first time!
Usually head to bed around 1am, and try to get up at about 7am... haven't managed to wake for sunrise, but might try it for the first time!
... hit the sack around 1am... up at 4am before sunrise... (even managed to see Kaz Nakajima being dropped off after retiring from the lead) --- then kip from 8 to 11am... then shower to freshen up and then the whole way through...
Not exactly like Paul Truswell from RLM who stays in the commentary box the entire race and doesn't even leave for 'comfort breaks' some years ago he left for 20 mins but that is all...
Not exactly like Paul Truswell from RLM who stays in the commentary box the entire race and doesn't even leave for 'comfort breaks' some years ago he left for 20 mins but that is all...
I've never managed a full race yet either, it rather depends on the alcohol level from friday night :-)
Usually do arnage around midnight and back to the pit straight until calling enoough usually around 2-3am and back to the car until around 8-9am in previous years but PH camping last year and this, so may try bed a little earlier and up a little earlier but will see what happens
Usually do arnage around midnight and back to the pit straight until calling enoough usually around 2-3am and back to the car until around 8-9am in previous years but PH camping last year and this, so may try bed a little earlier and up a little earlier but will see what happens
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