Sebring 12 hour
Discussion
Chaps
having thought about going for some time, I'm about to book up for the Sebring 12 hour in March 2013. Has anyone been? Any tips? I guess my main decision is how long to actually spend at the track, I guess I will probably sleep in the car or camp rather than get a hotel that's miles away. How has anyone else managed it? Is it possible to get there dead early on race day (I'll still be on UK time so no problem for me), watch the race, have a few beers, crash in the car and leave the next day? Any thoughts/tips/past experience greatly received.....
having thought about going for some time, I'm about to book up for the Sebring 12 hour in March 2013. Has anyone been? Any tips? I guess my main decision is how long to actually spend at the track, I guess I will probably sleep in the car or camp rather than get a hotel that's miles away. How has anyone else managed it? Is it possible to get there dead early on race day (I'll still be on UK time so no problem for me), watch the race, have a few beers, crash in the car and leave the next day? Any thoughts/tips/past experience greatly received.....
Kris and Frederic
Thanks for the heads up. I'm considering just crashing in the car, rather than bothering with a tiny tent, sounds like the noise means not a lot of sleep! Do they get funny about sleeping in the car whilst a bit merry? I could take a tent along but for one or two nights I'll probably just crash. I'm considering only getting there for the Friday, is it a pain to get into like Le Mans? My plan would be to fly into Orlando, shop and chill, then drive down on the Friday, watch the race and drive back to Orlando on the Sunday after sobering up! Are there many Brits at sebring? I guess not but the Americans are usually a friendly bunch. I' m still doing le mans as usual but the combination of Florida, a car race and spring break.......enough said!
Thanks for the heads up. I'm considering just crashing in the car, rather than bothering with a tiny tent, sounds like the noise means not a lot of sleep! Do they get funny about sleeping in the car whilst a bit merry? I could take a tent along but for one or two nights I'll probably just crash. I'm considering only getting there for the Friday, is it a pain to get into like Le Mans? My plan would be to fly into Orlando, shop and chill, then drive down on the Friday, watch the race and drive back to Orlando on the Sunday after sobering up! Are there many Brits at sebring? I guess not but the Americans are usually a friendly bunch. I' m still doing le mans as usual but the combination of Florida, a car race and spring break.......enough said!
Yes Le Mans is not the place to leave beer out! Right I'm going to get booking....looks like I'll be on my own, I've asked a few mates along but got the usual excuses - no money/working/wife won't let me go etc etc. Let me know if you' re going again next year, I'll buy you a beer (nasty Ametican one of course!). 5 mins from the track sounds fantastic, Le Mans us always a load of hiking for me as we camp at the Porsche curves. Can't wait to go to Sebring, it'll make the wait to Le Mans more bearable
Chaps
Thanks for the really useful pointers and local info. I kind of guessed crashing in the car could be an issue, it is in the UK as well. I just can't really justify an RV on my own, don't fancy going back to a hotel some distance away. So that leaves car or tent, it'll be easy to bring a tent with me, might look a little low rent compared to the effort you chaps put in! I'm bookish up next week.
Thanks for the really useful pointers and local info. I kind of guessed crashing in the car could be an issue, it is in the UK as well. I just can't really justify an RV on my own, don't fancy going back to a hotel some distance away. So that leaves car or tent, it'll be easy to bring a tent with me, might look a little low rent compared to the effort you chaps put in! I'm bookish up next week.
Chaps
Once again thanks for the help and advice. I may go to Daytona before or after...spring break and all that! I actually fancy trying to get to see a NASCAR race on the same trip, never been to one.....any suggestions? I like to mix it up a bit so a trip of sun/beer/sebring/spring break/shopping/beer/NASCAR sounds just the ticket. No mouse, definitely no mouse, took the family this year, still scarred.... the horror of it all. On balance I'll use a tent, just found a union jack tent....look out for me!
David
Once again thanks for the help and advice. I may go to Daytona before or after...spring break and all that! I actually fancy trying to get to see a NASCAR race on the same trip, never been to one.....any suggestions? I like to mix it up a bit so a trip of sun/beer/sebring/spring break/shopping/beer/NASCAR sounds just the ticket. No mouse, definitely no mouse, took the family this year, still scarred.... the horror of it all. On balance I'll use a tent, just found a union jack tent....look out for me!
David
Thanks for the tip about wrapping up. I was wondering if it got cold - the most d 20’s in the day will be pleasant though - better than snow! I’m buying all my camping gear when I get to the us - can’t be bothered to cart it all the way from the UK. A thicker/warmer sleeping bag sounds like a good idea.
Hello all
right - I went to Sebring, been meaning to write up a review - so here goes....
I flew to Orlando and the really nice Avis man gave me a free upgrade - from my mustang to a Vette! Great start to my trip. I spent a couple of days in Orlando, a mate came to visit me. I have to say next time I do this, I'll stop in Miami or Tampa - Orlando is (unsurprisingly) full of families arguing after trips to Disney and the conference crew. Bought walmart tent and airbed. Bought my (too thin) sleeping bag with me.
Onto Sebring, sunburnt with the T-top off. Easy camping in North field, made friends with the locals. Bought cases of beer at the track - which is new this year apparently. I arrived Thursday, absolutely no queuing and easy to get a good spot for the tent. All going well until the temperature at night dropped to 34F. Yes thats just above freezing, high 80's in the day, nearly freezing at night - I have never been as cold. It gets REALLY cold!!!
Practice and qualifying were great, so much more access to the cars, pits and drivers than Le Mans. Food at the track is surprisingly limited, greasy and expensive - most folks BBQ. I bought a case of water with me, I didn't see water available anywhere.
The supposedly "wild" green park was decidedly tame - a few aged pissed hippies.....Le Mans is generally much more lively.
Race day - on the pit lane with the drivers and cars just minutes before the race starts - fantastic atmosphere.
Race starts at 10.30 - Bikini competition starts at 12.30......the email about grid girls really didn't get here.....all quite tame really.
Great racing over the entire three days. Right next to the podium with the winners. Supposedly its 100k people but it never felt like that maybe next year will be much more crowded?
I got up early on Sunday morning and drove back to Orlando, booked into a hotel and slept! Two days in Orlando to recover by the pool.....
What a great trip - easy to get there, easy to get in, clean showers and loos, really friendly locals, amazing access to the racing, terrible food, not as lively as its made out to be, very few Brits, no guns, no trouble, nice Avis man.
I am definitely going back next year, changes for next year - not Orlando. Much thicker sleeping bag, maybe some food of my own. Otherwise it was excellent.
I have my space reserved with a friend I made who had a crazy big RV.
right - I went to Sebring, been meaning to write up a review - so here goes....
I flew to Orlando and the really nice Avis man gave me a free upgrade - from my mustang to a Vette! Great start to my trip. I spent a couple of days in Orlando, a mate came to visit me. I have to say next time I do this, I'll stop in Miami or Tampa - Orlando is (unsurprisingly) full of families arguing after trips to Disney and the conference crew. Bought walmart tent and airbed. Bought my (too thin) sleeping bag with me.
Onto Sebring, sunburnt with the T-top off. Easy camping in North field, made friends with the locals. Bought cases of beer at the track - which is new this year apparently. I arrived Thursday, absolutely no queuing and easy to get a good spot for the tent. All going well until the temperature at night dropped to 34F. Yes thats just above freezing, high 80's in the day, nearly freezing at night - I have never been as cold. It gets REALLY cold!!!
Practice and qualifying were great, so much more access to the cars, pits and drivers than Le Mans. Food at the track is surprisingly limited, greasy and expensive - most folks BBQ. I bought a case of water with me, I didn't see water available anywhere.
The supposedly "wild" green park was decidedly tame - a few aged pissed hippies.....Le Mans is generally much more lively.
Race day - on the pit lane with the drivers and cars just minutes before the race starts - fantastic atmosphere.
Race starts at 10.30 - Bikini competition starts at 12.30......the email about grid girls really didn't get here.....all quite tame really.
Great racing over the entire three days. Right next to the podium with the winners. Supposedly its 100k people but it never felt like that maybe next year will be much more crowded?
I got up early on Sunday morning and drove back to Orlando, booked into a hotel and slept! Two days in Orlando to recover by the pool.....
What a great trip - easy to get there, easy to get in, clean showers and loos, really friendly locals, amazing access to the racing, terrible food, not as lively as its made out to be, very few Brits, no guns, no trouble, nice Avis man.
I am definitely going back next year, changes for next year - not Orlando. Much thicker sleeping bag, maybe some food of my own. Otherwise it was excellent.
I have my space reserved with a friend I made who had a crazy big RV.
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff