Billy Griffin
Dennis S... seeing Reed Timmer as debris, seeing dead people...... sure glad you try to keep things light-hearted.
Sleep and Long Chases
- Thread starter Bill Tabor
- Start date
Bill Tabor
EF5
Dennis S... seeing Reed Timmer as debris, seeing dead people...... sure glad you try to keep things light-hearted.
I believe that is a quote from 'The Sixth Sense' starring Bruce Willis.
Dave Gallaher
EF5
Dennis S... seeing Reed Timmer as debris, seeing dead people...... sure glad you try to keep things light-hearted.
Please don't blame Dennis for my remark on Reed's (brief) birthday thread, as I'm the one who wished him "many more birthdays before becoming debris." I hope it was taken as humor...
On topic--after decades of road gigs that involve all-night drives, I can agree that it's critical that you stop driving with the first sign of hypnosis or hallucinations from fatigue. We see people all the time with their cars wandering around and have witnessed too many accidents. Standard rule for us is someone not driving can demand to drive when this happens--so far, so good. Coming home from solo road gigs is a challenge at times, though.
Mikey Gribble
EF5
I hear that Rob. I keep a pint of peppermint schnapps under my seat just for those long drives.
Another good tip (as mentioned by others) is to try to plan your route home on major highways where they have the engraved shoulders to wake you up. I was sawing logs on the way back from a chase in eastern Nebraska one night and made it all the way from Hebron to Concordia without waking up once. I still can't believe my knee kept the wheel steady for that long.
And one more tip for those of you who opt for pulling over to take naps instead... avoid highway rest areas. They are homosexual hangouts and the bath houses of the 20th century for many, many gay men.
Another good tip (as mentioned by others) is to try to plan your route home on major highways where they have the engraved shoulders to wake you up. I was sawing logs on the way back from a chase in eastern Nebraska one night and made it all the way from Hebron to Concordia without waking up once. I still can't believe my knee kept the wheel steady for that long.
And one more tip for those of you who opt for pulling over to take naps instead... avoid highway rest areas. They are homosexual hangouts and the bath houses of the 20th century for many, many gay men.
JIM SELLARS
Guest
I had one in the early 90's when I drove 700 miles...slept on the floor at my sister-in-laws for 2 hours...drove on to Detroit...crossed the Ambassador Bridge...Chased SW Ontario from Windsor to Chatham to London for the day...Turned around and drove the 980 miles home non-stop...I fell asleep about 20 miles from home....ran into the median and woke up as I was closing on a concrete box culvert at 70 mph.....Scared the "flaming cheese" outta me!!!...in 2000...I went 903 miles before I had to stop and sleep...SGF to Lawton, to Vernon, to most of north central Texas...to Dallas...to OKC for nitey nite...NOW I CAN"T DRIVE TO THE STORE!!!!....Times change...
Jason Boggs
This is no joke...I bought this product a month ago for the long drives back home after a chase. It really does keep you wide eyed and bushy tailed!
STAY ALERT GUM
STAY ALERT GUM
Skip Talbot
EF5
Blue LEDs can trick you into staying awake:
http://technology.newscientist.com/...leds-to-reset-tired-truckers-body-clocks.html
http://technology.newscientist.com/...leds-to-reset-tired-truckers-body-clocks.html
Dann Cianca
I often drive up to Montana to see my family. It's about 800 miles ... and I usually sleep through Wyoming. It sure cuts down on apparent travel time.
Although I've found that the best way to stay awake on a long drive is weather. My first chase last year, I drove from Denver to Oklahoma and BACK in one day. I was really struggling on the way back. (even the Red Bull wasn't helping) The southerly wind was howling over snowpack and the fog was insane ... which kept adrenaline levels high ... then, the wind abruptly switched to the north when I got into Colorado ... pushing dust and buffalo-sized tumble weeds across the road ... it was like almost hitting a deer, fifty times in a row. By the time 2AM rolled by (I had left Denver at 9AM), the snow began. The last leg of the journey (from Limon to Denver) took me over three hours and it was a complete blizzard. In fact, they closed I-70 behind me. Not being able to see past the hood of the car also keeps the adrenaline flowing. That was a long drive.
Although I've found that the best way to stay awake on a long drive is weather. My first chase last year, I drove from Denver to Oklahoma and BACK in one day. I was really struggling on the way back. (even the Red Bull wasn't helping) The southerly wind was howling over snowpack and the fog was insane ... which kept adrenaline levels high ... then, the wind abruptly switched to the north when I got into Colorado ... pushing dust and buffalo-sized tumble weeds across the road ... it was like almost hitting a deer, fifty times in a row. By the time 2AM rolled by (I had left Denver at 9AM), the snow began. The last leg of the journey (from Limon to Denver) took me over three hours and it was a complete blizzard. In fact, they closed I-70 behind me. Not being able to see past the hood of the car also keeps the adrenaline flowing. That was a long drive.
Adam Lucio
EF5
Aside from chasing I do many other long drives in a year, Ive never had a hallucination problem.
The best stay awake method is my partner, a quick slap to the face from him when he notices my head wobbling will set me straight for another half hour.
I too prefer the sugar buzz method, some code red Mt dew and a bag of sour/sugar gummy worms, plus a heavy metal CD blasting through the speakers works very well.
On non-chase related long drives, especially with people, I find as long as one person is awake that I can talk to, I have no problems....tho most people like to sleep while I drive.
The best stay awake method is my partner, a quick slap to the face from him when he notices my head wobbling will set me straight for another half hour.
I too prefer the sugar buzz method, some code red Mt dew and a bag of sour/sugar gummy worms, plus a heavy metal CD blasting through the speakers works very well.
On non-chase related long drives, especially with people, I find as long as one person is awake that I can talk to, I have no problems....tho most people like to sleep while I drive.
Bill Tabor
EF5
Keep in mind with using alcohol and sugar to keep you awake, once they start wearing down you will get even sleepier. I'd guess if using sugar, then you'd have to keep it going and probably with caffiene too.
I've found it's best just to be well rested and take some occasional breaks to get out of the vehicle and jump or run around to get the blood moving. Also jamming out on music you like very loudly, or listening to a book on tape, or talk radio you are interested in tends to keep the mind active and helps me alot. Keep the temp in the vehicle cold. Much harder to sleep when cold as opposed to warm. Make sure you avoid highway hypnosis by keeping a scan going around and outside the vehicle and not just straight down the road at the lines..lines...lines...
I've found it's best just to be well rested and take some occasional breaks to get out of the vehicle and jump or run around to get the blood moving. Also jamming out on music you like very loudly, or listening to a book on tape, or talk radio you are interested in tends to keep the mind active and helps me alot. Keep the temp in the vehicle cold. Much harder to sleep when cold as opposed to warm. Make sure you avoid highway hypnosis by keeping a scan going around and outside the vehicle and not just straight down the road at the lines..lines...lines...
Dennis Sherrod
EF5
There use to be a gadget out on the market called Nod Alert or something like that. You wore it and if your head nodded, it would beep or make some kind of noise. I haven't heard of these things in years, so I don't know if they still exist.
I sort of like Adam's remark. I would say a quick slap to the face will work everytime.
I sort of like Adam's remark. I would say a quick slap to the face will work everytime.
Maggie Kahman
EF2
LMAO!!! Do that alot, Dustin???
Jason Foster
Wow, that' really pushing it
I can't believe some of you have pushed it that far. Me, when I get tired, I just fall asleep. I've pushed a few times, and did the shoulder drift, but knowing myself I knew if I kept it up, I'd fall asleep and end up wrecking. Especially now that I'm starting my third decade of life, just can't stay wake like I use too. So for those of you in your early twenties, take advantage now, because when your older, you won't be able to keep up the long hours.
Hurricane Chasing is especially difficult, because you have to be on location so early, wait a long time, and then find your way home. Some storms are quick, but other's like Hurricane Frances in 2004 last three freaking days...arrrrgggg.
For Hurricane Charley I left Maryland at 7pm on Wednesday (originally planning to intercept Bonnie near Tallahassee). Meet up with Jeff Gammons and Chris Collura, drove to Okeechobee then it was off to the west coast (we were thinking Tampa at the time). Did get a hotel, but was too nervous/excited to sleep. Intercepted Hurricane Charley Friday (the 13th) afternoon and ended up in Okeechobee Friday night to sleep. That was a grand total of about 48 continuous hours awake. I may have gotten a cat nap here and there for no more than 30 minutes, but that was it.
I can't believe some of you have pushed it that far. Me, when I get tired, I just fall asleep. I've pushed a few times, and did the shoulder drift, but knowing myself I knew if I kept it up, I'd fall asleep and end up wrecking. Especially now that I'm starting my third decade of life, just can't stay wake like I use too. So for those of you in your early twenties, take advantage now, because when your older, you won't be able to keep up the long hours.
Hurricane Chasing is especially difficult, because you have to be on location so early, wait a long time, and then find your way home. Some storms are quick, but other's like Hurricane Frances in 2004 last three freaking days...arrrrgggg.
For Hurricane Charley I left Maryland at 7pm on Wednesday (originally planning to intercept Bonnie near Tallahassee). Meet up with Jeff Gammons and Chris Collura, drove to Okeechobee then it was off to the west coast (we were thinking Tampa at the time). Did get a hotel, but was too nervous/excited to sleep. Intercepted Hurricane Charley Friday (the 13th) afternoon and ended up in Okeechobee Friday night to sleep. That was a grand total of about 48 continuous hours awake. I may have gotten a cat nap here and there for no more than 30 minutes, but that was it.
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Mike Umscheid
EF4
This is the worst part of storm chasing for me, given how often I chase solo. There have been numerous times that I have experienced some of the symptoms many of you have described. Over the last year or so, though, I've made it more of a point to stop doing this, regardless of how tempting it is to get home by 2:00am. It's just not worth it to push it. I like taking 45-minute naps, pulled off on some farm road about 1/2 from the highway, with just parking lights on. No one will bug you. I don't like the interstate rest areas, too much light. just 45 minutes of rest can get me restored for 2+ hours of good driving to get back to the final destination.. if not, 45 more minutes of Z's. Whatever it takes. I'm a Mountain Dew + sour gummies candy person as well 
Anymore, if my one-day chase takes me somewhere such that the drive back to Dodge will be 3am or later, I'm pulling into the nearest Super 8. Resist the temptation to fight it... live to chase another day!
Anymore, if my one-day chase takes me somewhere such that the drive back to Dodge will be 3am or later, I'm pulling into the nearest Super 8. Resist the temptation to fight it... live to chase another day!Darrin Rasberry
I prefer a big bag of meth on a chase.
In all seriousness, the best way to stay awake if you have to is to drink sugar-free sodas so you don't crash. If you're tired, pumping yourself up with Red Bull or Mountain Dew might give you a two hour lift, but the sugar crash will make you worse off.
The best thing to do, of course, is to suck it up and spend a night at a hotel, or, if need be, lock your car and doze a little at a rest stop with your windows cracked for air.
In all seriousness, the best way to stay awake if you have to is to drink sugar-free sodas so you don't crash. If you're tired, pumping yourself up with Red Bull or Mountain Dew might give you a two hour lift, but the sugar crash will make you worse off.
The best thing to do, of course, is to suck it up and spend a night at a hotel, or, if need be, lock your car and doze a little at a rest stop with your windows cracked for air.
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