Yes! Only a few days left before the start of your favorite 24h endurance race. There is only one small hurdle to take: packing your bags ... . Hopefully, the checklist + guide below could help you in overcoming your worst packing anxiety.

The list was originally created for my first 24h of Le Mans, but I have made it more generic that it can be used for any endurance race.

Corona related stuff

  • Mouth masks
  • Proof of vaccination or negative tests (on app or on paper)
  • Hand sanitizer gel
  • Don't forget to check the local regulations that are valid at the time of travel. These things can change very rapidly!

Tickets

  • Tickets of the event itself, the grandstand, parking ticket, maybe there are tickets per day
  • Tickets for lodging: your hotel or B&B, Airbnb, camping, etc
  • Tickets for transportation: plane, train, ferry, tube etc
  • Your passport: make sure it is still valid (in many countries it must still be valid for minimum 6 months)

Traveling by car or motorcycle

Best to check the local laws before you'll leave, but in many countries, you need all the things in the list below:

  • Warning triangle
  • Safety vest for each passenger (those fluo yellow things)
  • Breathalyser kits (x2)
  • European breakdown cover
  • Fitted headlight beam converters (for instance when travelling from the UK to Europe)
  • In some countries it is illegal to have devices which warn for speed camera location: so better to delete this from your GPS or smart phone apps.
  • Radar detectors are in almost all European countries not allowed, and in some countries, they could confiscate your car just by possession alone (even when it's in the trunk of the car)

Optimal watching

  • Photo camera: learn how to use it up front, like for instance how to take pictures at night, how to take pictures of fast-moving objects cars etc + check your memory card storage
  • Small binoculars (or big ones if you care to carry them around all day :-) )
  • Spotter guides (spotterguides.com or spotters.guide )
  • Small FM radio and earphones: for instance at Le Mans, you have the famous radio Le Mans at 91.2 FM
  • Most events also have their own app where you have live standings, highlights of the last hour and so on. Problem with apps on your phone is how to keep your phone battery alive for 24h? And the 4G or 5G data signals are often congested at those big events.

Clothing

In places like Le Mans and Spa you could get literally any weather type during those 24 hours, so be prepared to anything. Even on a very hot and sunny day, the nights could be surprisingly chilly and windy. Best approach here is to take several thin and lightweight layers against cold, rain and wind. Pro tip: always forget at least one piece of clothing, then you're obliged to buy some new cloths in your favorite merch shop on track ;-)

  • Plastic cover for heavy rain
  • Scarf or buff when windy
  • Light jacket (windbreaker) for rain or wind
  • Clothing for extreme hot weather
  • Clothing for extreme cold and rainy weather. There are nicer things in life than having wet undies for 24 hours ;-)
  • Cap of your favorite team. See pro tip above about forgetting stuff
  • Sunglasses
  • Sleeping bag or blanket if you are planning to stay 24h on track

PS: at some tracks they leave the grandstands open during the night and they don't control tickets. When the weather is bad this could become a life safer. Please be aware that not all seats in the grandstand guarantee that you'll stay dry. When you're sitting really on the sides, front or back, the wind could blow the rain into the grandstand.

Communication

  • Smart phone with all the related apps for the event
  • Battery charger / battery bank(s)
  • Charging cables (maybe some converter plugs)
  • Extra (local) sim card for data roaming, or update your data pack before you leave (in Europe now probably less relevant because of European roaming agreements)
  • Walkie talkies if you are with a group of friends
  • For the pros: mobile solar panel to charge on the go

Getting around

  • Track map or guides (often they are now in digital form as part of a dedicated app)
  • Very comfortable walking shoes. You would be surprised how many kms you can walk on days like this. Maybe a second pair if they forecast 24h of rain
  • Backpack
  • For the pros: take your bike because it saves you the queue to get on shuttle buses or trams. Makes getting to the track so much easier and can just lock it up against a fence.

Comfort

  • Plastic bag to sit on, anywhere you want
  • Lots of extra cash to buy some goodies and merch
  • Earplugs, noise cancellation headphone, in ear, over ear, custom made ones
  • Ear defenders (you could use them on top of your earphones at the track)
  • Toilet paper
  • Sun block
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Medicines for headaches and hangovers (too much beer), for stomach-ache (too many burgers), and for hay fever (too many pollen)
  • Big umbrella (sun and rain)
  • Some energy bars or dextrose tablets
  • A small and portable folding chair
  • Music with your custom playlist for each part of the race, or the travel to and from the track
  • On some tracks they don't sell tobacco, so if you are a smoker, you should bring enough to satisfy your smoking habits over 24 hours
  • Corkscrew and bottle openers: you should never leave the house without those anyway

I hope this helps to make the packing process less painful and enjoy a great 24h race!