#120; Explaining Silly O’Clock
It’s rare that proper F1 conversations happen at work away from myself and our Security Guard but there was a brilliant one that occurred today. One of my closest friends, who is an F1 fan but nowhere near to the levels I am, began discussing this weekend’s race. Upon asking what time it was on Sunday, I told him the race began at 7am. He laughed at such an idea, a Sunday morning wake up of ridiculous magnitude. Of course, the laughter confused me. I mean, I’ve been doing this for years and years for F1, getting up at silly o’clock for the fly away races in Japan, Australia and the like. He then asked me – “Are you getting up for it?!” – to which I replied – “of course…” and his reply was simple – “…Why?!”.
This actually got me wondering about us F1 fans in general. why do we get up several days in a row for silly o’clock sessions? I mean, even practise at 2am or 6am like they are this weekend we still tend to go for. I didn’t actually have a proper answer for him. I just responded ‘Because it’s F1.’. I love F1 to death, but it struck me at this moment how I had never actually answered this question properly before. He began the list of alternatives – it’s on the iPlayer immediately, you can record it, wake up and watch it, and so on and so on, but why would I want to do that? Watching F1 at silly o’clock has an odd appeal. I have no idea why it does… but it just does. I wonder why we do this though, I mean my friend had a very valid point. We could just wait till we wake up. We could record it. We just just not watch practise sessions. But a lot of us hardcore f1 fans still go for it if we can. strange how I’ve never really thought of this though. Nevertheless, if I can get up for F1 at these times I always will.
Why?
Because it’s F1, of course.
Posted on October 22, 2010, in 2010, general, life. Bookmark the permalink. 16 Comments.
I have a theory that one of the reasons I got into F1 was because it was a great excuse to stay up late and get up at exotic times when I was young and otherwise wouldn’t have been allowed to. I remember being stupidly excited in the run-up to the 1997 Australian Grand Prix, the first time I stayed up to watch a flyaway race. ITV had a whole night of programmes celebrating F1 coming to their station. I loved it as much for the staying up as for the racing.
Then of course there is the simple appeal of watching the action unfold live. It’s just not the same if it isn’t live. Moreover, you can’t have timing or the on board channel if you are watching it on iPlayer. Then there is always the risk of accidentally hearing the results on the radio or somewhere else before you can get to your recording!
The Korean Grand Prix is going to be the first race I haven’t seen live for a couple of years. I haven’t been thinking about it much or anything.
I think the first late night race I saw was Suzuka 96 with Damon Hill and that infamous Murray quote. But it definitely had a staying up late appeal that being younger seemed to desire so much. I really can’t watch a delayed race myself, because I know I would spoil myself as well as the lingering knowledge it’s not really live!
I know what you mean, but for some reason I haven’t been watching the races live this year and for some I knew the result before I saw it. It didn’t seem to spoil the enjoyment as much as I thought it would…
i *hate* watching formula 1 races that aren’t live.. I can’t cope without 5 live and telemetry..i’ve tried and it doesn’t have the same appeal. Sidepodcast and the wonderful community there help to make early mornings easier, there is nothing quite like discussing my favourite sport with a group of like minded people.
I adore getting up for the early Grand Prix in Ausi, for me it’s always associated with the excitement of the start of the season and a cracking race. When they’re not back to back the fly aways are ace, nothing like waking up an immediately hearing the amazing sounds of the cars while still curled up in a duvet. Early mornings are all part of the season experience.
I’d pretty much agree with all of this! I love the experience. I love the whole early morningness and the feeling it’s still live and being huddled up in a duvet watching it. But it just seemed odd to explain!
lol .. its to avoid the disappointment of accidentally hearing / seeing the result on the news before you decide to watch the replay.. and if that happens, there isn’t much point in watching the race… trying to avoid twitter / tv / interwebs for the morning is tough ….
I used to do it all the time without fail but I’ve stopped doing it now. At the end of the day with so many races it’s perfectly fine for me to watch it later. There’s just too many races now to be able to get up at silly o’clock to watch them and get other stuff done at the weekend!
I stayed up until 4am once watching Tottenham v New York Red Bulls in a Friendly tournament.
I do it because I love it, there is nothing like watching an event live, nothing. I’ve seen IndyCar, F1, Football at hours when it should be logical I should be tucked up in bed dreaming about Spurs winning the Champions League, or Sauber getting a 1-2.
But I would not trade it for the world these stupid hours, it is what make some events special.
Live events work a lot better if you know that nobody knows what happens next; that nobody can spoil the storyline and that what comes next is completely unpredicted. This is especially true if you support some of those involved in it, for your supporting energies may influence their performance (it’s a bit tricky to explain to those who don’t already believe it, but positivity seems to make some racers faster).
Besides, there are few viewing experiences like being curled up in front of the computer, a glass full of drink and a bowlful of breakfast on the side table, cosy in pyjamas, slippers and headphones (and sometimes sleeping bag too), with the adrenaline flowing at a time when you *know* that virtually everyone else is sleeping. There’s a serious sense of occasion involved, especially if it’s either the first race of the season (magic Australia) or the championship is reaching showdown phases (traditionally it was magic Japan).
I still have very fond memories of the first silly-o’clock race I watched live (Japan 1999) even though it was my then-favourite driver’s last and rather disastrous race. Although I have missed a couple of silly o’clock sessions this year (including FP2 today) it’s not something I do often or particularly willingly.
I do tend to miss practise sessions if I’m unable to watch them due to work or if I just don’t feel like it’s worth getting up for. Races and qualifying are a whole different ball game though, they are a must get up for!
Having a baby and a toddler, I find there is nothing silly-o’clock about 5, 6, or 7am races. In fact it’s great to have something on TV at that time. Australia, Malaysia and Japan are the only races I’ve been able to watch all five (well six for Japan) sessions live this year (2 from 2 for Korea so far)
One o’clock on a Sunday afternoon, on the other hand, has now become a logistical nightmare.
This is so true – when you have small children, you appreciate the fly aways on a whole different level, because you either get to watch in peace while they’re asleep, or you have something decent to watch while you’re up in the middle of the night with a crying baby!
I sometimes do the duvet thing for qualifying, watching on my netbook with just a video feed and live timing, no comments or tweets so as not to overload my poor tired brain.
For the race I drag myself downstairs to the TV and PC so I have all the info.
Some races I’d be happy enough to miss live and watch later, but never a brand new race like this week, and never Australia or Japan!
It’s just not the same missing it live and catching up later, especially if you accidentally find out the race result before you’ve watched it. I don’t know why but there is just some feeling of commeraderie getting up at silly o’clock, makes me feel like a true fan.
Must admit I don’t always get up for FP sessions but quali and the race are a must.
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