The racers diet? Before the race.

We all know James Hunt's diet before races was similar to that of mob boss (cigarettes, vodka, and sex). 
 

but R&T (what? I get it for free..) had this to quote from Alex Wanee: 

"the ideal race day meal should be eaten 90 to 120 minutes before the race. It should consist of 80 to 100 g of carbohydrates, from rice or pasta, with a small amount of proteins and greens. Non-vegans should eat no more than a palm size serving of lean meat, and fat content should be nearly 0, which means no fatty sauces. Depending on heat at the track, a driver should also drink up to 24 ounces of water."

I uhh... will take that into consideration...

Pssssh. Everybody knows the best pre-race meal is tacos! That's why every racetrack has a Mexican restaurant next to it. 

In reply to Tom Suddard :

I don't love our porta-John at the track, but it sure loves the tacos too. 
 

This is usually me, seconds before strapping in  

I'm a fan of coffee and a spicy chicken Bojangles biscuit. That's me tho

Randy Pobst explains hydrating and using the bathroom.  Pretty funny stuff.  
 

The worst part about this recommendation is me eating plain noodles or rice with a hunk of palm sized meat... much wow. Such flavor. 

In reply to Datsun310Guy :

It must really be awful if a driver pees in his suit and it's a shared car. It's probably why Porsche's WEC team had white suits.

j_tso said:

In reply to Datsun310Guy :

It must really be awful if a driver pees in his suit and it's a shared car. It's probably why Porsche's WEC team had white suits.

Depends on what type of racing, if I am karting I typically eat what I eat everyday which is cereal, during the day it's a bit more difficult because there is a lot of wrenching going on, the schedule is quick and I usually have fruit, nuts, and some form of power bar, that easy to slam. Of course lots of water.

Endurance racing is different because I have a team, and typically have someone that cooks. So we have waffles, eggs, bacon, and donuts available for breakfast. I usually go light on everything because I typically start the race. Lunch is sandwich, and dinner meat, veggie, and carb, followed by a desert pineapple upsidown cake is always good.

Beer.  Lots of beer the day before.  And cigars.

Then, coffee in the morning on the day of.

Sometimes I get woken up in the morning by getting smashed in the face with a breakfast sammich tossed from across the room.

That's my experiences anyway.

I eat whatever I get at Sheetz on the way to the track, usually.

Also cigarettes, vodka, and se.....oh wait, I'm married, so strike that last one. Just cigs and vodka. 

I hit the drive thru on the way to the track. Egg McMuffin and a large Coke.

I generally don't eat anything after a reasonable breakfast.  I have plenty of nutrition stored up inside, and I always have a fear of needing to pinch a loaf at the wrong time...

In reply to Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) :

You're the guy in line for the porta-John when I arrive. I've met you before. I'm the guy behind you, dancing around trying to prevent a "fluid on the track" situation. 

When i was racing motorcycle I would eat a huge helping of carbs at dinner and then fruit in the morning. I would be so wired up I couldn't stomach anything more than fruit.

As I only do sprint races I just eat normally; bland I mean bran muffin & fruit for breakfast, another piece of fruit for a snack, PB&J of lunch with a fruit snack and then protein, carbs & some kind of greens for dinner.

My biggest struggle is drinking enough fluids; I get busy and forget.

wvumtnbkr said:

Beer.  Lots of beer the day before.  And cigars.

 

Then, coffee in the morning on the day of.

Sometimes I get woken up in the morning by getting smashed in the face with a breakfast sammich tossed from across the room.

 

That's my experiences anyway.

I hope you're not kidding, because I do the same.  Usually day before with the team is Hooters and Light beer (hydration,) followed by a post-race debrief where I revert to IPA.  Lagunitas, Sweetwater, or Sierra Nevada.  

On non-race weeks I generally run 15-20 miles and eat pseudo-responsibly.  I'm in fairly not-horrible shape for my age, but race weekends are for fun.  

irish44j (Forum Supporter) said:

I eat whatever I get at Sheetz on the way to the track, usually.

Also cigarettes, vodka, and se.....oh wait, I'm married, so strike that last one. Just cigs and vodka. 

This guy gets it.  

I pretty much eat constantly, but this is true whether there is motorsports happening or not

Tyler H (Forum Supporter) said:

wvumtnbkr said:

Beer.  Lots of beer the day before.  And cigars.

 

Then, coffee in the morning on the day of.

Sometimes I get woken up in the morning by getting smashed in the face with a breakfast sammich tossed from across the room.

 

That's my experiences anyway.

I hope you're not kidding, because I do the same.  Usually day before with the team is Hooters and Light beer (hydration,) followed by a post-race debrief where I revert to IPA.  Lagunitas, Sweetwater, or Sierra Nevada.  

On non-race weeks I generally run 15-20 miles and eat pseudo-responsibly.  I'm in fairly not-horrible shape for my age, but race weekends are for fun.  

Not kidding.

Our team name is GMS racing.  It stands for Gallant Mystical Sh.t.  we take the actual race prep and race seriously, but we use race weekends as a party time when the work is done.

We make sure we get to bed (usually) at a decent hour and hydrate (with water) well.  

That doesn't stop us from drinking all of the beers between end of session and 9pm...

Vajingo said:

It should consist of 80 to 100 g of carbohydrates... with a small amount of proteins and greens. Non-vegans should eat no more than a palm size serving of... meat.

As long as you can get it with a leaf of lettuce, a track burger with fries seems to fit this description well enough for me.

I eat clean 24/6. Race week is no different. I'll typically stay away from the spicier varieties of food I enjoy as well as oils and fats just like a fighter would. I hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, pedialyte is something I consume about 72 hours out. I will have a beer or two at the track because tradition but thats the extent of crap going into my body. 

I'll tell you what to not eat prior to a race. Daytona Champcar race in 2018, my dad decided to eat a burger, baked beans, and some potato salad the night before with a few brews. Greasy bacon, egg, and cheese sandwhich for breakfast. He started the race and had to pit early because he threw up all over the inside of his helmet. 

Also not recommended the night before a race - legit Cuban cigars you brought home from a deployment and some Palinka your buddy brought back from Hungary. I was up all night ralfing in the hotel in Sebring the night before the last Champcar 14hr. The cool part of this - I started the race and ran the fastest lap we've ever run at Sebring in that car - so maybe the James Hunt diet is the way to go. 

I would treat it like swimming or working out. Don't go heavy 30-60 minutes prior to your stint, don't go heavy the night before, what you consume 72 hours prior will also affect your performance the day of, and energy drinks are a huge no no. 

I applaud many of you for your disciplined diets.

I'm over here patting myself on the back when I order the small fry instead of the large.

In reply to Error404 :

Spicy chicken on the boberry biscuit, it's important to sneak the fruit in. 

Waffle House is a solid choice as well. Texas cheesesteak with an over medium egg added to it. 

Also cocaine for European style rallycrosses and sprint races of any sort. If a race is going to be 30 minutes or longer avoid it, but for the typical 20-25 minute sprint race, it's good for about 2-3 per a lap. There's a reason why hoosiers are called purple crack, it's because they make you faster. 

irish44j (Forum Supporter) said:

I eat whatever I get at Sheetz on the way to the track, usually.

Also cigarettes, vodka, and se.....oh wait, I'm married, so strike that last one. Just cigs and vodka. 

Wawa > Sheetz

For all those worried about peeing in the race car....I've done 2 hour stints at LeMons races, and my mantra is, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.  I will drink a half-gallon of water, cut 25% with Gatorade usually or some other vitamin/ energy drink, right before getting in the seat, and I have never had to pee while driving. 

And always Bacon.

In reply to volvoclearinghouse :

Sounds like it's only a problem when you're not exerting energy and not getting hot, like the extended caution period in Pobst's story. A while ago I read a similar story with Danica Patrick.