Crew Training

[Widget Codriver]

Last weekend at Cog I had a rally mom ask me about crew training.

She was curious about how newby crew members learned how to read service instructions, knew where/when to go for optional fuel stops, and all the other magical things that crew do.

We teach rally driving and rally codriving, but to my knowledge we don't teach rally crewing. (I'm not talking about the mechanical bits like how to work a lug wrench or drag an upside-down car onto a trailer, which is taught in mechanics school or from your tow-truck driver friends.)

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Hopefully this will make an interesting thread.

[BenSlocum]

That would be interesting, but I'm not sure how much demand you could catch for a set class. My first true crew outing was at Maine Forest last year, and niether of us were too familiar with all that was needed at the time, and I sure could have used a class ahead of time. Other topics that would be good to cover-

Timing (late service penalties along with crew not being where they should i.e. leaving parc before the deadline)

Proper Service Set Up (more of guidlines, make sure tarps are in place along with fire extinguishers)

Rules for Crew (fire extinguishers present during fueling, jacks stand usuage when more than 1 wheel is up)

Parc Ferme and Parc Expose (what you are allowed to do when)

Crew can be Subject to Penalties Applied to the Car (illegal roadside service, speeding through and O control)

[Adrian Wintle]

Last weekend at Cog I had a rally mom ask me about crew training.

She was curious about how newby crew members learned how to read service instructions, knew where/when to go for optional fuel stops, and all the other magical things that crew do.

We teach rally driving and rally codriving, but to my knowledge we don't teach rally crewing. (I'm not talking about the mechanical bits like how to work a lug wrench or drag an upside-down car onto a trailer, which is taught in mechanics school or from your tow-truck driver friends.)

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Hopefully this will make an interesting thread.

Isn't that what codrivers are for? They teach the driver, the crew...

At least now, with the tendency towards centralized service, you don't need to be able to drive and navigate at the same time throughout the event - no more doing solo service for a top car with at least 6 different service locations.

Adrian

[Bruce]

Back in the Plieocene when I was crewing, there was usually a crew briefing at each rally that would cover some of this stuff. Helpful for newbies, reminders for the old hands - as well as important local stuff.

Bruce

[jimmy]

We've just used OJT.

And my standard broken record to newbies - go crew for a current competitor (which would mean that you are working with someone on the crew who already has experience). And work an event - then you also get exposure to some of this.

If you are a green crew, try to hook up with another crew, and swap one of your guys with one of theirs, for the planning and transits, and thus do the OJT. Then at service you both can go back to your regular cars.

Also, another reason to run TSDs (Time, Speed, Distance rallies) to get a feel for how a rally actually works, and how to read tulips and mileages.

press on,