Learn me how to crew

So with the summer coming up I have been trying to find an intership some where, but I am only a college freshman and most companies only want juniors or seniors . I want to get a job in the motorsport buisness after college and I think that being on a crew for a race team would be good experience. I know my way around a garage with out a problem so I think I can be fairly useful. I know I have heard of people on here crewing for Grand Am cars and what not and I want to know how they got there start. Plus this sounds like a great excuss to spend alot of time at tracks learning. Thanks Ryan.

Oh also I'm working on my Mechanical Engineering Degree at ODU in Norfolk, VA

You have to pay attention 100% of the time. You cannot stop to watch a race for leisure. Read the rule book. Make sure you read the rule book. When you are done reading the rule book, read the rule book. Nothing else sucks more when you get caught doing something you arnt suppose to be doing, then you (the team, car) gets penalized. Be prepared for long, cold, hot, rainy, sweaty days/nights in the pits/paddock. Also, if you plan on making this your profession, make sure you have a backup job ready in case something comes along and the team disbands.

In the shop, learn as much as you can. Shadow one of the lead mechanics. I did this at Kinetic, followed on of the #1's around for like 2 weeks straight, asking him questions until i was black and blue.

If you're not too picky, head over to the local oval track. There's usually a guy that hauls his own car in, and could use an extra hand changing a tire or something.

I helped out a local team one night when one of their regular guys couldn't make it and ended up being a crewmember for atleast 3 seasons. I knew quite a bit when I joined them, but learned what I could at every chance I got and ended up with more knowledge about car set up than I thought I did.

I suggest joining SCCA, go to meetings, meet people. Pit help is always appreciated. You don't have to be real knowledgeable, just help. Watch, ask, do something needed without being asked. I crewed in high level IMSA for 5 years. You will not get paid, maybe you will get fed, maybe not. If you travel, you will not be staying in the Ritz. I loved it, but when SWMBO came along, had to forgo the Lifestyle. Still miss it, but then the memories of the crappy times have faded. Oh, you will get sunburned, get very tired, and work under extreme stress. And, you will meet people who can help you get ahead.

For what it's worth, in the next issue you'll read about Alan's crewing experience. He was part of the Team Sahlen effort at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. As he'll tell you, it's all very glamorous.

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: You have to pay attention 100% of the time. You cannot stop to watch a race for leisure. Read the rule book. Be prepared for long, cold, hot, rainy, sweaty days/nights in the pits/paddock.

I have only done it on the amateur level, but all of the above apply. As the "advance man" on an endurance racing team I was always the first at the track (some times the day before the rest of the team) and lots of times the last to leave.

I didn't work on the car much but took care of stuff like lodging, food, etc. and took care of the radio and video camera setups. During the race I was the fire extingusher person during fuel stops. I had to be sure I knew the rules since each organization had different rules regarding fueling.

I think I will start at the local SCCA, and maybe shoot some emails to the local sports car club. I figure that now is a great time to try my hand at something like this because I don't have many commitments and I can stand bad conditions

mind must have been off wandering by itself ... would have bet at least a quarter the OP meant this

Could have been this as well.

Advice that would get you here should easily apply to the track as well.
1) Do the dirty work.
2) Be the first to arrive and the last to leave.
3) Be prompt and be reliable.
4) Be the guy who does not the guy who knows.
5) Know the rules
6) Understand who is in charge and your place in that hierarchy

Listen to the Duke. He's done (doing?) it.

Aside to David, looking forward to that article.

Also, dont carry grudges in the paddock. A lot of the teams know each other very well and do not carry any sort of enemy status between them. I went in LOATHING APR because I worked for a competing software tuner. It got nasty on the forums and with their customers, but at the track, all the team members and crew are as nice as anyone you would meet. It was quite normal to see the Audi and Peugeot guys eating lunch together, carrying on conversations together, ect. Quite funny to me since their fans can't stand eachother, just like Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari fans...Everyone loves everyone in the paddock.

friedgreencorrado wrote: Listen to the Duke. He's done (doing?) it. Aside to David, looking forward to that article.

Was. Now up in Ohio, working for Brad in an office environment. Miss racing like crazy, but I need something more steady in this current economic environment.

Some of the funnest times I have had was pitting endurance motorcycle guys , they race through the woods for a couple long ass laps then they come in you force water down their gullet refuel maybe change a tire new goggles or gloves shove them off and waa waaa waaa off they go . Its nice when you help pit a guy that is a loner he sorta freaks that he has people helping him and does not get a chance to rest .

If crewing falls through, you might look into doing Flagging and Communications with SCCA. They have flag school coming up this month (15th IIRC)

http://www.wdcr-scca.org/ClubRacing/RaceSpecialtiesCR/FC/FCNewsletter/tabid/1575/Default.aspx

You will want to get in touch with Greg McDermott

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: Be prepared for long, cold, hot, rainy, sweaty days/nights in the pits/paddock. Also, if you plan on making this your profession, make sure you have a backup job ready in case something comes along and the team disbands.

I worked with the Duke at the Charge of the Headlight Brigade VIR 13 hours and I can tell you, that was about the roughest conditions working on cars I have ever had to do but it was still fun. We also worked together on a Trans Am team at Petit.

A big part is getting out to the track and meeting people. I got into crewing because of the Duke and hope to get the chance to crew this year atleast for the Trans Am team.

I have been volunteering at NASA-SE events as well and have meet a bunch of people that way and racking up free track time.

(How SCCA club racing works, and why crew is good)

Racing consists of an endless amount of prep work done as quickly as it can be dome perfectly. This is followed, after the registering and entering by organizing, packing and loading the contents of the garage and driving for a few hours by reversing the process after jockeying for paddock space that's not in a drainage culvert, along with more waiting in line, registering, and dealing with some potentially very particular tech inspectors. Practice day often discloses potential weekend-ending problems to rectify, and the driver is under the gun to get up to speed immediately without breaking the car. Between sessions the car comes apart and is adjusted, fed, inspected and maintained. At the end of practice day the car is made ready for qualifying day, the paddock spot is partially packed up, and you get to leave 'til you come back at dark:30 the next day.

If you've done everything right, Saturday morning is your easy time. Warm up the car, check fluids, nut and bolt everything again, lay out the driver's gear, get the pit ready for rain if needed, fret, worry. Eventually qualifying will happen, after which, if the car isn't broken you can repeat the same prep done Friday eve/Saturday morning. It's likely you'll have time to kill if there's no sh1tstorm of activity thrashing a broken car back together. Eventually a qualifying race will happen after which the car prep happens again. Typically there's plenty of time, again, given an unbroken car. Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! - The lottery of run group order can help or hinder. If you're not racing 'til after lunch break and car prep was done Saturday before you left you can "sleep in". Arrive at track, bodywork off, check fluids, nut+bolt, inspect carefully, wipe down, bodywork on, give it a quick shine, lay out driver's gear, be ready for rain if necessary.

Eventually there's a call to grid followed by a race. The car will most likely finish in some position. After release from impound the driver will be a jacked up, insufferable bundle of nerves and enthusiasm, an angry belligerent prick, or a mopey, sobbing mess. It's also possible they'll either be called to race control for punishment or brought to medical, in which case you'll have to receive the broken, leaking, doesn't-roll-anymore car from emergency services and break down the paddock spot and pack the trailer, where once back home you'll reverse the process again and get ready for a month of working on the car.

If you're "crew" it's your job to know how to do whatever parts of this process that are your responsibility, and to anticipate where your assistance is needed, preferably in advance.

If you're team manager, crew chief, driver and crew - you're busy.

When it actually works, on the basis of support time to operational time - it's more labor intensive than operating a WW2 radial engine aircraft - but it's a life experience that's worth whatever it costs.

I'd give up a kidney for a dedicated crew person.

In reply to motomoron:

That pretty much sums it up.

Don't forget the Pit Bunnies. They can be very entertaining. I'll tell my stories later.

Apexcarver wrote: If crewing falls through, you might look into doing Flagging and Communications with SCCA.

or SCCA Tech Inspector