Pit Crew / Service
Be part of the racing team and enjoy the race from the inside. It is usually free to join us as a pit crew at most events. Some venues might require minor waiver forms and you might need a valid license to ride along.
Here are some of the things you can do as a Frog Racing Pit Crew member:
Learn how an event is run
Meet other racers
Help with car prep
Help with notes and race logs
Learn about car setup
Help with tire changes, mechanical fixes and services in timed control environment...
Check car between runs (e.g. tire pressures and temperature, fluid levels...)
Help with driver switches and checklists
Record car telemetry and analyze run performance
Setup on-board cameras and analyze footage
Participate as a course worker
Ride as a passenger
Wear awesome Frog Racing shirts and hats
and most importantly... have fun!
Rally service
During a stage rally, there are scheduled times for service that needs to be performed in a limited amount of time (usually ranging from 20 to 40 minutes). There are a number of routine checks that have to be performed (see our checklist attached to this page for short and long service items to check: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RdYVH8g--NUiW-r1Xhf86f8gbVLCTdnwKYDOlYsz-78/edit?usp=sharing) and sometimes some more important repair or fixes that need to be addressed. The video below shows all the operations that the service crew might have to perform.
Quick index of what is in the video:
- 0:05 Pit crew introduction
- 3:40 Presentation of our Rally Cars
- 10:44 Tools and parts
- 24:53 QuickJack operation
- 32:13 Short service
- 36:31 Generator operation
- 38:18 Wheel change
- 41:51 Long service
- 43:25 Brakes
- 48:35 Coilovers/Suspension
- 56:38 Trailer
- 58:19 Winch
Updated section on DMS coilover install:
Here is a list of tools we carry on board the rally car:
Pliers (locking, cutting, needle, joint)
Li-Ion Impact wrench: Ryobi One+ or Craftsman are popular choices (avoid Harbor Freight), Milwalkee is great if you can afford it
Ratchet with sockets 10,12,17,18,19mm + flat wrenches 10/12mm
Screw driver with various attachments
Zip ties
Duct tape (the strong stuff)
Allen keys
Metallic brush
Jack ($25): Low profile double ram bottle jack (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BFNCOK)
Tow strap ($12): http://www.harborfreight.com/2800-lb-capacity-2-in-x-20-ft-heavy-duty-tow-strap-61943.html
Torque wrench ($11): http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-inch-drive-click-type-torque-wrench-239.html
Stowable 4-way lug wrench ($10) : http://www.harborfreight.com/14-inch-stowable-four-way-lug-wrench-95932.html
Emergency tire inflator: Ryobi tire inflator (same battery as impact)
Spares
Inevitably things will break during rallies even with the best possible prep. It is necessary to carry spares with you so that the car can be fixed at service. Here is a list of spares we carry with us:
wheels/tires
brake rotors/pads/calipers
cv axles front/rear (complete and/or boots)
ball joints
swaybar end links
control arms/spindles/knuckles/trailing arms (4 corners)
suspension (4 corners)
driveshaft
differential
clutch/transmission (if multi-day rally)
radiator
hoses (vacuum, fuel line, brake lines...)
fuses/relays/light bulbs/electrical wire
Check with Wali at https://jdmracingmotors.com/en/ for great deals on spare packages.
Pit crew Hall of Fame
Here is a list of people who helped us as pit crew:
Fred Duell (Suby Solutions) - Crew Chief at Black River Stages 2016, ESPR 2016, Perce Neige 2017, CTTC 2017, Rally Defi 2017, Perce Neige 2018, STPR 2018, NEFR 2018, NEFR 2019, STPR 2019, Tall Pines 2019, Perce Neige 2020
Zack Taylor - Perce Neige 2017, Rally Defi 2017, Perce Neige 2018, STPR 2018, NEFR 2018, Crew Chief Lanark 2019, NEFR 2019, STPR 2019, Tall Pines 2019, Perce Neige 2020
Joe Sanguinetti - ESPR 2016, CTTC 2017, STPR 2018, NEFR 2018
Gabe Jacobsohn - CTTC 2017, Rally Defi 2017
Todd Kemp Richardson - Rally Defi 2017, RallyX
Dan Downey (Downey Dirty Racing) - LeMons Thompson 2016, ESPR 2016
Jonathan Vanderhuge - Rallysprints
Dan Colburn - BRS 2016
Joey Levesque - BRS 2016
Stephen Levesque - BRS 2016
Kevin Brolin - ESPR 2016
Mike Driver - ESPR 2015
Devin O'Connor - ESPR 2015
Casey Pease - AutoX
Ian Cook - ESPR 2016
Morris Levy - RallyX
Michael Morbois - Perce Neige 2018
Jen Brown - Perce Neige 2018, Lanark 2019, STPR 2019, Tall Pines 2019
Jeff Denmeade - STPR 2018
Colin Duel (Suby Solutions) - NEFR 2018, NEFR 2019, Rallysprints
Phil Cherok - Rallysprint, NEFR 2018, Perce Neige 2020
Maggie Anne - Rallysprint, NEFR 2018, Perce Neige 2020
Elijah Hammarlund: Lanark 2019, NEFR 2019, Tall Pines 2019, Perce Neige 2020
Cory Copeland: NEFR 2019, STPR 2019