The Hoodoo 500 is a team endeavor – which includes both the racer(s) and the crew. But for the tireless dedication, loyalty and hard work of the crew, no racer would make it to the finish line.

The crew is responsible for taking care of the racer(s) in so many ways: Preparing and providing food/drink, navigating the course, illuminating the road and racer at night, deciding when/if the racer needs a sleep break, and, of course, continuously motivating and encouraging the racer (especially when he/she is grumpy and tired).

There are two ways to support a racer:  Playing “leap frog” and following directly behind the racer. Leap frog support is mandatory during daylight hours on the first day of the race, and optional during daylight hours on the second day. During all hours of darkness, the crew must follow directly behind the racer. The crew may either follow directly behind or leap frog the racer during daylight hours on day two.

The leap frog method may only be used during daylight hours; and is mandatory on Saturday, and optional on Sunday. Here’s the method we recommend:

• Drive at the speed of traffic, or at the speed limit, 1-3 miles ahead of your racer and find a place to safely pull over that allows all four wheels to be completely off the roadway, and with enough room for the racer to pass without riding out into traffic.

• Avoid stopping on downgrades, as the racer will be moving too fast for a hand-off. Also avoid super steep sections of road where the racer may not safely take his/her hand off the bars to grab the hand-off.

• Hand-offs must be done by a crew person outside of the support vehicle. Here’s the best way to do it: Whatever it is that the crew is handing off should be carried in the crew’s left hand. When the rider approaches, the rider should slow down,  and the crew person should hold the item out and begin slowly jogging in the same direction as the racer is riding, with their back to the racer. The racer then comes by and grabs the item and keeps on pedaling. (The racer may toss empty bottles, or anything else they want to drop, on the side of the roadway as near as possible to the support vehicle before the hand-off is made. The crew must pick up all items and litter before moving on.)

• After the hand-off, the crew should wait at least 10-20 minutes before heading down the course to the next hand-off location. Allow/expect the racer to be self-sufficient for several miles. Staying behind the racer is helpful so that if the racer has a flat, or any other problem, the crew will come upon the racer and be able to provide assistance.

• If the racer drops the hand-off, the rider may keep moving and the crew should leapfrog up ahead a short distance and try again.

• First and foremost, the follow vehicle must be set-up according to the Official Race Rules. Please be absolutely clear about the rules, and come prepared with all the necessary equipment, including rear-facing, amber blinking lights, slow-moving triangle, and “caution bicycle ahead” reflective signage.  We also recommend turning on the emergency flashers.

• Follow at a distance to make absolutely certain that you can stop if the rider falls.

• The racer should ride as if the follow vehicle was not present; meaning as far to the right as possible given the road conditions.

• During nighttime hours, and at any time Sunday, hand-offs may be done through the right passenger window; never from the driver’s side.

• Before a hand-off, make sure that traffic is completely clear in both directions.

• Perform the hand-off as follows:  Pull alongside the racer and drive at the racer’s pace. The racer should continue to pedal, looking forward down the road (and not at the crew), while holding out their left hand waiting for the hand-off. The crew member in the front passenger seat will reach out the window and place the item in the racer’s outstretched hand. As soon as the racer has the item, back off and return to the position behind the racer. 

• If traffic is backing up to the rear, the follow vehicle should try to move as far to the right as possible to let traffic pass. If traffic cannot safely pass, the follow vehicle must pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so. During nighttime hours, the rider must also stop.

• If your racer flats, if there’s no place to pull over with all four wheels off the road, the follow vehicle must drive ahead to the first possible stopping place, and either walk back to the racer or allow the racer to come forward to the vehicle.

• If your “team” doesn’t have a radio communication system between crew and racer, plan out in advance a system of communication using horn signals or whistles.

• When passing another racer that is also being followed from behind, this is what you should do: During daylight hours, back off and allow your racer to get far enough ahead that you may safely pass both the competitor and their vehicle without impeding them in any way. Do not caravan behind the other vehicle. If necessary, pull over and stop and wait until your racer has a large enough lead to allow the vehicle to follow again.  During nighttime hours, allow your racer to pass the competitor’s follow vehicle and continue for a short while in the headlights of that vehicle. You may proceed around the follow vehicle and rejoin your racer as soon as the gap is wide to safely do so. Never follow your racer during the pass.

 • All additional support vehicles must drive at the speed of traffic. Additional vehicles should leap frog, day and night. Caravaning, meaning when two or more vehicles follow directly behind a racer, is absolutely prohibited; and will result in the racer being DQ’d.