I figured I would come to the most diverse group of knowledgeable people I know for advice such as this...


I've been working at Nissan for about eight years now... doing basic functions related to service parts, supplier compliance, etc.

But my passion, something that I would RUN to work for, is in racing.

Ask anyone that knows me, I am a huge racing and auto enthusiast, and was at one point pursuing an engineering degree. I had plans to work for Nissan as an engineer, but threw the brakes on that as most of my colleagues were having their jobs outsourced.

So...

What all would be involved in pursuing a career with a big-name racing team? As in, to become one of their chassis engineers, or aerodynamics, or drivetrain? Not interested in being a pit crew mechanic although I would not turn it down if it meant getting a foot in the door. You do get nice toys, after all.

What degrees are necessary? Or is it all simply politics? To be a part of a race team, knowing I helped design a winning car... THAT is my dream job, my passion.

So, at the ripe old age of 25, I'm ready to quit accepting the J-O-B as a way of life. I'm ready to embrace a career I truly love and look forward to reporting for duty.

Point me in the right direction, guys. Between all the diverse occupations on this forum, sombody's gotta know something

 

HEY! That was my dream!

What field of racing will you be looking into? NASCAR, Rally, drag, trucks, bikes?

 

I've never been much on Nascar, get bored with drag racing, and dirt isn't my thing either.

My DREAM would be to work with ALMS, IRL or even (gasp) F-1.

Although I realize the latter would be like pulling teeth to get into.

But something involving road courses and 500+ HP.

Something with some prestige...

 

John, can you hook me up with 2 tickets for the Austin and Canadian race please

 

Well..... For the most part, a masters in an engineering field of study would be almost mandatory for anything like F1, indy, CART, etc. I know all the German F1 team members are pretty much all Doctorate degrees. VERY hard to get into anything like that.

My buddy, and now his son, race in NASCAR. They have been team owners, racers, and businessmen for quite a while without any type of degree....... just by "who they know". Bob Keselowski was a driver in the Craftsman truck series for a good number of years, then passed the driving duties on to a hired driver, and later to his son. Bradley (Bob's son) has risen up through the ranks of dirt track, ARCA, Craftsman truck series, Nationwide series, and now in the Sprint cup cars. Most of his rise to the top is due to name recognition though. It also helps to be buddy-buddy with Dale Earnhardt Jr. though.

Honestly..... some form of stock car racing is probably the easiest thing for you to "break into". There's many teams, with a whole ton of people in their shops...... you might get lucky and score a few laps in a car and get a chance to prove yourself. Might not be your ideal situation...... but you have to start somewhere. Racing is a very tight family....... name recognition is EVERYTHING!

 

If you are single and have no kids, go for it. It would suck to live to be 90 and never chased your dream.

 

Without the correct skills you will start at the bottom and get minimal or no pay and you will learn as you go. So get that engineering degree and specialize in some auto related subjects or you will be just a gofer.
Good luck.
PS .... and if I see a F1 car with devils horns, I'll know I was wrong.

 

He chased his dream and now he's going to marry her, that ain't to shabby.

 

I'm single till March12, 2011

Interesting that you'd need a doctorate for DTM/DGP racing... that's insane.

Yet, I can imagine that if we have the "good ol boy" syndrome over here, it's probably much worse over there. Especially for them to make room for a Yank.

So, Nascar is pretty much the easiest way to get into professional race teams? oye...

 

All very true (in any field, really).

Looks like I'm reviving the old Associate's degree, and taking it upward...

 

Good for you!
I waited untill I was 48 before I stepped my degree.
Can only imagine how different life would have been had I taken action earlier.

 

It's funny you mention that.

I cherish the advice of those older than me, simply because it's normally so consistent; ALL advice agrees that sooner is better than later. The advice may vary in the direction it sends you, but I have yet to meet a single person that doesn't wish they could rewind father time a bit.

Then there's the "I wish I could take my knowledge back to my body that was willing and able and capable... the body I owned before I had the knowledge I currently have... to use it properly".

Some of the wealthiest, most financially-stable people I know are in their 50's. All of them are 1st generation wealthy. 75% of them got their act together after age 45.

100% of them are saying "act now".

They turned their life around -- completely transformed it -- in ten years.

Granted, we aren't guaranteed tomorrow, but just imagine if I had a 20-year head start on that? Applying the money principles I already do my best to employ... I can see things ending well.

 

ahh, for a short time, I was the left rear tire man for Spike Guilhausen....but, we were bumped....life was good....
Seriously, the sport has changed...it's all about engineering now, and it doesn't and isn't all about who you know. I know several of the "old" guys having been around Indy in the '70's...even they can't believe how far the sport has come. Tony George used to live here in Cicero for about 10 yrs. I would see him on the lake, and attended a few of his parties. Money talks when it comes to being involved as a sponsor or a driver. Like 180 said, if you can apply for the "grunt" job like I did, I wasn't paid...lol....then you are at least meeting the right people and first hand seeing what you need to do to advance. When big sponors are involved and winning means keeping that sponsorship, the team owner only looks for the best, and best have the experience, the knowledge, to make things happen. It is a tough world to break into. I don't have the boys to raise anymore, so I just may jump on the next transport job that becomes available. There are still many of the IRL teams based here in Indy...but, for a career in motor cars, you had better go back to college, get that engineering degree, then a masters...volunteer on any race team that will have you to gain some experience, and add it to your future resume....good luck, you are young enough to achieve it. On a final note, I was lucking enough to race motorcycles up to the ripe old age of 19, had some success at it, but it didn't pay the bills...wish I had been born a lot later, they would pay the bills today....so timing is everything in motor sports...

 

[quote=oledoc2u]
On a final note, I was lucking enough to race motorcycles up to the ripe old age of 19,

Hey Doc, Where did the mechanic ride on those things? I don't know about the cycles but the Indy cars all had ride along mechanics back then didn't they?