How does a recent mechanical engineering grad get a paid job with a race team (any series: NASCAR, grand-Am, alms, etc)? What kind of work might they be expected to do starting off?
How does a recent mechanical engineering grad get a paid job with a race team (any series: NASCAR, grand-Am, alms, etc)? What kind of work might they be expected to do starting off?
Honestly Volunteer to start unless you know someone who knows someone.
Paging Paul to this thread.....
LopRacer wrote: Honestly Volunteer to start unless you know someone who knows someone.
This. That is how I got into the occasional paying gig. Just as a race mechanic not an engineer of course. It was all about meeting and knowing people. If mndsm is talking about the Paul I know(Duke of Understeer), he is the reason I have been on paying gigs.
Duke has a fresh outta school data analyst/engineer working on the team this year. He had never even been to a race other than Formula SAE. So it is possible to land paying gigs fresh out of school, but I am sure this kid knows someone that knew the team owner or something.
About the volunteer part: I've learned one thing in life- working in the racing industry is basically the same as working in the aviation industry- it's hard to get paid well for something that people are willing to do for free
sheet is alot about who you know or the education to get noticed and volunteering.
Aeromoto wrote: About the volunteer part: I've learned one thing in life- working in the racing industry is basically the same as working in the aviation industry- it's hard to get paid well for something that people are willing to do for free
Except for the military on the aviation part. Sometimes you are just told to do so.
Aeromoto wrote: it's hard to get paid well for something that people are willing to do for free
This is true, when it comes to volunteering and starting out helping club racers. But when you starting getting into pro racing teams and race shops, there is money to be made. There are also race shops out there on shoe string budgets that can barely afford to keep the lights on. I learned a lot from one of those shoe string shops while barely making any money. I was basically an entry level guy but got to work with some pro drivers out of Grand Am.
That is the hard way to get in. You can also consider going to a school that is geared toward racing and they can help with placement. People from Lanier tech here locally get onto to race teams pretty regularly.
Doesn't hurt to throw some resumes out to some race teams/shops. Don't forget about racing schools too.
Lots of wisdom in this thread.
I say if you have to work hard towards getting a job in racing, don't. There's "getting a buddy to spot you a job - thanks buddy!" and then there's "the starving artist career path of fruitless despair." Nothing in between.
Volunteering is a good bet for enjoyment but barely helpful for employment. Often teams in borderline-grassroots racing will pay a mechanic for being "on duty" for an event, but it's no replacement for a day job. Getting a job as a mechanic for a pro racing team is quite nearly as tough as getting paid to drive and requires a lot of the same things - a consistent history of high profile epic victories and all the "connections" you can get.
Yeah. I was basically doing the hobby/enjoyment thing then got connected with the right people.
JeNnifer Jo Cobb is always posting on her team's facebook page that they are looking for people that can help out around the shop and at the track..
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