QuestionQUESTION: I'm currently a cabinet maker/finisher who has grown ill of the trade. You'll have to excuse the generality of the questions. I'm looking to get involved in the racing industry. I'm self taught and highly motivated. With a thorough anatomy of engines and suspension, I feel as though I can be a valuable asset to a team. How do you get started in this field? What do teams look for in their members?
ANSWER: Hello Ryan:
I will answer your question rather directly and abruptly. What they look for more than anything else is an engineering degree. Mostly
Mechanical Engineering or some speciality more directly related. Many teams also look for long experience in the mechanical trades, along with a long-term comittment to racing as an industry.
Many racing organizations require long grueling hours of hard, sometimes dirty work. You see, professional racing is like being involved in a circus. There's a new show every week or so, in a new location. So there are transportation issues, loading and unloading of race cars, tools, spares, tires and so forth. All of that takes a tremendous amount of work, organization and devotion to the tasks, no matter how menial.
In the US. many members of the top NASCAR teams started WITH their engineering degree, volunteering to sweep floors, and clean oil spolls FREE, just for the oppotunity to be a part of the action. Those people eventually end up with paid postions, but sometimes, it takes some time.
If you are, as I suspect (from your excellent English), located in the UK, then the picture changes somewhat, but the education part still has maximum value.
I wish you every success in your efforts, the degrees I mention
aren't absolutely necessary but they will open a few doors. If you have further questions, I would be delighted to receive them.
Sincerely,
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida, USA
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QUESTION: Nascar is a very popular sport and I'm sure getting in is the definition of dedication. However, not only am I born and raised in CT, but my scope is to a lesser degree. I'm an avid fan of the touring car circuit. I myself am working on a car that I dream of placing on the track. I do realize that the teams involved with the Touring series are just as serious as any other series in terms of car telemetry, dataloging, suspension set-up, etc. Now I'm not saying one race series is better, but would they hold up to the same criteria? What about drivers? I know they can be trained but your only as good as your highest level of competence. Or are drivers something that is scouted as football players would be?
AnswerHi again:
OK , now I can tell you more. Almost certainly you should join the Sports Car Club of America, the major sanctioning body for road racing in the US. Not only can someone on a limited budget start racing his own car, he can volunteer to help another team located nearby. There should be plenty of options near you. This is where you gain the expereince needed to begin to make it a career.
Over years of involvement you will learn the things I'm about to say here. First, getting a pro ride is HARD, and you have to be of very exceptional talent. Most - - -if not all modern day drivers started in go karts at avery young ages. Michael Andretti for one, started at age 6. Also Jeff Gordon and many, many others. What I'm saying here is that you almost have to have been born into it to have the kind of talent the pros do these days.
I have seen one man in his mid 30's make it into the pros with a lot of hard work and expense, and it's finally working for him, it's Sylvain Trembley who with another driver, is campeigning a MazdaRX-8 in the World Challenge (I think). Syl came here from Canada perhaps in about '95 and started racing with us in SCCA, he won a few championships, and kept knocking on Mazda's door, taking them amateur wins, and eventually they dangled a carrot. It took him years, and having been on the track with him I can tell you that he's possessed of exceptional talent. I also remember one day when he won a support race for the Sebring 12 Hour Endurance, took the prize money to Alex Job Rcing, and bought a starting seat on one of the factory Porsches for the 12 hour event, I think that was in '98 or so. That was probably a check for $7 or $8,000.00, just to add that blurb on his resume'.
Other jobs come along occasionally, and the way is similar to what I described earlier. Volunteering to do the dirty work so as to become part of the operation. Being gacious when you are offered a chance to participate, and probably more than a little luck are needed to get your feet in the door. I have changed tires, bled brakes and changed transmissions for YEARs on a GT-1 Camaro- -to finally get a few laps in that 750 horsepower screamer. The 195 MPH trip on Sebring's back straight was worth it, and I have no chance at anything pro level at age 68.
I have a friend who just this year ,is getting paid for working as crew on a World Challenge car. He's being paid $150 per day, and expenses. For a 3 day weekend maybe twice a month, it's not a viable income. On top of that, he has worked for them off and on over the last three years for no pay, and even suffered a painful and expensive hand injury with permanent damage to a finger.
I don't yet know how old you are, but your age would be a factor in deciding what to do.
I don't offer the above info to discourage you, only to point out that a professional involvement is probably a ways away, and might just be unlikely (again not knowing your age)
Don't be shy about asking more- - - it's what I'm here for. I enjoy it !!
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida
