Auto Racing: job/career advice, sae mini baja, michigan sae

Question
Dear Dan,

My son, Aaron is a senior in mecahnical engineering at the University of Michigan.  He is absolutely passionate about performance automotive development.  He built a frame-up Factory Five Racing (Cobra) when he was in high school entirely by himself and without any input from me.  It is a great build.  This is just one example of how he has just not 'talked the talk' but has brought a greta deal 'to the table'.  He is a m ajor player on the very successful University of Michigan SAE mini-Baja race team.  He is also an experienced motocross rider who does all of his own bike modifications and work.  He is a great blend of talents - exceptionally good with his hands and is smart enough to be able to do well academically at the University of Michigan and communicate with some of the most prominemt intellectual/academic minds in the field of Mechanical Engineering.  

The question is: where does a kid (he is 21 years old)go after college to make the most of his experience and drive?  He really isn't suited for a traditional desk working on a computer engineering position - it would be like keeping your race horse in the stall and not letting him exercise.  Most of the employers who come to the 'job fairs' are companies who are looking for engineers to perform the usual (desk) engineering jobs.  The positions that the major automotive manufacturers are recruiting ofr are also really not that stimulating - basically sitting at a computer terminal and designing 'widget' parts for cars.  Aaron is not a 'big corporate' kind of guy and he would just shrivel up and die in that kind of a job.

Do you have any suggestions of places where he might think about applying for a job.  Places that have already come to mind include this like Roush and Saleen.  He really has a great CV.  His dream job would be to be a hands on engineer for a small to mid sized performance oriented automotive company that shares his passion for practical design and creativity.  He has a great work effort and is a guarantee to succeed. He shares your passion for "anything concerning race cars" - not just watching them go fast but truly appreciating and loving being part of creating what makes them perform better.

Your web-site is great - very interesting and you seem like the kind of person that might 'get' all of this and have some suggestions and know of'about more of the smaller and less well known names in the field.  Aaron would be most willing to directly communicate with you as well.

Thank you very much.

sincerely yours,

Joel Silidker
323 Jefferson Drive
Guilford, CT 06437

e-mail: jslids@hotmail.com

Aaron's e-mail address is: aslids@umich.edu  

Answer
Hi Joel:

The traditional way to a career in racing for drivers is lots of experieince in Go Karts at a young age. Then a progression through stock cars or sports car racing in Sports Car Club of America.  A person in his early 20's gaining a national championship in amaterur road racing is likely to be noticed by a pro team or two. It takes a while to develop the ability though.  

Then the 'development' series is the next step . This would be Toyota Atlantic, Indy Lights and so forth. There is also the need for professional level marketing of the driver's talent and personality. One of the best stock car drivers in the country is Bobby Gill who races in Hooters Cup events, he won't go any further cuz though he can drive like the wind, he has the personality of a turnip.

To enter other facets of racing usually requires approaching various teams and manufacturers directly and literally offering to sweep the shop for no pay until you find a position in the area that does pay.  

Two hubs of activity are Indianapolis, Ind. where there are a few different enterprises directly involved in open wheel racing and road racing.  And Charlotte, NC for NASCAR, Bush ARCA and others.

SEMA <http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?ID=50720>
is a large organization dedicated to businesses that supply performance parts to both serious racers and hobbyists. Each major series has it's own website which will give you some information about what they do and where they are located. It would be worth contacting a few of them for more info.  

Your question presents quite a challenge, I will do some additional looking around and contact you thru your direct e-mail.  Mine is < DanL5454@aol.com >, feel free to write.

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida