Does anyone here work in motorsport? What do you do? How did you end up there?

I’ve always really fancied a job working with race cars, design engineer type role (I’m not a qualified machinist or anything) but I’m not sure how to approach it at all, nor am I convinced it’s a good idea.

I worry about stability, I’d be leaving a fairly secure job in a global company on UK average wages, selling a property and moving away from family and friends to pursue it I suspect (based in central belt Scotland just now)

I worry about ruining a good hobby. At the moment I cant wait to get home and into the garage and work on the car, I enjoy picking the best components for the job, despite the compromise (mx5 uprights chosen over Cortina ones, but don’t have the capital for billet titanium for example…) I don’t know if I’d have this same motivation if I was working on car design every day, or feel like I was just ‘making do’ cos I don’t have the budget and facilities that my work does.

I worry it wont be what I expect, it wont involve the problem solving, novel thinking, creativity that I crave, itll just be another job of designing part S to join parts R and T.

Has anyone gone down this path an able to offer any comment of advice on my inane ramblings?

Cheers

I'm aiming to head down that route, currently doing a Masters in Mechanical Engineering specialising in automotive / motorsport in my 3rd and 4th years. Also aiming to get a motorsport related placement halfway through. Its currently very tight though :-/

That’s the other issue, I did a 5 year M-eng in Naval architecture and Marine Engineering, so while I covered thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, structures etc (i.e all the transferrable bits youd want) I don’t have a named automotive degree, nor any related placements and the only experience I could offer is hobby related.

The problem is every young kid is aiming for this line of work. I personally know four who are aiming for it.

It's like journalism. A lass I know is training to be a journalist, BUT there are more people training than there are journalists!!!!

Your welcome to come and 'spanner' for me when I'm racing!

Wages are usually food and as much beer as you can get down you after the race!

Maybe in france there is lots of competition for youngsters. But from personal experience, out of 100 odd, I'm the only one going on to do some kind of Engineering at Uni. And Uni's i looked at have been giving decent offers to everyone in Engineering due to a lack of people wanting to do it.

I run an IT business.

the amount of guys I interview that dont sell themselves on the fact that there hobby is IT always amazes me.

someone who has a hobby in a related field I find to be infinetley more passionate about there job than those who don't.

I would definitely think that having a hobby building cars counts for a lot, because when the chips are down and poo needs doing, its the passionate guys that never mind the extra works that can be required.

basically all im saying is use the hobby to your advantage

quote:

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Originally posted by MikeFellows
I run an IT business.

the amount of guys I interview that dont sell themselves on the fact that there hobby is IT always amazes me.

someone who has a hobby in a related field I find to be infinetley more passionate about there job than those who don't.

I would definitely think that having a hobby building cars counts for a lot, because when the chips are down and poo needs doing, its the passionate guys that never mind the extra works that can be required.

basically all im saying is use the hobby to your advantage

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I suspect a lot of spannering for various privateers and subsequently teams etc at my own cost would be a good route in over time but sadly at the moment I just dont have the time or money, if I did id be racing myself.

Eddie, I think designer meant motorsport specifically, engineering in general is an undersubscribed field, with plenty of jobs but motorsport is a niche corner with very few.

interesting to hear that hobbies are that relevant, I'd always been told to try and get work experience in a field. I also do my best not to be a total car bore

I have worked in the motorsport Industry and too be honest it knocks your enthusiasm to play with your own things.
It's a an Industry that thinks it's the only one that makes things to tight tolerances and anything else is pants...

Better off staying in your stable reliable job as motorsport firms are not reliable and crap at paying bills and wages...wonder how I know!!!!

i spent years working in my hobby and it wrecked my hobby completely. Doing anything day in, day out, makes it 'work' and not play (possible exception being porn star )
Personally whilst on a good day id love to build hillclimb and circuit cars all day and get paid for it, its much better staying as a hobby and as relaxation/therapy from the daily grind imho.

yeah, that worries me, although I guess if you love your work, the daily grind isnt so much of a grind? but then I guess youre still working to someone elses budgets and deadlines and corporate nonsense.

I reckon even being a pornstar would wear thin eventually tbh!

To get work as a designer, you'd need a good degree. Then, you need to find a team who is looking for a cleaner or truck driver, and work your way up. That's how most get where they are. Get seen and get to know the people in the back of the pit lanes, that's how you'll hear of jobs, and the next rung up the ladder.

Be prepared to work for low money, as not everyone pays F1 money, even the F1 teams aren't too good at paying when it come to shop floor staff.

And biggest of all, Luck. Being in the right place at the right time.

And, if you can, go knocking on team doors, as often as you can, asking for jobs. It works sometimes.

Good Luck!

Cheers,
Nev.

conversely, i've just finished a bachelors in motorsport engineering and i'm going back next year to do a masters in mechanical engineering because i don't want a job in motorsport

tom

It's like trying to fly for major airlines, or becoming a star on the London or Broadway stage. No easy answer.