"Jeff" (de-vices)
02/17/2014 at 14:46 • Filed to: SAFEisFAST, motorsport, race engineer
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"Jeff" (de-vices)
02/17/2014 at 14:46 • Filed to: SAFEisFAST, motorsport, race engineer | 3
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The latest SAFEisFAST video features top Race Engineers and Team Managers explaining just what they look for when recruiting new engineering prospects.
Ryanator122
> Jeff
02/17/2014 at 15:01 |
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Do they have more like this? This is exactly what I'm going to school for
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Jeff
> Ryanator122
02/17/2014 at 15:23 |
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I recommend watching the last SAFEisFAST video I posted, "Finding a Career in Motorsports" and take a look at the rest of videos at SAFEisFAST.com - There's another piece on the Driver/Engineer relationship, and another with Jim Hall.
Newsboy
> Jeff
02/17/2014 at 15:29 |
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Back in '99, I interviewed for a co-op job as a mechanic/crew chief at Skip Barber, and got the offer the same day.
I turned it down.
The facility director was brutally honest, which I appreciate to this day.
"Do you plan on having a family someday? If so, you need to find someone who loves racing more than you do. The divorce rate in this business is about 90%, and you're going to be working 70 hours a week, on the road 27 weekends out of the year."
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Jeff
> Newsboy
02/17/2014 at 15:34 |
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That's exactly what's covered in the previous video I posted, "Finding a Career in Motorsport." It's a tough life, but those who are in it are truly passionate and are doing what they love. Definitely not for everyone, but it's inspiring to say the least.
desertdog5051
> Jeff
02/17/2014 at 15:56 |
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Safe is Fast is a great site. I had not seen this one before. Thanks.
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Jeff
> desertdog5051
02/17/2014 at 16:00 |
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Thanks - It's a great resource for those interested in all aspects of racing. Great information, straight to the point and all from the right people.
Chteelers
> Jeff
02/17/2014 at 16:12 |
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I am an engineer in the racing industry. My path started as a mech eng from a good college, and was hired into the engineering side of a manufacturer's racing branch. From there, I've skipped around between different teams and jobs. The jobs are usually fast paced and dynamic, pay is pretty good, but one downside is that you tend to move companies a lot, because the racing industry is fickle. Your team could be flush with money one minute, then go belly up the next day. I found that engineers are sought after, so that helps to mitigate that a bit. I have done a bit of trackside work, but mostly have been based at team headquarters.
The other side to the business are the trackside guys - like the race engineer you mentioned. These are the guys who are on the road 300 days a year. My impression is that they came from two camps, guys that started as mechanics who worked their way up the ladder, and college grads that did the more techy stuff like data aqcuisition. Initially, I applied for this type of position cause I thought that's where everyone started. For the trackside guys, that is true, but there are also a whole lot of non-trackside engineering and development jobs. So its not required to be trackside if you want a career in motorsports. The track guys do seem to have a passion for it, but it takes a certain breed. They can be heroes one minute, then cursed at the next.
I do wish I had had a few years of track work before starting my engineering thing. It would have been fun to ride that roller coaster, and build a good working knowledge of what works at the track and what doesn't. Having gone straight into engineering, I've had to learn those practical things indirectly, usually by a track side guy angrily explaining why my sh*t didn't work. Can't go do trackside now though with a wife, and kid soon. Would have been fun as a younger guy, I think, to eat-sleep-breath it.
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Jeff
> Chteelers
02/17/2014 at 16:34 |
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You bring up a good point about the racing industry being fickle. The team engineers and managers we spoke to recently all seem to want it all when looking for an employee (not much different from other industries nowadays.) They're looking for that passionate, college educated, mechanic with track experience.
Like you've said, there's stuff that works on the track and stuff that doesn't. Of course there are still other positions on and off the track.
It's great to hear the options out there and experiences from people like you. Thanks for chiming in.