motorsport people!

[kat_s1]

i was wondering if anyone here is currently involved or was involved in the motorsport industry, studied motorsport engineering... or even anyone who has done engineering.

what were your thoughts, where you studied, what you got from it and any hints or tips in general.

my current plan is to do a 2year hnd at oxford brookes, then one year in the industry and then my final year top up to get my beng...

cheers in advance, kat_s1.

[punyXpress]

Did a season with Goodyear fitting F1 tyres - only qualification necessary was a HUGE capacity for beer & generally be a misfit! ( Who said I haven't changed ? )
Before you send any applications off, I'd get your address changed!

[fizzwheel]

Can't give any specific advise, but it might be worth getting a copy of tihs.

http://www.amazon.com/Mechanics-Tale-Life-Pit-Lanes-Formula/dp/0752827839

even if its not helpful its a cracking read

[rigor]

Look for teams in any form of motorsport in your area and see if they want a dogs body for free at the weekends (and any other time your available). Even down to national champ level there's always wheels to be washed and other stuff to be done, and it's a foot in the door.

I've only been involved in motorsport from the drivers side (Dad raced at British Champ level for a good few years, brother did Formula Ford, F3 British Champs and then went to America, I did a couple of years of being rubbish :D)

Money is always tight, so the offer of a sensible, keen, enthusiastic pair of hands would probably be looked on favourably. The plusses being you get involved in the hands on stuff, and it's related to what you're studying, and will look good on your CV.

[Lozzo]

I build and spanner race bikes in my spare time and support 2 of my mates when they go racing. It's hard work at club level and no-one gets paid but I'll be damned if I'll give up doing it. We have only left two meetings in 4 years without a trophy on the dashboard of the van, that's all I need as payment.

I've also acquired a wicked collection of red MSV poduim-place baseball caps.

[carnivore]

Don't do it!!!!!!! Have a look on various sites and the jobs just ain't there. It's a very competitive field and the jobs are few and far between. Your better off doing a mechanical engineering degree because most of the syllabus is already included in the motorsport degree, it also universally recognised rather than a 'narrowly focus' degree like motorsport. Got a mate that did motorsport engineering and he found that there aren't any jobs oop north, he's now a x-ray bloke. Do mechanical.

[dizzyblonde]

P.s. what Im Indoors also forgets to tell you is..he's just done four years part time at Huddersfield Uni, whilst working and has now a BEng Hons in computer aided summat or another

[SV-net]

+1 on the mech eng mate. im in the motorsport industry and you will have far better transferrable skills from a broader engineering course. Plus you could then get into the industry if you were still interested.

[DanAbnormal]

I know the engine technician of the Kwak Moto GP team......does that count? :)

[MrTom]

I started Automotive Engineering at Oxford Brookes a few years ago. I ended up doing Mech Eng instead at liverpool in case I didn't want to work on cars/motorsport at the end.

I think if youre certain about your career then Brookes is a great place. The uni has all the links to the local motorsport teams and employers are supposed to think highly of Brookes graduates.

Oh, why do a HND? Why not go straight into a proper degree?

[Dangerous Dave]

I used to spanner for a Minitwins team in my spare time.

[pete m]

ive written about a minitwins team , does that count ? :cool:

[charris]

Im studying mechanical and electrical engineering at Northampton Uni, I had the same sort of aspirations as you but decided to do a broader course because as soon as you specialise it gets very competetive and also narrows down your options, especially in motorsport.

[kat_s1]

thankx for the reply... i called the uni n they told me that i can choose my last year a bit later on so i can keep my options open, and thats why im doing the hnd first in motorsports.

kat_s1