Motorsports Design Experience

[engstudent]

I'm currently in my third year taking mechanical engineering. I was wondering if anyone knew of some good race teams that might except coop students. This could be a paying job or not. Any comments from the expererts out there? Thanks alot

[Dino IV]

Go on, tell a bit more about yourself. Which country are you from for starters, which uni, what's your field of interest. your 'major' (if that's how you call it) etc.

[engstudent]

Sorry, you are right. I go to the University of Toronto in Canada and want to get into motorsport design after graduation. My studies are mechanical engineering so I hope to have a good base knowledge to work from. My school doesn't offer a motorsports degree. I know the big race teams are consentrated overseas. I understand Panoz is located in the states but would they be difficult to get in with. Also, anywhere that I could learn ADAMS would be great. Thanks

[shiny side up!]

I'm sure you are working on your school's Formula SAE racecar, right? If not, there is some design experience just waiting for you right there...

[engstudent]

your right, I'm on the formula SAE team for my school. Its great and you do learn alot. Do you know any professional teams that would hire students.

[KC]

If you are interested in CART or IRL teams then Indianapolis is still where most are located. Winston Cup teams are mostly located around Charlotte, North Carolina. Obviously most of the F1 teams are located near Silverstone in England outside of Toyota F1, Sauber, and Ferrari. Most manufacturers of club and lesser formula race cars are also located in England. Pick up an issue of Autosport and Race Car Engineering as these pubs regularly run ads for the teams seeking employees.

I have an Associates Degree In Mechanical Engineering and have worked in tooling and some civil engineering and currently design pipelaying equipment.

[THR]

aint easy getting a job in motor racing!!!
everyone i go for.. at least 150 people go for! so u gotta be pretty good to even get an interview (which i am lol).

do as much motor racing as u can and write a VERY good CV.

[engstudent]

Thanks very much for the advice! You must think I'm dumb but what's a CV?

[boyracer]

Cirrriculum Vitae (Think thats right)
Basically means a list of what you've done.
I'm involved with a state Rally team at the moment.
The team races a Grp A Subaru WRX that regularly finishes in the top 5.
How did I get in, offered my services. You'll find many such teams around and most are looking for extra people to help out on the car. At rallies the car gets a full nut and bolt check every service (hopefully thats all). But behind the scenes we experiment with suspension damping/rebound, tyre technology (the effect of various groove patterns), engine building (tuning, altering cam timing) corner weights, and a myriad of simple little clamps and brackets.
It's not all fun, you'll have to do your share of the nut and bolt checking but this allows you many great skills.
Mostly in a sport such as motorsport, it's a case of "who you know" that comes well before "what you know".
You may well be the greatest race engineer around, but if no one knows who the hell you are, your chances are very slim.
So get out there! Visit your local car clubs, find out who's looking for someone to help out maybe even become an official (gets you a free lunch while your out there meeting people).
Hope this helps you out.

[KC]

A resume is referred to as a CV in Europe I believe.

[THR]

oh yea.. sorry .. resume same as CV.. but if u send it here.. call it a CV. might get ya further. (some people would go ... ffs another useless yank)

[Guisbro Rod H]

Engstudent,

An alternative idea if you don't get any help from direct approaches to racing teams.
What about trying a TV company to make a programme about a student working in a racing team?
Some years ago a student tried this and got a co-op job with Lola and appeared on TV. If successful it will look good on your CV / resume!