240 replies to this topic

[Cooperman]

I have lots of tea breaks and laughing about the antics my friends and I got up to during the 'serious' rallying years. Can't mention most of them on here though!
I've been working on a 1275 Innocenti engine today, doing the final stripping down and measuring. It's strange, the bores are at 1330 cc and needs re-boring, whilst the big ends and main bearings are perfect despite the crank having 0.009" end float. So it's time for sleeving and re-boring back to 1275 with decent 21253 pistons. The cam is a 731 which is not particularly good, but OK for a road engine. Head needs new guides and a bit of gas-flowing.
But, I don't do this for a living, just for fun, so no apprentice needed. Visitors/helpers are always welcome though and lots of local lads come around just for a look, a ride in a rally 'S' or for a bit of help and advice. It sure keeps me young.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I hear back from this early next week, so hopefully in the next few days!

I'm really excited but also a bit confused. My whole life I've felt as though I've wanted to work in Motorsport, and with cars, and doing something like this, at school I was certain throughout the whole time I'd come out and work with cars. I left my previous job to try and find something like this, and I swore that once I did I'd be so happy and dedicated to it,

Now it's come I'm not even sure anymore

My life.

[Noah]

I hear back from this early next week, so hopefully in the next few days!

I'm really excited but also a bit confused. My whole life I've felt as though I've wanted to work in Motorsport, and with cars, and doing something like this, at school I was certain throughout the whole time I'd come out and work with cars. I left my previous job to try and find something like this, and I swore that once I did I'd be so happy and dedicated to it,

Now it's come I'm not even sure anymore

My life.

I know the feeling mate.

Only thing worse is getting two opportunities arise at once.... I just turned down an Apprenticeship.

I couldn't see the point in three years studying to get a job in, none other than. Halfords.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

It's rubbish isn't it.

The position seems to be something that I'm interested in and I think I'd genuinely enjoy it, I'm just not sure. Maybe I can get into Motorsport using the position to my advantage, because I'm sure I'm only interested in cars if it involves innovation, design, endurance. Servicing wasn't what I had in mind. It seems like a good position but after working out the pay etc, getting out of bed everyday at 6 and working a 9 hour shift to have myself 18 lovely pounds left to myself every week in the end doesn't seem very good

Maybe I'm too young to have everything I feel I could ever want and need and anything that distances me from that feels like a threat too.

Maybe I'm just ridiculous.

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 07 January 2013 - 02:19 AM.

[Noah]

I see where you're coming from. Have you thought about using this as Just a stepping stone and aiming for something like a degree in Motor Vehicle Design? or Motorsport or Engineering?

[minimarco]

The position seems to be something that I'm interested in and I think I'd genuinely enjoy it, I'm just not sure.

Won't know till you try. There's much more to life than a job anyway, you're putting too much thought into this. Just go and do it, if you don't like it, do something else.

[Artful Dodger]

I have had work experience and now work part time in a Motorsport team. I thought it was going to be really daunting and i would be in over my head. I was very wrong. Best days of my life! Waking up after a hard night on it in the back of our artic truck hearing the awsome sounds of some turbo BM going around the ring in Germany on a misty morn (as it
Always is!) Best wake up call ever.

You will Love it if you live Motorsport


Feking Nasty headache though!! Eieffelgeist does bad things....

Edited by Artful Dodger, 07 January 2013 - 07:37 AM.

[mattdc2r]

You're just having doubts, because you are having to wait. The second they say you've got it, you'll know for sure how you feel.
I just got my Uni application rejected after quitting a £35k+ a year job to do it. So now I have to find something else to do. I have even considered the advance apprenticeship that Jaguar land rover are advertising at their new engine Plant in Wolverhampton. I'm nearly 36.

Edited by mattdc2r, 07 January 2013 - 10:03 AM.

[Noah]

You're just having doubts, because you are having to wait. The second they say you've got it, you'll know for sure how you feel.
I just got my Uni application rejected after quitting a £35k+ a year job to do it. So now I have to find something else to do. I have even considered the advance apprenticeship that Jaguar land rover are advertising at their new engine Plant in Wolverhampton. I'm nearly 36.

Good on you!

Better to earn less and enjoy your work than earn more and be frustrated by it.

[Wise Old Elf]

I just signed up to Linkedin and put my Civils jobs on there. In the last 10 years I have had 9 different contracts.

There is no such thing as a 'job for life' I do the work pay the bills and make a few quid on top for the fun things in life like Minis and sports cars. If I like the job I stay, if I do not them I move on. I would say it is very difficult to say if you will like the job until at least a month in. Give it a go if you don't like it look for something else.

[SA MINI]

If it was your dream to get in this trade. You should just go for it! It's natural to have doubts
It's natural to worry.
The only way to see if its for you is give it your best shot, what have you got to lose.
Even if your get the qualification then leave shows you've been committed & been keen to learn on your CV.
Also I myself wanted to be a rally car / racing car mechanic, & decided to start somewhere
I got a job in your average garage the day after I left school. I stayed there over 3 years & got my qualifications, I did have low days wondering about why I bother ect. But I have to say if you get on with the people you work with especially your boss then it makes things a lot Easyer.
I started doing the typical apprentice stuff then the boss got me doing more & more, I also started fixing cars at home for people which gave me the extra money.
I did get offered a job after helping them out a few times at a drift car garage in the end, not quite what I wanted but close though at the time of the job offer. I got run over by a BMW on my motorbike. I then had to give up the car trade & 4 years on Im in my second month of my new aprentiship "electronics" building heart rate monitors & diabetes watches ect.
the skills I learnt in the mechanics trade Helped me for other stuff,
I think they call that transferable skills ?
I managed to get a qualification in computer programming. & now I will be working to gain a BA honours in electronics.
Sorry for the essay Craig bit my point was go for it & learn from it. You have nothing to lose
Even if you hate it. It's still an experience & could lead you to something else

All the best
Shaun

[mininuts]

If it was your dream to get in this trade. You should just go for it! It's natural to have doubts
It's natural to worry.
The only way to see if its for you is give it your best shot, what have you got to lose.
You have nothing to lose
Even if you hate it. It's still an experience & could lead you to something else

Good advise here Craig. Hope all turns out how you want it too.

[Cooperman]

As I might have mentioned before, my son is a Design Consultant in F1 and is currently working on the design of Lewis's car for this year. He is doing over 60 hours a week until the end of this month, but it's rewarding in all ways.
My next-door-neighbour, who is just 20, is taking a degree at Uni. of Hertfordshire (Hatfield) in Automotive Engineering with Motorsport. It's a demanding course, the maths being particularly tough. On his 'Year Out' my son is going to arrange a year in F.1. and so long as he graduates with a minimum of 2.1 Hons he will probably be offered a job by the team with which he does his Industrial Year.
If you have the right A-levels that course at Hatfield is excellent. Check it out on their web-site for more info.
My son was an Engineering Apprentice with renault Truck Industries and got a Mechanical & Automotive HND. His work on his rally 970 'S' Mini engine got him into Cosworth Engines as a design engineer and he progressed from there via Minardi F1 to Ilmor Engines (now Mercedes), and then into other F.1 teams. I think he was fortunate in that I have a good friend who actually took him into Minardi in the first place, but really it's just been down to his hard work and drive.
If it's what you want to do, then go for it and don't look back.

[Wise Old Elf]

What happened? Good news or bad news?

[samsfern]

What happened craig dude? Howd it go?