Hey Guys! I haven't been on here in a while and I need some help! I'm almost finished with my AS Auto Tech degree and have to make a decision on what to do next. My goal is to eventually open my own race/customizing shop. Here are my options: transfer to a university for a BA in business, go to UTI, go to Wyotech, or start on a mechanical engineering degree. Do I really need to be an engineer?? I would also prefer to go to Wyotech instead of UTI for the reason that they offer more custom fabrication courses as well as a full program on high performance engines and chassis. I guess what I'm asking is... do I need an engineering degree to build race cars? I'm thinking a BA degree in business and attending Wyotech would be the best thing to do. ANY ADVICE WOULDE BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! Thanks! Chris

 

no

 

your problem will be that you will be underpaid if you ever work for someone, and if you do your own startup you have no rep - everyone I know who makes good money started with a home built car that started their street cred. then they opened shops, no licenses or anything. the guys with the education are working for someone else making next to nothing. you must really consider your own venture like retail with basic installs and a project car to get started. Ofcourse none of this may apply to you where you live.

 

I am a graduating mech e with hopes such as yours. Being a mechanical engineer, it has opened up a lot of opportunities and I can analyze and understand any mechanical system, whether it be cars, power plants, hydraulic systems, control systems, you get the idea. mechanical engineering is a very broad major that allows specializing in ANY area you are interested in. ANY company that Produces ANY product no matter what has a mech e on staff in one form or another. Job security for a mech e is very good because they are used everywhere in every industry.
but to answer you question
you dont need a mech e degree to build race cars. but it will help. a lot.
you will be able to fully understand and analyze every aspect of a race from overall engine efficency to suspension dynamics. and what you dont know you can learn. having the background of a mech e makes it much easier to understand, learn, and analyze all apsects of it. you wont be shooting in the dark saying, well maybe its this, maybe its that, i wonder why that happened. You will see what happened, what went wrong and most importantly WHY. and you mech e background gives you that WHY and WHAT it will take to fix it in the most efficent way.
i hope this helps. if this is something you are really interested in feel free to im, email or call me at 330 788 6761.
oh and if i wasnt gonna be a mech e, i would have been a mechanic. cars are the reason i got into this.
later
Burke

 

I went to the School of Automotive Machinists, check them out at

http://www.samracing.com

most of there grads(well the ones that actually did something with themselves at the school) get awsome jobs in top shops in the country. usual starting salary is about 40,000 at a good shop, especially being from NC it wouldn't be hard for you to get in a nascar shop. We have a great network of the old students to help get jobs when you get out, and it's a 80% hands on school, not like wyotech where for the most part your staring at the walls waiting for class to end.
I was dir.of admissions at SAM and I used to tell people if you want to be a mechanic you go to the other schools if you want to get into racing you go to SAM and most of the top guys in my graduating class own there own shops. I left in '98.

 

I agree completely w/Dave we both went there at the same time.The owner Judson as the old saying goes"forgot more then I'll ever know",is wiling to share it all w/you.The alumni is so big it's getting out of hand at reuions,it will give you an instant credibility w/employers that is hard to come by w/ the other choices out there.You will learn more and get exp that would take many yrs at typical race shop,where you are usually only promoted or learn new jobs unless someome leaves.

 

i say if you want to be a mechanic then be a mechanic. you will probably make more money. i also wanted to do the same thing too. i am still contemplateing it.

i think the best thing to do is to work at a deraler and work on the side. i am 22 went to uti after high school, then went to vw school. i hate the vdub **** but i made 73,000 last lear. thats only 2 1/2 years there too.

i am getting as 3 or 4 dollar raise and a percentage of 3 others in the shop, any day now so i will be making close to 100,000 at 23.

i know everyone is different but i can tell you htis. you arent going to make 100,000 after 3 years of owning your own shop i bet oyu wouldnt make this.

i say your best thing is to go to school be a mechanic and just worry about paying for your hobby.

just my opion. good luck with what you choose.

 

im going for ME when i go to college...but im not trying to relate it to anything automotive...i currently take an auto class in my high school..and i love it. i want to work at a dealership partime while i get my degree....and work for a company...

dont really want to mix work with hobby

 

for me it's not a hobby anymore, it's like a lifestyle after you get in too deep, it's like you spend all you money then a week later you hate yourself and decide to get out of cars... and that lasts till your next paycheck