Career suggestions

[alelanza]

Hello guys and gals,

First off hello! i'm new around here and i'm from Costa Rica
I would like to hear suggestions as far as what career choice is a good one if I'm interested in the motorsport and similar industries. I'm heavily considering Mechanical Engineering at the moment.
I have been following motorsports with a growing passion for the last year or so. I just came across your website and i'm rather delighted with the info that can be found. I'm 30 years old and have good managerial job in the computer industry, however i truly feel my heart is in the engines, wind resistance, explosions, speed, acceleration, grip, friction, etc, . The new electric vehicles, hydrogen technologies etc are truly appealing to me, anything that goes fast but i do have a bias towards stuff that sticks to the ground. Not a bike fan though at the moment.
So being my age, having a job and paying for a home i'm realistic in that any career would take me a good 5-8 years to finish, by the time i'm done my employment opportunities won't be optimal and my country isn't precisely known by its automotive industry.
Nevertheless after having started studies in several careers (business management, architecture) i'm pretty sure that i don't care about the more practical implications of my decision and really want to push forward in that direction. Chances are that in a few years time i'll be pursuing a further degree in a UK/US or similar university, so i would like to hear your opinions and recommendations. Seems to me like mech eng is the first step, what do you think?

Thanks in advance!

[Jersey Tom]

Racing requires a lot of hours, a lot of work, a unique personality, and initially usually doesn't pay well. Plus, people change a lot from beginning of school to end. Give yourself some options.

Engineering is the way to go. With regard to discipline, I'd say Mechanical or Aerospace. Two big "ins" to the motorsport industry at the entry level I'd say are data acquisition and aerodynamics. If you can get experience with those if you do Mechanical, that might be a good way.

And if at all possible, I'd recommend Formula SAE.

With Mechanical at least its broad enough that you can do just about anything afterwards.

[Miguel]

Sorry for asking so abruptly, but Jersey Tom, do you know of any physicist working in the motor racing sector? I am one myself, and being such a racing fan, I have been asked a few times whether physicists are accepted in such an engineering-dominated sector.

[alelanza]

Racing requires a lot of hours, a lot of work, a unique personality, and initially usually doesn't pay well. Plus, people change a lot from beginning of school to end. Give yourself some options.

Engineering is the way to go. With regard to discipline, I'd say Mechanical or Aerospace. Two big "ins" to the motorsport industry at the entry level I'd say are data acquisition and aerodynamics. If you can get experience with those if you do Mechanical, that might be a good way.

And if at all possible, I'd recommend Formula SAE.

With Mechanical at least its broad enough that you can do just about anything afterwards.

Thank you so much sir! Are there any specific institutions you would recommend? it seems that checking formula SAE winners/participants answers that question, but nevertheless would like to know your take on the subject.
Thanks again.

[Jersey Tom]

A lot has to do with the experience you have and the people you know. With regard to being a physicist.. if you can make yourself valuable, then why not? If all your background were in say nuclear particle physics, that may be a stretch. But if you can make yourself valuable in engine design, aerodynamics.. why not.

My feeling is so long as you go to some sort of major, funded university the engineering curicculum are fairly close. The coursework is all the same. Some have more or less resources, but it really comes down to what YOU put in, and what YOU get out. The Uni I went to has zero automotive background or coursework or labs available.

Easier to get in if the school has ties, obviously. Cranfield in the UK is big for that. Schools with major automotive programs help.. be it NC or Clemson or VT or even Colorado State..

[alelanza]

A lot has to do with the experience you have and the people you know. With regard to being a physicist.. if you can make yourself valuable, then why not? If all your background were in say nuclear particle physics, that may be a stretch. But if you can make yourself valuable in engine design, aerodynamics.. why not.

My feeling is so long as you go to some sort of major, funded university the engineering curicculum are fairly close. The coursework is all the same. Some have more or less resources, but it really comes down to what YOU put in, and what YOU get out. The Uni I went to has zero automotive background or coursework or labs available.

Easier to get in if the school has ties, obviously. Cranfield in the UK is big for that. Schools with major automotive programs help.. be it NC or Clemson or VT or even Colorado State..

Understood, thanks so much!

[West]

Our school, UCI, had abyssmal records in Mini Baja and no FSAE car recently. But we've had people intern for Saleen cars. It really depends on what you make out of your career. Just remember that there may be factors outside of school that may influence your decision. But the good thing about engineering in general is that it forces you to think outside of the box, which comes really handy when doing any other job.

[alelanza]

Our school, UCI, had abyssmal records in Mini Baja and no FSAE car recently. But we've had people intern for Saleen cars. It really depends on what you make out of your career. Just remember that there may be factors outside of school that may influence your decision. But the good thing about engineering in general is that it forces you to think outside of the box, which comes really handy when doing any other job.

Agreed. My main drives are all the mechanical things i've mentioned before and driving. As it is it took me 28-29 years or so to realize this , I guess it's a bit late for the F1 driver dream , but not so late for the engineering bit. And honestly I have come to the conclusion that I need both combined, too much driving or too much technical stuff has proven to be good on its own, but it's the combination of the two that makes it a brain coctail if you will
Thanks!