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Nov 10, 2011 18:35:58 GMT
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Hello RR'ers.
I'm currently in my second year at university studying Motorsport Technology. Now when i come to my third year, it is a work placement year.
I was wondering if there is anybody on here that has any links to proper motorsport/engineering teams/establishments. I am trying to organise my own placement that is more relevent to the industry i want to work in, rather than a generic engineering placement.
any pointers or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Martin Jarvis
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Nov 10, 2011 18:58:51 GMT
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Hello RR'ers. I'm currently in my second year at university studying Motorsport Technology. Now when I come to my third year, it is a work placement year. I was wondering if there is anybody on here that has any links to proper motorsport/engineering teams/establishments. I am trying to organise my own placement that is more relevent to the industry I want to work in, rather than a generic engineering placement. any pointers or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Martin Jarvis Going it alone makes it quite difficult. Most teams do them but they have specific universities that they take students from. Where in the country are you? What previous work experience have you got? |
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Last Edit: Nov 10, 2011 19:00:55 GMT by Adam
1997 TVR Chimaera
2009 Westfield Megabusa
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Nov 10, 2011 19:07:58 GMT
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This is this sort of situation where something like Twitter could come in really useful!
For instance Paul Denning (Crescent Suzuki) is on there, as is a resprestative of virtually every other motorsport team and motoring organisation.
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Nov 10, 2011 19:23:29 GMT
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Not exactly motorsport, but JLR were advertising at my uni for placement year students. Unfortunately I'm a part time student and already have a job (not often I say that!).
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I've got Rovers.
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Nov 10, 2011 19:31:17 GMT
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yeh i know its a difficult thing to do also, i know my uni will help my find a placement with company's such as cummins turbos and so on. I am at university in Huddersfield and am aware that alot of motorsport companys are based further south and so i may have to relocate for the year. rent a room or so on.
i don't have much experience in the actual industry although i have carried such things as suspension changes, exhausts, an engine swap on an audi A3 and general maintenance on my own and friends cars.
i worked for 2 years as a prison officer, but unfortunately i have arthritis ( at 21 this is a bit of a pregnant fish) so unfortunately my contract was terminated at the prison. i had to re-evaluate what i wanted to do in life and came to the conclusion that with my love and passion for cars and modifiying and motorsport, then why not? so here i am now. I still work part time as a door supervisor at weekends but my passion is motoring.
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Nov 10, 2011 19:40:26 GMT
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Would it be worth getting in touch with a few teams based in a similar area and see if you can get a couple of days a week with each? I ask this because around the Northampton area there are a number of companies either running teams or that have a direct connection to teams and so commuting wouldn't be so much of an issue if they were all on each others doorstep.
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Nov 10, 2011 19:50:09 GMT
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yeh i mean my course is fulltime so I'm in 4 and a half days a week at the moment and will be for the remainder of the year, however i have done a few searches for race teams in my area, i live in oldham (greater manchester) and there arnt really many in the northwest that are should we say main stream. They are often alot smaller somewhat private raceteams without the means to pay for my placement year and often outsource the work they need doing on the cars. Although some of the teams i have contacted are very helpful and have offered me help if i ever need it with my studies so made some inroads in that sense.
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Nov 10, 2011 20:23:56 GMT
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On a side-note, I'm on my 2nd year of automotive engineering up in Manc - applied for SEVERAL placement positions at Cummins ;D
Would LOVE to work there!
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You're like a crazy backyard genius! |
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Nov 10, 2011 20:31:30 GMT
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yeh, there are a few different placements at cummins, i wouldnt mind a placement in a company like that. However ultimately i want to work for a racing team such as Honda racing in the BTCC or 888 or similar, so i think a more relevent placement could give me a more complete view of the industry and possibly more contacts.
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Nov 10, 2011 21:11:57 GMT
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yeh I know its a difficult thing to do also, I know my uni will help my find a placement with company's such as cummins turbos and so on. I am at university in Huddersfield and am aware that alot of motorsport companys are based further south and so I may have to relocate for the year. rent a room or so on. I don't have much experience in the actual industry although I have carried such things as suspension changes, exhausts, an engine swap on an audi A3 and general maintenance on my own and friends cars. I worked for 2 years as a prison officer, but unfortunately I have arthritis ( at 21 this is a bit of a pregnant fish) so unfortunately my contract was terminated at the prison. I had to re-evaluate what I wanted to do in life and came to the conclusion that with my love and passion for cars and modifiying and motorsport, then why not? so here I am now. I still work part time as a door supervisor at weekends but my passion is motoring. Just having general 'working on cars' experience is a massive help. Last year when I was applying for automotive/motorsport placements it was mostly people who knew their way around a spanner set that got interviews, even though most of us haven't touched a car since we started! If you can show enthusiasm for vehicles and engineering rather than Motorsport it makes a big difference as well, anyone can rattle off the past 20 F1 world champions! C.V. presentation is probably the single most important thing. I got plenty of help from people in the industry and those who had applied before me to make sure that I included all the things that they would be interested in (and none of the general waffle). If you wanted to run one past me then I would be happy to give advice, although I'm sure you're placement office are fairly helpful with that side of things. After that, you just need to get one to anywhere with an address  |
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Last Edit: Nov 10, 2011 21:14:21 GMT by Adam
1997 TVR Chimaera
2009 Westfield Megabusa
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Nov 10, 2011 21:16:36 GMT
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thanks adam, really appreciate it. id be happy to shoot a copy over to you for you to have a look over if you don't mind. see what you think. always worth a fresh pair of eyes having a glance over it. could e-mail it you if you want? pm me?
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Nov 10, 2011 21:22:48 GMT
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You have PM
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1997 TVR Chimaera
2009 Westfield Megabusa
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Nov 10, 2011 21:36:19 GMT
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replied adam. thanks fella
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Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Might be worth speaking to Colin Appleyards in Keighley - when I was a student at Huddersfield Uni he ran a racing team or two - no idea if he still does, but even if not then he may be able to put you in touch with local people who do?
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2
BMW R1150GS
BMW K1200RS
Chevy K5 Blazer
Chevy Suburban LT
Jaguar XKR
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Nov 11, 2011 14:06:02 GMT
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I am at university in Huddersfield and am aware that alot of motorsport companys are based further south and so I may have to relocate for the year. rent a room or so on. Thinking outside the box a bit - there are oval and grasstrack racing fabricators up in Yorkshire who may be less regularly contacted about work experience than the circuit racing teams & companies round Northants. BriSCA F1 stock car champion Frankie Wainman Jnr, who featured heavily in the BBC "Gears & Tears" documentary series, is based somewhere near Skipton. When I followed BriSCA F1 he did (and I assume still does) run his own company building and preparing F1 stock cars, which are awesome pieces of kit if you like heavy duty custom fabrication and 600+ bhp The other one that springs to mind is the Bogg Brothers who are based in North Yorks - they do a lot of grasstrack stuff and are pretty much the originators of the bike carb conversion. |
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jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,764
Club RR Member Number: 49
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University Work Placementjonomisfit
@jonomisfit
Club Retro Rides Member 49
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Nov 11, 2011 15:17:07 GMT
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My experience is legwork and some prior exposure is what can get you a placement with an interesting company.
When at Uni I spent 4 months working for free for a company called DJ Racecars in High Peak Derbyshire one summer. (Del always seems willing to take on enthusiastic strays like me). This was to build up some direct experience so when I was applying for a year in industry there was something for them to see. I also went spectating at lots of rallies, help out some friends with their rally cars, and took any opportunity to get my hands dirty.
I'm 100% certain that this experience I has was a big part in me getting a placement with Xtrac Ltd (transmission systems etc.). And if you want to know about precission engineering / manufacturing they were great to work with. Having their name on the CV also came in helpful when looking for jobs post uni.
I'm sure they will be also looking to see you have more than just a passing interest so they may be looking to see if your menber of local motor clubs, spectating, helping out free with teams. They need to see you interest isnt only skin deep, that you have a real interest, and that you prepared to work hard to make you chances.
Motorsport also seems to be a very interconnected world, so once you have some exposure in a company it can make getting further opportunities easier.
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Nov 11, 2011 15:45:15 GMT
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Jono, you seem to have taken a similar route to me, I spent 4 summers working at Gould engineering/racing and am now on my placement at a well known race team. Getting your foot in the door makes a big difference.
We were discussing xtrac placements earlier today, I hear they work you very hard! I applied but had accepted another offer before they gave me an interview date.
You must have worked on my friends supercharged firehawk as well while you were there.
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1997 TVR Chimaera
2009 Westfield Megabusa
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Nov 11, 2011 16:34:00 GMT
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Thanks for all the great feedback guys, this is just the kind of support i was looking for. I have some experience with cars such as modifications and maintenance and have done an engine transplant, but i have never worked as part of an actual racing team as before i had to have a career change and a serious re-evaluation of what i wanted to do, i was working in a prison with just an interest and hobby of motors and motorsport.
Your guys advice is great though, thanks so far.
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