Auto racing mechanics are an enthusiastic bunch, especially when it comes
to talking about their jobs. Take Rebecca Thompson, a kart mechanic and track
marshal at a racing school in California. She recommends the career to anyone
interested in racing mechanics.
"There are a number of aspects of being a mechanic that translate to everyday
life -- just the mentality it takes to find a problem and fix it can be applied
to almost anything," she says. "Learning to become a good mechanic forces
you to become a problem solver. When you become an advanced mechanic -- or,
tuner, as we say -- you're able to listen to the needs of a driver -- your
customer -- and diagnose alternative ways to solve the issue at hand. In a
time when people are looking for anything to make a living, I've found something
that I love, and I enjoy going to work."
Thompson says that auto racing mechanics is a good industry to get into
if you have a lot of drive and desire. She says those are the people who succeed
as auto racing mechanics.
"In this industry, you very much get out of it what you put in," she says.
"Racing is a performance-based industry, and if you perform, the rewards follow.
I also believe that the racing industry would prosper greatly from increased
exposure -- every time someone new finds out about what I do, they are surprised
that they didn't know about it."
Jay Hedgecock is president of a racing academy in North Carolina. He says
he loves seeing mechanics get excited about their job.
"For me, it's fun to see people develop new skills," he says. "They get
so excited when they realize that they can learn something new... especially
welding."
Jess Gilbank is the owner and operator of an all-female garage. "Satisfaction
of completion is the biggest thrill of mechanics," she says. "Knowing that
the vehicle came in and had a tangible problem and left without it because
of your skills is a fantastic feeling. The other benefit to learning and performing
any trade is that you learn confidence with hands-on tasks, which can translate
into your ability to take on other tasks with confidence, such as hanging
a light fixture at home or soldering some plumbing. Many of the skills required
in each of the trades are transferrable, to a degree, into the other trades."
Gilbank says it can be difficult being a female mechanic. "The difficult
part about being a woman in the trade is the simple fact that our genders
are different, and we operate and think differently," she says. "This does
not mean that one gender is better than the other, rather that the dynamics
between the employees make concentrating on the task at hand more of a challenge."
Brett Goodman owns a racing academy. Talking to him about what racing mechanics
get out of their job, the word "satisfaction" comes up again and again.
There's an "extreme satisfaction of performing well at that level," says
Goodman. "[It's also great] feeling that the team and driver couldn't have
done it without you," he adds. "Plus, some really like the travel."
Robert Kaminski is the owner of a racing school in Florida. "Can a person
find a career as an auto racing mechanic?" he asks. "Only if you love what
you're doing, work hard and remain dedicated to accomplishing your dreams."
Hedgecock echoes Kaminski's statement and says if someone is serious about
becoming a mechanic and gets the necessary education and experience, a satisfying
career awaits them. "It can be a rewarding career for someone both financially
and emotionally, if pursued properly," he says.
So if you want to live life in the fast lane -- but would
rather be involved from the sidelines -- working as an auto racing mechanic
might be the career for you.