Posts
19
Joined
11/14/2019
Location
Reading, PA
US
Hey there guys, I am currently a 17 year old in Highschool about to graduate this year. Just looking into my future to see what's out there and get things planned out with what I am going to do. Dirtbike racing is my passion or just being involved within the industry of it. I have been racing since I was 8 years old and hope to continue doing it until I am older. I have an interest in math and science and I would like to pursue my career in Engineering. I was wondering if you guys know any big-time racing companies on the East Coast that hire mechanical Engineers. That maybe I could look into. All I could find was Fox racing but that's all the Way in Cali. I have no problem going down South as well like South Carolina or Florida.
Here in ohio we have honda and showa that hire engineers all the time. It may be beneficial to do something like that as well. Getting into R&D is probably what you want to do.
I started in tool/die/machine design and now im doing angle heads for cnc machines. I dont know exactly how youd do racing.
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The vision is all candy and rainbows. Moto all day, tearing it up, party all night like rockstars...or some similar crap.
At first, it seems glamorous, but then, it's just a job. It's the same grind as any other grind.
There's no moto all day, there's no party like a rockstar.
Hell, there isn't even a party or a rockstar.
Pay is low, at almost every level.
People talk about rider's pay being low, I can tell you that across every spectrum of this industry, that applies.
You'll make more as an engineer at Reebok or Lulumon than anywhere in moto, even if you got to a God-like position.
My suggestion to you, get a real job that'll pay for your passion.
Don't make your passion your job, it can crush that passion
I'm a mechanical engineer. My advice is the same as above. Get yourself a good job in an industry that has stability. I'd suggest maintenance for an industry like auto manufacturing or something else that's going to be around a while. You can use your talents to make really good money and spend all of the extra on moto related things. Whatever those moto related things are will be up to you.
The old adage holds true: "Wanna know how to make a million dollars in the moto industry? Start with two."
Find job that pays well. Enjoy moto on the weekends at your leisure.
Also, I've been in R&D for 15+ years. It is tough gig typically for beginning engineers. It's hard to imagine new things when "you don't know what you don't know." My advice is to live life in the trenches for a bit. You'll be better later.
It’s great that you are looking at your future early on. I would suggest you seek out opportunities to do internships during the off semesters. This is a great way to "try before you buy" in different fields and companies. Typically, internships can lead to future jobs, and they are great for your resume to show that you have industry experience even right out of school. Apply to all internships that you think might be interesting, even if you don't see a listing or info about internships send the company an email and resume asking if they do summer internships.
Besides the lower pay (and crappy benefits), working in highly desirable industries is extremely competitive. It's like a rat race on steroids.
I have a BSME and spent my career mostly in the automotive industry (some defense..which was also vehicle design). Five years ago I moved over to communications satellites. Not a lot to get excited about but it's been the best job I've ever had.
Working in a stable and positive environment with progressive management and good people is the important thing. The widget you work on is of much lesser importance.
Unless you are pretty good at math and science in school and/or have access to really cheap or free college, learning a trade is probably a better path. If you are reasonably smart you can probably turn that into your own business at some point. I know a guy who owns a body shop. He has plenty of money. My uncle is a dentist again plenty of money and free time. I have an uncle who bought a company and successfully ran it. When he sold it he became a millionaire. 2 of those people never finished college.
Maybe take your ME degree to one of the auto manufacturers? You could probably get something solid at GM or Ford. Then again, I bet the auto industry is an even larger grinder than motorcycles.
Or, follow your dreams and get into motorcycle racing. Don't expect to make very much money, though.
In no way is the OP suggesting he wants to work in the moto industry to moto all day and party all night..The fact that he wants to become a Mechanical Engineer tells me he is intelligent and deserves a better response than your crap..
For a young engineer money doesn’t need to be the motivating factory...gaining experience and finding out what you do or don’t want to do the rest of your life is most important.
I did exactly what I wanted to do after college- worked as a test engineer for a snowmobile manufacturer..I loved snowmobiles and still do. In no way did it ruin my passion. After 8 years in that industry I realized I didn’t like traveling 7 months out of the year and moved to a new industry (oil and gas).
My message to the OP: Get your degree in Engineering and go do what you want...motocross industry..whatever. You have nothing to lose.
Regrading the “race” industry- I have a couple friends ( one runs Penske’s race engineering dept and another is a chief mechanic) Let me tell you...these guys have done very well!
P.S. I still use my engineering degree and knowledge in my spare time and constantly have my own “R&D” department in my garage to work on projects. (None of which I could afford on my previous pay rate)
Get into something close to your passion but not spot on. Will allow you to stay engaged and make big strides. For me it was automotive powertrain. Spent a few years in Various OEM dyno facilities while working for a large supplier, and now cut the travel and reside full time in our dyno facility.
Best advice I could ever possibly give you which i have not seen mentioned yet, join an SAE program. Be it Baja, Clean snowmobile, Formula. And dont just pad your resume with it, be active. Employers can easily pick out who's just b/s'ing and who isnt. Take the opportunity if the university allows for co-ops, atleast get some internship experience.
IMO its silly NOT to attend a community college for 2 years, and then finish your bachelors at a university. The degree in the end says the same university, you just spend A LOT less money to get it.
Pit Row
If I can boil it down to a single sentence.. Take as many industry internships as you can, work your butt of and don't ask for more money until you can prove (with numbers) you deserve it, and find a mentor.
Most community colleges have a feeder program in place to specific universities.
To the OP, follow your dreams. If you want to work in the industy give it a shot. If you get an engineering degree but don't work in the industy at least you have the degree that will probably let you do some cool stuff at work. Also dreams are way easier to follow before you have a wife and kids.
Spent 5 semesters in community college, first one was just general stuff as I didnt know what I wanted to do. Took a semester off, and then started in January at 4 year school. Everything transferred.
Heat transfer and dynamics as well as most core classes were offered every semester probably because so many people did 6-8 month co-ops. Relatively small school, 3000 students or so in undergrad IIRC.
While I get to work with the most cutting edge technology in the automotive and aerospace industries, I’ll warn you it’s not all glamorous and there are days/weeks where I wish I could go back to my college restaurant job because of the monotony or stress.
My suggestion to you would be to gain some experience as a testing or design engineer at a auto or aerospace company prior to going into the moto industry.
Good luck, and enjoy the ride!
Now with that said, I moved out of the Engineering stuff and into selling technical equipment. You don't need an engineering degree to do this... but it does help give you a leg up. It worked out well for me.
I would also stress if you enjoy building stuff and you enjoy business (the making & selling of the stuff) get that engineering degree and move into the business side of the house (there is more $ to be made and it's more interesting often times). Also, get work experience while going to college with some sort of engineering related job. Work experience counts for a TON. Even if it takes an extra year to get the degree- get work experience in the field if at all possible. In a stack of resumes the guys with experience rise to the top. Also after 4-5 years of work no one really cares where you went to school. They want to know what you've done! Can you help them do stuff.
Once you get your first real job - try to get on with a large company for 2-4 years. Why? Well, you want a brand name on your resume for the future. People like to hear you worked at XYZ company that hey know. Also, the large company, though full of politics often times, will give you an opportunity to get an MBA or more education on their dime while working! That's a big benefit. So you can get the brand name, and more education on their dime. You will also meet people at the large company. People in different groups, vendors, their people, sales people etc.... You want to build a network for contacts in an industry. Critical to long term success. And critical if you ever get laid off... which has a high chance of happening. Also try and stay away from manufacturing jobs in plants. Your better off on the design/ business side of the house. Mfg jobs shift all over the place.
Which I got this advice 30 years ago!
My advice (for what it is worth) is start in a large industry with a lot of options and ability to move around and grow.
mechanical engineering is a very broad field. there are some parts of my industry that bore me to tears, and some parts that i can't get enough of. some people in my industry find the exact opposite when it comes to what they enjoy.
So i think it is important to land in an industry where you can move around if you aren't enjoying the particular role you are in.
Something like the auto industry can give you experience in everything from drive train development, safety products, interior design, fatigue testing, program management. and literally everything in between.
Getting the foundations and connections in a broad industry is a good start, you will learn how to design, develop and test products the right way.
from there if you really want to pursue the MX industry you will have the foundations you need. MX is a very niche industry, I think it is best to start broad and then move to the niche fields if you want. once you start in a niche industry it can be difficult to move anywhere else.
Once you get down to the nuts and bolts, designing a product is not much different if it's for a mass produced car, or an aftermarket accessory for an MX bike. the difference is the auto industry has hundreds of thousands of jobs, and the financial backing to do things the right way. The same applies to other large industries, auto is just one example
And i certainly am not saying don't pursue MX, I am just suggesting it might not be the best place to start..
What kind of person are you? do you enjoy problem solving, developing ideas and products? if you are, I really think mechanical engineering is a great career.
Good luck, and feel free to PM me if you have some questions,
I'm so happy how it worked out, Currently working in the construction sector as an ME, the degree and experience has allowed me to do a lot of travel with work but can be settle if I wish. The pay is also enough to allow me to do as much moto as I want.
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