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March, 2024

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Slightly lost on what to do with my career.

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tronned
Posts: 1098 - Karma: 790
No idea what to do at this point in my life. I've finished tech school and become a certified mechanic through the government and certified through my car manufacturer company. I have to stay at my work at the dealership for another year to ensure i don't get a bill for all the factory training they have sent me on (10k is a realistic guess of how much i would owe them if i quit within a year). I have it fairly decent where i am, I work for a vw dealer that used to have porsche as well until 1 year ago. I've driven many many amazing cars and been lucky enough to been sent for factory training and had a fair amount of responsibility placed on me at work.

The problem lies with me getting restless a bit and wanting to move into the racing industry. I want to work for a GT racing series such as ALMS but there is a few obstacles holding this back. I live in Alberta Canada, there is no connection to any GT racing series in the middle of Canada, all the teams are based out of the states. There is no set way of path a person should take to get into the industry, its more of who do you know.... atleast it seems. I have no idea how to get my foot in the door for that career, short of sending emails to every racing team in the ALMS with hopes of a reply of guidance. Things just appear bleek for my career dreams at this time, maybe this almost a rant more than anything.

what would ns do?
Jun 10 2012 11:48PM
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theBearJew
Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,633
How old are you?
Jun 10 2012 11:51PM
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Rafiki
Posts: 3858 - Karma: 2,251
well ya see here's your problem right'ere
Jun 10 2012 11:54PM
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daannnnieel
Posts: 5163 - Karma: 4,293
get a job at the rigs for a few years, take a year off and have a fun ass ski/bike year. you're a mechanic. go for it.
Jun 11 2012 12:04AM
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rareison
Posts: 10263 - Karma: 218
try living in saskatchewan.
Jun 11 2012 12:09AM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,947
Finish your time at your dealership so you can cut ties. The worst thing would be to have debt hanging over your head.

If you're really serious about going and doing this, start making calls. Ask your boss if he knows anyone. Ask the teachers at the tech schools if they know anyone. Ask them if they know anyone who became anyone. Ask if they know someone who knows someone whose husband knows a guy that can help you out. There's gotta be some tie you can get connected through.

Are you ready to move?
Jun 11 2012 12:44AM
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bo0b
Posts: 2964 - Karma: 994
everyone likes Canada except for ignorant assholes.
Jun 11 2012 12:49AM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
if you have no hookups to the industry, you are going to have to talk your way onto a team. If you dont have the charisma and people skills to pull this off then you are fucked.

getting a highly coveted job in a highly competetive industry is really fucking hard, especially if you dontt know people.

start pounding the pavement, and when you do get an opportunity, you HAVE to make the most of it. they are not going to come along again.

in the meantime, develop your skillset, and expand your knowledge base. start going to shitty races and making friends; they might know someone who can hook you up.


sounds like you just want to start working at a highly coveted job in a highly competetive industry without paying your dues.
Jun 11 2012 1:00AM
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Rafiki
Posts: 3858 - Karma: 2,251
you should check this thread real quick
Jun 11 2012 1:06AM
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tronned
Posts: 1098 - Karma: 790
26
Jun 11 2012 1:20AM
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tronned
Posts: 1098 - Karma: 790
Yeah, this is where the issues begin to arise. In my province, we have no real racing connection at all. There is no major GT class racing series that come to our area, only IZOD edmonton race.

I work in a dealership already so i hone my skills daily, so that is not an issue.

Biggest issues i have are a complete lack of Canadian race teams in GT racing.
Jun 11 2012 1:22AM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,147
doesn't sound like you're lost at all. Sounds like you've got your shit together and you're on track. Sounds more like you're anxious for what the future could hold for you and you want to get there now, rather than wait. That's cool that you're so passionate-- most people take a long time to figure out what they want to do. Stick out your time with the dealership, and in the meantime, maybe look at where you want to move when the time is right- do research and try your best to see if you can make any connections. You'll get there.
Jun 11 2012 1:26AM
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Casual.
Posts: 1125 - Karma: 28
don't sweat it bro! everything finds it's piece in the puzzle
Jun 11 2012 1:31AM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
no local tracks? no racing at all with in 4 hours?

you arent gonna start at the top dude.


working at the local areas may let you meet some people who know people, or people who used to be in the racing industry. its up to you, and quite frankly it sounds like you arent doing shit to chase your dream down.


dont just look for the best opportunity; look for EVERY DAMN OPPORTUNITY that you can find.
Jun 11 2012 1:34AM
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tronned
Posts: 1098 - Karma: 790
the only racing around here is only dirt oval racing and drag racing which is nothing even close to what im looking to get into. the closest drive for real GT class racing is to seattle most likely which is 15-16 hour drive one way. And you are right, it seems like i am not doing jack shit here.

Lucky for me i have another motorsports forum i am part of where i am getting some good guidance from people in the industry to help me along.

Life would be such much easier for myself if i could drive a few hours out to a race circuit and rub shoulders with the boys but its not an option really. My only option at this time without guidance is to email every single race team in america looking for advice which really doesnt accomplish too much.
Jun 11 2012 1:42AM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
so you are 100% sure that no one there has any connections (past, present, future)whatsoever to GT racing?

oh, thats right, youre not.


you arent gifted/connected enough to look for golden opportunities. you just need to look for opportunities.

Jun 11 2012 1:51AM
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.R-Lohin
Posts: 1686 - Karma: 117
900 of your posts are hating on Canada. You're a useless member on this website, your posts lack intelligence.
Jun 11 2012 2:04AM
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Rafiki
Posts: 3858 - Karma: 2,251
900 of my 954? i'm glad i'm developing a fanbase. on a scale of 1-10, how mad are you?
Jun 11 2012 2:28AM
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Nurgle
Posts: 1249 - Karma: 15
But hes actually right in regards to this...

Any hopes of an internship with a lower race league? You cant hop from a Volkswagen Dealership to the big leagues bud...

My old roommate was doing an internship with some Mazda race team, and loved it, getting to travel for free and all.
Jun 11 2012 2:28AM
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Bodhisattva_
Posts: 5749 - Karma: 2,009
OrIf you are really passionate and you really can't follow your dream where you are.. find a job in an area that would Bendicty's you in terms of chasing your GT circuit dreams and start making connections. You have to take some risks to achieve what you want. Go for it bro.
Jun 11 2012 2:34AM
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CassiusClay
Posts: 1757 - Karma: 2
I'll preface this by saying I know nothing about racing/pretty much anything to do with cars. I do know a whole lot about job advancement and accomplishing what you want. Stick with your job so that you do not end up in debt - unless of course you're presented with a better opportunity in which you will be more than able to pay off your debt. While you're doing your job, don't place all of your hopes on a company/group picking you up because you've sent them an email. Continue to do this (who knows what'll happen) but the chances of this happening are 1/1000, not to damper your hopes.

Always put yourself in the best situations you can to better your chances of success. As someone mentioned above, go to any and all races in your area and try to meet as many people as possible - don't feel bad explaining your current job and qualifications, somebody somewhere will desire your qualifications. The biggest thing at this juncture is to remember everybody - keep notes if you need to. People are much more responsive/kind if you remember a thing or two about their lives and the conversations you've had with them.

Keep your head down, learn as much as you can, and someday someone will listen to you and see a spark of hope.

Feel free to PM me if you'd like - I've gone through similar struggles in a completely different industry and feel as though I understand human reaction fairly well. I hope all the best.
Jun 11 2012 2:44AM
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.R-Lohin
Posts: 1686 - Karma: 117
Thanks for proving my point ;)
Jun 11 2012 11:17AM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
like you said, in a world like that it's very important who you know, from your OP i guess you don't know anyone yet, so you should try and get more involved with it, maybe try and hook a less glamourous job somewhere in the racing circuit and slowly build up connections to find your way into something better ..
Jun 11 2012 11:24AM
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Casual.
Posts: 1125 - Karma: 28
roasted
Jun 11 2012 11:35AM
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Rafiki
Posts: 3858 - Karma: 2,251
that most of my posts are hating on the worst country in the world or that my posts lack intelligence?
sorry i don't post on here like i'm writing a harvard entrance essay...
Jun 13 2012 6:42PM
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armadaski44
Posts: 481 - Karma: 15

Or he saying its a problem due to the lack of race teams? ignorant asshole.

Jun 13 2012 6:46PM
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.R-Lohin
Posts: 1686 - Karma: 117
I guess you should leave NS since its a Canadian website and canada produces shit.LOOOPOOOOOOLLLLOOOLOO
Jun 13 2012 7:49PM
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Bodhisattva_
Posts: 5749 - Karma: 2,009
Start giving blowjobs like it's your job.
Jun 13 2012 8:49PM
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daannnnieel
Posts: 5163 - Karma: 4,293
did u figure it out yet?
Nov 4 2013 8:34PM
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