How to Start a Racing Career in College
This article provides guidance on how to start a Racing Career while juggling the demands of a college education.
Auto racing is a spectator sport. The driver drives a special, custom-made racing car. Each such car is exclusive, perfect, and magnificent. A racing driver must match their professional qualities to this miracle of technology and engineering.
The success of the competition depends on how well the driver feels their car and merges with it in a single impulse. Driving a car is a certain coordination of movements; for the driver, it is ahead of consciousness. These should be automatic reactions that are developed through many repetitions and depend on experience.
A racer devotes a lot of time to training. Therefore, those who start their racing career in college have less time for studying. In such cases, special services can help. For example, you can get help with college papers from a writing service. Thus, you will have more time for racing if you study.
Pros and cons of the profession
Pros
For extreme sports enthusiasts, prestige and excitement is an incredible adrenaline rush. Racers are called adrenaline junkies. And if you are really good, you can earn a lot of money.
Cons
Danger and serious risk, colossal responsibility. Sponsors, mechanics, and a whole team are behind a driver, thanks to which participation in racing becomes possible. The burden of responsibility is heavy.
A racing driver is not so much a profession as a vocation. A car driver, a racing driver, gets nothing but the respect and admiration of the people who root for them. There are super-professional pilots, only a few of them, who receive decent money for their work. The vast majority of racers do it for their own pleasure, investing their money in racing. The most talented, experienced, professional ones find the opportunity to attract other people’s money (money from sponsors). As a rule, racing drivers make their living in an area indirectly related to racing – this could be automotive journalism, coaching, instructor work, preparing automotive presentations, etc.
Types of automobile competitions can be classified according to the types of tracks on which the competitions are held, according to the characteristics of racing equipment, according to the characteristics of sports regulations, etc.
The composition of the car’s crew depends on the type of racing. For example, in a car race around a ring, the driver controls the car independently. In Rally, the crew of the car consists of two people: the first pilot is the driver, and the second pilot is the navigator.
How to start a racing career in college
While roles in the racing industry are varied, there are some general steps that can help you make a career in college. Besides having a passion for sports, here’s what you can do to get started:
- Decide on a role
The first step is to determine what role you would like to serve in. Not everyone is cut out to be a profession race car driver. If you are, great!
Ideally, your role in the industry reflects your interests and skills. For example, if you are mechanically savvy and enjoy fixing things, a job as a mechanic might be right for you. Alternatively, if you prefer a management role, a position in racetrack operations may be right for you. You should find out what colleges offer disciplines to study related to the chosen role.
- Volunteer at a local racetrack
There are many small and large racing tracks across the country, and many accept volunteers who want to learn more about the industry. Use the online directory to find a racetrack near your college. Contact the institution to inquire about volunteer opportunities that will allow you to work near racing professionals. Thus, you will be able to observe how members of the racetrack perform their work. Volunteering will also allow you to network with industry professionals, which can improve your chances of landing a job in your desired field in the future.
- Gaining knowledge and training
If you lack the experience, skills, or qualifications to work in your desired field, make an effort to acquire them. For most areas of the racing industry, there are association programs, technical school programs, and online courses you can take to gain the knowledge and certification that will qualify you for an entry-level position.
If you can’t find a job in the racing industry, consider gaining experience in a related role in another industry. For example, if you want a career in racing marketing, look for positions in public relations, social media, or advertising at your college. The experience you gain in such roles can enhance your resume and your future application for a job in racing.
- Research potential employers
As you gain training and experience, become familiar with racing organizations that typically employ professionals in your chosen field. There are blogs, message boards, and other websites that you can use as resources to find out what kind of companies they are. Research these companies on their websites and check their careers pages regularly to find any openings that interest you.
- Be persistent
The racing industry is a competitive market for job seekers, so try not to be discouraged if your first attempts to find a job are unsuccessful. As you gain experience and knowledge in your field, your chances of attracting an employer in the racing industry will increase. Focus on your professional growth and continue to look for jobs that appeal to you.
- Get important skills
These skills include the ability to take risks, speed of reaction, developed spatial imagination, distribution of attention, flexibility of thinking, high resistance to interference, self-confidence, good coordination of movements, physical endurance, ability to analyze and predict the change of a situation, mental and emotional stability, perseverance, desire for victory, excellent health, sharp eyesight, and excellent concentration.
- Learn from famous racing drivers
In Formula 1, cars have enormous speed, and great attention is paid to the safety of the racing driver. Before each race, the condition of the driver and the car is checked. A Formula 1 participant is required to wear a special Sparco overall, which protects them from fire for 14 seconds. One of the best racing drivers in the world is Lewis Hamilton, a British racing driver who competes in the Mercedes team.
Follow these steps, and you will be able to start a promising career even if you study at college now.