What would you guys do?, Working Professionally On Cars Options

[Eric Taylor]

I’ve been thinking about this post for a while and Britt’s thread about IT got me going again.

Right now I’m at a point in my life where I feel like I’ve got to make a few decisions. I’m about half way through school and finding myself really unsure of what I want to do. I’m currently a journalism major and am finding that I am not as interested in doing what I thought I wanted to do. The jobs I had always dreamed of in TV are starting to disappear and the ones I’m left with are not ones that interest me. So I got thinking about what really does get me going.

The part of my life that interests me the most is cars. In working with my little 914 I’ve learned a lot. It really keeps me on my toes, and while I defiantly don’t know everything I have a passion to learn and that’s a lot of why I like it. Right now I’m getting a great experience with a board member in building a 3.0 SC motor. While it’s mostly me watching and holding things, I really love the detail and the intricacy of everything and figuring out how it all works I really enjoy the puzzle of it and piecing it all together.

So I turn to my favorite group of car people for advice. What would your guys’ advice be for turning this passion into a profession? I know it would be really hard to walk into a Porsche shop and ask for a job with no actual on the job experience or training. How would you guys go about getting into this world if you were in my situation?

Eric

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

Dude, I so feel you! I'm kinda in that position and I'm in the computer industry. Except I don't live in India (if you catch my drift) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/mad.gif)

My buddy was booted from Adidas. With some help and encouragement from me, he started his own VW Type 3 repair business. He has no professional background in auto mechanics, just his PASSION for the T3 automobile. No business loan or investers. Just a small, two car garage, a field for parts storage, and our own personal garages for auto work. Now we have a shop and a steady stream of cars -- who'da thunk the Pacific NW would have so many T3's?

His wife isn't the most understanding (but she has a job so the income did help) but he stuck to his guns and now is able to stand on his own two feet. We also buy junkers, cut 'em up if they're a basket case, and sell the parts to the east coast dudes because they have to deal with LOTS of rust (due to salted roads in the winter time). That is our biggest source of income. We also will 'slide' and work on the occational Bug or Bus, but that's pretty rare. Simple crap like brakes, tune-ups, etc. are your bread-n-butter so get used to it. But when you get a customer that wants a polished big-motor with powder coated tin and ceramic this-n-that, it makes it all worth it!! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

Personally, I'd recommend that you include the VW bretheren if you decide to go this route. Any car with a Type 4 motor should be allowed into your shop, at least for engine work. There are a lot of Buses out there and they can keep you on your feet. Plus the fact that you're a "Porsche mechanic" adds to the boasting factor when people say, "Yeah, I have a Porsche mechanic fix my Bus' engine!" I'm serious. People are funny that way.

It's a huge and scary step. Do your research and see if there's enough work in Eugene/Springfield and surrounding region -- I figure U of O has enough granola stompers and we know how much they like the iconic Bus (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif) I know there is plenty of work in Portland -- heck, we get cars shipped to us from Washington! There's a car in the shop right now from Seattle and all the guy wants is a SIMPLE BRAKE JOB! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blink.gif) But when you're good they will come. Back in the day when I was in college I would drive 4 hours back to home to have my VW mechanic work on my car (luckily, I eventually found a very good local mechanic). If you get good, particularly at engine builds, you could support the NW (look out McMark! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) )