Would you send you child to a school that teaches NASCAR basics?
By Willowlady
@Willowlady (10658)
United States
March 4, 2007 1:07pm CST
They can learn to assemble a race car engine and tear apart its transmission.
This is in Lima, Ohio and is one of a handful of places that students can study how to build a race car from the bottom up. The high performance motorsports program readies them for a career in auto racing - whether is be working on a pit crew or in the shop.
Auto racing is growing in presence on television and has appealed to mainstream fans so it has led to more leagues, teams and job opportunities in a sport that needs more highly skilled crew members.
ARCA has become a stepping stone race league for crew members and drivers.
They usually pair the student with an experienced crew member.
Motorsports students at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis compete for internships in the Champ Car World Series and with the Panther Racing team in the Indy Racing League.
The classes are formed around what the teams need.
There are 2 and 4 year degrees in business and technologies.
They even do things for off road racers.
Lima appears to have started in 1993 and other colleges have since added the training, Indianapolis (Indiana) and Fremont California.
So what do you think of this kind of program and would you send your kids?
8 people like this
31 responses
@avengeflipper (1)
• United States
5 Mar 07
Yes, I would put my children in if that is where their interests laid. Even if they chose not to pursue a career in it, they would at least have a chance to try it out. It also would put them ahead of the game in mechanical careers. It is a growing field. Many kids go to school for things they don't end up working as. I think if that is where your child's interests lay and it makes sense to you, then you should consider it.
2 people like this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
6 Mar 07
Welcome to Mylot. Thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
4 Mar 07
If my child grew up and took an interest in that kind of stuff, and it was taught in an option, I'd certainly send her/him to that school, but if it was mandatory, I would not. I am interested in individual interests, and think that education needs to cater to them. This is a great option, but not as a compulsery course.
2 people like this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
4 Mar 07
This is just about 15 years old and not in many places yet. I thought it neat and wondered what others thought. Thanks much for contributing.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
5 Mar 07
If this is what my kid was really interested in, and it was a full program that taught everything needed for the degree that they were going after so that they didn't have to transfer to or from another school, then I don't see why not.
2 people like this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
5 Mar 07
I would if my child was really interested in pursuing a career in Nascar. I think it's an interesting program for those who are serious. Personally I don't watch or like Nascar but it's neat to know there is something out there that helps those who want a career in it to get the real help they need.
2 people like this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
4 Mar 07
I think it's a great thing for kids that have an interest in cars or the mechanics of cars. I think kids learn a lot more and a lot better when they're interested in what they're being taught. What better experience for a kid then getting hands on training from a pro. Sounds great to me.
2 people like this
@kyran_12 (643)
• India
5 Mar 07
myself a student of architecture , m single so no child but talkin bout future yes if he is very much n only intrested in cars then definately its good to send them to the school , profession and business are totly diffrent things so its good to have intresting profession. the idea behind this topic is awesome i feel................cheers
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
5 Mar 07
Yes i will, my son has been talking about going to this school for about 3 years and he is 14 now. We are a racing family and that is the only school that he want to go to. He will driving on the big tracks with his dad this next year. So definetly that is where he wants to go.
1 person likes this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
6 Mar 07
So glad he is so focused, I hope mightily that he gets to attend and make a good career out of it. Thanks for responding.
@1grnthmb (2055)
• United States
23 Mar 07
If I had a child that was into cars and race cars then I would think that would be a great opportunity for them. If you were an automechanic then tere is no better paying job then to work on race cars. That is like the top of the line job. I used to be into Nascar and went to a few events at Rancho Seco Race Tracts. But it was very loud and always very hot there so I stopped going and lost interest in the sport.
1 person likes this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I know of what you speak, I never thought it to be a good thing to go in circles and be so loud. Appreciate you responding.
@p3halliwel2005 (3156)
• Philippines
5 Mar 07
I think that is cool...I love cars and my boys does too and I think that would be a great lesson for them.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
4 Mar 07
My son's friend went there and loved it. Yes, I would send my kid there. The skills learned there are not limited to Nascar, but can be carried over to the real world. And let's face it, this is the kind of job that can't be offshored and automotive technicians as they are now called, need to be highly skilled, have computer knowledge and are well paid.
The jobs will not be going away and the skill level needed will likely increase as modern technology makes things more complicated.
1 person likes this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
6 Mar 07
Thanks so much for sharing this experience. I understand and agree completly about our jobs left here on these shores.
Thanks very much for responding.
@mikeyr6000le (2123)
• United States
5 Mar 07
If my child showed an interest in it and I could afor it then sure I'd send them. I myself am not a nascar fan. I don't see the point of people wasteing prescious gas to see who can got that fastest around a circle track.
1 person likes this
@Withoutwings (6992)
• United States
5 Mar 07
I personally am not a nascar fan, but I think that it's very cool that they have these kind of classes as a school. If my child wanted to go to this school and take these classes I would definately not stand in their way.
1 person likes this
@Randync (544)
• United States
5 Mar 07
I live in the heart of NASCAR country in North Carolina. A friend of mine is a fabricator on a NASCAR truck team. He makes good money and that is just in the truck series. I ran into him the other day and he actually mentioned the schools. He said it was a good way to break into the business. He didn't go to one, because he has family connections to the sport, and they probably didn't have the schools when he started. If my kids were interested in one, I would send them. Though I would consider one in NC so they can be closer to the majority of the teams, and build some contacts.
1 person likes this
@enchantedleppard (1541)
• United States
5 Mar 07
I think its a great thing to do if your kid is that passionate about it. It will lead to a whole new life and so many opportunities. I think its awesome. I've never heard of it until you mentioned it. If I had a kid I would most definitely consider it if thats what he or she wanted.
1 person likes this
@JackBravo (970)
• United States
5 Mar 07
That's freakin awesome! I wish I had done something like that after college, during college, or something like that. I know nothing about cars now, and I always feel like car mechanics are taking advantage of me when I pay all this money to fix up the car. Even though I wouldn't be a race car mechanic, it would just be nice to know.
