Many people want to become automobile mechanics, but how many dream of working on a NASCAR pit crew? Training at a Technical Institute in North Carolina combines vocational automotive training with a complete motor sports trade school program.

By Gabby Hyman
RWM Columnist
November 14, 2006

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) began as regional racing in the Deep South. Today it's the largest sanctioning body for motor sports in the country with races broadcast in over 150 nations. People that work on cars - in the pits during races and in garages during engine development - belong to a rarefied club. If you've wanted to receive the latest automotive vocational training in the land, why not look right here in North Carolina, where NASCAR is king and Technical Institutes offer programs that lead wrench jockeys to the checkered flag?

North Carolina is the South's renowned racing country. The idea behind the automotive trade school's in this area is to offer state-of-the-art vocational instruction in drive trains, electrical systems, chassis design and repair, lubrication and fuel systems, and engine design and fabrication.

Vocational Training that Revs Your Engine
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), vocational opportunities will be strong over the next decade for automotive service technicians and mechanics that have attended formal trade schools and have current diagnostic and technical skills. People in the profession, the BLS says, will have steady work even if there are downturns in the economy.

Jobs outside of NASCAR should be plentiful throughout all the business sectors of the American economy, too. Mechanics are needed to service and repair vehicles in the private sector, at automobile repair shops and dealerships, in government agencies at federal, state, and local levels, and with specialty shops like auto parts, tire, and brake facilities.

But if you've wanted to work on cars, you might was well work on very fast cars! North Carolina trade schools provide traditional and fundamental courses on frame, electrical, and power plant issues, and also teach students about trends in racing development and automotive manufacturing. You'll also learn the history of NASCAR, how to contribute to a racing team, and the major rules and regulations of car design, specifications, and racing rules.

Most automotive vocational training programs in this area include specializations in Ford FACT Technology, NASCAR Engines, and NASCAR Technology with a focus on pit crew skills. Automotive technical graduates can further their training with Manufacturer Specific Advanced Training (MSAT) certification courses by manufacturers including Volvo Audi,, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen.

Source
US Bureau of Labor Statistics

About the Author
Gabby Hyman has created online strategies and written content for Fortune 500 companies including eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Microsoft Encarta, Avaya, and Nissan UK.