In a recent Forbes article, writer Anna Kupka argues that loving your job does more for the world than just improving your own satisfaction. Kupka goes so far to say that your job satisfaction actually has repercussions outside of your life, ultimately improving society as a whole. Especially for people with niche interests, it can be important to find a job that you truly connect with. Not only will this help you work harder and more productively, but it will also ensure that you don’t spend your days daydreaming about your hobby instead of focusing on the task at hand. This is particularly true in the case of racing fans. If you’re looking for an automotive job and love racing culture, here are a few ideas to kick-start your job search.
Automotive mechanic
One of the most obvious places to fulfill your love of racing and all things automotive is as a mechanic. Becoming a mechanic isn’t just a means to an end for other jobs on this list, though. While working as a mechanic, you can help others continue to fulfill their own love of racing, by maintaining the safety and mechanical functions of whatever they choose to race. From go kart repairmen to mechanics who specialize on motorcycles, there are plenty of ways that becoming an auto mechanic can intersect with your passion to race.
Motorcycle parts retailer
If becoming a mechanic isn’t quite your speed, you can still find tremendous satisfaction in the world of sales as an automotive or motorcycle parts retailer. There are plenty of prominent retailers, like California’s Chaparral Motorsports, that focus on serving motorcycle enthusiasts. Businesses like Chaparall have a deep and storied history of helping riders like Steve Lamson and Jeremy McGrath follow their dreams of racing motorcycles professionally. While many companies spend time trying to figure out how to make their employees connect more to their mission, if you find a retailer that connects with you on a personal level, you’ll be ahead of the pack as an employee.
Automotive detailer
Like mechanical repairs, automotive detailing is an important aspect of maintaining a car or motorcycle that sees the track often. Racing against others opens drivers up to more dings and wear on their vehicles, so paint touch ups, detailing, and scratch repair are all services that the racing industry frequently calls upon. This is even more true when a driver or rider has a sponsorship which is painted on their vehicle. Thankfully, detailing jobs are plentiful around the country, allowing race teams to find reliable automotive paint repair in Pennsauken, NJ after a race at the Old Bridge Raceway Park or wherever else their racing travels may take them.
Pit crew worker
While working in the pit crew is many racing fans’ dream, it can be a tough gig to land. Even so, as NASCAR reduces the number of pit workers on teams to improve overall safety, it continues to pay them a respectable salary. If you’re up for the intense amount of labor and stamina required to perform this job, it’s well worth pursuing. Make sure that you’ve mastered your courses in mechanics and are an agile team player so that you can prove to any racing team that you have the strength and knowledge to quickly refuel a race car or change its tires.
Finding a job that speaks to your passions is a key part of finding job satisfaction. For racing lovers, there are several jobs to consider that offer you an opportunity to combine your automotive skills with your love of racing. While mechanical jobs may take you to automotive dealerships or, if you’re lucky, the pit stop, there are a variety of other ways to connect with racing in your career, too. So get a job that speaks to you and find the thrill of racing in the workplace, too.
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