hi, when i'm older i want to be a mechanical/motorsports engineer, and would like to know a bit more about how cars work etc. are there any books that give a detailed look at how cars/racing cars/engines work without being so complicated you'd need a degree to understand them in the first place?
If you can find a copy of it the Race and Rally Car Source Book (~£10 second hand from Amazon) is a very good starting point and easy to follow.
Racecar Engineering is a monthly magazine (you'll have to get it on subscription or you can find a copy in good bookshops to see what its like, but they always charge a lot more), some articles maybe a bit heavy to try and read without a good understanding of maths/physics at least at A level standard, but there's plenty else in it that doesn't require it.
If you're interested in how cars work, but don't really know much then the Hilliers Fundamentals of Motor Vehicle Technology (you want Book 1, 2+3 are about electrics) is very good, although it is a clear and easy to understand textbook covering pretty much everything there is to know about cars from modern to old, and it's easy to dip into when you want to look something up.
thanks, i'll check those out. also, anyone got any advice for me? e.g. A level choices, good Unis, best way to get started in the career (race series and suchlike)?
If you want to do any mechanical engineering discipline and choose A levels as your entry route to uni you will need maths and physics, the third choice is pretty free, I did DT (resistant materials), which seems like a fairly natural third choice. A relevant BTEC is also accepted as an equivalent to A levels for most courses.
There's no shortage of courses, and of course some are good some are bad and they cater for different levels. The Autosport show is the best place to actually go and get a feel for what there all like, and to try and work out what is right for you, if you can do the maths and physics and want to do a mechinical engineering degree then the majority of the motorsport courses are not what you want, a lot are aimed at producing competent race mechanics/technicians, they do their job well but may not be what you're looking for.
The better mechanical engineering degrees are IMechE accredited, however most motorsport engineering degrees are not. AFAIK only Brunel and Oxford Brookes offer IMechE accredited courses specialising in motorsport, the first two years at Brookes (and I think Brunel) are exactly the same whichever mechanical engineering discipline you choose (automotive/mechanical/motorsport) and you can change your mind after the two years.
Whatever course you choose the actual amount of hands on practical work you'll get to do on an engineering course will be very low, and very few motorsport jobs come without either a hands on practical element or a requirement to understand the needs and practicalities of those doing the work in the workshop. I'll finish the first year of my course (Motorsport Engineering at Brookes) on Tuesday and I'm sure there are plenty on my course who have never changed so much as a wheel (I'm sure some don't even know what a torque wrench is!), and this year we've had an 'Autolab' module that doesn't actually do a lot to help those who haven't done anything before, it consisted mainly of 'stripping' engines held together by the odd finger tight bolt. To be of any use to an employer you will need as much practical experience as possible, try and get some experience with a local team, most will be very willing to get some extra help and if you prove yourself useful you might even get a job as a result, when you bowl up at Prodrive with a nice shiny degree like everybody else has you need something to give you the edge
thanks. i was actually thinking of doing it at oxford brookes. is it any good? also, i though you could do sandwich courses (3rd year doing volunteer work at a team). what a level grades do you need to get in?
If you can do it then it'll put you in good light for competitive places asking for straight As, but from what other people on my course who did it have told me there's little content on the further maths course thats useful for the engineering maths. Make sure you do M1 and M2 though, I was given the option of doing S1 or teaching myself M2 for A2, I wish I'd chosen to teach myself though given how painfully dull and irrelevant (but easy) S1 was.
I think I got an offer of BBB, but had got AAAB in my AS levels. It's not hard to get into Brookes, so long as you get at least a C in Maths and B in physics you should be safe even if you fail the other subject, despite what they say/offer you. Actually doing the course is somewhat harder and the drop out rate is high amoung those who don't bother to work or have just blindly started the course because 'it sounded cool'.
Overall I've been pretty impressed with Brookes, the course doesn't feature enough practical stuff and the actual teaching time is a lot less than other engineering courses. I looked at Brunel as well and ultimately chose Brookes largely because Oxford is a much nicer place to be.
Look around a few places first, Brookes and Brunel should definitely be on your list along with maybe a few others that don't offer the motorsport part but still offer good mechanical engineering degrees, Swansea and Bath?
cool. also, i was thinking, motorsport engineering is very specialised. would it be better to do mech eng. first, and then motorsports eng. to give me a wider range of career choices? also, what are you planning on doing after the course? and what about the sandwich course i asked about above?
An IMechE accredited motorsport engineering degree is a proper mechanical engineering degree, the content covered is exactly the same just it's applied to something relevant and interesting. It shouldn't reduce career opportunities and people do leave the motorsport course into a variety of engineering jobs, not always motorsport related.
No because it's stupidly over-subscribed, 180 team members building 2 cars and from what I've heard from people who have done it, little sense of direction and an opportunity to do about an hour on it every two weeks, not my idea of fun. A group project needs a small group of motivated people who have a proper interest and get on, thankfully for Brookes students there is the OUMF.
Not really got getting into uni, they might ask for a pass (as in A*-C) in english or maths (obviously there only going to be bothered about maths if you're doing a course that doesn't require an A level in it). If you've done A levels any employer is going to be interested in them before worrying about your GCSEs. For some competitive university places where the requirements are high (ie. 3 As) they will take a look at them but that's about it.
Certificates are not needed you simply give your results at AS, there's no requirement to have them certified, in fact I don't think you can apply to uni with just A2s on the UCAS system.
know of any near me? i'd really like to do that during the holidays, as i have 12/13 weeks of nothing. if you know of any teams near me at the right level (as in i don't know what level i'd be accepted at - not mclaren just yet!), and if you have any inside connections that'd be great. its a long shot but worth a go!
ring your local tracks, join rally clubs etc and be polite ask around go to meets and eventually they'll get you fixing something, its a Slow but Sure road you have to travel...
No shortcuts for the good things in life.
i myself haven't the time, im busy trying to get my own garage started But thats a fair while away.
