Professional MB Tech goes Big Time! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 12-24-2004, 02:23 PM

My ex brother in law and friend of 31 years has just gotten the opportunity of a lifetime!

He has been a voluntary crew chief for an up and coming race driver. They have campaigned a Formula Mazda and a Legends car for several years, and done it very successfully.

His day job is a tech at the MB dealership where he has been for six or seven years. He spent many years as a diesel mechanic before moving to the MB dealership because he loved his '86 300D so much, is one of the reasons he went to MB. Yours truly is responsible for turning on to MB diesels.

The driver and crew chief are now getting a ride in the up and coming A1GP series. You can learn about this at www.A1GP.com. In this series, there are a number of countries worldwide who will have a team and the races will be in many countries all over the world, North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The cars are over 500 horsepower and only 1500 pounds, open wheel. The winner of one of these races will get over a million dollars.

I am so excited for him. He is a VERY smart and hard working guy and understands automobiles and race cars to an extreme level.

Be watching for an A1GP race near you.

Merry Christmas,

suginami · #2 12-24-2004, 04:32 PM

Does this mean he is quitting his day job?

punky · #3 12-24-2004, 04:34 PM

They are hot looking cars. Congrats to him,great opportunity as you say.

#4 12-25-2004, 09:16 PM

Paul,

Yep, he is quitting his day job and will make twice as much money with only a six month racing season. I don't know how much off season work will be involved.

Merry Christmas,

mplafleur · #5 12-26-2004, 08:29 AM

Interesting concept. Buy a franchise, put together a team and make money by attracting sponsors and radio/tv revenue. Good going for your brother in-law.

The off-season is only just less hectic as there is less travel but I'm not sure about less work. But then I was involved in Formula 1 racing for several years where you are responsible also for the development and testing of the chassis and powertrain. In this series, everybody gets the same chassis and engine.

Don't forget. Weekdays are all prep and weekends are spent at the track. Support is there from sunup to sundown. You work enough hours that you need to get paid more.

#6 12-26-2004, 09:52 AM

Yes, I've thought of that. In racing series where they build their own cars it's 24/7/365. Since they are using the liberal approach of "let's be FAair" then they won't be building cars in the off season.

I do expect that it will be a constant full time job though. John has never had a travelling job before, so I don't know how well he will take to living in hotels. I have travelled at this level several times in my life and it doesn't bother me too much, but it might be a surprise for him. Since he's single and a hard working, dedicated guy I fully expect that he will deal with it.

His daughter was the one making a big deal out of working 6 months of the year. In reality I don't think it will work that way.

Have a great day,

jcd · #7 12-26-2004, 09:53 AM

Looks like a great concept and VERY WELL FUNDED.

Michael, what was your involvement in F1. (not trying to hijack the thread, but I had to ask)

JCD

mplafleur · #8 12-26-2004, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcd

Looks like a great concept and VERY WELL FUNDED.

Michael, what was your involvement in F1. (not trying to hijack the thread, but I had to ask)

JCD

When Ford Motor Company got back into F1 in the 80's (Team Hass and Beneton), they decided to use a custom engine control module. For several years I worked under the tutelage of one of the best engine startegy programmers ever. Since I wasn't lead, I didn't get to travel but to a couple of race weekends for support. All engine and chassis development was done in England at Silverstone and Cosworth. We also supported Jack Rousch and his GTO, Trans Am and GTP race teams. His drivers then were Tom Gloy, Bruce Jenner, Scott Pruett, ans Lynn St. James. (Sorry Lynn, I corrected it)

jcd · #9 12-27-2004, 07:08 AM

I think you meant Lynn St James and was it GTP or TransAM.

That was a fairly classic time for TransAM. If I remember right, that was when Paul Newman also raced TransAM, and Scott Sharp was an up and coming team driver,,,, maybe a teenager.

They were real ground pounders back then.

I had a friend whose dad worked on the Cars n Concepts cars that I think was driven by Tommy Kendall. He also developed the initial Corvette GTP cars with David Hobbs as the driver.

I envy your experience. I have been a race fan of "all" cars for 40 years, and a real fan of Roush. The Roush Mustang is my dream car,,,, besides my 300D of course.

JCD

boneheaddoctor · #10 12-27-2004, 07:56 AM

Cool.....I had a chance to be a mechanic of a European Rally team back in 1992.....but declined the offer.......to this day I wonder where I would be had I accepted it.

One things for sure.....I doubt he will ever forget it even if he goes back to being a regular mechanic.

mplafleur · #11 12-27-2004, 10:15 AM

I corrected my post. It was Lynn and we also supported Trans Am. GTO used the Mustang, and Trans Am was based on the Merkur. There was another woman driver, but the name escapes me.