Life question from a teen

Hey everyone,

Im a senior in high school this year. My dad is in the US Air Force and we are stationed in Germany right now so i have no way of going around and figuring out where i want to live. Once i graduate i am looking to go to a technical college and do some sort of custom fabrication stuff, whether its building hot rods or race cars. Currently i am building a hotrod in my high school auto shop and im doing an internship at the machine and weld shop on base so i have a decent knowledge in that field for my age at least. Im on the process of joining the airforce reserves and join as metals technology so ill go though their tech school and have even more welding and machining knowledge. A few of my freinds are going to college in Minnesota so that got me looking at technical colleges and shops in the Minneapolis area. There was a decent looking technical college there and a few hotrod shops, but im not sure. So basically my question is what are your guy's opinion on what a teen that loves cars and fabricating with very little money should do? Anyone know what the chances of me getting hired at a race car or hot rod shop when i don't have any previous job experience? Also what should i be doing now to prepare for a life in the custom fabrication business? Also what would really stand out to someone looking to hire me, technical college, engineering degree, just showing up and showing them all the skills i picked up? I really have no idea what to be going for and i dont have anyone to ask here in Germany. So any help from you guys that are in the civilian, car life would help me out more than you think. Here is a picture of my hot rod:

Its a 1934 Hanomag Rekord with a BMW V12 and Jag rear end. I build pretty much every single thing so far. And no i dont plan on using those rims, its just that i had laying around.

 

McPherson College, McPherson, KS.
r

 

My advice:

1) Don’t give up
2) See Rule #1

a lot is to be said about determination, what most advise is missing is the whole truth, which is not always nice, as you will come to a many obstacle, but it’s the drive and "balls" for lack of a better term that will ultimately drive you to success in anything that you end up choosing, but don’t forget to that what you choose is made up from a lot of other choices and paths you will come across, it’s God's way of testing your resolve as a man! Stay true to your roots/skills and your common sense and trust your guy/heart….and eventually when all is said and done, you will have very few regrets, and most likely will be doing exactly what you “should” be doing as opposed to what you may “want” to do.

 

I was going to say McPherson as well.....know some guys who seemed to get a good start there. Also, you could simply go to welding school, come out a certified welder and apply those skills to Hot Rod fabrication.

Good Luck !

 

By the way, you can easily find a JOHNNY CHIMPO logo on-line and use it for your avatar, that would be very cool.

Johnnie........

 

Never thought I'd ever say this..... but Nice HAnomag!

Just keep doing what you are doing, you are on the right track. When I owned my shop I had a real hard time finding guys that had any passion at all about what they did and it showed. Find the places you want to work and let them know early that yu want to work there and keep in touch until your ready. Chances are they will be looking forward to you working there too.

 

dude like you car stay after it get this crap as a hobby, you really better like cause the money is lite in mn just my opinion ret. after 40 yrs in the trade minn is a horrable market for work but lots of cool car things goin on around here and there are lots of shops dont what they pay know of many young guys that went to school and found out it is a way tough living

 

Continue to love cars. Think big, not small. Plan on working smart, not hard.

Set your sights, as far as life's work goes, to getting a degree, not at a technical school, but at a real live Univeriity. If it's mechanical things you are attracted to, then go for a degree in Mechanical Engineering. If you are a Senior in HS, it's time to start sending out applications to Universities, LAST WEEK. If you are a Junior in HS, next Christmas is the time to start filling out the applications and send them off in January.

Did I say, Think big, not small? Plan on working smart, not hard!

 

Johnny Chimpo; One of the biggest distractions for a teen is those people that try to talk you into being like them, which many times is the old song and dance of trying to drag you down to their level. Learn to recognize this, then educate yourself on life's possibilities. Ten years from now your Goals are most likely to be much different than you see them now.

 

Get an education so you get a job thats well
paid so you can afford to build cars as a hobby
othewise after awhile its just another job
and you dont want to see your own cars
when you come home

 

I agree 100%. In my experience, I've seen people who have "technical" degrees wind up in dead end, low-paying jobs with little chance of advancement, mostly from county vo-tech colleges. I don't know about places like UTI or Wyo-tech, but I can think of at least a few people who went there that now change oil for a living. The current job market is tough, and you need to think about a degree or career path that is going to give you a good return on your investment.

Whatever you decide, 2 things of advice I can give.
1 - Never underestimate the value of work ethic and not being an asshole. If you can work harder than your peers and not be a dick while doing it, you'll do well in any job regardless of what field you're in.
2- Your employment and love of cars do not need to be connected. Have you ever worked in a shop or worked on cars for a living? There is a good possibility that after busting you ass on customer's cars all day, you'll be too spent to work on your own stuff. Don't let your passion become your obligation.

my $.02

 

Your last post was right on! Never take advise from bitter losers!

 

Neat rod! Stay the course, alway's be a free thinker. Learn tech. Work with your hand's and the mind. Do not drink, smoke or partake in the drug scene. It's a dead end. No Verichip. T.V. is a waste land. Good health to you, kid.

 

Gain as much skill and knowledge as you can..........as for getting hired, to me it's all about attitude. Someone can have all of the degrees and training in the world, but if their attitude sucks no way I'd hire them...my 2 cents

 

MUST GET A DEGREE TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THE JOB MARKET. Hone your auto skills and keep that as a hobby. If you become talented at the hobby you will enjoy it forever. I worked in two fields and kept the hobby just that, a hobby and I love it.

 

Yeah I was thinking about that. If i worked on cars all day i wouldn't enjoy working on my cars. As far as degrees go a mechanical engineer degree would have a bunch of cool job opportunities that are mechanical based but don't deal with cars. What sort of stuff does that consist of? And if i were to become a machinist or something allong those lines, what would be some draw backs to that route?

 

Take it from a guy that has been there and did not make the right choices when I was your age, GET ALL THE EDUCATION THAT YOU CAN, WORK HARD and things will go your way. Looking at your project, you have a lot of skills allready, hone them, enjoy them and you will succeed. Try with all your heart to avoid the pittfalls that are out there.
GOOD LUCK!
Later,
Dick

 

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a machinist, but there are a lot of unemployed machinists. I would advise you to get a degree as well, since it seriously broadens your job opportunities. Lots of jobs just require you to have a degree, any degree. MechE is great but you must be skilled in math and science. You will study statics and fluid dynamics, internal combustion, thermo, all kinds of cool stuff.

 

You are young so just make sure to keep your options open. I spent a couple years after school weeks days at a collision and restoration shop. I then went full time after graduating for about a year. I discovered in a short time I didn't like working on cars for a living. You may find the same thing you just never know. Now working on cars is a hobby, passion of mine but 20 years ago if I stayed in the field I would have grown to hate it.

 

Yeah the math required for the mechanical engineer degree looks like its over my head. I dont hate math but after algebra 2 when things started getting goofy I couldn't keep up with it. What other sort of degrees still cover a good deal of mechanical ideas but dont require an insane amount of math?

 

Johnny,
Its easy enough for adults to fall back on the old recommendations that really are good, in spite of their over use:
stay in school, off of drugs, don't get too close to the girls - if you know what I mean and follow your passion - you will need the energy it gives you when the going gets tough...
I almost signed up to be a structural airframe tech in the Air Force. I still wonder how that would have gone. I AM sure it would have been a good plan.
I got an AAS in Auto Body Repair from Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan (program now gone ) then fixed wrecks for a living for 3 years. I returned to the same school for two more years (+ - a term) and left the second time with a Bachelor's in Automotive Management. That led to an offer to work for Saturn - eventually GM 21 years ago. I am still there.
Ferris still has a heavy equipment and automotive program that will work with GI bill college funds - showing up with that Air Force time behind you will only help in countless ways.
Regardless what you do, Pick who you listen to very carefully. Its not some are bad and some are good, its just that some folks only can talk about the wrong things to do because - sadly - its all they have ever done.
Ask your Mom or another trusted Woman how to tell - Women seem to have radar for who are bad to listen to that we men do not...(atleast some women do - my wife sure does...)
I am excited for you - the world is full of opportunity and you are standing at that fresh edge many of us guys on here would love to be at once again. I'm only 48, I love what I do for GM and know that there are shops here in the prototype business looking for dedicated, diciplined and reliable guys that are not afraid to work.
ps - pm or email me anytime, I always have time for this kind of discussion

 

Lots of good advice here. As a former shop owner I can tell you that after spending all day working on "regular" cars, the last thing I felt like doing was pushing one of my projects in and wrenching for another couple hours. Get the education & career going first and do this hot rod stuff as a hobby. By the way I really like the ride your building. I've never even heard of a Hanomag Rekord but it is a pretty nice looking body and the V-12 looks cool in there. Be sure to post more build pics when you get a chance.

 

I forgot to mention how Impressed I am with your Hot Rod... Very cool !!!!!!!
I know guys who have gotten jobs over projects like that alone... Keep up the great work.

 

You could get a degree in Industrial Technology, doesn't require as much math. If I were you, I would try to do an apprenticeship in Germany, that's the land of great machinists.

 

Another popular "hanomag"

Hanomag Hannoversch Machinenbau

 

This would be my choice as well if I was to go back and do it again. They have an EXCELLENT automotive restoration program that Jay Leno has even hired guys from to work in his shop. I wish I could still do it but I'm married now, have my business off the ground and have a new baby.

 

Man, You are living in the land that has produced some of the best craftsmen the world has ever seen. That is sort of like living in Sudbury Ontario (Nickel mining capital of the world) and asing if you should go to England to learn mining. Bust the language barrier if you dont speak Deutsche. It is the same basic language anyway and learn from those guys while you have the chance.
Don

 

stock hanomag, not a bad looking car!

 

If I was starting over today I would be learning all I can about alternative energy. Too many people in power that think fossil fuels are evil.

 

Yeah the only down fall to staying here in Germany is that i simply cannot afford to live here. IT is sooo expensive and i cant handle all of the laws. I know that sounds like a stupid thing to say but there is a law against everything here. Living in Germany without having the Air Force behind me would be almost impossible.