Expert: Dan Liddy - 1/12/2009

Question
Hi my name is Eric I am a senior at Ponderosa High school graduating in May. I am very interested in test driving cars as a career. I am hoping with your experience and number of years in the industry you would be a good source for advisement and direction on my course for a college education to best head me in the direction to become a test driver of cars. Look forward to chatting with you soon.
Thank you for your time
Eric Hovgaard
Home phone
Parker Colorado

Answer
Hi Eric:

You will need a degree in Mechanical Engineering and/or Automotive Engineering.  Sometime during the second or third semester of Engineering school, companies will contact you with offers of assistance, part time work and stuff of that sort.  You will almost certainly have to pursue your Masters in Engineering at some point in the future.  There are no opportunities without further formal education, none.   

Your wish to become a test driver will necessarily involve some exceptional skills with cars on the edge of control skidding sliding, heavy braking with skids and the ability to control those things.  It's probably  a harder job than professional racing.  

With that in mind, it wouldn't hurt you a bit to get involved at the grass roots level with amateur racing. My suggestion would be to seek out a membership in Sports Car Club of America and start attending various events including races, solo events and the like.  You can find a region in your area by going to <www.scca.org>   Look for the region in your area and seek out your local district for more information, you should be able to find real human beings to telephone for all you need to know .  

For now that's all I can offer.  

Good luck

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida