Mechanic Half Season
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Priced at $690 CDN + 13% sales tax
Introduction
In contrast to our other (shorter) courses, this course is for car racing enthusiasts who are pumped to experience more than just the on track driving part of car racing and have more time to "hang out" at the race track for the summer of a lifetime! Most of the clients / participants of this course aren't taking it to have on their resume as part of their goal to get into the car racing industry, but rather are excited about having a summer of fun through the various aspects of open wheel formula car racing. While we believe all of our courses (from the single day to the multi-day to this longer course) are very well thought of around the motorsport industry in North America, we can't say any of our 18 courses are specifically designed nor are specifically recognized as any sort of training program for a specific placement within the industry (although we are aware some graduates of this course have gone on to work within car racing).
No previous experience necessary but you should be mechanically inclined, self motivated, enthusiastic and ready for a challenging season here at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park! Please refer to the enrollment requirements section shown below for further details.
The one-time course fee is only $690 CDN (+ 13% tax) and includes a sportswear crew uniform + personalized motorsports photo package. Personal expenses will generally add about $700 CDN per month excluding apartment rent. Canadian Immigration Laws have special rules to assist with foreign applicants, click here to visit their web site.
2018 MRC3 Course Driving Curriculum
Participants starting at the beginning of the course will receive, on dates to be selected by the Academy:
- Our 3-day Race License Course (Wheel-to-Wheel Racing) (possibly offered in sections)
- 6 lapping practice session
IMPORTANT:
On track activities must be fit into the day that is booked to run them. Please note that if mechanical breakdowns or weather or other circumstances prevent the running or completion of that day, we are not able to re-book that day & recoup any driving that doesn't get finished or run. While every year is different, we've never had a shortage in the 26 years we've been running the course.
Executive Summary
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Short Name: |
MRC3 |
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Course duration (& thus, living expenses) more affordable than our 6 month course option. |
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Duration: |
3 months. |
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Requirements: |
Basic proficiency with a manual transmission. |
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Bonus: |
Personalized motorsports photo package.
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Price: |
$690 CDN (+ 13% tax) one-time course fee. |
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Amenities: |
Professional facility. |
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Adds 10 more lapping sessions! |
2018 MRC 3 Course Description
While no experience is necessary, you will certainly be acquiring an admirable level of experience in the 3 main areas of activities: racing shop activities / tasks + event operation activities / tasks when the Academy has events on track + your own on track driving / racing activity days! Please take note below where the proportioning of these three areas is described.
In no particular order:
Shop Activities / Tasks:
These will range from the exciting (new to you) activities / tasks when learning about the race cars (especially at the beginning of the course). Having said that, learning the rather basic but necessary (& very much repeated through out the season) maintenance activities / tasks is also very much a part of the course as the season progresses.
Participants will benefit from training on most of the following subjects click here for expanded list: fasteners, suspension, brake systems, alignments, gearboxes, drive lines, cooling systems, bodywork, aerodynamics, check lists, fabrication, wheels / tires, bearings, electrical, safety, customer service, steering, fuel systems, shift linkages, torches & welding.
Event Operation Tasks:
When we have an on track event, there will be various outdoor activities / tasks that range from daily car prep + facility prep + race car driver fitment + on track session logistics + lots of lapping sessions communication corner working flagging. In the current economy, our 6 month course will have approx. 55 days of these – there were 47 in 2017 (plus these also being done during your own on track driving / racing activity days). It's not possible to accurately forcast what proportion of those will fall within your 3 month course.
Your own "MRC" on track Driving / Racing Activities:
Most course participants consider these days to be the most fun (no surprise!). A full list of all the days / sessions is detailed below. These days are provided as part of your course but most of them do have a (very low) level of race car damage responsibility (& "wheels off" fines for smaller damages to the race cars) – these are detailed below. Having said that, we are very proud of both our 33 year injury free safety record and also the very low volume of race car damages that the course participants have experienced in the 26 years we've been running the course (the recent history of these is detailed below).
Summary:
Make no mistake, racing and race car prep. & racing event operations requires a unique dedication and temperament.Similar to Pro Racing, this course not only requires that you successfully participate your way through the early season portion, but also prove your ability to retain your focus and performance when the season is coming to a close.
Similar to Pro Teams, the long hours of the course (usually parallel the functioning of the Academy's events) will be spent with lots of hours of fairly basic tasks as part of a crew where frankly the challenge is maintaining focus / performance. Even though you've now done these activities / tasks many times by now, that doesn't change the fact they are still 100% as important as they were back at the beginning of the season (just like Pro Teams!).
You will drive 2008 Van Diemen Formula cars
You will love driving our fleet of modern Van Diemen Formula cars! Everything from their incredible handling and acceleration to their amazing braking capabilities will entice you to want to push yourself and the car to greater heights each and every session. They’re a dream come true!
Learn More
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Driver Development Centre
NEW STARTING IN 2014! Purpose-built training track designed from the ground up expressly for driver development. Canadian Tire Motorsport Park owners Carlo Fidani and Ron Fellows have totally revamped the Driver Development Centre! In contrast to our previous 1.7km track length, the new track offers two configurations of 2.2km (intermediate) and 2.9km (advanced).
See our satellite overlay photo, track map and more on our Canadian Tire Motorsport Park page.
Learn More
Expanded Subject List
Participants will benefit from the information we share through familiarization modules on most of the following subjects. IMPORTANT – please note: the depth we will be going into with each of these modules will NOT be equal to a course that would be providing professional mechanical licencing nor is the depth designed specifically to provide definitive employment status within Motorsport. Actual inclusion of which subjects below will depend upon the 3 month time period selected.
| Fastners: Nuts, bolts, washers, cotter pins, circlips, rivets, torque, SAE, metric, locking, loctite, rivnuts, K-nuts, jam nuts, nylock nuts, shear & tension strengths, grades, structural, hitchpins, safety wire, helicoils | Wheels & Tires: Removal, installation, balancing, width, size, air pressure, flatspot, bent wheels, mounting, dry & wet |
| Suspension: Springs, shocks, bushings, pushrods & bellcranks, wishbones, rod ends & sph. brgs. | Bearings: Inspection, preparation, types, installation |
| Alignment: Castor, bumpsteer, ride height, rake, cornerweight, camber, toe | Electrical: Wiring, connectors, heat shrink, batteries, starter, gauges, switches, short circuits, rev limiters, soldering |
| Safety: Personal, shop, customer, race car, flagging | Gearbox: Assembly, set-up, differential, gear ratios |
| Customer Service: Fitment, safety, appearance, attitude, assistance, enthusiasm | Drive Line: Clutch, half shafts, CV joints |
| Steering: Rack & pinion, column, wheel | Cooling Systems: Water pump, hoses, radiator, cooling, eng. circulation, rad caps, pressure test, temperature |
| Fuel System: Fuel cell, lines, pump, filters, types, fueling | Oil System: Oil pump, pressure, hoses, fittings, cooling, eng. circulation |
| Shift Linkage: Lever, linkage, hook joints, adjustment, bearings | Bodywork: Fiberglass techniques, air ducting, painting touch-ups, detailing |
| Torch: Operation, use, safety | Aerodynamics: Wings, bodywork |
| Welding: Oxyacetelene brazing, tig, mig | Check Lists: Organization, maintenance, record keeping |
| Race Car: Assembly, prep, maintenance, chassis repairs, inspection | Fabrication: Templates, jigs, drilling, cutting, deburring, grinding, finishing, sandblasting |
Course Requirements
Basic proficiency with a manual transmission. No previous experience necessary but you should be mechanically inclined, self motivated, enthusiastic and ready for a challenging season at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park! Most people fit in our Formula cars, see fitment details.
18 to 39 yrs old (16 & 17 year olds may be admitted with parent or guardian consent).
All participants are responsible for race car and equipment damages similar to some of our other courses. The Academy requires a damage deposit of $1000 CDN. This deposit, minus any outstanding amounts, is refunded after participants depart. Please note your vehicle damage responsibilities during driving days will range from $0 to $1900 CDN. The Academy reserves the right to raise a mechanic's damage deposit for any reason it feels necessary. This damage deposit will also be used if a participant elects to stay in the apartments we arrange for any damages / charges owing to the apartment management company.
Yes, drivers are only responsible for a very small portion of the car's value, and another comforting piece of information is the data from our history of Mechanic / Racing Courses from 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017! After hundreds of THOUSANDS of race car laps by participants, there were only 20 chargeable damages:
| Highest damage bill: | $1900 |
| Next highest: | $1360 |
| Next highest: Next highest: | $1037 $618 |
| The remaining 16 damage bills range between: | $155 - $572 |
The public relations part of the course includes interacting with the school's other customers; therefore, a professional attitude, proper grooming and attire are required at all times. The Academy reserves the right to request tattoos be covered or body piercings / jewelry be removed at it's sole discretion.
All participants will be required to have their own tool set (a recommended list will be provided). Please allow a minimum of $500 CDN for a basic set.
You are responsible for your own accommodations, food, transportation and other personal expenses. Subject to availability, the Academy may assist you in finding an apartment centrally located in the city of Peterborough approx. 30 minutes from the track, with other participants (usually 3 participants to a 2-bedroom apartment) and loan you some furniture. You would then be responsible for the terms of the lease, including: first and last month's rent, monthly rent of approx. $375 CDN, written notice of your intent to vacate the apartment 60 days after the end of the current month, and any damages.
To finalize our acceptance procedure, we will require you to provide us with our medical form completed by your doctor.
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