How do you become a test driver?
Discussion
mmmm test driver 
I did a lot of test driving during my engineering studies.
Whatever you test, you must be well educated to make highly qualified statements. Especially, when it comes to cars or cars' components!
All three testdrivers, I know, are employed at a vehicle manufacturer have a diploma in engineering from a German university.
However test driving could be boring, when you're repeating the same cycle on and on - no matter, if it's in a Porsche or Opel
Whatever you test, you must be well educated to make highly qualified statements. Especially, when it comes to cars or cars' components!
All three testdrivers, I know, are employed at a vehicle manufacturer have a diploma in engineering from a German university.
However test driving could be boring, when you're repeating the same cycle on and on - no matter, if it's in a Porsche or Opel
quote:
It's not JUST about driving.
I totally agree, but what an excellent place to learn about how to develop a car, and hone your skills in all the key areas of car design track driving is! Afterall when you develop a car for the track, you are working towards quicker lap times. A road car will want to be more comfortable, and more versatile with vastly different criterea. At least with track experience you can communicate your ideas to an engineer more precicely than just saying "It understeers a lot".
I could probably develop a comfortable shopping car for my Mother, with comfy seats and soft spongy suspension, but i'll bet that if I tried to do it before I gained experience in racing, it would take me much, much longer.
Communication is vital, but first you need to understand how it all works and get a feel for it.
Jas
>> Edited by Paceracing on Thursday 3rd October 18:09
just found a photo of my main project; a BMW 535i for testing adaptive dampers: 
The wheel is for force measureing in all three axis for vectors and torque.
On the steering is a steering angle limiter.
The orange thing on the front bumper is a Datron Correvit speed sensor for two axis; it also measures side speed, when you're drifting
I've fitted and adapted at least 20 different sensors to the car, and the one I'm most proud of, is the counterholder for the measuring wheel fitted to the bonnet. It's accepted by TÜV for use in regular traffic!
Depends what you mean by test driver?????
If you are talking about a durability driver, then somewhere like MIRA, Millbrook and LTC take on people to carry out the tests. These guys spend a lot of the day driving through pot holes, over kerbs, up parking ramps, stopping/starting, driving round cones at very low speeds, over speed humps, etc. Not quite as glamorous as you might think!!!
If you are talking development, then this is a highly skilled task. Successful development drivers are generally qualified engineers who have proven themselves from drive appraisals at Tier 1 and OEM companies.
Having done a fair amount of development driving myself, I can confirm that it is very enjoyable, often tiring and regularly not as glamorous as it may look from the outside.
Still there are worst jobs!!!!!!!!
If you are talking about a durability driver, then somewhere like MIRA, Millbrook and LTC take on people to carry out the tests. These guys spend a lot of the day driving through pot holes, over kerbs, up parking ramps, stopping/starting, driving round cones at very low speeds, over speed humps, etc. Not quite as glamorous as you might think!!!
If you are talking development, then this is a highly skilled task. Successful development drivers are generally qualified engineers who have proven themselves from drive appraisals at Tier 1 and OEM companies.
Having done a fair amount of development driving myself, I can confirm that it is very enjoyable, often tiring and regularly not as glamorous as it may look from the outside.
Still there are worst jobs!!!!!!!!
quote:
Having done a fair amount of development driving myself, I can confirm that it is very enjoyable, often tiring and regularly not as glamorous as it may look from the outside.
Agreed - did a few bits and pieces when I worked for one of the "independents"... downsides can be sitting at 30mph for hours on end (even worse as a passenger), emissions testing and MY personal nightmare - riding pillion for 3 hours (count 'em) over belgian pave.
I was sh****g blood after that...
I'm looking for the same job, I'm at collge at the moment, doing National Diploma In Motor Vehicle Studies and Motorsports, then hopefuly onto Uni to get a degree! I've emailed a couple of companies and still no reply so I thought I'd leave it!
Oh I was thinking of pre-production testing!
>> Edited by GrahamJay on Thursday 3rd October 18:42
Oh I was thinking of pre-production testing!
>> Edited by GrahamJay on Thursday 3rd October 18:42
A lot of the drivers at Silverstone school do testing for manufacturers - my instructor the other day did some work on the MK1 elise.
Seems that experience is the key, and a few championships won't harm your chances either.
Racing drivers are expected these days to know alot of the intracacies of a car and its handling etc and as a result the development cycles are a lot quicker than me saying - its crap round corners...
Seems that experience is the key, and a few championships won't harm your chances either.
Racing drivers are expected these days to know alot of the intracacies of a car and its handling etc and as a result the development cycles are a lot quicker than me saying - its crap round corners...
IIRC MIRA is now just an independent facility where companies can test vehicles, rather than providing testers themselves.
Nonetheless, an old mate of mine used to be a test-driver for GM there about fifteen years ago and told me about doing the endurance runs on the bowl. At a certain speed, the banking of the bowl provides the steering input for the car, not the driver, so drivers would sit in the car with a newspaper or a book and let the cruise control and the banking do the rest.
Imagine doing this for eight hours, only stopping to re-fuel and pee! Rod also told me a story about testing a GM minivan when he climbed out of the driver's seat to close a window in the back - whilst driving round the bowl!!! Possibly not a true story, but a good one!
I bet that even big name drivers like Valentino Balboni at Lamborghini and Dario Benuzzi at Ferrari have to do the mundane, every day tests, and, as was previously mentioned, the amount of technical feedback required during testing must be huge...
Nonetheless, an old mate of mine used to be a test-driver for GM there about fifteen years ago and told me about doing the endurance runs on the bowl. At a certain speed, the banking of the bowl provides the steering input for the car, not the driver, so drivers would sit in the car with a newspaper or a book and let the cruise control and the banking do the rest.
Imagine doing this for eight hours, only stopping to re-fuel and pee! Rod also told me a story about testing a GM minivan when he climbed out of the driver's seat to close a window in the back - whilst driving round the bowl!!! Possibly not a true story, but a good one!
I bet that even big name drivers like Valentino Balboni at Lamborghini and Dario Benuzzi at Ferrari have to do the mundane, every day tests, and, as was previously mentioned, the amount of technical feedback required during testing must be huge...
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