Would people be interested in this?
Discussion
I've been thinking lately that I should use my time as an unemployed person do something I enjoy and make some money instead of Dole Scrounging...
Anyway I am trained and experienced race engineer etc etc etc and have built a load of track cars including 2 for myself I do it fairly cheap source the cars/parts and do all the work and set-up and have then supported the people who bought the cars on track days.
I was wondering if there are people out there who don't have the time or knowledge or equipment to do it all themselves and would pay someone to do all the work and prep' the car for them. I know there are plenty companies/race teams doing this already (were I learnt) but this would be a more personal (one project at a time) and cheaper service.
I may stick an 'ad' up in classifieds if there is a reasonable response here.
Anyway I am trained and experienced race engineer etc etc etc and have built a load of track cars including 2 for myself I do it fairly cheap source the cars/parts and do all the work and set-up and have then supported the people who bought the cars on track days.
I was wondering if there are people out there who don't have the time or knowledge or equipment to do it all themselves and would pay someone to do all the work and prep' the car for them. I know there are plenty companies/race teams doing this already (were I learnt) but this would be a more personal (one project at a time) and cheaper service.
I may stick an 'ad' up in classifieds if there is a reasonable response here.
Don't see why not. You'd have to establish a good reputation and decent facilities for it to work I rekcon, but once you had a name for yourself it could be profitable.
The thing is though I suspect to be profitable you have to be looking at the higher end stuff. I can't see the uptake or the revenue being that good if you're slipped a bit of cash to set up someone's Locost or Mini. If, however, you're trailering a millionaire's MC12 or Enzo to Paul Ricard and doing all the setup and support I'd imagine that's very lucrative.
The thing is though I suspect to be profitable you have to be looking at the higher end stuff. I can't see the uptake or the revenue being that good if you're slipped a bit of cash to set up someone's Locost or Mini. If, however, you're trailering a millionaire's MC12 or Enzo to Paul Ricard and doing all the setup and support I'd imagine that's very lucrative.
What about support service for trackdays at trackdays, get arrangements in place with some of the TD organisers and take over a pit garage for the day. Price it per half hour if they come use you, or maybe offer it as an add on when they book i.e each car has an option to pay an additional £30 or something when booking the TD and if they need you you are there to work on their cars with no further charges (first come first served or something). Some basic geo kit for adjusting camber and that sort of thing.
Cheers for the input guys.
To be honest I would be doing it out of my own garage and profitability isn't the main aim... As long as I make more than the £240 a month dole money I get (not difficult) it would be an improvement. I just hate being idle and enjoy building track cars.
I wouldn't take up premises to keep overheads at near zero and really just charge for the labour time and the cost of any parts I have to buy.
This is why I wouldn't be working on MC12's Zonda's etc, talking to my freinds still working in the industry it is people at the cheaper end of the track car market who have tightened there belts and won't pay £75 an hour for a race team to strip their cars interior. These are the people I would be targeting, people with Enzo's will still pay top dollar no matter what.
Anyway any more input is welcome, or PM/e-mail me if interested.
To be honest I would be doing it out of my own garage and profitability isn't the main aim... As long as I make more than the £240 a month dole money I get (not difficult) it would be an improvement. I just hate being idle and enjoy building track cars.
I wouldn't take up premises to keep overheads at near zero and really just charge for the labour time and the cost of any parts I have to buy.
This is why I wouldn't be working on MC12's Zonda's etc, talking to my freinds still working in the industry it is people at the cheaper end of the track car market who have tightened there belts and won't pay £75 an hour for a race team to strip their cars interior. These are the people I would be targeting, people with Enzo's will still pay top dollar no matter what.
Anyway any more input is welcome, or PM/e-mail me if interested.
I think you are on to something, and you're right to look at low-mid price. We have a couple of people who make a decent living sorting recalcitrant cars (bottom end of the historic scene), with the bonus of picking up occasional free drives. One benefit they have is the specialist knowledge of the many foibles of the cars, which the bigger professional outfits don't have.
Your big issue will be in establishing a reputation - word of mouth will be your biggest marketing tool, and of course the biggest problem is getting on that particular ladder. Things I think you should consider are:
Specialising
I think it would help to focus on one model or series if you can (e.g. TVR, Caterham, etc.) to build a reputation as a go to guy. Not that you'll turn down other business, but it would help to build a fanbase amongst a specific community.
Be clear on your services
There are several projects you might undertake:
The "work from home" part has a lot of merit, particularly if you have scales for corner-weighting (not available to the average punter). A home worker committed to their car is perhaps more confidence inspiring than a professional unit on a business park.
This is also handy for damage repair. The average clubbie has to be back at work to earn money for the repairs. The ability to hand it over to someone who will sort it for the next race is very appealing.
Testing & Trackside Support
Getting a car right on paper is one thing, getting it right on track is another. Expect to travel to trackdays and race days to act as mechanic/engineer. Do you have a pet test driver you can employ (who can give better feedback than the owner)? We've had several cars transformed by a decent driver identifying the handling problems incisively (also, gentleman drivers rather like having a pro set them a scratch time to aim for, showing them how good the car really is).
TC's idea of a "service van" is interesting, but you may want to treat it more as a marketing tool than a money earner. Our most successful prep man can regularly be found rebuilding an engine or swapping gearboxes for non-customers (assuming his own customer's car is in fine fettle post-practice). He doesn't get paid for helping out, but when people need proper work done, he's the guy they turn to.
Your big issue will be in establishing a reputation - word of mouth will be your biggest marketing tool, and of course the biggest problem is getting on that particular ladder. Things I think you should consider are:
Specialising
I think it would help to focus on one model or series if you can (e.g. TVR, Caterham, etc.) to build a reputation as a go to guy. Not that you'll turn down other business, but it would help to build a fanbase amongst a specific community.
Be clear on your services
There are several projects you might undertake:
- Strip & convert,
- Basic corner-weighting & geometry setup,
- Track development, trackside support,
- Inspect & repair (crash damage, inspect for cracked frame, etc)
The "work from home" part has a lot of merit, particularly if you have scales for corner-weighting (not available to the average punter). A home worker committed to their car is perhaps more confidence inspiring than a professional unit on a business park.
This is also handy for damage repair. The average clubbie has to be back at work to earn money for the repairs. The ability to hand it over to someone who will sort it for the next race is very appealing.
Testing & Trackside Support
Getting a car right on paper is one thing, getting it right on track is another. Expect to travel to trackdays and race days to act as mechanic/engineer. Do you have a pet test driver you can employ (who can give better feedback than the owner)? We've had several cars transformed by a decent driver identifying the handling problems incisively (also, gentleman drivers rather like having a pro set them a scratch time to aim for, showing them how good the car really is).
TC's idea of a "service van" is interesting, but you may want to treat it more as a marketing tool than a money earner. Our most successful prep man can regularly be found rebuilding an engine or swapping gearboxes for non-customers (assuming his own customer's car is in fine fettle post-practice). He doesn't get paid for helping out, but when people need proper work done, he's the guy they turn to.
^ More good advice, cheers
I already have a little bit of a rep' having worked and driven with a few PH'ers already and I've worked for BGT, LMES, BTCC and Radical teams.
And I've already specialised, German stuff is what I always do, VW/Porsche/BMW/Audi it's all essentially the same..... Plus I don't need any Imperial spanners
Oh and I do have my own pet driver who can be called on if needed, he owes me for running his Radical for free for the last 3 years.
I already have a little bit of a rep' having worked and driven with a few PH'ers already and I've worked for BGT, LMES, BTCC and Radical teams.
And I've already specialised, German stuff is what I always do, VW/Porsche/BMW/Audi it's all essentially the same..... Plus I don't need any Imperial spanners
Oh and I do have my own pet driver who can be called on if needed, he owes me for running his Radical for free for the last 3 years.
Edited by Nobody You Know on Wednesday 13th May 21:55
bigburd said:
Worth a punt but there are plenty of specialist companies and individuals out there with a history in motorsport, let's not forget that F1 have effectively cleared out there Test Teams and with the lack of in-season testing the logistics companies will be knocking on other doors.
Thats not really the market I am aiming for. More the fun/hobbyist who needs a hand, equipment and some expertise. Even the smaller teams can charge big money, stripping cars and track prepping is pretty labour intensive and when they are charging £50-£60-£70 an hour labour it gets expensive quickly.I used to work for a team for a living and know the competition.
From my experience/observations, there are two groups that stand out as target markets, with their own specific needs.
1) The moderately competent enthusiast.
They want to work on their own car (so let them come over at the weekend to help out), but are on limited income. They might also be cautious about tackling some of the larger jobs (e.g. stripping and installing a cage, welding, etc.), and prepping the car to the Blue Book and Series rules (so be bang up to date on both).
Whilst you offer a full range of services, point out the stuff you can do well but for cost, experience or nervousness they would appreciate expert assistance. So corner weights, ride heights, suspension alignment and set-up sessions.
They will also appreciate the emergency repair service. They call you Sunday evening with the bad news, you ask for photos and the date of the next race, and then get on with it whilst they're back at work. If you get them back out for the next race, word will get around quickly.
2) The rich guy who just wants to race.
City boys and company directors who aren't quite rich enough to afford hired help and baulk at arrive-&-drive packages. These guys just want the work to be done (and ideally you to help spanner on the day). They will pay handsomely if you consistently deliver the goods. They want the full service, and the confidence that they have a decently set-up car that will see the chequered flag. So for them, it's about peace of mind - regular updates, honest assessments, guarantees that the car will be ready before they put their entry fee in the post.
Both the above apply to racing and trackdays.
Another idea - get pally with your local aerodrome. You can do basic shakedown tests. Customers will appreciate that not only are you promising everything's bolted together properly, but you've proven there's no top-end misfire, brakes work properly, engine is bedded in, etc. (rather comforting if your first drive is the qualifying session).
1) The moderately competent enthusiast.
They want to work on their own car (so let them come over at the weekend to help out), but are on limited income. They might also be cautious about tackling some of the larger jobs (e.g. stripping and installing a cage, welding, etc.), and prepping the car to the Blue Book and Series rules (so be bang up to date on both).
Whilst you offer a full range of services, point out the stuff you can do well but for cost, experience or nervousness they would appreciate expert assistance. So corner weights, ride heights, suspension alignment and set-up sessions.
They will also appreciate the emergency repair service. They call you Sunday evening with the bad news, you ask for photos and the date of the next race, and then get on with it whilst they're back at work. If you get them back out for the next race, word will get around quickly.
2) The rich guy who just wants to race.
City boys and company directors who aren't quite rich enough to afford hired help and baulk at arrive-&-drive packages. These guys just want the work to be done (and ideally you to help spanner on the day). They will pay handsomely if you consistently deliver the goods. They want the full service, and the confidence that they have a decently set-up car that will see the chequered flag. So for them, it's about peace of mind - regular updates, honest assessments, guarantees that the car will be ready before they put their entry fee in the post.
Both the above apply to racing and trackdays.
Another idea - get pally with your local aerodrome. You can do basic shakedown tests. Customers will appreciate that not only are you promising everything's bolted together properly, but you've proven there's no top-end misfire, brakes work properly, engine is bedded in, etc. (rather comforting if your first drive is the qualifying session).
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