Racing team workshops

neiltbag · 6 Apr 2007, 21:00 (Ref:1885133)

I'm planning a new business venture involving automotive repair, and have been wondering why a typical racing team workshop is generally so much cleaner / better lit / more pleasant place to be than a typical consumer car repair facility. Both kinds of businesses are heavily deadline-driven, both have slim profit margins and both achieve better results with a well-maintained work environment yet cleanliness seems to be low on the priority list in the consumer environment (ironic really when you think about it).

Am I generalizing?

Also, does anyone have any pictures of race team workshops that they can forward to me? It would help with my business plan documentation.

**dtype38** · 6 Apr 2007, 21:55 (Ref:1885155)

Only speaking from personal experience, but it seems to me that a lot of what you are talking about is to do with the motivation/enthusiasm/pride of the people who work in the workshop.

AU N EGL · 6 Apr 2007, 22:24 (Ref:1885176)

Quote:

Originally Posted by neiltbag

I

Also, does anyone have any pictures of race team workshops that they can forward to me? It would help with my business plan documentation.

PPl tour the race shops all the time. Seeing a big clean race shop is very impressive, especially to sponsors.

Have you seen a MB, JAG or BMW shop?? very clean

This might help you a bit, most race shops are very protective and dont allow photography

Penske Shop tour

http://www.penskeracing.com/content18.asp?nav=37444&

Chris Y · 6 Apr 2007, 22:50 (Ref:1885189)

Motorsport workshops generally have to deal with fewer cars, and those cars are generally cleaner!

Al Weyman · 7 Apr 2007, 11:29 (Ref:1885388)

It stays as clean or as dirty as you want, its up to the proprietor to set the rules (and an example) and kick ass.

minifox · 7 Apr 2007, 11:40 (Ref:1885393)

as said in a previous post if you was an owner of say a formula one car from a few years back and it needed rebuilding and you had two shops offereing the same service same standard and same price but one was dark and drity the other bright and clean which would you go for?

hopefully the clean one

also

race cars in most work shops are being built from new and things like painting parts and the rest needs a clean environment but also its the safety of workers in theory every shop both race and road should be clean but its not the case i guess

lewis

AU N EGL · 7 Apr 2007, 11:40 (Ref:1885394)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

It stays as clean or as dirty as you want, its up to the proprietor to set the rules (and an example) and kick ass.

With a race shop you can also find the 'wannabe' teenager who will donate their time just to be around a race shop. These teens will do anything, so they keep those race shops spic and span for free.

Then ask these guys to detail the race car, Hole Cow, you think they would be on their first date!!!

Al Weyman · 7 Apr 2007, 18:58 (Ref:1885575)

Where can I find one? :-)

Leighton Irwin · 7 Apr 2007, 19:30 (Ref:1885598)

It is a matter of attitude and pride. The old Lotus team were renowned for a messy shop at the tracks, though.
Every team I was with the first thing done after we got to the shop was take the car outside and wash and degrease it. Then it would come inside to be disassembled. If we got too many tools out and things got a little messy a halt would be called and everything put away even if you knew the next thing you needed was the 9/16th wrench lying on the bench. Race cars normally are not as dirty as the average road car either.
Much harder to do with road cars, especially in the winter.

AU N EGL · 7 Apr 2007, 20:37 (Ref:1885636)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Where can I find one? :-)

Heck Al

just park that big ol Camero out in your drive way. I bet in no time some local kids come over to start asking questions. One thing leads to another . . .

I had a freind bring his Corvete over to the house this morning so I could flush his brake lines We had the garage doors open, next thing you know a local ricer kid stopped by. Almost had him washing the corvettes.

zefarelly · 10 Apr 2007, 08:24 (Ref:1887747)

Its very difficult to keep a home workshop clean and tidy, especially when your limited for space, have lots of spares as well as tools in their, and your undertaking dirty jobs, grinding, welding and painting for example.

In a large Pr workshop you can partition or have seperate rooms, but its just not possible for me.

However, I do stop and tidy regularly, and run the hoover round ! and I will have a good clean and prep before doing any engine assembly work.

Another thing I find useful in a small area are plenty of dust sheets and car covers. I hate washing cars!!!

retro_msport · 13 Apr 2007, 09:22 (Ref:1890261)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Where can I find one? :-)

Totally agree with that Al...
I've had a few sent down from Schools/ Colleges, and to be blunt ...

The answer to this question ..

"So what do you want to do ?"
"dunno" with a shrug of the shoulders and no eye contact ..

Just dosnt instill me with confidence.

waiting for the day that some young lad/lass pops in and says.

"hey mister, can i hang out and watch, i'll clean and make coffee, just wanna see how and why you do things, I won't get in your way and if you tell me to shut-up when i'm asking a zillion questions while your thinking, you wont even know i'm there. And perhaps if I made a bit of time up for you by cleaning etc, you can show me some things"

"step right this way, theres your overalls"

As for the workshop.. i try to keep it tidy.. tools away etc, no sharps left laying on the floor at the end of the day, and yes.. if all the tools are out and it takes me more than a minute to find one, they all go away in their places even though i will be using them all again in a minute.

zefarelly · 13 Apr 2007, 10:17 (Ref:1890289)

tools have to go back in their box, its the only way to find them again!

I have 2 boxes as well to keep me on my toes, mine for going out . . .and my late Fathers stack that stays at home.

I also have an 18 month old son whos current speciality is posting long reach sockets through the bumper iron holes in the front valance . . . . I caught him and found 3 in there last month!

AU N EGL · 13 Apr 2007, 11:14 (Ref:1890328)

Quote:

Originally Posted by zefarelly

I also have an 18 month old son whos current speciality is posting long reach sockets through the bumper iron holes in the front valance . . . . I caught him and found 3 in there last month!

Smart Ladd you have there. Putting round sockets in square bumper holes.

zefarelly · 13 Apr 2007, 15:44 (Ref:1890531)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

Smart Ladd you have there. Putting round sockets in square bumper holes.

they're square when you look side on !

**dtype38** · 13 Apr 2007, 22:47 (Ref:1890764)

My neighbour and good friend wanted to to turn his dingy garage into a better environment to restore his E-type Jaguar. He decided to start with some proper floor paint, in brick red, so he jacked up his car on tall axle stands and began painting. About half way through he was called into lunch, so left everything ready to continue. About half way through lunch his five year old son appeared with the paint brush and anounced "I've helped you with your car project dad." With growing dread he followed his son into the garage to find that most of the bottom half of his Old-English-White E-type was now garage floor brick red.

Fortunately copious white spirit and rubbing retrieved the situation.... fortunate for the ongoing future of his son that is!

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