Anyone know anything about the UTI NASCAR Institute?

[Larzzz]

Ive got 1 more year of high school left and i am thinking about going to the NASCAR institute offered by UTI. I know a lot of people hate NASCAR but i love it. I go to about 2 races a year and it is awesome. Id love to get into the chassis fabricating/welding area or even an engine tech. I have a teacher at my school that her son works and got into nascar just by knowing someone that is in it. I'll be talking to her a bit more to find out some more information. Ive heard that only 10%-15% of the graduates actually make it into motorsports.

So i was just wondering if anyone on here knows anything about it? if its good or if its kind of pointless? Im on the verge of thinking its really not worth it. If it isnt worth it i might just go somewhere to be a FORD/BMW Tech. Im still going to try everything to get into NASCAR and hope it all works out.
Do you guys have any suggestions?

Thanks

[IronFreak]

Its expensive.....And I'll say one thing, they won't teach you experience.......you have to earn that. You may learn the technical aspects of fabbing a racecar but it's the time under a hood that will get you onto a team.

[Larzzz]

Yep. I heard that most of the time you are there you are learning all the basics of building engines, frame, suspension stuff which is needed to get into NASCAR of coarse! and the last month is actually learning NASCAR standards and all. I know my way around Ford engines for sure and getting into BMW. So ill be having to make my mind up soon!

[agent]

Unless you have an "in," getting on with an established Sprint or Nationwide team is difficult at best, and is getting increasingly more so. GAbOS and I have a friend who did this program (or one similar to it) and relocated from CA to NC hoping to get on with a team. He is currently employed as a tech at a Hyundai dealership. That's not meant as a slight - he has a good job. He's just not doing what he really wants to do.

[IronFreak]

Yep. I heard that most of the time you are there you are learning all the basics of building engines, frame, suspension stuff which is needed to get into NASCAR of coarse! and the last month is actually learning NASCAR standards and all. I know my way around Ford engines for sure and getting into BMW. So ill be having to make my mind up soon!

This is the biggest problem with these schools. the program is what?...18 months? Nothing wrong with going and learning about stuff you love, but don't expect to walk onto a team after 18 months of training. Just from the fabrication side, 6-8 weeks in a cage building course isn't considered experience. Up until about 2 years ago I was welding every day for 8-10hrs. a day and I'd say I'm a decent welder, but there are people that would put me to shame.......and I did that for 6 years.

These schools are good for giving you the info you need to fill in the gaps, but whether you want to turn wrenches or weld up race cars......it'll never substitute experience. That's what race teams, or anyone in the professional world for that matter look for.

Get a welder and weld.....WELD WELD WELD! Take courses at metro over the summer. Stop thinking about that 325es and go buy a good welder.

[slammin.e28]

This is the biggest problem with these schools. the program is what?...18 months? Nothing wrong with going and learning about stuff you love, but don't expect to walk onto a team after 18 months of training. Just from the fabrication side, 6-8 weeks in a cage building course isn't considered experience. Up until about 2 years ago I was welding every day for 8-10hrs. a day and I'd say I'm a decent welder, but there are people that would put me to shame.......and I did that for 6 years.

These schools are good for giving you the info you need to fill in the gaps, but whether you want to turn wrenches or weld up race cars......it'll never substitute experience. That's what race teams, or anyone in the professional world for that matter look for.

Get a welder and weld.....WELD WELD WELD! Take courses at metro over the summer. Stop thinking about that 325es and go buy a good welder.

BAM.

UTI = waste of $$ IMO. I went, sure, I learned a lot, but really, the money spent could have gotten me more.

[IronFreak]

FWIW......I was enrolled in Wyotech....Decided not to go at the last minute and took welding courses here in Omaha......glad I did too, I have friends that are in debt to the eyeballs from that school and work at dealerships not making jack because they are paying on crazy high school loans.

I'll have completed my bachelors for less then Wyotech was gunna cost me......for a little perspective.

[Farbin Kaiber]

I almost went to UTI back in 2000. I realized, from an older mentor that shop experience on a resume trumps some certificate and debtload.

Start looking for a shop to sweep floors, then when someone needs a hand, soak everything the offer like a sponge, then prove your worth. Think of it like a tattoo artist, it's time in the field as an apprentice, not the books that you read that get you places.

[Larzzz]

Ive taken Metro Classes for welding and am in 1. I passed the welder qualification test for GMAW. Im taking OA right now. And yes i need to buy i bigger better welder! I can take these credits after i complete and put them towards a different place.

[Dj Buttchug]

UTI is a joke. You are better off taking ASE classes and getting some certs

[slammin.e28]

FWIW......I was enrolled in Wyotech....Decided not to go at the last minute and took welding courses here in Omaha......glad I did too, I have friends that are in debt to the eyeballs from that school and work at dealerships not making jack because they are paying on crazy high school loans.

I'll have completed my bachelors for less then Wyotech was gunna cost me......for a little perspective.

I did a welding course at the local community college. Just did it for my own personal gain, but I've always wondered about going back and doing it for certs.

I've got a friend's welder at the house, and have been told I'm pretty damn good. Never really got inspired to make a career of it.

Fuck wrenching on cars for a living. Just fuck that.

[BobombETA]

I had a friend that went to UTI for Ford certification right after high school. He landed a job after graduating from UTI, but also carried a lot of debt. I'm not sure if their campuses are all over but he was living in Chicago on student loans, so he regrets that part of it. Overall though he said it was a good experience.

[IronFreak]

UTI is a joke. You are better off taking ASE classes and getting some certs

This is true, look into the courses over at Iowa Western, my broher inlaw went there for there Honda/Acura program....He is now the manager of Exclusive repair, private shop that does more business then the local dealers.

I did a welding course at the local community college. Just did it for my own personal gain, but I've always wondered about going back and doing it for certs.

I've got a friend's welder at the house, and have been told I'm pretty damn good. Never really got inspired to make a career of it.

Fuck wrenching on cars for a living. Just fuck that.

That's why I stop WyoTech, I realized I was about to make my favorite thing in the word to do....my JOB! If you do this for a hobby, and lova it....leave it.

Welding for a living is fun, you can make a LOT of money if your good. Problem is you stop doing it at home. When I started welding everyday.....my welder collected a lot of dust in my garage.....now that I'm an office jockey.....Well.....look at my build thread.....welding fever is back.

[agent]

GAbOS and I have a friend who did this program (or one similar to it) and relocated from CA to NC hoping to get on with a team. He is currently employed as a tech at a Hyundai dealership. That's not meant as a slight - he has a good job. He's just not doing what he really wants to do.

He and I just had a conversation about this. For further clarification, he graduated with a 4.0 and 99% attendance. He did get on as a tire changer for an ARCA team but the team folded after a few months.

He said:

The real key to that school is to go there with your main focus of working on road cars, not race cars.

[redsubdivisions]

I think I've posted this before, but UTI is a business. They don't care what you learn, just as long as they get paid to put you in a seat with 25+ others in a class and go into the shop maybe once a week. I decided to make that plunge a few years ago going to the Orlando, FL campus and although my GI Bill covered a majority of the costs, I am currently out 3 grand that could have been used somewhere else. I can honestly tell you I learned a lot more doing hands on working at an indy shop that was nice enough to pick me up with zero experience and teach me the basics.