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Pit Crew Member

Auto: Automatic Racing, 2007 Koni Challenge GS Champions, Locations Vary, None
  Book This Career Mentorship
  Watch the Video  

Do you want to become a Pit Crew Team Member?

Do you feel race weekends ought to be made into federal holidays? Do you dream of being part of the winning team and holding the cup? Well, start your engine for a VocationVacations® career mentorship with Jep Thornton and his Automatic Racing team. Share with them the excitement and passion of being a member of a KONI Challenge Series race team pit crew.

Jep Thornton was looking for a hobby. “I tried golf, and I hated it,” remembers Jep. Then he was invited to attend a corporate racing school. “I was the fastest in the class, and I loved it.” In December 2001, Jep enrolled in the Skip Barber Racing School. There he met Dave Russell, an instructor at the school. It was a fortuitous meeting that resulted in a partnership between the two men rooted in their love of racing. Six months later Jep and Dave owned a racing team, and Automatic Racing was off to a fast start.

Automatic Racing hit the track with just one “learning” car in 2002, but began earning top-ten finishes right from the start. Over the years, Automatic Racing has become a contender in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, growing from a one-car team to a serious force fielding four BMW M3s in the Grand Sport Class of the Series. The Series is comprised of two classes of race cars, all of which are production-based cars including BMW, Porsche, Acura, Mazda, Audi, Ford, and Nissan. In 2008, a BMW M6 will be added to Automatic Racing’s field of cars to compete in the Rolex Series, part of the Grand Am Premier Series.

Automatic Racing’s team of eight drivers and 14 pit crew members are out to win. “Our team is motivated to be champions. We joke and say we don’t bleed blood to win, we bleed oil,” laughs Dave Russell, Jep’s partner. “Winning truly requires team work, talent, and a strong work ethic.” And although there is a lot of great camaraderie among competitors before the race, when the drivers put their helmets on, all bets are off and it is time to do battle.

In 2008, the Automatic Racing team is set for an all-out assault and is up for the challenge fueled by their 2007 Grand Am KONI Challenge GS Series Championship. As one of the first members of the VocationVacations team of mentors, Automatic Racing is eager to share the excitement of this challenge with you. “We have had fantastic “vocationers” spend time with us,” says Jep. “They have really contributed to our efforts, been willing to get their hands dirty, and have been a pleasure to have on our team.”

The Automatic Racing team can only mentor one “vocationer” each race weekend. Space is very limited so book now!

While on your Race Team Pit Crew Member VocationVacations® career mentorship with the team at Automatic Racing, activities will include some or all of the following:
  • Getting a paddock pass
  • Attend practice and qualifying sessions
  • Act as team member during races
  • Flag during pit stops
  • Participate in any and all special events with either sponsors or the team
  • Listen to racing team interaction via headset during races
  • Attend team meetings
  • Visit with other teams
  • Attend team meals
The Race Team Pit Crew Member Vocation Vacations® career mentorship with the team at Automatic Racing includes:
  • Two or three days of one-on-one mentorship in your dream job as a pit crew member
  • The option to participate in a total of one hour of pre- and post-VocationVacations career coaching from an accredited, affiliated VocationVacations career coach
  • A pocket-size VocationVacations journal so you can document your dream job coming to reality.
  • Light lunches with your mentors

Available: Based on racing schedule

Price: $1949 or $1349 Per Person

Book This Career Mentorship

The Automatic Racing VocationVacation is available on the following dates in 2008:

Jan 4-6, 2008   
Daytona International Speedway
Jan. 25, 2008  Daytona International Speedway 
Apr. 26, 2008
 Virginia International Raceway   
Jun. 15, 2008
 Mosport International Raceway
Jul. 5, 2008
 Watkins Glen International
Jul. 19, 2008
 Barber Motorsports Park
Aug. 10, 2008
 Iowa Speedway
Sep. 21, 2008
 Miller Motorsports Park
Oct. 4/5, 2008
 Virginia International Raceway