Okay so my animation course is turning out not to be what i want to do, so I'm going back to my original idea of becoming a mechanic.

I would prefer to work somewhere that will involve Mini's, or lots of old cars. Around western sydney would be the best option.

Already spoke to Ivan at Mini Spares, he said "I'm too close to dying to go and do the training to take on an apprentice" - a bit of a morbid response I thought.

He told me about a place across the road from his shop, BCR? that apparently does a lot of MGB's and some pre war cars.

If anyone knows of any places similar, or a mini workshop around sydney that would take on an apprentice, I am very interested.

Regards Adam.

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You're so square
Baby I don't care

Probably a bit far for you, but I am sure I saw Mini and Moke World in Brookvale recently advertising for a trainee/hands-on work type position.....

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Cooper S Mk2
Cooper S Mk1
ex Cooper S Mk2, various Morris 1100s, 1300s, 1500s, Leyland Sherpa!

hour and ten minute commute to work does seem a bit far for me..

That does sound quite like an incredible opportunity though

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You're so square
Baby I don't care

you kind of want to aim for a traineeship to be as general as it can be so that you increase your learning base and keep your options open. i would say specialising in minis should be left to your weekends and that you should concentrate on more modern areas of mechanics.

If you work in a mini specific place and do an automotive apprenticeship you'll find that a lot of the formal learning off the job will not be able to be related to the work place, hence you will not get the practical experience in the modern stuff and have difficulty getting signed off at the end. Your log book will have big blank areas in it, particularly the modules related to electronics, efi, a/c etc.

You could try going to a group training organisation, who might be able to rotate you through a couple of different placements which may or may not include a mini place (beg them for it!), and so give you broader experience.

Peter.

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1969 Mini Cooper S MKII (1330)
1972 Honda 750/4 (his),1976 Honda 400/4 (hers)
1982 Honda CB1100RC (ours)

Hi Adam,
I have worked in the motor industry since the mid 60's (apprenticeship, service management, sales and I now own a dealership) and I too think you should forget trying to make a living and career working on classic cars until you've finished a formal apprenticeship on mainstream products. Then, if you want to, you can then turn to the old stuff. The money and opportunity lie with current models, not the past. As somebody else said, leave Mini's for the weekend in the meantime. My two bob's worth!

Regards
Al

I was going to do a apprenticeship with a old school BMC mechanic back in Ballarat years ago. I begged and begged him if he would train me as an apprentice. He kept telling me don't do it as there was no money in working on the old stuff anymore. With technology today, its plug in a diagnostic plug, find the fault code, replace said part and away you go...and pay a tonne of cash.
He could not afford to buy and keep up with the computers, training ect for the modern stuff. He used to service 100 cars a week with a 4 man crew, over the years that was cut back to working by himself. The only clients he had in the were old faithul ones who slill drove their original Morris 1100, austin a30, mini 850 from new. One these people moved on, he kept saying that was it. Anyway he retired years ago now.
He won in the end, I ended up going into the Army instead.

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Mini, its in my blood........

I was in exactly the same position a few months ago. You are better off starting the pre vocational automotive course which is 3 days a week full time. It will open up a lot more work opportunities and is tops for your resume.
I have now started my 1st year apprenticeship after 2 months of the the prevoc course at Brookevale tafe and am loving it. All of the work you do in prevoc is the same as the apprentice course and easily transfers over. I couldnt get a job at a mini specialist but i work for a place that specialises in cadillacs and capri's so i still get a lot of classic cars as well as modern.
You will probably find your going to have to start at any old workshop and get some experience before you can get an app with a specialist. its also much easier if your a 2nd or 3rd year.
I am 20 now and spent the last few years bouncing between wanting to do an apprenticeship going to uni or doing tafe courses and am more than happy now ive knuckled down into it.
The money isnt great, its bloody hard work but the amount you will learn is well worth it also like any job if your good and driven you can prosper. If you want to do it go for it you get 3months from the date you start before you are stuck with it. if you change your mind you can always do something else.

Hope this helps

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77' Clubman S "Bluebird"
74'Clubman estate "Cherry"
00' CBR929RR Stunt bike
96' Falcon Longreach ute "KillDozer"

Well, you can pull out anytime really during the 4 years, not just during probation - it's just a different form. And your employer can cancel you at any time too, with reason (though sometimes those reasons are pretty, er, vague).

Peter.

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1969 Mini Cooper S MKII (1330)
1972 Honda 750/4 (his),1976 Honda 400/4 (hers)
1982 Honda CB1100RC (ours)