Denver: What does it take to be a Ferrari Tech? | FerrariChat

Denver: What does it take to be a Ferrari Tech?

Discussion in 'Rocky Mountain' started by Hawkeye, Oct 2, 2025 at 9:03 AM.

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  1. Hawkeye

    Hawkeye F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Sep 20, 2009
    8,245
    On behalf of a fine young man going through his ASE schooling right now, and plans to stay in Denver, what's the best path to eventually be a technician at Ferrari of Denver?

    This is unfamiliar territory for me, but is it working "anywhere" after ASE school or a performance shop....dealer of any of any make?

    Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
     
  2. Dave Bertrand

    Dave Bertrand Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 24, 2005
    826
    Castle Rock, CO
    I can't provide any insight myself, but if I were you I'd send emails to Dave Helms at Scuderia Rampante (Dave was the head service honcho at FoD), and Bill Evenden at Maranello Motorworks. Bill was a service tech at FoD for many years. I'd also send your question to the service manager at FoD or the general manager.
     
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  3. timjen88

    timjen88 Formula Junior

    Aug 20, 2015
    293
    Colorado/Palm Springs
    I can tell you from 10+ of dealing with FoD, they are a top-notch organization, Jamie Park is as good as they come. I wish him goof luck with his journey!!
     
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  4. ItsAboutThatTime

    Apr 7, 2024
    124
    Arvada, CO
    Full Name:
    Shane
    Just some insight from a 13-year Advanced-level Master Tech here: I'm not entirely certain what you're talking about with ASE schooling, but in my experience getting in as an apprentice in ANY shop will teach so much more than any schooling will. I did no official schooling at all, got an apprenticeship in various shops from a Toyota Dealership to a more all-makes dealership and moved my way up from there. I've been in the Independent shop arena for about 8 years. I took ASE tests two at a time (A1 through A8, total of 8) for master, and then 3 separate tests (L1, L3, and L4) for Advance-level. While I have no idea what it takes to be a tech specifically at Ferrari, I do know that they have very little staff so getting a foot in the door is going to be fairly difficult. I don't know where specifically you or the young man are located, but I would be more than happy to sit down with him over a coffee or lunch to answer as many questions as I can if you/he is more near the Denver area. Shoot me a PM if it'll help.
     
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  5. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    64,404
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    The last advice I heard 10+ years back from Boardwalk Ferrari Service Manager @SAFE4NOW was to got ASE to a highline (maybe German) dealer for several years experience before applying to a Ferrari dealer. I'm not sure Ferrari and Ferrari Dealers have the best path from ASE to Ferrari Tech, but that might have changed in the last couple years. I think the thinking was a German Dealer would have a more structured and formal apprentice type program. That might have changed in the last 10 years if Ferrari would like to train the apprentice vs. being "tainted" at another brand.
     
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  6. ItsAboutThatTime

    Apr 7, 2024
    124
    Arvada, CO
    Full Name:
    Shane
    The unfortunate thing is the definition of apprentice across brands varies significantly, but you would actually be really surprised at how structured the Toyota program is, called T-Ten. It's a two year ordeal and they basically start with the more "difficult" electrical side of everything and then continue teaching other areas from there. It was 3 months in Farmington, New Mexico, then 3 months back at the dealership, rinse and repeat for 2 years. At the end of it the graduates would get 50% off anything purchased from both of the larger tool brands Matco and Snap-On.

    But the bad habits you mentioned are prevalent literally everywhere unfortunately. It really comes down to how driven the person is, as to if they can put aside the ease in which the already established not awesome techs can drag down newcomers. It's really not an awesome career *to get started in*, there's a lot of terrible techs out there so ya gotta persevere hard. But once established as a good tech with experience, some places will pay EXTREMELY well.
     
    rob lay likes this.
  7. CornersWell

    CornersWell F1 Rookie

    Nov 24, 2004
    4,902
    Not 100% on topic, but I recently had a conversation with a prominent, independent engine builder. He said he's been working with younger people interested in the industry but is having difficulty getting them to commit to the training-up process. While I can't comment on his process, he learned from one of the top engine building shops and is well-known in the Ferrari, historic and vintage communities. For some reason, kids aren't getting that these communities have LOTS of disposable income, and there will always be work for them. With the passing of Wallace, Obry and Hadjuk, at least some of the knowledge is gone, which isn't ideal. Who's next on that list? It's not a "dying" art, yet, maybe, but there will always be a need for talented people to come into the field. And, there are, indeed, other avenues in the trade that provide stability in addition to being a dealer employee. That said, dealers don't always have the best reputations for servicing older cars, and, unless techs can plug a computer in, they may not be skilled at the diagnosis aspect of their craft.

    Personal example: the last timing belt service on my Stradale was with Dave Helms. Not FoD. Nothing necessarily wrong with FoD (they've worked on it before), but Dave & Co. probably know more about 360s at this point than FoD's techs.

    CW
     
  8. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    64,404
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    Close to my hometown in Kansas is McPherson College Automotive Restoration. They have received a bunch of publicity with one of their projects getting 2nd in class at Pebble. Just in 2023 $1.5 Billion dollars was donated.

    Many of the graduates have already opened their own shops, one is Ferrari vintage I think, but don't know the name off the top of my head.

    If I was young and getting into the business I would probably go that route vs. a highline or Ferrari dealer, but that would be a good backup plan.

    https://www.mcpherson.edu/autorestoration/
     
  9. Shorn355

    Shorn355 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 13, 2011
    6,880
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Scott
    Agree 1000%
     
  10. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    29,308
    socal
    Dave Helms is the man.
     
  11. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    64,404
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    has the GCK fandom aged well? :D
     
  12. Whisky

    Whisky Three Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 27, 2006
    32,450
    In the flight path to Offutt
    Full Name:
    The original Fernando
    I've learned over the last 40 years that letters, phone calls, and then e-mails - are too easy to 'blow off',
    or get a canned response if lucky.
    I'd find a way to 'look good', and then stop in these places - and the first thing you ask is 'Do you have a few minutes?'

    And also realize that, if lucky, you may start by washing cars, because I'd bet you are
    not the only person that wants to be an F-car mechanic.

    Just being realistic, I know a couple guys that wanted to be diesel semi mechanics,
    and they started out in the 'wash' area, albeit this was a few years ago.
    Now they make $110,000.00+ working on Kenworths and Peterbilts...
     
  13. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    29,308
    socal
    Yes! I think it's been nearing 20 years and still working flawlessly over several cars, but that single issue isn't the basis of my endorsement. I have met and talked with the man in person and seen the inner workings of his shop. He has tools and depth of knowledge I have not seen in other shops even FNA shops lack his tooling. He understands how cars work and solves problems. As an honest guy I suspect he would at least point a budding mechanic in the right direction even if he could provide no direct aid. Yeah I'm a fan of Dave, a good human being who overlanded in his FJ to help his neighbors get supplies and medicine when his community was cutoff in one of their natural disasters some 10 years back.
     

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