By Chelsey Tran Dinh
Noah Stein '21 (B.A., German studies, B.S., mechanical engineering) grew up in Apple Valley, California. As a child he watched the Pixar film Cars and developed an unwavering attraction for all things cars, racing and motorsports. With no family background or other exposure to motorsports, Cars kickstarted his passion for the racetrack. Soon Stein aspired to work in the motorsports industry and to be on the racetrack every day. His ultimate goal? To work in a top-level racing championship.
The world of motorsports, however, isn’t limited to being the race driver. Stein was determined to find his place on the racetrack through any supporting role, either as a broadcaster adding race commentary or as an engineer working to optimize the performance of a race car. It turned out that studying the humanities was an essential part of his journey to exploring the possibilities of working in the industry.
An unexpected academic partnership
Before entering college, Stein was versatile in his studies and interests in high school, having strong interests in math, science and the humanities. When it came time to choose a major, Stein debated whether to pursue his scientific interests and become an automotive engineer, or to nourish his creative and artistic side with journalism or history. This assortment of academic interests ultimately influenced his decision to participate in the Program in International Engineering (PIE). The program, a partnership between the School of Humanities and School of Engineering, offered the ability to major in mechanical engineering and pursue a German studies degree. When asked why he decided to enter the program despite the challenges of an engineering curriculum, Stein stated, “That’s kind of who I am…when I take on something, I really want to give 100% and complete it.”
Of all the language and cultural programs available to engineering students who went through the PIE program, Stein ultimately chose German studies as a self-proclaimed history lover and in acknowledgment of his Jewish heritage. Stein felt that it was important to learn about the history of Germany in the restoration era after World War II, and was interested in how this period of history impacted the motorsport world. Germany was and still is a major contender in the racing world with renowned car brands like Audi and BMW, and Stein was fascinated with how historical events could impact different cultural and economic spheres. “Learning German was a very practical choice for me as well, since Germans engineer more than just race cars (for example, Bosch makes electronics). So it was a great opportunity to learn a language that would improve my résumé too.”
Finding a creative space on campus
Stein’s education in German studies offered him much more than a historical perspective on his intended job industry. While double majoring in mechanical engineering, Stein felt that his courses in German studies gave him a space on campus to explore his creative side. The intimate environment of his humanities classes offered smaller class sizes in comparison to the large and crowded lecture halls of his engineering classes. Stein’s classes in German studies also felt more collaborative. He got to enjoy a more relaxed pace of class where he “made stronger bonds and struck up collaborations with other students.” Stein valued the importance of creating connections with people, and found that the environment of German studies, especially alongside engineering, helped him further build his ability to work as a part of a team. Crucially, as well, earning a foreign language offered him a unique skill set that engineering alone could not provide.
Stein’s personal interest and passion for the racing world fueled his participation in many on-campus activities, all of which helped him to pursue his dream career. Stein used his scientific skills in his role as a Vehicle Dynamics Lead Engineer for Anteater Formula Racing, one of UCI’s Formula SAE senior design projects, and indulged his creativity in a self-produced radio show called “Speedway Sounds.” The KUCI-streamed radio show was Stein’s first glimpse into the possibility of being involved in the journalistic side of racing. He talked about all things motorsports and interviewed several racers as guests on the show, some of whom he still has connections with today. Stein shares, “I was really passionate about telling the stories of professionals in various roles in racing, from drivers to officials to content creators, as well as my own UCI classmates involved in racing.”
The finish line
All of Stein’s academic efforts and on-campus involvement paid off: In January 2022, just under a year after graduation, he landed a role as a Fly-In Trackside Engineer at the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) USA. In this role, he handles all of the diagnostics, preparation and calibrations of engines before, during and after each racing event for one of HRC’s IndyCar Series race cars. His role has allowed him to move to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he is on-site every day during tests and races, including the Indianapolis 500. He most enjoys the experience of working as a team and collaborating with others, learning from his colleagues every day.
As a trackside engineer at Honda Racing Corporation, Stein has achieved what most students strive for – to work for their dream environment straight out of graduation. As Stein continues his professional journey, he hopes to win a race as an engineer. Reflecting back upon his journey, Stein notes, “I’m just grateful for Honda Racing for taking a chance on a rookie like myself.”
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Chelsey Tran Dinh graduated from UC Irvine in 2024 with a B.A. in English.