Career Opportunities in Engine Building?

Hi all this is my first post on this forum (not sure if its in the right section).
My name is Cam, I live in Australia and my passion is cars and everything else to do with modifying and building performance cars. Since i have been a kid it has always been my passion and have lived a life working on various street cars and other projects. My goal in life is to become a well respected Performance Engine Builder.
The problem I'm having is getting there, I have searched and searched for the answers I'm looking for and can't seem to get where I want to go. I have looked into joining the SAM's School of automotive machinists in the US but have got as far as finding out that I will need a student visa and live in the US where I will be un-able to work to support living costs and coarse costs. Here in Australia we don't have such schools and would require a 4 year apprenticeship in general automotive, which doesn't even cover machining or anything related to specialised engine building.

Was hoping to get some info off others on how they have achieved such goals and who the right people to talk to are.
I have been purchasing every issue of the Engine masters mag and also intend on writing them a letter aswell.

So if anyone has any info, advice or in the know, please share.
This is not something I will give up on and one way or another I will get there.
Looking forward to your replies,
Cam  

Hi Cam:
There are good schools out there today. Theres WYOTECH, LINCOLN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.

Do your home work on the various companies and schools out there. The Key word's are "Engine Builder". Anyone with a little knowledge can assemble an engine.

I have been at it all my life(I grew up in the world of racing). Practice and knowing what the engine is doing and what it is telling you will be your best guild. The way technology is changing I wish I was younger to see where we will be 10 or 20 years from now. You keep your head screwed on and your mind in the correct place and you will be a winner.

I watched the show on Power Block TV. In the US and I saw this Mike hammering main bearing caps in place and just the way he did things made me chringggggg. If I were the producer of the show I would not have him around high dollar engines and parts. He's krud at best. I really don't know how else to discribe his performance.

I own a Race engine shop in the US,and I have 3 older retired gentlemen that are top machinist's in this area. I needed someone to start out and learn from these guys. I left interviewing and hiring up to them. Their choice was a young man who is finishing some engineering courses on metalurgy. He is the best person to come along in a very long time. Noone asks him twice to do anything. He's a pleasure to have around. I can't wait for him to work for us full time. I'll tell you what he does here. He does all his own set-ups the guys check all of his work before and after he's done. They like him I like him so we can't beat that.I'm 64 and my youngest machinist is 74 except for my new hire. He's 26.  GOOD LUCK....You want it go get it.....  
OH YEAH one thing when your name goes on it. Be proud of it whatever it is...
Thanks
Bob  

You need to learn mathematics, you need to be able to properly assemble, measure & machine parts... A machine tech. coarse would also be a great help, gain some knowledge of the equipment used in engine building/machining... you won't start out as a full on builder/machinist any were {especially race engines}, out of the gate or just right out of school, you will need to put some time in 1st, under a highly qualified machinist & highly qualified engine builder, to learn the ropes & establish a trusted cliental needed to have a successful engine building career... Good luck...  
"Fill Your Library Before Your Fill Your Garage"  3836bbl alias Budnicks

.. I'm having trouble believing there are NO such schools in Australia... you may have to go to whatever they have down under and work your way up from there... if you are really serious about becoming an engine builder (many in the schools actually aren't, they're just enrolled to find a 'job'), then read the tech articles in the car magazines/websites, get some books on engine building, and start building basic performance engines to sell... if you can do careful, precise, precision work, your engines stay together, and win races, more Aussies will want to buy them and/or hire you... and you can work your way up to exotic racing engines as you learn/build...