How one starts the design profession, along with other miscellaneous queries.

[Gordon's Successor]

For all those who are prepared to listen.

(1) I have been researching this for some time, the question of whether or not one day would I be able to design and build prestige cars. I do know in todays world this type of career is difficult to achieve, but I am wondering if any of you would be kind enough as to offer me your suggestions? It would be my dream of course to design for Mclaren Cars, or to start a company with others, each of them with their own unique integral traits (finance, of course, impossible). As I live under a rock, is the best way of going about it doing some sort of mechanical engineering course and then going on to design school, just in case I do not succeed? If so are there any colleges/universities you could reccommend (preferably in Europe)? Or what other approaches could one do? I did write to Gordon Murray and he said, "The best advice I could offer you is to gain as much practical experience as possible in terms of designing and building vehicles. Practical experience is the most valuable expeience of all......"

(2) Do any of you have a large res image of XP5 going down the straights in the VW test track. (on the website and "Driving Ambition"?

(3) And finally, do any of you know how much downforce the F1 gets at top speed?

Many thanks (much of which in advance)