Prior to forming Derby Road & Race in 2003, I had spent 15 or so years working for my fathers motorcycle engineering business learning to weld, braze and fabricate, plus the skills of milling and turning.
But times were changing in the racing world, and with the rise in production racing the market for chassis builders was shrinking fast. The company had to diversify and a move into stainless steel food industry equipment was well suited as attention to quality, detail and safety is also very important in this field of work. The motor sport stayed with us, just smaller.
Over the following years we were getting a growing number of enquires about classic chassis and by 2002 I decided this was the path I wished to follow. So I, with my house re-mortgaged to the hilt, my fathers blessing and a small part of his knowledge, left.
The workshop I took on in the mills was a complete mess. I spent 9 long months and most of my savings getting it to standard I could work from and invite customers in.
Since then we have been slowly growing year on year adding new customers far and wide, entirely from word of mouth. To this day we have never had paid advertising anywhere. Not bad for a company entering its 20th year in business.
As a foot note.
My fathers business DRS Precision Ltd, is still going strong with rail contracts, food industry work and of course motor sport with my younger brother Andrew helping to manage the firm.
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