FRED EDWARDS - PROskid's Service Manager

Born into a mechanical family, Fred Edwards' path in life was clear. At 13 he regularly helped prepare his brother's highly successful speed cars for a Saturday night's racing at Brooklyn Speedway. By 15, he was an apprentice motor mechanic, trusted by his instructors with the most difficult rebuilds of motors and gearboxes due to his natural interest and aptitude for all things mechanical.

For the next 20 years Fred worked on an enormous variety of equipment, including trucks and tractors, large and small, petrol, diesel, and all sorts of vehicles for road and racetrack. By the time he joined PROskid in 1997 as workshop manager, Fred had already worked on nearly everything that moves. His interest in skid loaders and excavators was immediately obvious which quickly ensured him a reputation with operators as the man to see for any mechanical issues.

Fred saw his first Takeuchi when PROskid took the dealership in Victoria, and he was more than impressed. "They are a step above anything else I have worked on - very strong, reliable, and the customer feedback is great. Takeuchis come through the door for regular service, and they're quickly back out to work again."

"I love being part of PROskid, and enjoy working with the characters in the earthmoving game. Peter and I get on well together, and work as a team. We share the same basic goals - to give the best possible service whether I'm in sales, parts, or the workshop. That's how I am anyway. If there's a problem, I'll be keen to fix it."

Fred is unashamedly a machinery addict, and when not working on machinery he "plays" with his cars every change he gets. "I started as a kid with old FC Holdens, but my pride and joy now is a 1958 Star Model Mainline Ute, which is very original except for its 351 Cleveland motor."

"I really get a buzz out of solving mechanical problems. It doesn't matter if it's a B61 Mack, an old Customline, or an excavator's servo hydraulics. Especially when someone else has had a go at it, and you fix the problem - that's when you feel really good."