"No one was in the business here in town. With the knowledge and experience I received, I knew it would pay off," Reed said.
Prior to starting his own business, Reed worked for Ronnie Brown's Auto. That is where he gained the knowledge to repair foreign cars. Although Reed has not had a formal education in auto repairs, he says he is self-taught and is very confident about his ability to repair anything. "You can fix anything if you know how to make it work."
Some of the foreign-car brands Reed has had his hands on include Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Honda, Toyota, Subaru and Volvo.
He deals with problems that require a lot of time
Reed said he is the type of service specialist who will trouble-shoot problems most mechanics don't want to deal with, like electronics and wiring, that require a lot of time. "Most garages like to make quick money," Reed said, but at his business he is wants to provide customers with quality work.
Jim Morrison, a Centre College professor of Greek and Latin, has two foreign cars that Reed services. He is thinking of purchasing a third for his teenage daughter. Morrison said he brings his car to Reed because he shows him what part went wrong and explains in detail the reason why. "I am very happy here. He is very nice," Morrison said.
Reed got started repairing recreational vehicles at a Yamaha dealership in Harrodsburg. When the dealership closed its doors, Reed's loyal customers continued to come to him. The recreational vehicles he services are four-wheelers, houseboats, and motocross bikes. He trained for six years on how to repair foreign personal watercraft.
He also sells motorcycles, which are displayed in the showroom. "I have cruisers, dirt bikes, and sport bikes," Reed said, and he likes to help customers out by allowing them to sell their bikes on consignment.
Can find him at motocross racetracks
When Reed is not repairing boats and cars, he can be found at motocross racetracks with his son. For thirteen years, he competed in motocross competitions until he was injured. The walls of his shop are filled with pictures of his family and racing competitions. One photo he proudly holds up is an action shot of himself suspended high in mid-air during a dirt bike race.
Although Reed no longer competes, he now invests in a new racer, his eight-year-old son, Dylan. Dylan has won two state championships. Even though Reed says it is expensive to race, it is worth his hard-earned money to watch his son. Traveling with his son to various competitions allows Reed to spend quality time with him. In fact, one of the tracks that his son has raced on is also the same track he got married on, the Daniel Boone Motocross Park in London.
Reed spends many late hours at his shop but says his wife, Melissa, of 13 years, and family are very understanding. The couple also have two girls, Carmynn, 2, and 6-month-old Katilyn.
Reed's goal for his business: "Is to build a business for my boy to fall into and let the girls handle the business end ... a family run operation."
