With the help of his 19 year old son Matthew, Roland Stow from Wolverhampton is fast building a reputation providing a unique service for Japanese performance cars. Japauto-Speed UK is racing ahead on the track to success.

Roland's complicated medical history includes a colonectomy and a degenerative rheumatic disease which led to periods of long-term unemployment. A full-time nine-to-five job just wasn't suitable and often employers were insensitive to his complex health needs. Despite the challenges, Roland was determined to build a business and a future for him and his son.

Roland's varied career prior to ill health includes work as a trained mechanic and he has always had an affinity with fast cars. Roland found it hard to find anyone who could service the Japanese performance cars he owned in various states of repair. But he knew there must be other people out there also needing this kind of service and this gave him the idea to start his business.

Support from Ready to Start at the early stages of the business helped him to purchase the right equipment to get going. Targeted marketing and word-of-mouth are bringing in customers and his service levels and reasonable prices are ensuring repeat business.

"Doing something positive and working on the business is helping me manage my health. It's a kind of therapy in itself. I couldn't do this without my son and working together has brought us so much closer." In the future, he is aiming to provide a race and rally car preparation service aimed at local motor sport clubs. The road ahead is open and Roland is optimistic.