A passion for fast cars and the thrill of blasting along forest tracks at high speeds has driven the business ambitions of a young agricultural engineer.
"I’ve been rallying since I was seventeen years old and absolutely love it," says Steve Holder. "But I realised when I was working as a mechanic at a tractor dealer that I’d only earn enough to run a decent car if I made a success of running my own business."
That ambition led to him starting a number of successful enterprises, the latest of which, SJH Machinery, has been awarded the local franchise for one of Britain’s leading tractor makes.
"Being appointed to handle McCormick has realised one of my keenest ambitions – to represent a top tractor make," says Steve. "I’ve been looking for the right opportunity for a couple of years and made a convincing case about our plans and commitment to the distributor."
From his base at Chickwood near Kington, Herefordshire, SJH Machinery is now supporting existing McCormick users and supplying new McCormick tractors in an area south from Newtown to Hereford that takes in parts of Powys, south Shropshire and the northern half of Herefordshire.
The business already has an established parts and retail store, which is now being stocked with McCormick parts, and as demand for tractor servicing and repairs expands there is scope to move the workshops into a spacious new building on site.
"McCormick is a very well known and respected tractor brand with a range of machines that suits all applications," says Steve. "We can supply everything from 28-50hp compact tractors for paddocks and groundcare, heavy-duty compacts for fruit production and farm tractors from utility models to the highest-spec arable machines."
The business has already chalked up its first retail sale with others in the pipeline and to prove his faith in the products he now supplies, a 200hp McCormick TTX210 is being operated by the S J Holder contracting business. This summer it has been busy running a big square baler.
"It’s a comfortable and powerful tractor with a boost system that takes the standard 198hp output to 213hp for pto work," he points out. "The XtraSpeed transmission is one of the best features, though – with eight powershift speeds in each range, you’re never at a loss for the right gear."
Through the rest of the year, the new McCormick will tackle heavy ploughing and potato haulage and will operate a dump trailer alongside the machines used in Steve’s groundworks contracting arm.
"It’s the fact that we operate as contractors in both the agricultural and industrial fields that we really understand the importance of providing good service," he points out. "We’re giving it a high priority to ensure customers who buy McCormick tractors from the new retail venture are properly supported."
Much of the responsibility for that will fall on the shoulders of full-time workshop technician Alan Price, who has worked with the business for some eight years, and stores manager Wayne Russell, who says new customers have already been calling in for parts and to enquire about servicing and repairs.
"I’m very excited about the prospect of developing as a dealership with McCormick because it’s just the product line we’ve been looking for," adds Steve. "There’s an ideal choice of models for the different types of farming in this area, new technical features, a good direct-to-customer parts service if needed, realistic pricing and attractive finance rates to help cash flow."
With the boundless energy of youth on his side – and the support of Steve’s wife Rebecca – he has every chance of succeeding. But what about the rallying – does that now take a back seat?
"Not really, I couldn’t give that up," says Steve, who competed with his Subaru in the Welsh National Rally Championship this year. "Watch out for a red rally car flashing past with ’McCormick’ written large down each side – that’ll be me!"
