Derek Slack started business in 1973 in a small rented workshop in Coral Street in central Middlesbrough repairing motor cars. Derek served his time as a motor mechanic and has worked at a number of garages, gaining a wide range of experience on most makes of cars. 1973 was not a special year, it had plenty of disasters and triumphs, the prime minister was Tory Edward Heath and Britain was at the height of disruption with Trade Unions, 3 day weeks and the Arab Oil Embargo. Despite the uncertain economic climate Derek prospered and eventually purchased larger premises in Stonehouse Street, Linthorpe. Now specialising in Reliant Tricycles, Derek became the aftersales agent for supplying parts and eventually for sales of new cars. Again for a third time in 1984 Derek had ran out of space and moved around the corner to Cumberland Road to larger premises, which had a small showroom and space to become an MOT centre. In 1986 Dereks son Tony joined the business and in his fathers footsteps became an apprentice motor mechanic. In 1993 Derek Slack Motors became the new agent for Skoda in Teesside. Volkswagen had just purchased Skoda, which would mean long-term investment, security and product development for the budget Czechoslovakian car maker. Derek Slack Motors continued to grow as demand for the ever improving Skoda cars grew, making them more and more popular. Again running short of space Derek and Tony purchased three acres of land adjacent to the A66 dual carriageway on the East of Middlesbrough and built their current ‘home’, a purpose built modern garage complete with, workshops, parts departments, showrooms, used car display areas, customer car parking and storage areas. Derek Slack Motors is still growing and is still family run, Derek Slack is Chief Executive and Tony Slack Managing Director responsible for the day to day running of the operation.