Andrew Prestage

Insurance Portfolio Specialist with expertise researching competitor pricing to pinpoint appropriate pricing strategies. Worked smoothly under pressure with poise and composure. Self-motivated professional with a background conducting market research and implementing pricing methodologies. A determined Pricing Analyst with exceptional data assessment, relationship building and writing skills. Highly communicative Pricing Analyst promoting more than [Number] years of leading revenue generation brainstorming sessions. An intelligent professional with exceptional collaboration skills that drive pricing strategies. Offering talents in relationship development, public speaking and data research. Logical [Type] professional with proven abilities in examining requirements and plans to create proposals. Motivated to provide precise estimates by clearly understanding project objectives, defining scopes and determining schedules. Experienced in adhering to client feedback and revising estimate information to suit customer preferences.

• Motorsport - Victorian Mini Club inc, Motorsport Australia, Phillip Island Auto Racing Club
• Road Cycling - Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club, Bicycle Victoria
• Astronomy - Melbourne Astronomical Society, Cosmic Coffee Time podcast
• Music - Trained in Voice and Guitar. Self taught Ukulele, Piano, Percussion

Lifelong Motoring Enthusiast

I have had a passion for motoring since before I learned to walk or talk. Cars were the only toys I was interested in as a baby.

I don't come from a motoring family but as a child I did convince my family to take me to race meetings occasionally, when I couldn't get to the track I would watch motor racing on TV at any opportunity.

As a teenager, my mechanical journey began with dismantling an old lawn mower, then bought a wrecked Mini engine/gearbox assembly to dismantle and investigate. I took part time jobs and saved up to buy a number of project cars, HR Holden, Morris Mini Deluxe, HQ Holden, Leyland Mini. With no car experts in my family and no mentors, I learned how to work on these cars completely by myself. Without the internet in those days, I learned from some very well thumbed copies of the Gregory's Workshop Manual.

Car Clubs entered my consciousness at age 19. That's where I discovered club level motorsport. It dawned on me that motorsport was not just for professional teams, but for mere mortals like me. Most importantly, nobody would stop you. A couple of motorkhanas were fun, but I needed to get onto a track. One drenched Sunday at Winton Raceway in a totally unsuitable HQ Holden, it started. Motoring journalist and one-time race driver and instructor David Morley was sniffing around but trying to stay dry. One way of staying out of the rain was by offering young rookies like me, a few laps of advice. I took him for a couple of laps, then we swapped seats. He talked about race lines and a hundred other ways I could improve. One thing he said that has stayed with me forever, was to have my hands at three o'clock and nine o'clock on the wheel, and never let go, no shuffling, even in a corner, even if you need to cross your arms over. That way you can correct any slide and always instinctively know where straight ahead is, and your body will be balanced.

That HQ made way for a 1968 Morris Cooper S. Now that was a track car. A few years of fun, blasting around the tracks of Victoria; Winton, Calder, Sandown and Phillip Island. I loved competing and the mental focus of driving. Often entering a flow state in the full body experience of balancing the machine through a super fast corner, persuading it to stay on the road. My hands at 9 and 3.

Other weekends were spent maintaining the Cooper S, replacing anything that wore out or broke. Building up more and more skills and experience in the workshop.

I retired the Cooper S from track duties after a few years and shifted focus to my new track car, a 1971 Mini Clubman GT. It was time to get serious. This was still kind of road car, but not really. Wide tyres, lots of camber and castor angle in the front end, stiff suspension, Webber carburettor, hot engine. Things that make it awesome on track just seem to make it grumpy on the road. Heavy steering, harsh ride, no brakes when cold, rough idle. On track however, it comes to life and it all makes sense, perfect sense. I love competing, I love driving it, I love watching the lap times come down on a good day. And It's a beautiful car.

Results started to improve. The Clubman GT and I have won two legitimate Motorsport Australia sate championships and a few placings over the years. There have been club championships and several placings in club championships as well.

My workshop skills have never been brilliant, but I can do almost all the work myself now. It's incredibly satisfying to reflect on how far this has taken me. From the teenager dismantling and studying an old lawn mower to try to learn the basics, to now having a couple of state title trophies in the pool room. It takes a lot of hard work and commitment, there's disappointment and sometimes it's just not your day, but that's all part of what makes it so rewarding overall.

The most exciting part is that there's no end in sight. I'll be lining up again in 2024 for another go. This off-season my trailer is getting some love and a smarten up, ready for transport duties for many years to come.