Born for the Part – Ricky Skelton

Assistant Parts Manager

Porsche Centre Brighton

Ricky’s passion for Porsches goes back a long way. ‘As a young kid of eight or nine, my dad had a friend with 911s,’ he says. ‘I was a big fan back then, getting to ride in the back seats, feeling that flat six rumbling beneath me. My walls were covered with Porsche posters in my teen years.’

Pair the Porsche passion with an enthusiasm for motorsport, which also started young; ‘I reckon my obsession started with my Dad’s annual Bathurst barbecues with all of his mates,” Ricky recalls.

So, when opportunity knocked at Porsche Centre Brighton all those years back, Ricki jumped at it. ‘I applied for the Parts Interpreter position never thinking I’d get it – but here I am!’ Ricky is now Assistant Parts Manager.

The job has also helped Ricky tick off some bucket list items, including attending Bathurst with Porsche Carrera Cup teams and attending the Carrera Cup awards dinner on the Gold Coast.

Motorsport and working in a retail Porsche Dealership is where Ricky’s people-focused side comes to the fore. ‘I’ve built strong relationships with customers over the years,’ he says. ‘We love seeing our customers coming back time after time. There is also a strong connection when I've had the opportunity to help solve problems for teams trackside.

‘Efficiency and an unflappable nature are key too when motorsport customers facing a ticking clock will often rattle off a long list, so you have to get those parts within crucial turnaround times.’ (Some rounds like Bathurst and Gold Coast only have a twoweek period for getting the cars repaired and prepared to race again.)

Ricky finds much to admire in Porsche’s embrace of EV. ‘There’s not much maintenance with electric cars, but there’s still lots to learn – the charging side of things is a whole new world, for example. We’re fortunate in having strong tech support, and a highly trained team in the workshop if any issues arise.’

Supporting and working closely with various racing teams is an enduring love for Ricky. ‘I was attending race meets prior to the pandemic, even travelling with one team,’ he says. ‘Then in 2020, the Australian Grand Prix we were about to attend was called off due to Covid, so now I’m looking forward to next season and getting back to the track.

The job has other benefits, too. ‘I definitely get the occasional drive,’ Ricky reveals. ‘When I go out to do a quote for trade customers, for example, I often take a car from the sales department.’

It’s yet another plus in Ricky's esteemed career at Porsche Centre Brighton. •

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