Who We Are...

Second Chance Garage, LLC Principals:

Satch Reed, Publisher
In charge of the Internet side of things, Mr. Reed recently retired as the owner of Reed Web Design, an internet consultant/web design firm located in Arlington, Virginia. After a 23 year career in the graphic arts industry where he owned/operated 2 typesetting companies, he lived abroad for 5 years (Germany, Jamaica, Mongolia...his wife is a U.S. diplomat). He returned to the U.S. in 1997 and established Reed Web Design and rekindled his love of classic cars and their restoration. An avid restoration enthusiast, interest in the hobby evolved from his teen-age years when he had a small business buying older cars and selling their parts.

Les Jackson, Editor-in-Chief
Our resident car restoration Guru, Les Jackson is a professional automotive journalist who test-drives and reviews approximately 100 new vehicles from all manufacturers yearly. He has tested vehicle performance, ride, handling, extreme weather and off-road capabilities, fit-and-finish and reliability since 1990 and is familiar with the operation and engineering specifications of every one of the [currently] 400+ vehicles available in the U.S. He has written scores of technical and "how-to" articles for many publications including The Washington Times, Car and Driver, AutoWeek, AAA Buying Guide, Microsoft Motorsite, Modern Maturity, Chicago Tribune Media Services, Journal Newspapers, Family Health and Safety and a large number of specialty publications catering to automotive enthusiasts. He is past-President (2-terms) of the Washington Automotive Press Association and a member of the International Motor Press Association.

Les is Co-Host and technical expert on "Cruise Control," a syndicated radio program devoted to all aspects of the automotive world. He writes a weekly column entitled "Ask Dr. Crankshaft" for the 255-newspaper Journal Ledger syndicate, in which he diagnoses readers' questions about vehicle problems and monitors NHTSA and manufacturer recall programs. He has been teaching automotive theory (adult education) courses since the early 1970s and currently teaches courses on new-vehicle buying and older vehicle restoration. He consults as an expert witness in the Virginia court system in vehicle crash, lemon-law and associated cases.

He has actively kept abreast of all aspects of automotive technology, and frequently writes "how things work" pieces for various publications. Les is often asked to speak about the automotive world to civic organizations, clubs and high school classes, and is a guest speaker at several large automotive events held in Carlisle, PA, each year.

Over forty years of study and direct experience has enabled Les to achieve "craftsman" status. He has hands-on restored (that is, the complete disassembly, repair and restoration of every one of the more than 10,000 parts of an automobile, and reassembly) 15 classic automobiles, performing all the work himself. In the process he has mastered the sophisticated skills necessary to rebuild engines, transmissions (to date he has rebuilt over 300 combined) and drivetrain components, as well as electrical and fuel systems.

Mr. Jackson is a consultant on vehicle crash dynamics and safety. He has consulted with major automotive companies and OEMs including Ford (during the Firestone tire failure campaign) and Continental AG and Siemens Automotive, for which he publishes a monthly Washington report outlining safety and environmental programs.

During the 1960s, while studying mechanical engineering and laser physics, he successfully competed on sanctioned racing circuits, earning SCCA and Formula One racing licenses. Mr. Jackson served military duties as a Naval aviator (and chief of a large jet and reciprocating engine rebuilding division in Norfolk, VA).