But that was (and continues to be) all side
work; Vinnie's first "real" job started when he was
16, working with his father at his golf course. Nine years later,
family businesses being what they are, he decided that he'd
rather stop working for his dad and be able to remain friends.
So Vinnie left the golf course to be an auto
mechanic for a year and a half, then embarked on a series of
different jobs: He drilled wells for eight months, drove a truck
for a year, returned to the garage where he had been a mechanic,
and also worked for a friend doing custom auto audio/TV installation.
Then one day his dad — long-time friends
with Paul Sr. from his repair-shop — let Vinnie know that
Paulie was looking for a good mechanic, someone he knew and
trusted, to work with him at Orange County Choppers. And Paul
Jr., his elementary-school friend starting in third grade, knew
Vinnie could do anything to a car or bike (well, short of painting).
Interested, Vinnie called Junior, and the rest is history; two
weeks after their October 2002 conversation, Vinnie was working
at OCC.
Today at OCC, Vinnie mostly does fabrication
on the production bikes and fab and assembly on the theme bikes.
And enjoys it — although he may be more into mechanics
(motors and wiring) than welding, because the bikes are so varied,
the work always stays fresh.
Content Provided by: Discovery
Channel :: American Chopper
