Class Cycles

So what were you doing when you were my age? I was going to trade school, Almond State College for electrical construction and maintenance. That was cool. Cool. So how'd you get involved in this line of work? I've been around bikers my whole life. My dad had a 52 panhead. I had a mini bike when I was four or five. I got a mini bike and So I turned around and she said when I was young and then it just progressed over the years. Nice. So do you ever feel lost or scared of the future? It's a scary world out there man. But you can't worry about it too much. You just try and do your best every day, Nothing's easy. So do you always know what exactly you want to do, Yeah, I was, I'm still a union electrician. I've been doing that over 20 years now. But that trade got slow for me and I was working on bikes out of my garage. I got out of control and just one thing turned into another. I've been here four years now. It'sad to control. I can't even keep up. I want to go by myself. It's hard. How'd you discover your passion in life? I got a lot of different passions. It just comes natural man. Whenever you can do what you want, take advantage of it and do it. Have you ever taken any career risks in your life and what happened as a result? Oh man, this place is a huge risk. It's a battle every day. When business is growing fast but it's hard to keep up top. It's a tough business and tough being self-employed, that's for sure. This has been my biggest risk by far. Have you ever had a role model or mentor? Yeah, lots of them. In different fields too. I've met a lot of good people and unbelievably talented people. In this industry, Jesse James is a big mentor of mine. Indian Larry, Bob Ellard, a big Bonneville Soul Flat racer. He's been building engines. He's been teaching me how to build vintage engines. He's had a well and good started on that. Helped me build my first real Harley chopper. That was what really got me into this here, Jimmy Van Sickle. He's an awesome dude, Vietnam vet, warrior. So it makes you feel It's funny because every day I get to make something with metal, with the torches and welding. It makes me smile and I had a good day when I make something with metal. So what makes you feel Usually it'somebody that comes in here and there's a lot of people out in the world. I meet a lot of strange ones in this business. Sometimes a customer comes in that will put me in a bad mood for a little while until I snap out of it and start welding. What's your motto? Why? Or do you have one? Lately it's ride fast or be last. You know, s That'safely. What are your final words for people who are trying to figure out what they want to do with their life? Or in your case, starting your own business? Oh man, you find a partner that has a lot of money. That'll give you plenty of time to figure out what you want to do. Money to start whatever you want to do or do whatever you want to do. I don't know. Some people just figure it out. A lot of people do what their parents did. I don't know. You gotta do something and explore different things and you'll find what you Hopefully you get to do it for it. Lately I don't even I'm so busy here. I need a good mechanic. Anybody out there that knows a good Harley mechanic needs to come back. Thank you. Thanks for the interview. You're welcome.