Grrr what? The show is getting some well needed press. Isn't that what you want? Especially after being put on TLC? OCC is a show and a business unfortunately yes the show trumped the business and the send off has generated negative press. Any press is good press right?

You got that right. Any show can be replaced. American Chopper has become another American Hot Rod. Sr is another Boyd. People jumping ship as it goes down. The show does not have much time left I am afraid. It will be canned and replaced. OCC will lose in the long run. No more big high dollar builds once it's off the air. No one is going to fork over the big bucks if there is no air time for the build and the company behind it. Jr will actually have to show up on time and not leave 4 or 5 times a day now that he has no one to do the building for him.

This topic getting old, OCC bikes are getting old! Its the same looking bike over and over. Different shaped tins and paint. Vinnie if you are reading this how about V Innovation.

Hi all: particularly Vinnie. For the last two seasons Vinnie kept me coming back for the occasional show as OCC has lost its edge and now OCC has lost its Backbone.

Hey Senior - the bigger they are the harder they fall.

You should have had the integrity to put together a show particularly about Vinnie his contribution to the SHOW! That I would have appreciated and perhaps have come back once in a blue moon. Now that Cody is gone who will keep the ladies interested?

you guys are wrong....I like Vin too, but there's still some life left in this show.

This is some hornets nest, huh?? This board hasn't seen this much action since who knows when..No good..I'll still watch but it won't be the same without Vinnie.. Sorry Jason just won't cut it he may appeal to the younger girls but they get bored easily..

Jason is a dork.

Wit, I have to agree on Jason. He brings nothing to the show. He is boring, wooden and forced on camera.

I've been away the last couple of weeks and getting caught up in reading this posting. Does anyone know if it's possible to view the episode that aired on 10/18 where it was Vinny's last day with OCC on the internet ??

Try Youtube.. But honestly there isn't much to see it's the last segment of the show so it maybe involves a whole minute or two of air time..So skip all of the show and go strait to the end.

1st - I'll admit I haven't read all of the posts in this thread so if this has been brought up before, sorry.

If Vinnie had already given his notice to OCC that in 2 weeks or after this build, he was leaving, then Rick's comment about quitting is more of a joke. Rick would have known Vin was already leaving and hence the joke.

This is my first post. I love this show and have watched from the start. It took this for me to come here and post.
1st...Yes I agree with everyone else the comment Paul Sr. made was dumb. but he was mad. I have said lots of dumb stuff while mad myself.
2nd.. everyone that said the Paul's should have given Vin a piece of there company for helping it be what it was and being on the show and all...well its always the employees that make a company what it is for good or bad.

I'm sure we have some very good workers in here..question were you ever offed part ownership in the company as reward for being such a good worker??(yes i know he was more then that but still...) When you start dealing out pieces of the pie to all the good workers soon there will be no pie at all.
After all what is the 1st goal of business...to turn a profit.

Also everyone that said the the Paul's didn't do any work? (well they are overseeing the business like any owner does with minimum manual labor on there own part. which is par for the course, thats why they hire workers.
I know when I have worked for any locally owned company or corporation the owners do very little. thats why you are there.
When you get to that point where you can own your own company all you want to do is sit back and collect the money and really never work again. just pay people to do the work for you.

Anyway. I loved Vin and Mikey and I wish he didn't go but I know he will do good in whatever he does and so will the Paul's

All the speculation on Jr not doing any work...Thats a angle of the show, So it gets edited to look that way..Im sure in the real world Jr pulls his wieght..If Vinny wasnt quiting Im sure they would have edited out sum of the finger pointing he was doing towards the end..Pointing out Cody and his crew...But it made for good TV...

While I would agree that if Vinnie was unhappy that he probably did the right thing in leaving,
I'm not sure it was the smartest thing to do

I have no idea if Vinnie likes or dislikes being on TV, but unless TLC gives him a show and I doubt they will, he will wind up being just another craftman working on Motorcycles. While that in itself is nothing to sneeze at and it was his intention all along, his life has changed in the last four years, and he may not be as happy working in a 9-5 job working on Motorcycles.

As for money, being that he was a very important part of the show and probably my favorite, it was TLC who should have been compensating him. However, being what these cable shows are like, there budgets are small and I am sure nobody on the show including Paul JR and SR are getting bing checks from TLC. Being that the show is a one hour infomercial for OCC, the big money comes from the customers and endorsements. Thats where the problems arises. At this point he is an important part of the build but he is replacable. In other words, he is hugely important to the show but not necessarily to the buidling on motorcycles and since the big money comes from the shop and not show, he is screwed monetarily.

Personally, if I were Paul Sr, I wouldnt give Vinnie a piece of the company but I would compensate him generously because he is important to the show which is important to the shop. Lets be honest, if the show didnt exist, OCC would probably be some small time operating in NYS that probably nobody ever heard of. I am not knocking OCC, but the TV exposure is worth millions

Now, for all we know, it may not have anything to do with money, but if it is, then I cant see him ever getting a better deal than this. Lets be honest, even if he was unhappy, how many more years can this show go on. I guarantee you the day the show ends, OCC sales will dwindle and then it would have been a good time to go.

If all he wants to do is work on bikes, then sure he should have left, but if money or tv is the issue, I dont see him do better anywhere else

[quote]he may not be as happy working in a 9-5 job working on Motorcycles.[/quote]

He'll be running his own business, 9-5 will be the last thing he'll be doing ... I'm pretty sure he'll be putting in a LOT more hours than that. LOL

And I don't think it'll just be bikes, I heard he was planning on doing cars too. He's made no secret that cars were his first love.

Theres lot more to OCC then bikes...There one of the biggest Vendors in the US as far as parts..

I have just become a member to make a comment about Vinnie leaving. I have loved him from the time I started watching the show. I can't wait to watch American Chopper each week, but lately it HAS become boring. The fights in the beginning b/w Sr. and Jr. were hilarious, now you barely even see them or Mikey. I know they have a big business to run, but it has really made the show part go downhill and like many of you have said before if there is no show then they may not need that big new building b/c they will not be getting anymore offers on bike builds. I agree with those of you that hope that Vinnie will get his own show somehow someway no matter what he is doing. We all love him to much now for him to just disappear never to be heard of again. Anyway...to wrap up...Vinnie was a big part of the show and I couldn't stand it when Paulie would screw something up and leave Vinnie to fix it. That is just rude. Maybe if Vinnie does get his own show Mikey and Rick could move to his show with him. That would be great. Vinnie I love you. Please don't disappear. Let us hear from you again soon. Your kids are adorable. That really made the show as well, when families were on the show too. I am done. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

I don't think Vin would hire Mikey or Mikey even take the job because then that would mean he might have to work or do something....lol He has got it TOO EASY where he is now. No reason to leave when you work in your dads company and basicly get free money

tshawn, what parts do they mass produce in house and are sold to the retail market?

tingly:
You were right, the last part of the episode is on YouTube. About 3-4 minutes was shown Vinny saying his goodbyes to everyone there.
Mikey looked quite upset.

Poor Mikey..

Yeah, Vinnie was the one who let Mikey f&%k around all he wanted and never really expected him to do anything of value ... Mikey's last ally is now gone. LOL!

I can honestly tell you that Vinnie is the only reason why I watched this show. I never liked the teutels throwing their weekly fit on tv.And I used to mute it whenever senior went on a rant.
I watch the show to learn...to see new ways of doing things and to see what was available as tools.
The teutals have let this go way to far to their head. 5 years ago they were driving beaters..now they are flying in corporate jets, helos...and going on Leno and Letterman.

And I agree with those who felt Vinnie and Rick were shorted on money. It has to be hard doing all the work..while seeing the teutals get on tv taking all the credit and getting all the money.
I remember when senior was raising cain over a couple coke cans and sent Vinnie home over it. I remember another show where they were doing a reveal and a fan asked "where's Vinnie" and seniors faced flushed mad red.
I remember another show where senior hit Vinnie on the arm...and the look on Vinnie's face told senior.."you better not ever do that again".

So if any tv exec is reading this..."GIVE VINNIE HIS OWN SHOW".His I will watch.
OCC..is soooo over. And they are still building that new huge monument to themselves!

And Vinnie if you do get one...build bikes..be yourself..and no matter how rich you get..don't flaunt it like the teutals.
Motorcycle trash in mansions..doesn't appeal to me at all.

No offense, but the only "new way" of doing things you'll learn on this show is how to ruin your eyesight by welding without a helmet and grinding without a mask or goggles. Or if something doesn't fit, don't fix it, just get a bigger hammer. 99% of the tools they use can be found at Sears, Harbor Freight, a welding supply house or any of the tool trucks. Their CNC, water jet etc. is the same stuff found in most fabrication and machine shops. If you want to learn about how to do things, check out the local community college.

I doubt they were shorted on money as that could be a serious legal problem for the company, but Vinnie never got the recognition that I think he earned. Vinnie builds 80% of a bike by himself, Mikey never contributes anything(and being the shop moron is not a meaningful contribution) and yet Mikey is front and center at unveilings while Vinnie is the invisible man. Clearly the talk on one episode about "Vinnie is like family" was just a gimmick for the show.

Well I just joined to post this. I personally think OCC has 1 more season left before they can the show. If Rick leaves and Cody and Vin are already gone its only a matter of time before they go off.

As far as why Vin left. He said on the show in an interview that he started 5 years ago fabricating bikes and after 5 years he is still in the same place. My opinion is that he left over money. OCC is building this huge headquarters and I can only assume Vinnie may have wanted a promotion. Maybe he wanted to be a suit with a big office and a raise. The Tuetels said he was like family but if he wasnt offered a management position maybe he felt jilted. I would have.

Also Sr said at the end that he was in business for 30 years and has learned anyone can be replaced. Sr said this like Vinnie was just another body and not a family member. I can imagine it was ugly and they made it look nice for TV. Sr didnt seem like he was loosing a family friend. Just my 2 cents. OCC will be a force in the bike industry just not as big without the show.

[quote]Maybe he wanted to be a suit with a big office and a raise.[/quote]

Somehow I don't think Vinnie would trade woking with his hands for a suit.

And as far as Sr's "anybody can be replaced" remark,. I think he was just being truthful. I doubt Sr wanted Vinnie to leave but once that decision had been made he came to grips with it. Anybody CAN be replaced ... and Vinnie ISN'T family.

I think it was the way Senior said it, as in the words he used, that irks people. Senior has never been eloquent - and this is not the first time he has managed to fit both his size 12's in his mouth.

What was he supposed to do, rant and rave and cry? LOL

I dont think he wanted to be a suit. That was a metaphor I guess. Maybe he wanted to be in management like Jr was. Less actual hands on and more oversight. I dunno. I hate that he left.

Also He may not be a Tuetel but many many times on the show Sr refered to Vin as family. Jr and vin are childhood buddies. We will never know the real story because neither side is talking. I guess there is always LA Ink hahahhaha ROFLOL... NOT!!!!!

I think what got me about the whole thing was that it sounded like Vinnie just up-and-left. No notice or anything.

I'm guessing that Sr. was more "shocked" and upset than anything else and through the editing process he came out looking like a real jerk.

Seriously, I know we all like Vinnie here, but he did have a part in how everything played out and I don't think he handled it all that well himself either.

@@@@ BMACYS Im not to familer with part names an stuff, but here in San Antonio, Sum of the OCC parts are actully stocked. I think rocker box covers, dont quote me on that, there are at least 4 diffrent OCC parts that i have seen.. The reason i sy there OCC is due to there logo stamped on the part so its not that im confused..In fact if you pay real close attention in one episode Sr refers to there parts biz.. All im really saying is bike building is probably 3rd in the scheme of things..

Senior doesn't need bad editting to look like a jerk!..LOL!
And I would bet that Vinnie didn't want a suit. He's not the type.
Plus hes great at what hes does..so to put him in front of a computer is a joke.
I think the guy was tired of doing 90% of the work and watching the Toodles hog all the money and credit.
All Junior does is design now and he has Puhl to do that.
All senior does is sit and prop his feet up and brag about himself..and his castle.
If I were to replace anybody on the show..it would be senior..at least Mikey adds personality and some laughs.
Senior adds dread and despair...and a bad attitude.

I'm sure it would be hard to replace someone who's only job is to complain about a shop getting dirty.

And what working shop doesn't?

I think they lost their most valuable asset
and senior is an ungrateful fool for not showing Vin respect and gratitude for helping to make him rich.

They'll find out soon enough good help is hard to find..and great help darn near impossible.

As good a time as any for Vinny to jump and start his own line.

The show is growing tired, really playing to the camera more than ever,, almost scripted,, and he's striking while the plublicity iron is hot.

I've never understood why people buy "production customs", a contradiction in terms, but more power to them.

I think Vinny will no doubt offer some really one of-a-kind, unique, true customs, and his recognition in the industry will carry him to the top.

Build your bank account and get laid on your fame is the best route for sure, and Vinny will take it another step.

[quote]westcoast1
Member

Registered: 10-03-03 Posted 10-22-07 11:31 PM TLC better give vin his own show. Bikes and cars would make a killer show...since jesse james doesnt do monster garage any more ):

OCC might as well go back to ordering from the catalogs and assembling the bikes once rick leaves. Back to the basics lol, cuz thats all they will be able to do![/quote]

Those car,bike shows are a dime a dozen . Many who watch AC like the characters . I rather watch bark grow on a tree than watch the other car or bike shows but AC I loved due to the characters.
Maybe I shouldnt say many watch it for the characters but enough do to give it the ratings it has.
My mom my sisters my friends we couldnt care less aabout motorcycles but AC we all loved .
Vinnie cant carry a show by himself neither could Paulie but the combo of Paulie-Vinnie-Mike-Rick - Paul sr made the show for many.

A lot of viewers watch for the personalities. I have never been able to relate to the way the Teutuls relate to and treat each other, though. I find their family dynamic and social skills quite scandalous. Conversely, I always admired Vinnie for his family values, work ethic, and integrity.

However, for myself, the show has always been about building. I'm an engineer, and I love to watch things (not just bikes - but anything) being designed, fabricated, and built. So, as far as I'm concerned, the show could be narrated and it would suit me fine.

sorry if its already been posted....

vinnie and cody have their own company now

v-force customs

vforcecustoms.com

Personally, I was prepping to actually purchase an OCC bike, but, I'll wait till these guys get goin and buy from them. I'm hoping to have the first bike they build, I'll pay extra. Would be nice to see a channel pick them up and run w/ it...to see a company go from the beginning and grow....I'd watch

It has. So has myspace/vforcecustoms

Vinnie really did leave and he has been gone since this summer. Cody is gone also. You can see them both at V-force Customs Vforcecustoms.com

As far as my friends and I are conserned we will no longer watch occ.With out Vinnie or Cody its just a stupid reality show gone bad.

Please Just visit and Support Vinnie and Cody..

They are both good guys and I think its about time they start making the money they deserve

Visit http://www.vforcecustoms.com

Are you showing your support by ordering a bike from them?

Perhaps he's got a t-shirt on order.

While I do support and wish Vinnie and Cody the best, I don't care for someone telling me who I should or should not support.

I agree with you bikerhart. I support Vinnie and Cody but I'm also a fan of the guys at OCC.

Hey Vinne, We really appreciate your comments. It shows you are a real down to earth person.
I just wanted to say that you are an inspiration and please keep up the good work. It was clear on the show that you just wanted to do you work and go home at the end of the day. You could see how Paulie would come and go and leave you hanging. How everyone in the shop had to listen to all those fights between sr and jr. We as fans wish you luck and we hope to see you in the future! Please keep us posted.

You know I have not had time to read all of these posts as this appears to have been a pretty hot topic. So I'll give my two cents anyways:

Has anyone found it a bit obnoxious that Vinnie has started his new company but without a single bike built/sold they are already selling merchandise?!?!? Just find that really really obnoxious.

Please don't flame me as I was a great fan of Vinnie and his relationship with Mikey and the rest of the group. I will miss him truly.

My hope is that for drama's sake the shows producers made it look less amicable then it really was.

I can't imagine that there would be very many hard feelings on Vinnie's part as it was OCC that put Vinnie's name on the map and ALOT of money in his pocket. And part of his success in his new business (if any) will have to be partially attributed to his exposure on American Chopper.

I don't know if I'd call it "obnoxious" but I do think it takes some serious stones to do that. I guess they learned early on at OCC that the REAL money isn't in bike building ... it's in the merchandising. If you can make 500% profit selling a lousy T shirt that requires absolutely no real work on your part, that's a good deal. LOL

All right people... The news is Vinnie owns V-Force Customs and is in the process of building it up. It is also co-owned by Cody and they have a bunch of videos on their site vforcecustoms.com. It looks as though Vinnie is happy and excited about this next step in his life. And in his special thanks page, he thanks a tv company for shoing him his options.

Wether or not Vinnie will get a show does not matter, because I'm saving my pennies for a V-Force Custom either way.

And don't not watch the show because Vinnie left, that would be absurd and childish. I will watch the show and i'm sure it will be just as entertaining.

Man, Talk about hate...Dont be mad cuz no one will buy a Windman T... Dont be mad at Vinnie for tryin to make a lil money to pay the bills while the shop gets built...Electrical issues have slowed the the first bike build but its real close. As for not putting in effort, nothing could be farther from the truth...They do 40 plus with out building bikes right now...
Jealousy is a disease and hopefully you can find a cure...

Good post, bokeatong, and I like you already just based on your username.

There wont be a show anytime soon, Vinnie signed a no compete clause that specifically mentions tv..