First, I wondered if I should mention OCC in the title of this post because in their new V-Force Website none of them mention their former employer by name when each of them write his professional background. For both, it goes like that. Vinnie: "I started a job in a small local bike shop and the company (who?) received a call from the Discovery Channel…". Cody: " I have been blessed in being able to follow my passion by landing a job at a small custom bike shop (who?)". You understood that the duo didn’t leave OCC in the best terms with Paul & Paul. But it doesn’t matter to me. They have fans, a nice shop (they are still painting the floor and moving equipment), and a slogan "Feel the force. Ride the power. Take the journey". I always welcome a new custom motorcycle shop and wish the best to Vinnie and Cody. V-Force Customs
Vinnie should grow a mustache, then call the Discovery Channel. Then Vinnie & Cody will start screaming at each other front of the camera. It may work. Good luck boys!
Everybody knows they come from OCC. So,it’s a little bit childish to never mention the OCC name in their site (calling OCC a small local shop!) Whatever the reason they left, they would probably have never had a chance to start a business without the name OCC on their respective resumes.
I always thought Vinnie should branch out on his own. In the time I watched the program, he did the most heavy duty fabricating. For example, it was Vinnie that showed the initiative to build their 1st single-sided swingarm.
“Whatever the reason they left, they would probably have never had a chance to start a business without the name OCC on their respective resumes” — this goes both ways, Vinnie hung in there working away. His contributions to getting OCC to where they are should not be over-looked.
Nothing against Paul Jr. - although his fabrication is very creative and skilled, it deals mainly with tacked on, aesthetic pieces and not a lot of engineering or structural experimentation. If he adds that skill set, he’ll get more attention. He has the resources in the shop now.
Hope they don’t give birth to an OCC Twin. We had enough!
Will be interesting to see what they produce. But their slogan is very retarded.
Seems they would have done well to have brought along Rick Petko.
Don’t you think they begin to look like Paul Sr. & Paul Jr?
…”Everybody knows they come from OCC. So,it’s a little bit childish to never mention the OCC name in their site (calling OCC a small local shop!)”
It was a small local shop at one time, which they refer to back then.
Another approach they could take is to scrap the “About Us Personals” and get to the bikes & service their shop offers. Then, they wouldn’t have to ambiguous about OCC. Truly move on.
Lose the picture of a pink kids’ toy, too.
Vinnie & Cody arrived at OCC well after the shop was on TV. What made OCC what they are is reality TV. For the rest, they have nothing more (even less) than a lot of custom builders.
I agree with Rick. Vinnie and Cody didn’t make OCC. OCC was made by TV. They did what all employees of a custom builder do. They helped. They just became 2 other characters of the Teutels saga.
RE:
“…They did what all employees of a custom builder do. They helped…”
Since when is being the only one with the technical skill (probably the only one with formal training) to wire a bike from scratch considered “helping”….????
More like “carrying-em”, early on anyway…..
But now OCC has the resources to hire any help they need so i don’t see it hurting their output.
Now, hurting their image or TV audience, that’s another issue.
IMHO
-nicker-
When I said “helping”, it was not negative. Vinnie was (very well paid) to wire a bike, among other things. Without OCC, he would not have the notoriety (for sure) and the money (maybe) to start a shop
RE:
“… notoriety (for sure) and the money (maybe)…”
Ya, probably true.
I don’t see “the move” itself as hurting or helping either OCC or V-Force.
The bigger issue for V-Force will be their Business plan.
If you believe that the old “industry business” model is on the decline, then V-Force has a chance to “Start out” in a new direction. In that case OCC would have to figure out how to “Change.”
But if you believe that business as usual is still viable, then it’s about a push.
As i see it, anyway
-nicker-
well,everyone knows who is cody and who is vinnie.no matter what everyone says they are known just cause of OCC.sure TV made OCC but OCC made vinnie and cody….
anyway good luck with their new shop….
I spoke to Vinnie last week because I’m headed up to the shop in a few days to do a PHOTO WALK THROUGH. The images will be posted on BIKERPICS.ORG. I’ll catch what they are working on, their ideas, floor plan, and so on. Vinnie was as receptive on the phone last week as he was many years ago when we used to speak in Daytona. The money / TV show never altered who Vinnie is and I as a photographer appreciate that because TV has changed many of the builders that I used to deal with. Some for the better and some for the worse. Anyway, please watch for the pics as I am looking forward to my visit to their new shop.
I for one question this whole quiting on TV thing. Vinnie seems to be the type of man that if he where to quit it would have been in the office in private. Why on TV? Could this not but be a business deal? TV is all about ratings and OCC may see an advantage of branching out. One thing is draw people to their area. You could go see OCC and then V-Force. If at a bike show OCC is at one end and V-Force at another. Would that not be interesting and a show in it self. Vinnie I’m sure made fair money but looking at that building and the tooling they are to bring in has to be a bundle. And you still have to pay the bills at home . I just feel this is a planed business deal and who would you think would be the backers? Only time will tell. I do wish Vinnie and Cody prosperous and healthy future.
Break up on TV. That’s good for audience. Everything scripted. Are you presumimg that OCC backs up V-Force Customs? Do you have hard facts???
“So,it’s a little bit childish to never mention the OCC name in their site (calling OCC a small local shop!)”
(snip)
I immediately drew the correlation when reading their bios a couple weeks ago to the mental capacity of their former employer - and *not* as a physical reference. Guess I was the only one~
If that was indeed the intent, VFC was smart to make that distinction - while doing so ‘tongue in cheek’. Best of luck to them regardless.
Just got off the phone with Cody and he was kind enough to give me an hour interview. I can give you an early preview, one bullet point and update, the new epoxy floors are down, dry and extremely shinny. Cody said “the floors are done and looking sharp and equipment is arriving everyday.” I will post the interview at my home page http://www.BikerDATA.com under the News section. PS: Did you get you chance to win a $500.00 Custom Painted Collectable Helmet from Chris Cruz? We are giving Two (2) yes two of them at the PRIZE TREE™ at http://www.BikerDATA.com. It FREE to enter and one person will win ALL 24 prizes on Christmas Day.
Who care about an interview with Cody? To tell us that his floor is clean & dry? Sounds like running a commercial. Maybe I will look at the bikes…later.
Using the OCC notoriety at the beginning is fine. But they better off change very fast their image by producing very good bikes. OCC image is a negative among a lot of custom motorcycle fans. But I wish them the best.
Their not the first, and probably not the last, to help build ( do most of the work ) custom bikes, while the owner of the shop is selling his company name and face to TV land!.
Probably best that Vin and Cody disassociate from OCC at this point, given the Teutel’s pending legal issues with the Enron-like shell games they played with the ironworks;
Ever wonder how Sr got capitalization for an ironworks in the first place?
Hello, Guido?
LOL!
RE:
“…Ever wonder how Sr got capitalization…”
Sure did wonder..!!!
You mean that rapid build up of expensive shop technology wasn’t done on merchandising sales alone…???
It seemed a bit suspect that one who couldn’t (or pretended that he couldn’t) construct a reasonable sentence was able to build and manage a thriving business.
Moreover, Sharp CNC programmers and CAD designers typically don’t have to work for idiot. They are highly sought after craftsmen.
-nicker-
-BTW-
What “…Teutel’s pending legal issues…” are these..???
-nicker-
Ah yes, legal Issues:
In the early part of August, it was reported that “the first family of Orange County Choppers claim they did nothing wrong when they sold the assets of the family’s other business from one Teutul son’s company to another’s, then had the first son’s company file for bankruptcy.”
“…The complaint named as defendants Orange County Ironworks LLC, as well as Paul Teutul Sr. (the newlywed with the big mustache), Paul Teutul Jr. and Daniel Teutul. The chopper business is not involved in the court action. (Whew!)
The entire article is at recordonline.com.
Then, some week or so later the law firm representing them bails on them when they need him most, but it was due to a conflict of interests!!! See those details here: recordonline.com…”
One has to wonder how a bankrupt construction firm can build the new OCC building…??
-nicker-
131. No I have no facts. Just a hunch. But maybe things are starting to unfold. Per Nicker and such. We’ll see.
Will you really get it?
The show was about making money not bikes…having seen them close up
I’m surprised they have not been sued after they fell apart….. That
whole bike shop was run on T.V. money… for once will you OCC fans
get it, they are Movie Stars not bike builders…They got payed very
well for the T.V. deal… You OCC fans probably think that wrestling is
real also….. Good Luck with V-Force, although sheding their prior
image will be tough…..
K-DADDY
Vinnie and Cody have to be very careful in regards to mentioning OCC in their new venture. OCC is a licenced trademark and any reference to OCC from Vinnie & Cody could be interpreted as benefitting or profitting from that trademark. I’m sure V & C have attorneys giving them smart legal advice and I’m quite sure OCC has the same. A well experienced trademark attorney charges approximately $200/hr or more and any reference to OCC by Vinnie or Cody could easily turn into alot of money.
As for why they really left, we all can guess. Some close to them really know the reasons and I’m sure it will come out in the end.
I can’t wait to see the shop and all the new equipment. I’m sure they didn’t have any problem getting a business loan or investors with their TV credentials. I’d like to think that they left for the satisfaction of owning your own shop, but my wife said the same thing Knucklehead said, “It is a marketing ploy”. Whatever it is, we’re all talking about it and will probably be watching Thursday to see what happens next.
Thanks for letting me ramble on,
CJ
CJ. What you say doesn’t make any sense. Trademark or not, any employee has the right to use the name of his ex employer on his resume or as a professional reference. What you say doesn’t apply.
Rather boring intro… who needs another bike shop when many are closing their doors.Wish ‘em luck though.
RE:
“…Vinnie and Cody have to be very careful in regards to mentioning OCC…”
Given the nature of Paul Teutul Sr’s current legal trouble, Vin & Cod had better be more careful about nay co-mingling of start-up assets with those of any “existing small shop”.
RE:
“…I’m sure V & C have attorneys giving them smart legal advice and I’m quite sure OCC has the same…”
A good business plan includes legal review.
That may have been missing in the steel shop swap.
Lets hope Vin & Cod have a good business plan.
-nicker-
John Henry, if you think my statement doesn’t make sense then you need to read beteween the lines. Yes, if anyone leaves their current position they can use their past job/position as a reference, but in the case such as this, it has a different twist. I’m not saying you don’t have the right, I’m saying you have to be very careful. I’m sure they were givin strict directions on NOT mentioning them (OCC). They are not just moving to another shop as employees, but are starting a new venture in the same industry and close proximity. If they did leave on bad terms don’t think for a minute that the Teutel’s won’t use their deep pockets to fight that. In order to file a lawsuit of trademark infridgement one has to prove that there was intent to profit from the use of that said trademark. It doesn’t mean that Vinnie and Cody would be guilty of doing this, it just means that a suit could be filed and cost them alot of money to fight it. You just need just cause and OCC could make an argument that they were benefitting from the OCC name. It is just better for them not to mention OCC at all, beside most everyone knows who they are and who they worked for.
Best of luck to Vinnie & Cody, I wish them much success!
CJ
CJ. They can say they worked for OCC as much as they want. You are mistaken. Nothing to do with trademark violation. I think you are confused.
Greg, I think I mentioned it in both emails. I never said they couldn’t use OCC, I said they need to be careful in how they do it. I am speaking from experience. I was using a name for my business and had the domain name registered before another larger company was using it. They later trademarked the name of the business I was using. At this time I could no longer use the name I was marketing myself by. I was told by my attorney and one of the largest domain name firms that I had a case to fight and would probably win, BUT at a cost. I never knew the name was trademarked (it wasn’t when I registered the name) and after my website was up the word I was using linked to another site of mine and then I received a cease and disisted letter. The company would drop the suit if I gave up the domain name and any further use of the trademark. My attorney said I would end up spending a minimum of $20,000 to fight it. At $200/hr plus travel expenses to fight it out of state it adds up fast. All I’m saying is it is hard to fight the guy with deep pockets, whether you are right or not. It was very disappointing for me, but somethings you just have to let go. Just be careful is all I was trying to get acrossed.
I will tell you my feeling witch don’t mean squat…you wasted all those words and your time..WHO CARES there all well off no matter what happens..the big problem is my kid wants one of thoses wii computer games for christmas and there ain’t none…now thats a serious problem..at least when your a dad..lol
I want to clear up all the OCC talk. In the last week, I have spoken to Vinnie several times, once for an hour phone interview and it was made very clear to me that the days with OCC are in the past and they are moving forward with V-Force Customs. Vinnie and Cody both stated more than once they want nothing to do with OCC in any way. Both of them realize they have a unique opportunity and advantage because of there pass but at the same time refuse to mention there pass. They want to move forward, PERIOD.
V Force?
sounds like a gay Chuck Norris movie
the use of a trademarked company’s logo and/or name is illegal without the written consent of that company. Yes former employers can state they worked somewhere.
However, on a website advertising a business the former employer could bring action based upon the use of their property in a manner that could be challenged as being not for mere informational purposes. OCC could claim that V-Force is using the name to gain attention in a way other than informing the public of where they came from.
That and if the breakup between the two was not 1005 amicable as stated on TV then Vinnie has to be very careful in how he uses his past employer and what he says about them. Any good lawyer would tell him to simply state he was unhappy, he left and has moved. Any details could spell a liable or slader lawsuit.
Evidently, the breakup was not amicable.
Always the same 2 questions. Has OCC made Vinnie & Cody who they are? Yes. Have Vinnie & Cody contributed to the success of OCC? Yes. Good deal for both parties. That’s the way business works.
You go boy’s. Best of luck on your new venture, just don’t let it go to your head and you’ll be alright. Geno
I like Vinnie and Cody and wish them the best, but all you people who say that they were the only ones working and making the shop run clearly did not watch any of the episodes.
Recently flew from phoenix to newark, noticed vinnie on the plane, he didnt look like he wanted to be bothered, so i gave him the respect, but just wanted to tell him good luck and that he did the right thing.
Chris:
You should of said hi to Vinnie on the plane. He is the kind of man that really appreciates his fans and has no problem speaking to you and looking you in the eyes when he shakes your hand.
Good Luck Vinnie you were the man, and a great tradesmans, If you want a t-shirt like I gave Mikey, the back says it all… email me… Best of Luck
Good Luck Vinny & Cody ! Always enjoyed watching you on TV. Both of you are very talented and you’ll do well. You should recruit Christian, he’s a hell of a worker !
The show is not the same………….Vinnie was a big part of it, really.
Hey whatever, good luck to them both -so what they made their names with OCC, lets see what they can do now!
i say…good luck to them…i really thing vinny got tried of doing the heavy lifting . i’m guessing it was even worse off camera. i had a chance to talk to vinny once and hes a very down to earth person. i think it would be great for them to do a show….and have it about bike building. one of the other post stated that bike are not so nice up close. i agree they look great at about 15 ft. the paint is the best part of there bikes….and they farm that out……good luck v force
Back again so soon - they both seem regular guys while the OCC gang were just over the top, all words and no bike building -there seemed to be an awful lot of folk sitting in offices and not doing really much!!
Vinnie is lazy and Cody is unexperienced. They hardy deserve the royalties they sought. These are facts. Neither could build a bike that would pass any state inspection, right Vin. Get out and go away.
Bill in Brockton, MASS?
RE:
“…hardy deserve the royalties they sought…”
That’s a new one.
What “royalties” are those…?
What’s the source of this info…?
RE:
“…Vinnie is lazy…”
REally…..? Like compared to whom…….?
Is-zat really Bill-in Mas or Someone-in–OCC…?
-nicker-
I watched some newer OCC episodes and was thinking that where vinnie is, I havent seen him around for 5-7 episodes.. And then I found out this page. There was no mention anywhere in the show about Vinnie leaving the OCC..Thats weird.. Did they had a fight between Paul’s before they left?
Im very curious of the situation before leaving OCC, but I think it will be secret between them and OCC.
But well… The show is littlebit going off direction.. I mean, Jason building bikes?
I think it gives even worse reputation to OCC that theres some really beginner doing bikes.. And it really pushes the show more down to watch some goofy guy playing around bikes.. And I think that even Rick isnt seen so much in the shows.. Paul jr seems nowdays that he cant even care less about bikes anymore.. The show has gone downwards in my opinion.. Its still cool to watch, but the basic idea - making bikes - is nowdays 20% of the show and rest of it is fill up..
I hate smurfs
I am elitist
VINNIE WAS GREAT, A TALENTED FABRICATOR AND A HARD WORKER. I SUPPORT HIM IN HIS ENVEAVOR.GOOD LUCK VINNIE, YOU ARE THE BEST….
I predict that sooner or later OOC will crash and burn. TV shows no matter how populor have and ending point sooner or later. The public will outgrow OCC and tune into a newer show. Paul Sr is no Spring Chicken and I don’t think Paulie or No Bike Builing Talent Mikey can carry the weight if Paul Sr leaves. I doubt the show will be on in a couple of years and maybe Vinnie and Cody will be the replacement show for them at a later date.
Actually the show (American Chopper)is getting kind of Boring! Instead of staying with the bike builds, they keep going off on other personal crap, like getting ugly tattoos. American Chopper is gonna crash. Too many reruns, and face it, you can only buils so many bikes until they all start to look alike. time to move on Paul Sr. Then they put Paulie or others on camera to explain what we already saw. And Mikey, I have no idea why he is even there, Like we are so stupid we just don’t gte it. I met Vinnie and Cody ate the Bike Fest in Boerne , Texas… I really like them and wish them the best. The are down to Earth, genuine and no super egos were involved.
Good Luck Guys, You can just watch so much “Family in Crisis” Before you figure out its all about the TV.
In Reply to “Vinnie doesn’t say the OCC name in any interview or website” Paul Senior, as much of an ass as he can be, has a head for business. I promise you that a waiver was signed from OCC’s legal team banning him (Vinnie) from ever utilizing the name “OCC or any of it’s variations” as to both protect their product line and stifle any further free notoriety. Too bad Vinnie didn’t reverse it - I have heard his name still mentioned on episodes. Hell, he should have sued for use of his face on the “blues” bike (name and us of likeness lawsuits are easy to win - even easier that it’s on tape).
Remeber Paul Seniors words on Vinnie’s last episode - “anyone can be replaced”…sad this doesn’t apply to his own son.
I totally missed the episode where Vinnie and Cody left, but I always expected Vinnie to start his own bike shop. Never really thought Cody was mature enough to start a business, but hey everyone has to start some where.
Why the holly heck didn’t build a better website? It totally bites, it’s so darn slow, and doesn’t have many pictures of their bikes. What’s up with not posting their bikes for sale on the site?
Vinnie should have taken the other main character on OCC that was in the trenches with them. You all know the “Tank man!”