Orange County Choppers

HistoryOne of OCC's most popular bikes is The Fire Bike,
OCC started as a sideline to the family's steelwhich was designed by Paul Teutul (Paulie) Jr, to
manufacturing enterprise, Orange County Ironcommemorate the New York firefighters who lost
Works, which was founded in the 1970s. In the latetheir lives on 9/11. The bike itself has been modeled
1990s, Teutul Sr. began manufacturing customafter a fire truck, and an actual steel rivet from the
motorcycles as an extension of his steel business,World Trade Center has been integrated into the
and in 1999 he founded Orange County Choppers.bike itself, mounted atop the bike's gas tank. Paulie is
The company's first bike, "True Blue", was debutednoted as stating that the bike was themed "343",
at the 1999 Daytona Biketoberfest.the number of New York firefighters who gave their
Stafflives on 9/11.
Paul Teutul, Sr.The popularity of American Chopper led the United
Michael "Mikey" Teutul (left OCC in 2009)States Air Force to commission a $150,000 "Air Force
Paul Teutul, Jr. (left OCC in 2009)Bike", first put on public display in March 2005. The
Rick Petko (Fabricator)motorcycle is ten feet long and is modeled after the
Jim "JQ" Quinn (Engineer)F-22 Raptor, complete with Air Force symbol rims,
Jason Pohl (Designer)riveted gas tank, Raptor exhausts and rear-view
Mike Microch Amorati (Fabricator)mirrors in the shape of jets. Air Force recruiters
Earl "Herbie" Herman Smith IIIcommissioned it as a public outreach tool.[citation
Nick Hansfordneeded]
Christian WelterMusic
Ron SalsburyThe Orange County Choppers recently launched a
Steve Moreau (General Manager)series of free music concerts held in the retail store.
Mike Campo left on good terms to seek newP.O.D., Candlebox, and Saliva, Red, 10 Years, Fair to
creative artistic work. In September 2007, VincentMidland, and Framing Hanley have performed. On April
DiMartino and Cody Connelly left OCC and American25, 2009, Smile Empty Soul, Earshot, Fixer, and Age
Chopper for undisclosed reasons. The two have sinceof Daze all performed to celebrate the decade of
started their own bike shop, V Force Customs inthe company's work. Additionally OCC in October in
Rock Tavern, New York not far from OCC's originalconjunction with RED/Sony put out a Classic Rock
shop. Paul Teutul, Jr. was fired from the shop in thecompilation CD of some of Paul Sr's favorite songs
first April 2009 episode, after a huge argument withunder the name "OCC Rocks". The CD also includes
Paul, Sr. After a month apart, the two met at theoriginal music from The OCC Band comprising four
original shop and discussed their differences andguys who work at the shop.
agreed to resume working together. The next dayOrange County Choppers MotoCoaster
Paul, Jr. returned to the shop. Not long after returningThe Orange County Choppers MotoCoaster is a
Junior decided he made a mistake. After talking withZamperla Motocoaster installed at Darien Lake. The
his brother Mikey, he decided to leave OCC,MotoCoaster is Darien Lake's first launched coaster,
informing his dad of his decision after revealing a bikeand is Zamperla's first motorbike roller coaster to be
honoring Alaska's 50th Anniversary. To this day bothinstalled in the United States, though a different
Mikey and Paul, Jr. have not returned to OCC. Paul, Jr.model with horse theming is being installed at Knott's
is working to build his own company Paul Jr. Designs,Berry Farm at the same time. The roller coaster was
and Mikey is recovering from problems with Alcoholannounced in January 2008 and opened on May 3,
abuse.2008.
BikesThe coaster is the same one that has been
Main article: Orange County Choppers bikesprototyped outside Zamperla's factory in Italy.
OCC is best known for the bikes featured onThe MotoCoaster is located near the Darien Square
American Chopper where bikes are built around aarea of the park, between Boomerang and Twister.
theme or, increasingly, for specific corporate orOrange County Choppers will build a custom
celebrity customers. The company has built custommotorcycle inspired by the ride and the park.
bikes long before beginning the Discovery ChannelExternal links
show. Additionally, OCC launched a limited editionAmerican motorcycle brands at the Open Directory
production line of motorcycles in July 2007, pricedProject
beginning at $31,000. These bikes include designChoppers at the Open Directory Projectv  d  e
elements originally developed for bikes featured onRoller coasters at Darien Lake Theme Park Resort
the show.Boomerang: Coast to Coaster  Brain Teaser 
The range of standard production bikes will beBatman The Escape  The Mind Eraser  Orange
extended to meet worldwide (with particularCounty Choppers MotoCoaster  The Predator  Ride
attention to Canada and Europe) legislation forOf Steel   The Viperv  d  e
motorbikes over a couple of years. This means thatAmerican Chopper
the bikes will be sold commercially outside the USAMain Cast
for the first time.Paul Teutul, Sr.  Paul Teutul, Jr.