Why did Vinnie Leave American Chopper?

[imported_weadjust]

Anybody know why Vinnie quit at Oarange County Choppers? They didn't say much on the show tonight. He just packed up, OCC said good bye, and he left.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

maybe he realized they jumped the shark years ago?

 

[Alistar7]

http://www.recordonline.com/ap...0070830/NEWS/708300320

 

[nycxandy]

Originally posted by: Alistar7
http://www.recordonline.com/ap...0070830/NEWS/708300320

That doesn't really say much.

 

[Alistar7]

Originally posted by: nycxandy

Originally posted by: Alistar7
http://www.recordonline.com/ap...0070830/NEWS/708300320

That doesn't really say much.

All I could find.

 

[Pacfanweb]

So who is going to do all the work for Paulie now? I see that Cody left, too. Nice kid, but not much of a loss there.

Supposedly, Vinnie was a childhood friend of the Teutuls. Wonder if he finally just had enough, or if he made enough money on the show that he didn't feel he had to work anymore?
I would hope that at least the guys who are on camera all the time, Rick, Vinnie, etc, are on some kind of contract with the TV show rather than simply being paid OCC employees.

Vinnie and Rick do all the actual, REAL work on the bikes. It'll take forever to build one if Paul Jr. actually tries to do the work himself....although I doubt that will happen.

 

[Dunbar]

That is strange that both Vinnie and Codie left around the same time, I'm sure there is more to the story. Maybe they finally got sick of the long hours (supposedly 14 hour days during filming) and constant bickering between Jr. and Sr. Plus, I have to imagine that as that place grows it becomes more and more like a corporate job. Still I can't imagine there are that many well paying jobs in rural New York state.

As far as the "non-Teutul's" getting any piece of the show or the merchandising I highly doubt it. Vinnie's house looks to be pretty modest but he did drive a Cadillac CTS-V so GM probably gave him a pimp ride to drive for free. Anyways, while Vinnie was a great bike builder and fabricator I don't think he is a "crucial" character on the show.

 

[zoiks]

I thought that was strange as well. Paulie and Vinnie were like brothers too.

 

[KK]

on one of the OCC boards vinnie was inquiring what to name his new shop. I guess its not just going to be bikes he's going to be working on. not sure if Cody is going to be working with him.

Edit: and whats the deal with the contract mikey has. I dunno, I think they oughta dump mikey. His goofyness was alright for about a season, now it's getting alittle annoying.

 

[amdskip]

Dangit, the tivo didn't turn back on when the power went off so it didn't get recorded. Anyone know the theme of this show or if the shows get posted online?

 

[imported_weadjust]

Iowa Farm Bureau Bike 2"
The crew continues working on their ethanol-powered bike for the Iowa Farm Bureau, but a crew member quits.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The thing that always bothered me was, if you had enough money to buy a custom West Coast chopper, would you still buy one after watching their show?

 

[fatpat268]

Meh, I stopped watching the show last year or so, even though I still record it on my Tivo.

I think it's great for vinnie though, he never really seemed to get the respect for what he does. He was an integral part of the show in the beginning episodes, but as the Teutuls gained more wealth, they seemed to become flashy and pretty much kicked vinnie to the curb. I imagine Vinnie mostly wanted more respect around the shop, and it didn't seem like he got it.

Then again, who knows?

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Sounds like he's been unhappy for a while now...

And if you believe what you see on teh entarweb he appears to be starting his own shop. Makes sense I guess. He has more than enough fabrication experience and all the contacts. At some point in your life you have to stop working for someone else and go to work for yourself. Especially in the business he was/is in.
http://p220.ezboard.com/forang...essage?topicID=6.topic

edit:

Vinny and Cody are away setting things up for there shop when they get home on sunday I'll give you guys more info. November your going to hear alot more. They just have alot going on, but they appreciate your interest thank-you.

http://community.discovery.com...02826/m/8121925129/p/2

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Sounds like he's been unhappy for a while now...

And if you believe what you see on teh entarweb he appears to be starting his own shop. Makes sense I guess. He has more than enough fabrication experience and all the contacts. At some point in your life you have to stop working for someone else and go to work for yourself. Especially in the business he was/is in.
http://p220.ezboard.com/forang...essage?topicID=6.topic

edit:

Vinny and Cody are away setting things up for there shop when they get home on sunday I'll give you guys more info. November your going to hear alot more. They just have alot going on, but they appreciate your interest thank-you.

http://community.discovery.com...02826/m/8121925129/p/2

Hmm I dont see why he would ask for help on a name, I would think someone thats been around as long as he has would be pretty much set if thats indeed him and starting his own shop.

 

[nycxandy]

It's a shame since Vinnie was my favorite cast member, skilled and down to earth.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Sounds like he's been unhappy for a while now...

And if you believe what you see on teh entarweb he appears to be starting his own shop. Makes sense I guess. He has more than enough fabrication experience and all the contacts. At some point in your life you have to stop working for someone else and go to work for yourself. Especially in the business he was/is in.
http://p220.ezboard.com/forang...essage?topicID=6.topic

edit:

Vinny and Cody are away setting things up for there shop when they get home on sunday I'll give you guys more info. November your going to hear alot more. They just have alot going on, but they appreciate your interest thank-you.

http://community.discovery.com...02826/m/8121925129/p/2

Hmm I dont see why he would ask for help on a name, I would think someone thats been around as long as he has would be pretty much set if thats indeed him and starting his own shop.

Well like i said...

If you dig around long enough on those sites you'll see the conspiracy theories about him leaving to start his own show (ala LA Ink) in November after the AC season is over.

Could be....

 

[Red Dawn]

They were more Cake Decoraters than they were Fabricators. OCC's bikes have a lousy reputation as far as quality goes. If you want a custom bike you're better off with a Big Dog or one locally built near your location.

 

[jandrews]

I think vinnie also has 3 kids or so and a wife which makes things hard working so many hours. Plus the other guys go down to florida and australia to do show stuff with vinnie stuck at the shop fixing things, cant really blame the guy.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
They were more Cake Decoraters than they were Fabricators. OCC's bikes have a lousy reputation as far as quality goes. If you want a custom bike you're better off with a Big Dog or one locally built near your location.

OCC's bikes always struck me as "functional show bikes". You can ride them, but that's not the point.

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
The thing that always bothered me was, if you had enough money to buy a custom West Coast chopper, would you still buy one after watching their show?

West Cost Choppers is Jesse James' shop. Orange County Choppers is the Teutel's shop.

I think Vinnie was like Jesse. He got the money, he got the fame. But that wasn't what they wanted. They wanted to build bikes and not have a camera in their face. Vinnie just quit before making himself look like an arrogant asshole.

 

[Jahee]

How much do these bikes go for then? Always wondered that.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

$100k is a good ballpark figure. They said the price on one was $160k.

 

[dennilfloss]

Because the chicken crossed the road.

 

[TwiceOver]

From previous episodes, Vinnie is more of a car guy also. He may be opening a custom car shop or something.

Pretty suprising crammed into the end of the episode. Though Vinnie said it was on good terms, Paul SR. sure didn't make it seem like it was.

 

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
$100k is a good ballpark figure. They said the price on one was $160k.

I thought it would be around that kind of price..

Complete rip off!