Well I am back in New Jersey (Don't ask!) and I got a wild hair and decided to go up to Newburgh New York. It's only 120+ miles from where I reside. A little stint up Hwy 206 to I-287 which turns into I-87 an viola you are in Newburgh....Nice place...Errrr not!
I have been watching the show since it's inception and at first I really didn't like the Father, I thought Jr was a primo donna etc, etc. So that being said I am a fabricator and designer in my own little world so I watch the show to watch the process of building something out of nothing. Before you comment on that they are assemblers...stop right there. They do come up with some cool One Off designs and they do have other people do their actual work for them. So what! They still have to come up with the "IDEA".
Ok so I went there just because I wanted to see what it was like. I have to say from I-87 as you come up to the 17K exit to pay your toll the place looks impressive.So you go around the off ramp and pay your toll and go through what I would call a depressed area. There is a cheap hotel complex to the right of the shop and an Airport behind it, not what they show on TV. So I rode right up there and parked the bike and went in the show room/retail store.
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/rtarpley/100_2382.jpg)
The Fire Bike of course! From 9/11 and man is that thing dusty! It looks old. You can't see it in the picture but all the bikes need to be cleaned.
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/rtarpley/100_2384.jpg)
My all time favorite the "Black Widow" dusty!
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/rtarpley/100_2386.jpg)
A row of the "Theme" bikes..you can see my bike through the window as a yellow blob to the right
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/rtarpley/100_2377.jpg)
The Lance Armstrong "Live Strong" Bike
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/rtarpley/100_2383.jpg)
The Giants Bike..Yankees bike is to the right, Mets bike is to the left. The pictures didn't come out for them I think it was from the dust!
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/rtarpley/100_2388-1.jpg)
And my little bike as close to the front door as I could get it! Oh did I mention they have a revolving door for the entrance? Annoyingly hard to move!
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/rtarpley/100_2390.jpg)
I couldn't go all the way up there with out going to PJD. Had he a show room I would have went there first. The gate was locked and there was a sign saying something about they were taping a TV Show so I just took a quick picture so I didn't look look some stalker or something :)
It's a trip I will do again just to get better pictures and stuff but don't expect much. And yes I bought some exorbitant priced T-Shirts for my daughter, GF, and myself.
Next time I hope to catch Paul Jr. and Vinnie just to show them support. I wish the best for both of them OCC & PJD ultimately and hope some day they will reunite.
For real no one has no comment?
Choppers are just not my thing, personally I'd rather be crouched and flying on a supersport. They do have some nice designs though.
I like the old hondas from the seventies done up as bobbers and cafe style racers. They sound great too.
I love 'em all. Just like women lol. I have no set type. Choppers, bobbers, track bikes, show bikes, sport bikes, street bikes, domestic, foreign, Even the leaky harley's..
Remember when most of the show was the actual building of road sculptures...err I mean bikes? I can appreciate the skills and creativity....just can't watch those tools blather on about everything...
Would anyone still watch them if they were still just building theme bikes....? They've turned into a soap opera -why else would anyone still be watching it...
Personally I'm waiting for one of them to jump a shark (Hey how come they haven't built a "Happy Days" tribute bike?).
Anyway...I'm sure it was neat to go see it in person. If I was that close to it I'd probably check it out too.
Quote from: Jared on October 10, 2010, 07:36:48 AM
Personally I'm waiting for one of them to jump a shark (Hey how come they haven't built a "Happy Days" tribute bike?).
Now that was a funny post. It would be poetic to build that bike and end the show!
I wonder how many people still don't know what jump the shark means?
i think that would be a pretty cool tour! Thanks for sharing :thumb:
Beautiful bikes, too much drama. Stopped watching the show a few years back.
It's hard to watch at times but I get through it. I plan on going back up there before it gets cold to take some better pictures and stuff.
Quote from: JB848 on October 10, 2010, 05:01:58 PM
I wonder how many people still don't know what jump the shark means?
me haha
Quote from: JB848 on October 10, 2010, 05:01:58 PM
I wonder how many people still don't know what jump the shark means?
I didn't, but Google saved me and now I am an enlightened being.
Interesting that you had to ride up to New York. From all the times I've seen the show, without thinking too much more about it I assumed the show was filmed in California just because of the "Orange County" thing. What do I know.
Oh boy. A bunch of bikes that sit around not getting ridden. Many of which are nearly unrideable. From a TV show that I don't watch, being heavy on manufactured drama and empty on manufacturing (not to mention the whole "choppers are not my thing, eh?")
I gather from your post that since I was even peripherally aware of the show that the scripted arguments between old guy and young guy have turned into a scripted "split", which seems to have lead to two TV shows to laugh all the way to the bank about? What makes you think any of that is real (other than the laughing all the way to the bank?)
Thanks for the pics....
I watch the show mainly for the tools (Not Paul Sr. and Jr.), and to see what the other true Craftsman create...I like seeing the High Dollar Parts, the Paint Work, and the million dollar CNC stuff, I try and just ignore the soap opera aspect of it all.
Couple of things to clear up from what I know:
1. There is still only one show "American Chopper Sr vs Jr"
2. It is now on "TLC" has been on "Discovery". I think they are owned by the same company.
3. The show is not scripted. They may be incouraged to exaggerate the situation on camera but the law suit from the father against the son is fact. As is the creation of PJD. It is a separate and independent company.
4. Orange County is in New York not California.
5. The "Theme" bikes are made to be trophies not ridden and funded by the sponsoring company or the TV channel that they are currently on, or Orange County Choppers Foundation (which is new).
Couple of things to clear up from what I think:
1. I do not prefer choppers or Harley's over Cafe style bikes ever. Any bike though can "LOOK" cool
2. I am not sure but I think "2" bikes are made when they do a theme bike. At least some of the ones that are on display at OCC.
3. Even though I think the bikes are very creative in design...with out the paint jobs from the companies they out source, the bikes would be ordinary. Since OCC has started painting their own bikes you can see the difference in the finished product.
4. I don't watch the show for the personalities although they have done some pretty funny jokes on each other in the past. Not really amused or entertained by any of the wasteful destruction they do sometimes.
So as with anything else everyone has their own opinion. Just wanted to share with bike purist what it was like and what I saw. :D
Quote from: JB848 on October 11, 2010, 08:18:17 AM
4. Orange County is in New York not California.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County,_California
is too
Learn something new every day.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County,_New_York
Sure do.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County,_Florida
Quote from: ragecage23 on October 11, 2010, 12:52:14 PM
Quote from: JB848 on October 11, 2010, 08:18:17 AM
4. Orange County is in New York not California.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County,_California
is too
Quote from: ragecage23 on October 11, 2010, 06:37:24 PM
Sure do.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County,_Florida
You bunch of wise acres >:( I was specifically referring to "Orange County" Choppers. I am well aware there are other states that have those counties LMAO
I live in upstate and pass OCC on my way to NJ most weekends. Havent stopped yet but will one day. I would like to find PJD more, but mainly cuz Vinny rules. Him and Rick are the most talented IMO.
Oh and I forgot to add this part. If your looking for a reason to watch the new series (which the season ended already) just look at Paul Jr's wife :icon_lol:
PJD is right down the street about 3-4 miles can't miss is 21 Stone Castle Rd, Rock Tavern, NY