Describe yourself in three words.
Passionate, honorable, humorous.
Why the motorcycle industry?
I turned my passion for drag racing into a business. It started with mini-bikes, then to dirt bikes, then to street bikes, and race bikes. Later I built a set of drag race wheels for my race bike and people wanted to know what company made them and shortly thereafter, RC was born.
What do you see in the industry’s crystal ball?
Baggers are the new chopper, and I think this will be here for the next 10 years if not longer. Trikes are starting to come of age but I still think it’s another three to five years out before we really see if they will take hold for us older men and women. Women are coming aboard as riders like never before and that could bring on some new aftermarket- designed parts shortly.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
It has to be the 1991 Cinci trade show which back then was “AdvanStar.” I showed up with a 10-foot U-Haul trailer from Southern California and had a 10x10 booth showing off the first ever billet aluminum wheel that bolted directly onto a stock H-D motorcycle. I had my 1989 Softail there with the wheels on the bike and another six to eight wheels on display. Fred Fox, Arlen Ness, Rick Doss, and others stopped by my booth telling me that I was the big stir on the main floor and they were told that they had to go see RC. Even Perry Sands came to my booth and introduced himself. I think I even had to stay for an extra day after the show because my head wouldn’t fit in the car yet. I had to wait until I came down from cloud nine before I even thought about it. Since then I was the first to design and make a matching rotor and a few years later, the first to make a matching pulley. Still to this day I pinch myself in disbelief of where I have come from and gone to. I am both humbled and honored.
Favorite all-time motorcycle?
Many.
Who inspires you?
Because of my 35 years of racing it is Terry Vance and Byron Hines for being great and true success stories, and the late Elmer Trett for all he achieved in his life and being so humble about it.
What’s your biggest regret?
The clock is still ticking on that one, but as of this moment, it is trying not to mix my personal thoughts verses business decisions.
What is your proudest moment?
Besides being married to my wife, Barbara, now for almost 20 years, it was being voted Bowling Green’s 2005 Industry of the Year.
Favorite place on Earth?
Deadwood and the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Biggest pet peeve?
Being disrespectful and not being true to your convictions.
What are you currently working on?
You know I can’t tell you that. Find out at Cinci and that way I don’t have to kill you.
To learn more about RC Components visit rccomponents.com.