Vincent DiMartino
Encyclopedia
Vincent "Vinnie" DiMartino (born October 9, 1972) is an American motorcycle
builder, best known for his work from 2002 to 2007 at Orange County Choppers
(OCC), the subject of the American TV show American Chopper
. In August 2007 DiMartino left Orange County Choppers and founded V-Force Customs, a custom motorcycle shop in Rock Tavern, NY. Several months later Cody Connelly
, a friend and co-worker of DiMartino at Orange County Choppers also left to join him at V-force Customs. In 2010, DiMartino returned to the show; however instead of rejoining his former employer, OCC, he joined Paul Jr. Designs
.
DiMartino, known as "Vinnie," was born to John and Margaret DiMartino. He is the second child of four. DiMartino and his wife Melissa have three girls and a boy, Vanessa and twins Isabella and Ava and Vincent.
.
before leaving in August 2007.
The American Chopper
episode in which DiMartino leaves dedicated a little over four minutes to his departure. After he gave his notice, Paul Teutul Sr. was shown saying "everyone's replaceable" which he claims was only a fragment of what he actually said. OCC has said that they have no control over the editing of the show and what parts of the dialog are edited out.
Arena League Football team. Vinnie and Cody Connelly announced the build from mid-field at a Storm game at the St. Pete Times Forum
in Tampa, Florida
. The Tampa Bay Storm chopper was unveiled at The Storms' final game of the season on June 21, 2008. The bike is touring the southeast United States with all proceeds going to the Pinellas County Humane Society and The Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa. Also in June, V-Force Customs had its ribbon cutting and grand opening in Rock Tavern, New York.
on Resort and Residence TV
, AMG TV, Untamed Sports TV
, Altitude Sports and Entertainment
, Bright House Sports Network, Cox Sports
, CW West Palm
, Time Warner Cable Sports (Buffalo/Syracuse), and LoneStar Cable Network. The series premiered on February 14, 2010. In a radio interview in June 2010, Dimartino stated that he was going to work with Paul Teutul, Jr.
again at Paul Jr. Designs
which will air as American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior
while still running V-Force. Part of the agreement of DiMartino being on the show was that he would be able to wear hats and T-shirts bearing the V-Force logo to ensure that people wouldn't think that V-Force was out of business. DiMartino made his debut appearing in the first episode of the revamped series which aired in the U.S. on The Discovery Channel on Aug. 12, 2010.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
builder, best known for his work from 2002 to 2007 at Orange County Choppers
Orange County Choppers
Orange County Choppers is a custom and production motorcycle manufacturer based in Orange County, New York, that was founded by Paul Teutul, Sr., and Paul Teutul, Jr., in 1999. The company was featured on American Chopper, a reality TV show that debuted in September 2002 on the Discovery Channel,...
(OCC), the subject of the American TV show American Chopper
American Chopper
American Chopper is a reality television series that airs on Discovery Channel, produced by Pilgrim Films & Television. The series centers on Paul Teutul, Sr. and his son Paul Teutul, Jr. , who manufacture custom motorcycles. Orange County Choppers is in Newburgh, New York...
. In August 2007 DiMartino left Orange County Choppers and founded V-Force Customs, a custom motorcycle shop in Rock Tavern, NY. Several months later Cody Connelly
Cody Connelly
Cody 'Code' Connelly is an American motorcycle builder, best known for his work at Orange County Choppers , the subject of the American TV show American Chopper. Cody left Orange County Choppers and joined V-Force Customs where he works with friend and former colleague of Orange County Choppers...
, a friend and co-worker of DiMartino at Orange County Choppers also left to join him at V-force Customs. In 2010, DiMartino returned to the show; however instead of rejoining his former employer, OCC, he joined Paul Jr. Designs
Paul Jr. Designs
Paul Jr. Designs is a lifestyle brand motorcycle customizer and clothing vendor based in Rock Tavern, New York, USA. Paul Teutul, Jr. founded the design firm in 2009 after waiting out a one year non-compete clause with his former company, Orange County Choppers.Teutul opened the motorcycle company...
.
DiMartino, known as "Vinnie," was born to John and Margaret DiMartino. He is the second child of four. DiMartino and his wife Melissa have three girls and a boy, Vanessa and twins Isabella and Ava and Vincent.
History
DiMartino was born in 1972 in New York's Hudson Valley. At the age of nine DiMartino started hanging around his father's auto repair shop and soon became a "gearhead". At the age of 14 he began working for a small engine repair shop. A few years later he was rebuilding cars and motorcycles and pretty much anything else he could get his hands on. In 2002 DiMartino started working for Orange County Choppers which was owned by high school friend Paul Teutul Jr.'s father. Although a pilot episode was shot just before he was hired, it was only a month after starting his new job that DiMartino learned The Discovery Channel was turning his workplace into a reality television show called American ChopperAmerican Chopper
American Chopper is a reality television series that airs on Discovery Channel, produced by Pilgrim Films & Television. The series centers on Paul Teutul, Sr. and his son Paul Teutul, Jr. , who manufacture custom motorcycles. Orange County Choppers is in Newburgh, New York...
.
Career
DiMartino spent five years working for Orange County ChoppersOrange County Choppers
Orange County Choppers is a custom and production motorcycle manufacturer based in Orange County, New York, that was founded by Paul Teutul, Sr., and Paul Teutul, Jr., in 1999. The company was featured on American Chopper, a reality TV show that debuted in September 2002 on the Discovery Channel,...
before leaving in August 2007.
Departure from OCC
There has been a lot of discussion on the internet about the factors that led to Vincent leaving OCC. From the VForceCustoms website "FAQ" Vinnie responds to the question stating:"I had gone as far as I could there. I really didn’t have any chance for advancement, and I had always wanted to have my own shop, so the natural progression was to leave and start my own place. Nothing against them, but it was time to move on."
The American Chopper
American Chopper
American Chopper is a reality television series that airs on Discovery Channel, produced by Pilgrim Films & Television. The series centers on Paul Teutul, Sr. and his son Paul Teutul, Jr. , who manufacture custom motorcycles. Orange County Choppers is in Newburgh, New York...
episode in which DiMartino leaves dedicated a little over four minutes to his departure. After he gave his notice, Paul Teutul Sr. was shown saying "everyone's replaceable" which he claims was only a fragment of what he actually said. OCC has said that they have no control over the editing of the show and what parts of the dialog are edited out.
V-Force Customs
Soon after leaving OCC, DiMartino started V-Force Customs located in Rock Tavern, NY, V-Force Customs is located in a brand new building designed for building bikes. V-force Customs first build was "V-Force 1", unveiled in Daytona Beach, Florida. Soon after the success of "V-force 1", V-force built a custom chopper for the Tampa Bay StormTampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
Arena League Football team. Vinnie and Cody Connelly announced the build from mid-field at a Storm game at the St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....
in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. The Tampa Bay Storm chopper was unveiled at The Storms' final game of the season on June 21, 2008. The bike is touring the southeast United States with all proceeds going to the Pinellas County Humane Society and The Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa. Also in June, V-Force Customs had its ribbon cutting and grand opening in Rock Tavern, New York.
New Series
DiMartino appeared in the series Throttle Junkies TVThrottle Junkies TV
Throttle Junkies TV is a reality television series. The series centers on three entirely different genres of motorcycle builders. V-Force Customs builds custom choppers and is located in Rock Tavern, NY. RetroSBK builds high-performance motorcycles and is located in Camarillo, CA...
on Resort and Residence TV
Resort and Residence TV
Resort and Residence TV is a lifestyle television channel. It is owned and operated by Next 1 Interactive, Inc. It was originally owned by Televisual Media Works as an interactive advertising channel from 2005-2008. According to its press release, it specializes in vacation travel, home improvement...
, AMG TV, Untamed Sports TV
Untamed Sports TV
Untamed Sports TV is a digital subchannel which provides niche outdoor and lifestyle programming to several stations in the United States. This channel was launched in 2008 by OlympuSAT who also distributes the Funimation Channel.-Programs:...
, Altitude Sports and Entertainment
Altitude Sports and Entertainment
Altitude Sports and Entertainment is a regional sports network that serves the Rocky Mountain region, specifically Denver. It officially launched on Sept...
, Bright House Sports Network, Cox Sports
Cox Sports
Cox Sports Television is a regional sports network that serves the United States Gulf South region. It launched in October 2002 and is owned by Cox Communications....
, CW West Palm
WTVX
WTVX is the CW-affiliated television station for West Palm Beach, Florida that is licensed to Fort Pierce. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter southwest of Palm City and I-95 in Martin County...
, Time Warner Cable Sports (Buffalo/Syracuse), and LoneStar Cable Network. The series premiered on February 14, 2010. In a radio interview in June 2010, Dimartino stated that he was going to work with Paul Teutul, Jr.
Paul Teutul, Jr.
Paul Michael "Paulie" Teutul is one of the stars of the American reality television series American Chopper. He co-founded Orange County Choppers with his father, Paul Teutul, Sr. in 1999. Teutul was the chief designer and fabricator of OCC. Prior to this, Teutul was head of the rail shop at...
again at Paul Jr. Designs
Paul Jr. Designs
Paul Jr. Designs is a lifestyle brand motorcycle customizer and clothing vendor based in Rock Tavern, New York, USA. Paul Teutul, Jr. founded the design firm in 2009 after waiting out a one year non-compete clause with his former company, Orange County Choppers.Teutul opened the motorcycle company...
which will air as American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior
American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior
American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior is a reality television spin-off, based on the original series American Chopper, which premiered on the TLC channel on August 12, 2010. The show chronicles the rivalry between Orange County Choppers owned by Paul Teutul, Sr. and his son Paul Teutul, Jr.'s newly...
while still running V-Force. Part of the agreement of DiMartino being on the show was that he would be able to wear hats and T-shirts bearing the V-Force logo to ensure that people wouldn't think that V-Force was out of business. DiMartino made his debut appearing in the first episode of the revamped series which aired in the U.S. on The Discovery Channel on Aug. 12, 2010.