Don't let anyone tell you there's no such thing as too much of a good thing. That certainly seems to be the case when it comes to celebrities, who often seek a quieter more sheltered life after the spotlight of fame. For some, the fame does follow them, but also brings them good fortune in the next phase of their life. Rick Petko, master fabricator of American Choppers fame, certainly seems to have his fair share of it now.
Updated March 2023: OCC's Rick Petko may not be building bikes for an independent workshop any longer, instead working on Harleys with a dealership, but he's still out there racing them and wringing out the throttle any chance he gets. We've updated this article with Petko's latest in a long line of achievements, in his life after OCC.
American Choppers, the reality TV Show that revolved around the daily workings of Orange County Choppers, was one of the most iconic shows of its time. It was famous for two things: the amazing custom-built choppers and the heated arguments between Teutul Senior and his son, Paul Teutul Junior. Apart from the antics of these two, the show also introduced us to the fantastic craftsmanship of a few other individuals working at OCC, such as Rick Petko.
Rick from American Choppers was among the show's original cast and was responsible for some stunning motorcycle metalwork. He worked at Orange County Choppers from 2003 to 2016 and made several appearances on American Choppers' original run from 2003 to 2010. In 2016, he parted ways with the Teutuls and went on to start his own business and focus on his personal life. Let's take a closer look at what Rick Petko is up to these days.
Related: Here's Why Orange County Choppers Gave Up Its New York For Florida
Rick From OCC Has Motorcycles In His Blood
Petko had an inkling for motorcycles at a very young age. Growing up in Pennsylvania, he often enjoyed watching them on television. His passion was fueled by his father when he bought Petko his first minibike at the age of seven. But he didn't limit himself to just two wheels. Later, Petko would go on to ride/drive all forms of motorized vehicles, such as go-karts, four-wheelers, and dirt bikes, until eventually graduating to riding choppers.
Apart from riding these machines, Petko was often found in his father's garage, tinkering with bikes he owned. By the time he was 15, Petko had developed an interest in NASCAR. And soon enough, he was able to get himself a job as a mechanic, working for a local racing school at a nearby racetrack. After a few years of working here, polishing his craft, and getting the required experience, Petko joined a Pro Cup racing team.
His job was to ensure the team's racing cars were in top-notch shape before every race. Apart from his interest in the mechanical side of things, Petko was also fascinated with the art of metalwork and fabrication, a skill that he also developed over the years. After working for the racing team, Petko spent more than ten years working for manufacturing companies that dealt in material processing, heat-treat furnaces, and relining kilns.
Related: Here's What Only Real Bikers Know About The History Of Chopper Motorcycles
Why Did Rick Petko Leave OCC?
Rick Petko eventually got into vehicle restorations which made him cross paths with the Teutuls, who were immediately impressed with his skill and work. As a result, he was hired to work at the Orange County Choppers in 2003, the same year the show American Choppers aired its pilot on the Discovery network. Petko specialized in making old-school Choppers and designed and fabricated some pretty cool builds for the Teutuls.
The first bike that Petko worked on was the POW/MIA bike that Orange County Choppers made as a tribute to soldiers who were Prisoners of War and Missing in Action. The project was quite close to Petko as one of his cousins had fought for the county in the Vietnam War, and the bike had his name etched on it.
Petko worked for the Teutuls at the Orange County Choppers for 13 years. He was an employee of the father and son duo long after the original run of the show American Choppers ended in 2010. Petko was also seen on the two spinoffs of the show: American Choppers: Senior Vs. Junior (2010-2012) and Orange County Choppers (2013-2014).
His passion for designing and fabricating custom choppers kept him going for many years at OCC despite the drama between the Teutuls. However, Petko eventually left the shop in 2016 to focus on his personal life and take the next step in his career.
Related: Here’s What Vinnie From American Choppers Is Up To Today
What Is Rick Petko Doing Now?
After leaving Orange County Choppers in 2016, Rick Petko partnered with a local Harley-Davidson dealership to open a custom fabrication shop on their premises. The owners wanted to give the customers of the brand a one-of-a-kind experience at their dealership. The new shop would provide the opportunity for a customer to have a custom job done on their bikes right at the dealership.
Apart from working on motorcycles, Petko also invested in his own fabrication business, RPD & Co. He runs this from his home in Pennsylvania and offers a wide variety of custom-made culinary knives and wedding bands.
Apart from his work, Petko has a few other things that keep him occupied these days. Top on the list is, of course, his family. He married his wife Brittany co*ckeram in 2012. The wedding was shown on one of the episodes of American Choppers with both the Teutuls in attendance. Petko currently has two daughters, Everly Rose and Lucy, and he often documents the time spent with his family on his Instagram.
Source: American Choppers / Biography Research / Married Biography / Rick Petko Instagram
