Today we’d like to introduce you to Phillip Gonzalez.
Hi Phillip, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been fascinated by motorcycles. I do have a lot of respect for them as they are very dangerous. I feel bringing the motorcycles back to their original form is a work of art. Since I was a teenager, I began tinkering with scooters and taught myself by disassembling the motorcycles and assembling them. It’s a passion of mine. I have never been afraid of a challenge. I love to study, diagnose, and fix any motorcycle that I come in contact with. I especially love to bring them back to their original style and learn their individual story. I have been blessed to have a worldwide following in several blogs which allows me to learn even more the history of the majority of the motorcycles that have come to me for restoration. I especially love my 1975 Ducati Desmo 900ss.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This started out as a hobby for me and my fascination of motorcycles. However, having a family, and initially a full-time job it was hard to find time for my restorations. When I decided to open Speedway Vintage Cycles at the height of the pandemic it was a struggle to get started, finding a location, and I am still struggling finding good reliable help. I am happy to say, our shop has been open for almost three years, and we are very busy. The struggle continues….
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I absolutely am passionate about restoring vintage motorcycles. I love learning their story and bringing them back to life. I get excited when I get a basket case and I am trusted to bring her back to life. I am most proud of the support that I get from my family. What sets Speedway Vintage Cycles apart is that we are a one-stop shop. We offer restoration services, we can repair just about any motorcycle new or old, we have a website that sells all of your consumables and we are arguably (we have been told) the only shop that offers vapor blasting services in Florida.
What do you think about happiness?
Seeing the customers excited about seeing their favorite motorcycle completed. That feeling of a kid in a candy store, that twinkle in their eye and smile that tells you how happy they are to own a piece of history. To be able to work on these beauties on a daily basis is a dream come true. I love a challenge and to see motorcycles arrive in pieces and leave fully restore makes me very happy. When I see an old motorcycle in this condition what I see is a finished product!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.speedwayvintagecycles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speedwayvintagecycles/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vaporblastaluminum
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6Evei2sRR-75ALfnSvkYiw/videos?app=desktop
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/speedway-vintage-cycles-miami
Image Credits
Carolina Gonzalez
