Impression
Chip Foose, left, seen here with bike enthusiast turned wheel manufacturer Ron Loynds
The Ron Loynds story – the Californian wheel manufacturer Metalsport pretty much invented the“ Big Wheel” craze with their 30 and 32-inchers
Best known for their Big Wheels, South Gate( Los Angeles), California based Metalsport Wheels was founded in 2007 by Ron Loynds- but the background to the Metalsport story is one of a family owned and operated precision machining business with considerable aerospace credentials. Ron, a life-long rider, started working in his stepfather’ s“ old school” machine shop when he was a kid.“ I did the typical stuff when I started – cleaning machines, sweeping floors and such like. I guess he wanted to see that I could be trusted in“ his space” without killing myself or breaking something!” But he did neither, and after about 6 years was running the shop, and after being involved around 12 years in total, his father decided he wanted to retire, so Ron took over ownership and set about modernizing the business,“ but without losing the sense of craftsmanship, precision and excellence that he’ d schooled me in,” he says.“ In truth, the main thing I did was to simply roll my sleeves up and put in the hours. My father had been fine with his way of doing things, and that was fine of course – better than fine. But the equipment was antiquated and slow, and I knew that I had to bring it up-to-date and find new customers.” Putting in the hours even involved sleeping at the workshop sometimes and having no other focus, a familiar story for many, I’ m sure, but there is no substitute for sheer hard work and determination, and as for so many others, it worked for Ron. As the business grew, he was able to start expanding. From having just the one“ tin hut” to start with, as Ron puts it, he now has four businesses, with Metalsport housed in a 30,000 sq ft facility, employing 25 people, 22 of them in manufacturing. Along the way he had developed a notable presence in the aerospace industry, designing and making tooling and components for the Apollo and space shuttle programs, and for military projects such as Minutemen and Sidewinder missiles- and others that he says he still can’ t talk about publicly! Ron’ s first opportunity to turn his passion for riding into a
Metalsport is housed in a 30,000 sq ft facility
www. AMDchampionship. com AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER- SEPTEMBER 2016 23
By Robin Bradley robin @ dealer-world. com
Metalsport’ s kit list includes a 4-Axis CNC mill that can machine any size wheel
Metalsport is a major distributor of Vee Rubber Big Wheel tires, Whitewalls and replacement OE fittings