Teutuls to bring choppers to Spokane

With giant 20-foot posters of three Teutul family members behind them, tourism and business leaders officially announced this summer’s arrival of the Orange County Choppers team.

Speakers at the media event kick-started a months-long publicity drive to bring people from throughout the surrounding area to Spokane for the rare off-television appearance by the motorcycle customization crew.

“I’m excited to finally say that, yes, they’re coming to Spokane,” said Harry Sladich, president of the Spokane Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Today is a great day for Spokane County.”

In a video played to assorted business leaders, Paul Teutul Jr. and Mikey Teutul announced their arrival July 28-30, and a somewhat menacing Paul Teutul Sr. told viewers, “Be there.”

Orange County Choppers, based in upstate New York, is featured on the Discovery Channel program “American Chopper.” The three family members along with a workshop crew build custom motorcycles, and their intra-family arguments are a trademark of the cable television show.

“How cool is this?” asked Kerry Dunne, the show’s promoter. “We are going to bring people here to see the bikes and spend money in your community.”

Officials at Northern Quest Casino announced a months-long promotion of the “Summer of OCC & NQC,” in which an OCC-customized bike will be given away.

There will scarcely be a person from Montana to Seattle who won’t know about this event, Sladich said. Several advertisements will begin airing, and officials will visit nearby locations to promote the event.

“There will be literally caravans of people driving here,” Sladich said.

A tentative schedule features several live demonstrations by the Teutul family and the entire OCC crew building a Spokane-themed bike that will be given away at the end of the weekend.

Crew members will also be on hand to answer shop questions about bike customization, according to the schedule posted on the tour’s Web site. Also, the crew is bringing $30 million worth of custom motorcycles to the show for viewing.

Orange County Choppers is only stopping in four cities this summer as part of its “OCC in America” Tour. Tempe, Ariz., is the only other stop in the West.

Officials there said more than 50,000 people attended that event last year.

Avid fishermen, the Teutul family plans to visit several good holes during their trip, Dunne said.