Meet Josh “Frankenstein” Oyler | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Josh “Frankenstein” Oyler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Josh “Frankenstein”, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work balance is a hard topic. The idea of what is right and wrong is different for everyone and changes in your own mind in time. When I was younger I thought the only right way was to work nonstop. As we were building motorcycles in the early days we had to show them off. Driving to rallies and shows all over the country. Late nights, weekends to meet deadlines. I ended up missing a lot of great personal family things. Some things with my son and wife I could never get back. Now I try to work as hard as possible in a more set schedule. Take time to enjoy my family and life away from the shop. Deadlines are part of life, part of work but setting real goals with your customers help. I still leave work everyday thinking there is more to be done. There always is. That’s a great problem to have.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Creative solutions is mostly what Hot Rodding is. Jamming big engines in little cars. Making a 100 year old part work for today. It’s some art, some problem solving. Today there are tons of younger kids getting into cars. Every generation is a little different in the way they view them. The older cars, 1970’s and older that we work on are not as in fashion any more. Fuel injection, comfort and “style” have taken over. So I guess the thing that sets us apart for a lot. We try to keep old school Hot Rodding alive with a flash of new. Quality and craftsmanship are really lacking in the builds today. Instagram hot Rodding and tearing up cars. We respect cars, the history involved and want to bring things back to life for more people to enjoy and have fun with.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Colorado has changed a ton over my life, born and raised here I almost don’t recognize it any more. A week long trip has to mostly take place in our awesome mountains. Heading up to the hills to enjoy the curves and fresh air. Any place that serves cold beer, burgers and whiskey is fine by me to eat. Make sure you check out the Golden Super Cruise the first Saturday of each spring and summer month.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Tons of people should be called out for helping me. However my wife of 22 years and my 17 year old son do more, and more often than anyone. They both continue to be in my corner. Cheering me on and helping me in the bad times. Life can get a little messy with a Hot Rodder/Biker in your world. From motorcycle engines in the kitchen, frames in the living room. Never getting to park in a garage. My wife has had it rough. She always is there to push me and help the shop. Luckily my son is much smarter than I am and has a very bright future. He still enjoys getting dirty at the shop, putting in the hard work and knows the value of hands on craftsmanship. Talking with my son and wife about cars and bikes is one of my favorite things. Living this is not a hobby or a job, Hot Rodding really is a way of life, it affects everyone around you. It’s a hard life to be in, my family never bats an eye. They deserve the credit for helping.

Website: Www.oylersspeedshop.com

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Twitter: @oylersspeedshop

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