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Meet Tony & Peggy!
Meet Tony and Peggy!
To know California SideCar is to know The Sparacino’s!This husband wife duo has been CSC’s biggest cheerleaders for many, many years. Their knowledge with the trike industry is vast and extensive. Combined they have so many stories and first hand experiences. Tony with his mechanics background of building bikes and trikes and Peggy’s social savvy skills of working with the public, together they make the perfect pair to do what they do.
Background: Tony Sparacino built his first chopper in 1962. At that time he also began building for his friends and then eventually, friends of friends. He was also building dune buggies with Volkswagen and Corvair drivetrains and occasionally building a trike using those same Volkswagen drivetrains. In 1973 The Sparacino’s were living in Indiana. Tony had a Chevy Laguna with a Dodge engine that he took to the Daytona 500. On the day of the race the weather in Florida was a gorgeous 81 degrees, unlike the weather back home in Indiana. After the race, arriving back in Indiana was torture. The weather was a frigid 6 below zero! The decision was then made to move to Florida! They sold their house and made their way back to Florida, and they did it in only 2 weeks!
Tony continued building over the years as a hobby up until 1996 when Peggy finally convinced him to make it official and turn it into a real business. So Tony began his motorcycle business venture! He took Peggy’s advice and leaned on her confidence and opened Trikes by Tony in Inverness, Florida. The doors were open to the public and the path was set! Peggy continued running a fruit and vegetable stand business that she had jump-started, initiated by her drive and vision of an old unused shed.
In a few short years Trikes by Tony had become so busy that Peggy had to make the decision to leave the fruit stand business and join Tony! She very much adored her job in the food industry, working with the public on a daily basis for 20 years was something she had loved being a part of. She was hesitant to move onto something different; but with some coaxing from Tony she took the leap!
With business thriving and trikes becoming more popular, In 1998 Tony and Peggy came to the California SideCar Facility in Virginia. Together they both went through the CSC installation training. Once back at home in Florida, they began selling CSC trikes at an astonishing rate! They were CSC’s top selling dealer at that time! Throughout their trike selling days they installed over 1,600 CSC trike kits. They had a set up unlike most. They had a pickup and delivery service and even free motel stays for their customers! They operated 6 motorcycle lifts with 6 trike tech builders and one service tech. They were “triking” bikes weekly! The Sparacino’s also continued attending the many rallies and bike events that were being held in surrounding areas. Their reputation as having extensive experience and first rate service was getting attention.
To say that Tony and Peggy are your typical “people’s people” is an understatement. They have a desire to engage with the public on a level that is rare. They thrive to go above and beyond and ensure that every measure has been taken to give the customer a first-rate experience. They absolutely love what they do and they are, without a doubt professionals at it.
In 2006 they were approached with a buyer for their shop and made the decision to retire early. The Sparacino’s sold the Trikes by Tony shop. Today the shop is known as Trikes by Design. Larry and Kathy McKinsey are now the owners and have done an outstanding job in upholding the first-rate reputation that had been established. In 2007 Tony and Peggy began their next adventure. Together they began working for CSC. Tony driving the CSC rig and with Peggy at his side they attend the rallies and shows representing California Sidecar. Doing not only what they love but what they do best, engaging with the public, sharing their experiences, stories and gained knowledge.
To date Tony and Peggy are still at it! They are still cheering on CSC! While their rally schedule is not as demanding as it used to be, they are still sharing their knowledge at various motorcycle events. If you attend a rally this summer in the eastern part of the states, you just might see Tony, Peggy and maybe even Sidecar. That’s right! Sidecar! Sidecar is their boxer pup that travels with them on occasion. He loves all the attention and loves to meet folk’s right alongside them. We hope you can get out to one of the shows and meet them! Ask them about how they met perhaps!? It’s quite the story. It really is one of those stories best told in person.
