AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Vintage Motorcycle Museum is located just off Main Street in Johnson City. It houses Gordon Massie's collection of bikes from the 1950s to the 1970s. Massie has been restoring, riding and collecting motorcycles for years.
"I lusted after them when I was a kid, but I was only making $1.25 an hour pumping gas. These were the bikes that were always beyond my reach," said Massie.
Now his collection fills two large rooms at the museum. Massie owns 83 of the nearly 100 vintage bikes on display.
"It takes you back to simpler times. It takes you back to your childhood. It's always been my source of peace and joy," said Massie.
But like most ventures in life, there are always a few bumps in the road. Back in the early 2000s, Massie was fired from his corporate job for being a whistleblower. He sued, and, as the saying goes, "the rest is history."
"We reached an out-of-court settlement, and that was a large enough settlement that I could afford to take the rest of my life off and buy all these motorcycles and the building!" Massie said.
His collection also helped him emotionally when life got especially tough.
"I lost my wife of 43 years and then I lost my son, who was only 31. The best way to deal with grief is to get back into your passion, back into what gets you excited," he said.
Massie has room for several more motorcycles at the museum. That will bring the grand total to 100 vintage bikes on display.