Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/1298026
16 | WheelsOfGrace.com | Issue 52 li le kid you don't figure it out and when we got home from church Santa Claus had been there! We ate dinner and got to open our presents (European tradi on is to open your presents on Christmas Eve). When I was 14 our parents moved us to Las Vegas since my dad was traveling there anyway to do most of his work. At the age of 15 1/2, I was not doing so good in school so my mom and dad took me out and put me to work in his shop. At 16 I got my first vehicle and when I was 18 the 80s had just started and Las Vegas in the 80s was really cool! I was working for my father's marble and granite company making a really good paycheck during the day and at night my friends and I were always out having fun. On the weekends we loved to go to the ska ng rink and a erwards you could find us cruising Fremont St. trying to make our trucks look cooler than they were already. W.O.G.: Sounds like a great childhood indeed! If Fred Tilly could say something to a younger Fred today, what would he say to him? CAP.: Life is not always fun and games. Take a li le bit more me to make your decisions, don't be a hot head and also try not to be so selfish. W.O.G.: How old were you when you joined the Army? CAP.: I was 20 years old. W.O.G.: And at some point you went to Germany… or were you transferred to Germany? Tell us a li le about that: CAP.: I was extremely excited to be transferred to Germany being as my parents are German. As a ma er of fact my mother spent her teenage years living in Berlin during the war and while I was there I tried to use my me wisely visi ng various historical sites and learning about my family's history, mee ng up with people from my family that I had never met before in my life. W.O.G.: How long were you in Germany? CAP.: A li le over two years. W.O.G.: And you met your wife in Germany as well, right? CAP.: Correct and I must say that mee ng my wife Silvia was one of the best things that ever happened to me. W.O.G.: Well said! I've been to your house, and I've seen your wife's Harley in the garage. What year and model is her Harley? CAP.: My wife rides a 2016 Street Glide Special. W.O.G.: Go Sylvia! How long has she been riding? CAP.: I helped my wife get her driver's license in Germany for her 30th birthday so she has been riding for about 14 years now. W.O.G.: Was Sylvia one of those wives that said: "I will never ride my own bike. I am happy on the back…" or has she always wanted her ride? CAP.: She has most definitely always wanted to have her own motorcycle. W.O.G.: That's the European side. I remember you sharing with me about purchasing your bike. I think you said you bought it in Germany right? And then had it shipped? Or did you buy it here? CAP.: Yes both mine and my wife's bike were purchased in Bamberg Germany and when we moved here I had them flown over. W.O.G.: How did you get the vision of the Captain America theme? CAP.: I originally wanted to paint it a burgundy wine color then the Captain America and avengers movies came out and iden fied so well with the Captain America character that I decided to go that route. I thought to myself: "what would the motorcycle look like if Captain America went to the Army Motor pool to pick it up?" W.O.G.: How long did it take to customize the bike from beginning to end? CAP.: Well let's see, I bought the bike in April 2012 and I'm s ll not finished I'm 16 | WheelsOfGrace.com | Issue 52