Bofore long, it was time to start my own buisness. I called it Oakes Racing and Metal Fab. My passion was to build ojects of strength and beauty using metal. I built drag race cars and off-road cars. During my free time, I designed and built metal furniture... combining the longevity of metal with the beauty of an elegant design. It began in my own home, but it wasn’t long before people began to notice, admiring my personal collection and commissioning me to build similar pieces for them. Before long, the orders for metal home decor out-numbered those for race cars. I now find that residential metal work is much more rewarding and satisfying. It’s exciting to meet a designer with a vision for a front gate that will be the highlight of the house... and all he needs is a craftsman who understands it and can faithfully bring that vision to life. With a deep passion to help people create these dreams that last a lifetime, I have trully found my calling in life.