Orton’s Motorsports Rolls in as Newest Oswego County Business

Story by Sarah McCrobie

After spending nearly half his life doing small engine repair and technician work, Mexico native Richard Orton is taking his passion up a notch, this time as owner of his own business.

Orton, 29, filed a business certificate with the Oswego County Clerk’s Office in early January, making Orton’s Motorsports one of the newest local businesses on file.

“It has always been a passion of mine since I was about 8 years old,” Orton said of starting a business.

He noted that the bulk of day-to-day functions include repairs and maintenance of various power sports equipment.

“We’ll do anything from minor oil changes to complete frame jobs on anything, including ATV, snowmobiles, personal watercraft and side-by-side,” he said.

For Orton, a Polaris and BRP certified technician, the work is something he has done since his teenage years. During his childhood, he worked with his father, tinkering with different projects before enrolling in the small engine repair program at Oswego County BOCES. Through BOCES, he landed an internship with Caprara’s Outdoor Toy Store, and eventually a full-time gig.

“I was there for 13 years as their head technician and was there until the day they closed the doors,” Orton said.

When one door closes, another opens, and that was the case for Orton as he began laying the framework for his own business. In addition to developing a formal business plan and submitting the necessary paperwork to the county, Orton examined the current market conditions and saw that there was a need for a motorsports repair business that offered a “family and budget-friendly atmosphere with a fast turnaround.”

“I want to provide fast but thorough service and maintenance to get my customers’ machines ready so they can enjoy them in the short seasons they have to use them,” Orton said.

As Orton continues to fine-tune daily operations, he maintains a positive attitude despite some initial challenges expected with any business startup.

“It’s been a challenge getting my parts distributors set up and being able to stock everything I need to have on hand … Just the normal business hassles of getting up and going,” Orton said. “But, every day I am a step closer, and it is getting there.”

Some of Orton’s immediate goals are to build the parts inventory and increase the customer base. He noted that while the business is located in the Oswego County township of Williamstown, customers come from surrounding counties for their service needs as well.