As a child, Roy spent a lot of his time after school and on weekends at his father's bicycle shop in Placentia, California.

His first business venture was the manufacture of photographic enlargers, however World War II saw metal become very scarce forcing Roy to abandon the project.

[3] In 1946 Roy and his partner Mark Mier developed a metal push pull toy car for toddlers.

In 1950 Roy ventured into engine manufacturing by teaming up with Mel Anderson to produce the O-Forty-Five Special car.

They spent a year working on the design and what they came up with was the beginning of a long line of successful competition and sport model engines, ready to fly airplanes, car, boats, and just about anything that could run on a motor.

He was beginning to develop his own health problems so he retired and sold his company to the huge toy manufacturer Leisure Dynamics.