Look ma, no hands!

I keep telling you guys to send me pics of your projects. I truly mean that. I wanna see what ya have going on, and I know the other few thousand people that read my Blog would love to see also! With that said, I think I will start a new program here at "Spritz By Fritz". If I use your e-mail and pics on my blog I'm gonna send you a FREE T-SHIRT! You got that right, I know a shirt aint much but, when was the last time you got somethin' fer nothin' for doing something ya love! The First T-Shirt recipient is Chris Valentine. He bought my "How to Paint Your Motorcycle at Home" DVD and has never done any painting before. That didn't stop him from ripping into his childhood trail bike and giving it a fresh look, so his kIds could look all pimpin' rolling around the yard! Here is the e-mail that Chris sent to me. I gotta say, I am glad that I can help you guys get dirty and have a bit of fun in the garage. Any one can do anything as long as you put your mind to it. Get out to the Garage and build something! FRITZ_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________"Hi Fritz, how are you? I recently bought your " How to paint a motorcycle at home" DVD and after I'd sent you a few e-mails with some questions which what would have looked a little ridiculous to you, you answered them in great detail, so thank you... I can honestly say I had never in my entire life attempted spraying anything, nor has anyone I know so I was relying entirely on your e-mailed advise and of course your DVD. So after dealing and beating my nervousness my first little project got underway and has now been completed & finished. I can say with great delight & amazement considering it was my first time spraying that it has come up amazingly thanks to you :) It was only a small little project and you'll probably laugh when you look at the pictures because its a 1969 Honda Z50a minitrail bike. It was a small little bike Id had since I was a youngster ( it's been in the family for 30. Years ) and just wanted to give it a fresh new look for my children to enjoy for many more years to come.. Again I just wanted to say a huge, huge thank you couldn't have done it with out you :) I've attached a few photos of the bike from before it was sprayed through different stages of spraying & of course the final product... I look forward to you seeing them and you giving some feedback on what you think. Thanks Fritz"

Pushing The Old Sanding Block Around!

Every night after work I come home, have a little snack, then head out into the garage and do a little mud work. I work at sanding and shaping an area on the Bandeeto's body, then mud it all up for the next nights work. I've been bouncing back and forth between two areas as you can see. A little progress is better then nothing. I have the frame back from the sandblaster, and I'll be painting that at work so I can keep moving on the body work. This weekend I'll be picking up my stuff from the chrome shop, so as soon as the frame is painted I can start to build the rolling chassie. I am also waiting on UPS to deliver a big 'ol box of white monkey fur, Its cool stuff! You guys been out in the shop building something rad? Let's see it then! Get out in the garage and build something Fritz

It's a Grind!

This would be the part of doing a fiberglass body that sucks! Lucky for me fiberglass doesn't bother me all that much but, it still makes me itch, just not as bad as most folks. I have the body bolted to a dolly I made out of old shopping cart, wheels, and steel square tubing from old weight benches people would put out for trash. A lot of cool cars have been on this dolly! Ed Roth's "Druid Princess", the "Mega Cycle", and the clone of Roth's "Outlaw" that is now at the Speedway Auto museum in Lincoln Nebraska. Also The "Roswell Rod", "Big John Mazmanian's" Austin, and now the "Baja Bandeeto". I have a rather large batch of parts out at the chrome plater, and it should be ready any time now. That's gonna hurt the old wallet! I'll get the raw fiberglass all ground down so it will be ready for body filler, and then I will probably move along onto getting the frame sand blasted, painted, and start putting all of the rolling stock back together. Get out to the garage and build something guys. FRITZ

The Bandeeto & Bikes.

While I was on the east side of the USA at the Carlisle, PA swap meet I figured I was only 4 hours from Long Island so I went to visit with my folks and friends. I picked up yet another project. I don't know why I just can't help myself when I find a cool motorcycle basket case project. The crappy economy has been making Harleys a much more affordable thing to obtain. I got this 1969 XLH 900cc roller, for a few hundred bucks. There is enough there to make it run and ride but I would just love it if I could restore it back to factory, sitting on the show room floor stock. I know, I know, Sportsters don't bring big bucks you say, its a bad investment you say, it aint about that for me. I work on most of the junk I buy and build out of the love of the project mostly, or I just resell them to fund other projects. Its a disease they tell me. I am still plugging away on the "Baja Bandeeto". Been doing a bit of fiberglass touch up work on the underside where I had made cuts and adjustments in the body lines. The gray tubes you see that I glassed in is pvc electrical conduit that I will be running the wires and stuff through. I got the licence plate bracket glassed in, and that area cut to shape. I know its hard to see with the body upside down but I cut the dash board out to trim and shape it out, cleaned out the plaster and newspaper I couldn't get at with it in place, and then glassed it back where it belongs. After some body work and paint it'll look like it was all meant to be! The weather is getting colder and I am sure you guys are getting your garages ready for those winter projects. I'd love to hear about them and see some pics, e-mail 'em and share them with the rest of us wont ya? Get out in the garage and build something! Fritz

Bandeeto & Bikes

Where have I been for the last week? . . . at the Fall Carlisle, PA swap meet. I have tried to go as often as I can. I have been going for over 30 years now! I went back in the 1970's for the first time with my dad as a kid. Dad had a 1938 Chevy. That was the first "old car" I have had the chance to get up close a personal with. I remember walking up and down the aisles looking in the old beat up boxes and on folding tables for stuff. It's something that I always enjoyed, and that's why I make the two day drive from Kansas City to attend! Enjoy the pics gang. Were you there also? You have any pics to share? Fritz

Welding the Bandeeto

Well Gang I have the "Baja Bandeeto" all torn down and its time to do all that final welding. In the process of building, I just kinda tack welded stuff to keep the project moving. Cutting my arm open, and being out of commission for a few months wasn't such a big help either. So I'm a little behind on getting this thing done. Usually, this time of year, I am starting a new project, not finishing one up. I'll be taking a big batch of parts up to the chrome plater in the morning, so I'll want all this welding done as soon as I can finish it. Cause the minute the chrome guys call, I'll get the frame sand blasted, then painted, and I can start building the rolling chassi! But, I will have about 4 to 5 weeks before I get the chrome. So, the frame will be finished, sitting on the side, while I get busy with the fiberglass grinding and body work for the body. The cooler weather is upon us guys! Its time to get those garages cleaned and tidied up so we can . . . "GET OUT IN THAT GARAGE AND BUILD SOMETHING" FRITZ

Davenport Iowa Antique Motorcycle Meet

I'm a big antique motorcycle fan. I don't just mean old Triumphs and Panhead Harleys. I'm talking really old stuff, World War I kinda stuff. Living in New York City, it always seemed like a dream and a long two day drive, so I never went to the grand daddy of old bike meets till this past Labor Day weekend. Now that I live in Kansas City, I'm only six hours away! I didn't buy anything, but I sure did a lot of looking. It made me realize that I do truly need, to pull a certain twin carb Knuckle head chopper that I started five years ago, off the shelf, and start doing something with it. That's all I'm gonna type 'cause I want to pack in as many photos of these old gems as I can. Get out in the garage and build something! Fritz