How to Become a World Class Pinstriper in 3 Easy Steps

How to Become a World Class
Pinstriper in 3 Easy Steps
By Randy “Harley Doc” McCamey, Correspondent
1. Purchase samples of the
highest qualit y automotive
paint specifically formulat ed
for pinstripe use in every color
imaginable.
2. Pick up a handful of the best
Russian Sable hair brushes you
can find and trim them to fit
your st yle.
3. Get 22 years of experience at
the craft and then ...
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H
mmm, step number 3 seems to be
the most challenging, wouldn’t you
say? Anyone can buy the materials,
anybody can read the books, but not just
anybody can do the work. Experience and
doing the work is what sets Tex McDorman
apart from the competition and with that
experience comes an impressive resume
of paint and stripes on all manner of cars,
trucks, and bikes. Tex does a significant
amount of work on NASCAR cars and the
driver’s helmets. His work has been featured
in various magazines including the April 2009
issue of American Bagger. He makes it to a lot
of rally’s each year, big and small, including Sturgis and the Lone Star Rally in Galveston.
I notice that Tex uses his phone a lot as he works. “I use my phone these days rather than
huge catalogs and reference books. Clients can send me sample pictures so I can see
what they are thinking or I can send them pictures to give them some ideas of what I can
do.” Tex continues by saying, “The camera on the phone also helps give me something
to look at as a reference when I’m trying to make a symmetric pattern on both sides of a
bike.”
So, how does he do it? How has Tex become the name in pinstriping? Tex was born
and raised in Brownwood, Texas. Always interested in art and drawing, Tex nurtured his
creativity and after a stint in the U. S. Navy, he went into the paint and penstriping business
full-time. A self-taught master, now with over 22 years experience, Tex says, “I love to
stripe bikes and I work to make every bike look different. I work with the owner to make his
or her bike a reflection of the personality that is unique to that individual.”
ThunderRoadsTexas.com

As we talked at the 2010 Lone Star Rally, bikes are
revving up around the booth and on the street with pipes
blaring loud enough to make normal conversation a
struggle. Tex easily stripes a bike as we talk and I ask
how he keeps such a steady hand in the midst of so much
noise and so many people. “Patience and practice”, he
says. “Noise and distractions can be challenging but you
learn to adapt. I think what sets me apart is that I can
deal with the distractions, have a relaxed conversation
with my clients, and stripe their bikes at the same time.”
I agree. Conversation comes naturally to Tex and many
people, myself included, forget that he is actually striping
their bikes while they talk. Before they know it, their bike
is done and they are ready to go. Tex McDorman, a class
act and a world class talent.
Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
To see more of Tex’s work,
go to www.TexEFX.com
January 2011 H Page 15