Retired officer builds detailing career around motorcycles and steam washing

After more than 25 years in law enforcement in Jersey City, New Jersey, Harry Sandwith decided his retirement would be a launchpad rather than a finish line. According to reporting from Auto Laundry News, Sandwith built a second career by turning his lifelong love of motorcycles and detailing into a working business, a training program, and now a new venture in Florida.

Sandwith and his brother had planned to open a detail shop together after retirement. His brother, who had worked his way up to department manager at an automotive dealership, died before the plan came together, but Sandwith pressed forward with the idea.

Learning the craft and finding a community

Rather than rely on instinct, Sandwith committed to formal training. About a year before retiring, he and his son Joe traveled to California to train with detailer Renny Doyle. The trip introduced him to advanced polishing and paint correction techniques and to a professional community focused on continuing education.

That relationship led to an invitation to join the Air Force One Detailing Team. Sandwith says Doyle was impressed with his work ethic and asked him to join. After Hurricane Sandy struck, Sandwith organized a crew to detail the Union Beach fire trucks, an effort he describes as the first project for the Detail Mafia, an organization he went on to lead as its first president.

When Sandwith launched Dirty Harry's Detailing, he took on cars, trucks, boats, and RVs. But motorcycles were his passion, and as word spread through the riding community, bikes became both his specialty and the foundation of his business.

A curriculum, a relocation, and a new venture

Now 70, Sandwith has worked through recent health issues and continues to expand his role in the industry. He has developed a motorcycle detailing curriculum, noting that few people were teaching the discipline. He points out that while many techniques mirror automotive detailing, safety around bikes is distinct. Detailers should at minimum know how to start, move, and pick up a motorcycle, he says. He has partnered with Doyle to offer the training at Detailing Success centers across the country.

Sandwith and his wife Deborah recently relocated from North Jersey to Cape Coral, Florida, leaving Dirty Harry's in the hands of their children Joe and Gina. In Florida, the couple launched Hogfather Motorcycle Steam Wash & Detailing. The business currently runs mobile out of a home shop, with plans to rent a permanent location this fall. Sandwith says the operation uses two high-end steamers and is targeting steam bike washes, detailing, and coatings, and he is in talks with two nearby Harley dealerships about polishing work.

Why it matters for operators

Sandwith's story highlights a niche that many wash and detail operators overlook. Motorcycles require specialized handling and safety knowledge, which means a smaller pool of competitors and a clear opportunity to differentiate. His approach also shows the value of building a business around an existing community: he is reaching customers through bike clubs and dealership relationships rather than broad advertising.

The emphasis on steam cleaning points to a growing tool for detailers working on complex surfaces where high-pressure washing is risky. For operators considering service expansion, the takeaway is that formal training and a defined specialty can open revenue channels, from dealership contracts to coatings, that general detailing alone may not reach.