This week, we cover the institution of Car Wash Day, a detailing team, a new distributor, grand openings and charity events.
Car Wash Day set for July 14th
SMYRNA, Ga. — Bentley Brandon, founder of National Car Wash Day and owner of Luxury Wash, has succeeded in getting the first annual Car Wash Day recognized in several states this year on July 14th, according to a press release.
“Last year was Car Wash Day only in Georgia,” Brandon explained. “But it’s now nationwide in nine markets. I pray that everybody has a surplus day.”
Over the last year, Brandon has reached out to a multitude of state governments, the release continued, and the following have issued official proclamations from the gubernatorial offices proclaiming July 14, 2019 as Car Wash Day in their states:
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Nebraska
- Ohio
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington.
Following up on his tradition from last year, Brandon will once again conduct his one-man hand carwash on 100 cars in less than eight hours for a Guinness World Record on National Car Wash Day, the release concluded.
55 automotive detailers restore and preserve original Air Force One and 17 historic aircraft
SEATTLE — Fifty-five automotive detailers from across the nation and beyond, including military veterans, law enforcement personnel and firefighters, are volunteering their detailing skills July 7-14 to continue the preservation of the original presidential jet Air Force One at Seattle’s Museum of Flight, along with 17 equally historic aircraft, including a WWII B-29 Super Fortress Bomber and a recently acquired and badly deteriorating Vietnam-era B-52G Stratofortress Bomber, according to a press release.
They will also clean and continue to maintain the first-ever Boeing “Jumbo Jet” 747, the Concorde Alpha Golf and the first 1960s/1970s-era Boeing 727-022 commercial airliner — all three of which the team has been restoring over the past five to 10 years, the release continued.
For 16 years, members have been chosen for the exclusive Air Force One Detailing Team by Renny Doyle of Detailing Success, Master automotive and aircraft detailer and trainer, the release added.
Doyle is known as the “Detailer of Air Force One” because he has been leading teams to Seattle for 16 years to restore the famous presidential plane, and his team continues to be its caretaker, as well as for several other aircraft on exhibit there, the release noted.
“The 55 detailers I selected for the team come from across the U.S., and this year from Canada and the Caribbean as well. I have trained them myself for this kind of work, and it gives those detailers experience in polishing and perfecting paint and brightwork, which transfers onto car paint, they would never get anywhere else,” said Doyle about his annual team. “It is fitting that the project follows the Independence Day holiday this year, because the work they do is a patriotic gesture to preserve a piece of American aviation history.”
The 2019 Air Force One Detailing Team is supported by Gold sponsors Flex North America and P&S Sales’ Double Black as well as by Silver sponsors Buff and Shine Manufacturing, Glassparency, The Rag Company, RoadFS by Zenware and IK Sprayers, the release noted.
For more information about Renny Doyle and his 2019 Air Force One Detailing Team at Seattle’s Museum of Flight, contact Diane Doyle at (909) 366-0909; Chris Woolman at (818) 564-5839 or PR representative Kimberly Ballard at (256) 653-4003.
Lovegrove Electrical to distribute PDQ Vehicle Wash equipment in Western Australia
DE PERE, Wis.— PDQ Manufacturing Inc., part of OPW Vehicle Wash Systems, has announced the appointment of a new distributor for the state of Western Australia, according to a press release.
Lovegrove Electrical, located near Perth, Western Australia, has agreed to acquire the PDQ vehicle wash equipment distribution business from PDQ’s former Western Australia distributor, Carwash Spares and Repairs, along with related lines, the release continued.
Lovegrove Electrical is a large, family-owned, multidiscipline contracting company delivering “complete confidence” via its end-to-end solutions within the commercial, industrial, petroleum, LPG, solar and carwash industries, the release noted.
“PDQ is very excited to have Lovegrove as an official distributor,” said Rob Lewis, PDQ’s international sales manager. “Lovegrove’s wide array of capabilities will tremendously strengthen PDQ’s distribution capabilities in Western Australia, especially in the fuels segment. Chris Read, owner of our former distributor Carwash Spares and Repairs, leaves a strong legacy of superior customer satisfaction for Lovegrove to build upon. PDQ thanks Chris for his many years of industry service, and we welcome the Lovegrove group to the team.”
“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity of working with the best vehicle wash equipment available,” said Mike Lovegrove, co-owner of Lovegrove Electrical. “It makes our job much easier when you can approach customers and know that you are selling a very sound and proven product. We see a strong potential for growth opportunities across the state, as there are some areas that are clearly under-washed.”
The Wash Factory invites carwash enthusiast to ribbon cutting
NORMAN, Okla. — According to www.normantranscript.com, on June 27th, The Wash Factory at 1305 Imhof Rd. celebrated its grand opening.
Grey Garrett, 35, whom one would call a carwash enthusiast, was invited to cut the ribbon and ride in the first car alongside his father through the carwash upon opening, the article continued.
Grey’s mother, Jenny, said Grey was diagnosed with autism and a developmental delay when he was 18 months old, and while Grey was initially afraid of carwashes when he was young, to the point where he could not be in the car while going through one, the article stated.
Then, he grew to love them starting around age 12, and now, according to Jenny, every time they see one, they have to stop and get a wash, the article noted.
“Like many children who are autistic, he found a love of something that he just became obsessed with,” Jenny said. “His happens to be carwashes. I think it’s a sensory thing. He starts rocking and clapping and getting really excited. It makes him happy, and that makes me happy.”
After they had visited the future site of The Wash Factory several times, Brad Mann, the president of the company, said he was happy to oblige.
“He’ll be in the first car,” Mann said.
Mann, who is on the board of the International Carwash Association and owns several carwashes in the metro area, said it’s not unheard of in the industry for those with autism to love carwashes, and so the industry tries to use it in a positive way, the article added.
In fact, when Jenny asked him about the carwash opening and explained why, Mann knew he had to do something, the article stated.
“We wanted to make this really special,” Mann said.
Mann also offered Grey the opportunity to work part-time at the carwash, if he so chooses, completing tasks like emptying out the vacuums and making sure the daily operation runs smoothly, the article noted.
To mark the opening, Mann said that the special during July would be a 99¢ monthly rate for unlimited carwashes, the article stated.
“It’s a new carwash, so I’ve got to make a splash,” Mann said.
The Wash Factory is open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. every day.
San Antonio family to open newest Detail Garage retail store
SAN ANTONIO — The nation’s newest Detail Garage will be a family affair, according to a press release.
“Making the decision to open a Detail Garage was an easy one for my family,” said franchise Owner Steven Cox, who will run the store alongside his wife, parents and sister. “We all share an enthusiasm for cars and Chemical Guys products, so opening our store is allowing us to spread that passion and knowledge to others.”
The store’s grand opening will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 13th, at 5879 Babcock Rd., the release continued.
Detail Garage sells premium, quality and professional auto detailing and car care products, including soaps, waxes, cleaners, equipment and accessories, the release added.
Cox previously worked in marketing and development for the health industry, but he has always been a “car guy,” he said, as noted in the release.
The Cox family is hopeful that their Detail Garage will be more than a retail store, the release stated; they want to create a destination for a community of car lovers and people eager to learn about car care.
Like all Detail Garage locations, the San Antonio store will offer in-store education and do-it-yourself workshops on how to properly apply car care products, the release continued.
It also will host monthly Rides & Coffee events, where car lovers can gather to learn about products and purchase them at discounted prices, the release concluded.
The San Antonio store will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Flying Ace Express Car Wash donates $2,316 to the Dayton Foodbank to assist Dayton tornado relief effort
DAYTON, Ohio — Flying Ace Express Car Wash has announced the donation of $2,316 to the Dayton Foodbank’s tornado relief effort, according to a press release.
The monetary donations were collected from Flying Ace Express customers during a recent campaign and matched by the company, the release continued.
On May 27, 2019, 15 tornadoes, ranging from EF0 to EF4, hit the Miami Valley, destroying many homes and businesses, the release added.
According to the Greene County Emergency Management Agency, in Beavercreek Township alone, 44 buildings were destroyed, 164 sustained major damages, 346 sustained minor damages and 595 were affected by the storm, the release noted.
Flying Ace Express operates two washes in Beavercreek and three others throughout Greater Dayton, the release stated.
“As our communities try to heal from the aftermath of these tornadoes, we are very aware of the continued need for support while people clean up and rebuild,” said Dan Eisenhauer, Flying Ace Express Car Wash partner and Express Wash Concepts vice president of operations. “We know that this donation to the Dayton Foodbank will help address the ongoing needs in the community, and we’ll continue to explore how we as a business can make a difference when disasters hit close to home.”
Two-week Autobell® Car Wash fundraiser raises over $11,000 for USO active service member assistance
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A June 17-30, 2019 fundraiser held at all Autobell Car Wash locations in the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia and Maryland raised $11,045 for the USO, according to a press release.
The carwash company donated $1 from every sale of its Rain Repellent Special carwash to the local USO charter to assist the organization’s support of active service members and their families, the release stated.
The benefiting charters are USO North Carolina, USO South Carolina, USO Georgia, USO Hampton Roads and Central Virginia and USO Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore, according to the release.
The USO is the nation’s leading organization serving U.S. military members and their families throughout their time of active service, the release added.
From the moment they join, through their assignments and deployments, and as they transition back to their communities, the USO is always by their side with a variety of programs and services focused on connection, strengthening, wellness and resiliency offered at more than 200 locations around the world, the release noted.
A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities and is powered by volunteers to accomplish its mission, the release added, and it is notable that 93¢ of every dollar donated to the USO goes directly to funding a critical program or service.
“U.S. military members serve our nation, keep us safe and are a force for good throughout the world,” stated Autobell Chief Operating Officer Carl Howard. “We want to help express America’s gratitude and commitment to our service members by supporting USO programs that keep them connected to family, home and country — everything that gives meaning to their service.”
