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SPRING 2022 • 3

CONTENTS
Association Calendar
& News ...............................5
Note to Self
BY DEBRA GORGOS, EDITOR
Tricks of the Trade .... 12
Around the Wash:
In Transition ................. 21
Innovations .................... 26
Extra! Extra! .................. 29
Fill in the Blank ........... 32
Industry Dirt ................. 36
Tips .................................. 40
Fun & Games ............... 44
Cover Story .................... 48
Darwin ............................. 54
VOL. 50, NO. 2, SPRING 2022
Publisher Jackson Vahaly
Editor Debra Gorgos
Design Katy Barret-Alley
Editor Emeritus Jarret J. Jakubowski
Editor Posthumous Joseph J. Campbell
Editor Posthumous Julia E. Campbell
Self Serve Carwash News is published 4 times
per year and is independently owned by Jackson
Vahaly. Web address is www.sscwn.com.
It was just five years
ago that I signed on
to be editor
of the renowned Self Serve Car Wash News. Trying to fill the shoes of its posthumous
former editors, I knew there was a lot at stake. There was the magazine’s 30-
year history. Editorial content perfectly blended with both information and sometimes
humor. And, of course, the acceptance of the readers and advertisers. I hope I
have honored all of the bits and pieces that go into making SSCWN what it is and
will hopefully continue to be. I also hope I can stay on, as long as you’ll all have me.
Five years is quite the benchmark and I thank all of you for helping me along in my
tenure.
Let’s talk about
something more
serious: Summer
vacation!
Okay, enough of my Sally-Field-Academy-Award-Accepting moment. Let’s talk
about something more serious: Summer vacation! A recent poll posted on Carwashforum.com
in which self serve operators were asked if they were going on vacation
yielded interesting results. The majority of you picked the option of: What’s a vacation?
And one-third said they planned on taking some time off during the season. I
do not find this at all shocking in that running a self serve car wash is not easy and
cannot be left in the hands of just anyone. But a vacation is important, as well. Burnout
is real and vacations are necessary. I like the idea of training a relative to watch
over the car wash, and, of course, installing lots of surveillance equipment and so on.
I recently jetted off to Florida in a last-minute escapade. I needed to get out of the
cold and gray New York state and re-set. Granted, I took my laptop on the plane and
paid $8 so that I could work while up in the air. But, once I landed, I said, “I am here
for ME,” and tried not to worry about anything back home. Easier said than done, for
some of you. Please understand that I do know this and empathize with all of you.
It’s not easy. It takes a valiant effort to block out the “work” noise and unwind. But
if I can do, I hope you can as well.
Until next time,
All inquiries should be directed to:
Self Serve Car Wash News
110 Childs Ln., Franklin, TN 37067
jacksonv@sscwn.com
4 • SPRING 2022

Association News
Carwash Operators of New Jersey
Make us essential,
New Jersey!
The Car Wash Operators of New Jersey
(CWONJ) board of directors has been working
with its lobbying firm, Princeton Public Affairs
Group out of Trenton, to draft legislation that
would deem carwash businesses "essential" during
any future states of emergency or public health
emergencies, a statement read.
If successful in getting this legislation passed, it
could be HUGE for our industry and your individual
business, stated CWONJ
In order for this to happen, however, board
members asked for all vendors and operator members
to make calls and send letters to their respective
legislators. Templates were offered making it
easier for people to write in.
“We need you to start making calls and sending
letters today! We need to demonstrate our
sincere commitment to obtaining this designation
and both vendors and operators need to participate,”
stated CWONJ President Dino Nicoletta. “It
won't take a lot of time, but a successful outcome
will be felt for years to come with your business
being open to operate and deemed ‘essential.’”
Heartland Carwash Association
2022 Product
Show announced
The Heartland Carwash Association, the ninestate
trade association for car and truck washes in the
upper-Midwest, announced it will hold its Product
Show on June 7 & 8, 2022, at the Prairie Meadows
Conference Center near Des Moines, Iowa.
According to the HCA, in addition to over 250
attendees, there will be a tradeshow with over 60
exhibitors displaying their latest products and services.
There will also be a carwash tour of several
area washes, an awards dinner with entertainment
and educational sessions by Steve Gaudreau and
Michael Sanchez of Brink Results, on the topics
of reducing turnover with better initial training
of new employees and increasing your unlimited
wash club memberships.
2021 CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
*All events are subject to changes
due to current circumstances.
JUN 7 & 8
Heartland Carwash Association: 2022
Product & Equipment Show
The Prairie Meadows Events and
Conference Center | Altoona, Iowa
SEPT 19-21
Northeast Regional Carwash Convention
Atlantic City, New Jersey
OCT-13
Western Carwash Association’s
Disneyland Education and Road Show
Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, California
NOV 16
2022 Kleen-Rite EXPO
Columbia, Pennsylvania
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SPRING 2022 • 5

Association News
Women in Carwash
5th Women in Carwash Conference is a success
More than 65 women, and a few good men,
gathered at the B Ocean Resort in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, from January 17 – 19, for the 5th
Women in Carwash conference.
According to a statement from the association,
the women attending hadn’t met each other before
the conference, but you’d never have known
that when stepping into the opening cocktail reception.
“The lounge was packed to overflowing
with smiling, laughing women excited to be there
and who had come for a good time. A pianist was
hired to play during the cocktail reception to fill
the quiet, however, with more than 65 women in
one room, you might not have even known there
was a piano playing.”
After the cocktail reception, attendees enjoyed
a sit-down dinner, followed by an engaging keynote
presentation by Connie-Lee Bennett, founder
of the Meraki Therapy healing technique and
the T.H.H.R.I.V.E online academy.
“The entire Women in Carwash conference included
educational sessions hosted by industry
leaders. These sessions included Being an Authentic
Female Leader of Tomorrow, PI/Executive
Alignment, Employee Evaluation, the Power of
Story to Change your Business and your Life, Carwash
Chemicals 101, Female Mentorship, How to
write Something Anyone can Read, and Carwash
Insurance Basics.”
Southwest Car Wash Association
Successful
Convention & EXPO
concludes
The 2022 edition of the SCWA Convention
& EXPO was a success, according
to the Association. More than 2200
car washers from across the U.S. and
Canada gathered to experience over
85,000 square feet of car wash equipment,
supplies and services along with
premier education offerings and a keynote
address by Former Speaker of the
U.S. House, Newt Gingrich.
Jerry Miller was recognized with the
Lifetime Achievement Award — the
highest honor bestowed by SCWA.
New York State Car Wash Association
Discrimination will not be
tolerated, states
Administration
Walter Hartl, President of the NYSCWA, recently
wrote to Administration members:
Dear NYS Car Wash Association Members, I hope
that this letter finds you healthy and washing cars!
I would like to take a minute to reinforce the New
York State Car Wash Association’s (NYSCWA) position
regarding discrimination of any type regarding
employees and/or customers. The NYSCWA supports
the New York State Human Rights Law 296
(2) (a) that prohibits discrimination on the basis of
race, creed, national origin and other protected statuses
by places of public accommodation, including
"retail stores and establishments dealing with goods
or services of any kind." Please visit NYSCWA.org
for more information on this topic and “everything
carwashing” in New York State.
The Association website also included information
on the New York State Executive Chapter,
which was published on March 18, 2022. A portion
of the Chapter 18, Article 15, under section
296, is as follows:
SECTION 296
UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES
Executive (EXC) CHAPTER 18, ARTICLE 15
§ 296. Unlawful discriminatory practices. 1. It
shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice:
(a) For an employer or licensing agency, because of an individual's
age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, military status, sex, disability,
predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital
status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, to refuse to
hire or employ or to bar or to discharge from employment such
individual or to discriminate against such individual in compensation
or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment.
(b) For an employment agency to discriminate against any
individual because of age, race, creed, color, national origin,
sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status,
sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, familial
status, or marital status, in receiving, classifying, disposing or
otherwise acting upon applications for its services or in referring
an applicant or applicants to an employer or employers.
(c) For a labor organization, because of the age, race, creed,
color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic
characteristics, familial status, or marital status of any
individual, to exclude or to expel from its membership such
individual or to discriminate in any way against any of its
members or against any employer or any individual employed
by an employer.
(d) For any employer or employment agency to print or circulate
or cause to be printed or circulated any statement, advertisement
or publication, or to use any form of application for employment
or to make any inquiry in connection with prospective employment,
which expresses directly or indirectly, any limitation, specification
or discrimination as to age, race, creed, color, national
origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military
status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, familial
status, or marital status, or any intent to make any such
limitation, specification or discrimination, unless based upon a
bona fide occupational qualification; provided, however, that
neither this paragraph nor any provision of this chapter or other
law shall be construed to prohibit the department of civil service
or the department of personnel of any city containing more than
one county from requesting information from applicants for civil
service examinations concerning any of the aforementioned
characteristics, other than sexual orientation, for the purpose of
conducting studies to identify and resolve possible problems in
recruitment and testing of members of minority groups to insure
the fairest possible and equal opportunities for employment
in the civil service for all persons, regardless of age, race, creed,
color, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity or
expression, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic
characteristics, familial status, or marital status.
Carwash Association of Pennsylvania
Tabletop Show planned for
September; Carwasher of
the Year announced
The Association’s Fall Annual Dinner and Tabletop
Show will be held September 14, 2022, at the
AACA Museum, in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This
event features premier networking opportunities
with vendors and operators, an educational keynote
speaker, and panel discussion, the Association
announced. New to 2022: New Investor Seminar,
hosted prior to the dinner. Fall Annual Golf Outing
Planned for September 15, 2022, at Cumberland
Golf Club, Carlisle Come for the golf, networking
or both.
CAP also announced its Carwash of Year: Joshua
Lindsay of WetGo Car Wash in Northwest PA.
“Josh embodies the passion and energy that makes
the carwash industry great! He has advanced his
career with WetGo over the years, helping them
open new locations and providing exceptional
customer service every step along the way,” stated
the Association. In his words, “I know I’ve had
a positive impact on a guest’s day when I see a
smile on their face!” Lindsay began his career with
WetGo Car Wash in November 2016. He started
as an attendant and quickly displayed the passion
and energy needed to move his career along within
WetGo. “He has supported many sites over the
years and was promoted to WetGo Lead at one
of our Cranberry Township locations in 2017. His
customer service and relationships he builds with
his guests is probably the thing that excites Josh
most about his job. He is truly passionate about
car washing and it shows in everything Josh does
at WetGo”. He was recently promoted to the role
of WetGo Pro Supervisor at one of the recently
opened WetGo Pro locations in Northwest PA.
6 • SPRING 2022

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SPRING 2022 • 7

Association News
International Carwash Association
Talk Car Wash to hit the
road; Emerging Leaders
announced
The ICA Talk Car Wash (TCW) announced its
collaboration to offer car wash tours beginning in
the second half of this year. The two organizations
are sharing in the work, with TCW engaging with its
online community to select cities and car wash sites,
and ICA handling planning and onsite operations.
“Both ICA and TCW are committed to connecting
the car wash community,” stated ICA CEO
Eric Wulf. “Now, our two groups can work together
to advance that mission. We’re excited to work
with Blake and Tyler and bringing new opportunities
to our industry.”
“We’ve certainly seen that the desire to connect
and learn from one another remains strong
among car wash operators and suppliers - and
we all missed the chance to see each other more
frequently over the past two years,” stated Blake
Newman, co-owner of Talk Car Wash, LLC.
The initiative officially kicked-off at The Car
Wash Show 2022 in Nashville. The TCW team solicited
suggestions from attendees on tour locations.
Tours will be offered to operators and suppliers
alike; sponsorships will not be available. The tour
format will include a reception and full day tour
of stores by bus, with an optional educational program
on the day following.
The ICA also announced the recipients of its
Emerging Leaders scholarships. The scholarships
are given to young talent at the manager level who
are nominated by a peer or supervisor.
RECIPIENTS INCLUDED:
Tara Huntley Operations Manager at RPM Express
Car Wash, Pullman, Washington
Tara went from teaching elementary school to creating
the RPM Express brand to building her Pullman
location from the ground up. She stays on the
cutting edge of what’s to come in the car wash industry
and brings that knowledge to her marketing,
managing, and technological efforts at her wash.
Tayler Kiley Manager at Whatta Wash South
14, Greer, South Carolina
Tayler is currently a full-time manager six days a
week while simultaneously writing her PhD dissertation
on car wash memberships and marketing.
She is extremely passionate and creative when it
comes to the industry, and never misses an opportunity
to help serve her local community.
Tyler Shreck Store Manager at Autobell Car
Wash, Hampton, Virginia
Tyler joined Autobell in 2009 and was promoted
to managing his first store in 2013. He has helped
contribute to their Management Program, working
with 40+ members along with having a direct
hand in five different store manager promotions.
He has made significant impacts on the professional
careers around him, but also in the personal
lives of many.
Iona Kearney Operations Manager at Speedy
Sparkle Car Wash, Berthoud, Colorado
Iona started in the car wash industry at 14 years
old. After attending college, she decided the industry
was for her. She returned and got managerial
experience on multiple fronts and brought with
her innovative ideas that have helped shape her
company’s success.
Miller Clayton Operations Director at Washbox
Car Wash, Rainbow City, Alabama
Miller has been with Washbox Car Wash for two
years and has shown an extreme passion for the
industry that is hard to find. His customer-first approach
is always on full display and is the driving
force for his wash’s success. He is the definition of
an emerging leader all-around.
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SPRING 2022 • 11

TRICKS OF THE
Presenting some of the best discussions from the Self Serve, IBA and General Discussions sections of CarwashForum.com. To view more
posts discussing some interesting and common problems, as well as some of the best and brightest solutions, visit CarwashForum.com
A happy little cinder block….
Pros and cons? I like the idea of painting my bay walls white to brighten them up. Maybe an extra white
dry dock? I also hate the idea of having to redo it frequently. Thoughts? Anybody else have a flat prefab
concrete ceiling? [Also, do you] apply sealant to cinder block walls in bays? - ROOKIE68
(Note: Some posts feature minor edits for readability.)
We painted with a swimming pool grade paint.
Looks amazing. We repaint every 4-5 years. …And
customers like the aqua blue of the place. - ROZ
I was just wondering about using swimming pool
paint. I need to paint an auto bay wall. The last guy
used regular latex house paint, so you can probably
imagine how well that held up. - MEP001
Ours are painted, but with just good quality exterior
paint. I like the bright color in the bays. After
nearly 3 years they need to be done again. I like
the idea of swimming pool paint, will explore that
further. - GREG_T
I’ve heard over and over to NEVER paint the walls
because you’ll have to do it over and over. I did have
success using a solid color concrete stain to cover
some graffiti on an exterior wall that looked great for
years until I covered it with Extrutech. Btw: I didn’t
do ANY prep for the stain. I just rolled it on over 20
years of dust, dirt, grease and oil. - ERIC H
Paint - if you don’t mind having it look shabby after
a couple of years and having to re-do after a couple
more… - EARL WEISS
If you go with FRP, pick a good one. Some of them
are so cheap that spray paints and markers bury
themselves into the surface. Good ones will let you
wipe it right off with paint thinner. - MEP001
The keys to happiness
Between 5 self-serve bays, vendors, dispensers, doors, and vacuums I have a whole mess of
keys. Does anyone have a good solution for organizing all their keys? - WRIGHTWASH
Big ring. - KAR B KLEEN
That’s what I have currently, just hoping for a better
way! I had someone suggest to stamp the key
then stamp the box somewhere so that you can
match up number to number. - WRIGHTWASH
You could put all the keys in a key safe somewhere
in the car wash and then just keep the door keys
and key safe keys on the keychain. - OVERACHIEVER
I only have six keys for everything: one for changer/safes,
three for vacs/vending/meter doors, one
for the ER, one for trash.
DO NOT leave ANY keys at the car wash.
I’ve said this a hundred times to people and they
still do it. I just got a bunch of texts this morning
about a break-in where someone had their keys in
a flimsy lockbox. Someone will eventually break
in and get the keys, then you have to replace everything.
Key management is the key. Keep track
of the numbers off-premises so you can order replacements,
don’t label your key ring so if you lose
12 • SPRING 2022
it somewhere not at the car wash no one knows
what they go to. - MEP001
I HATE gigantic key rings, cant put them in a
pocket without stabbing something vital.
So I also have less than a dozen keys, including
for my truck and house. Keyed-alike locks are the
key. I keep them on a few separate key rings, and I
use quick-release keyrings as well for organization
and convenience. - PAULLOVESJAMIE
We have 1 key for vending, 1 key for the coin
vaults, 1 key for all bay and vacuum faces plates
and 2 keys for the vacuums. I must have 2 buckets
of locks that aren’t complete sets anymore.
I don’t know how many times over the years
that I’ve been to car washes or laundromats and
they come out with a couple of handfuls of keys.
I think to myself boy this is a well-run operation.
One operator I knew used a First Alert fire safe
to keep his keys and money in. He had it bolted
to the workbench. When he got broken into they
snapped the safe off the workbench and everything
was gone, about $2500 in cash. Two nights
later they came back and clean out the coin boxes
before he could get new locks installed.
When I order locks I order more than I need,
if I need 4 I order 6, just to have a spare. - RANDY
It would seem you could have 1-3 Keys for Bays. I
have one for the coin box and 2 for the vault since
it has a puck covering a plug. The plug for the vault
is the same key as the plug for the changer. All vacs
could be keyed alike as could all vendors. Perhaps
the changer can be keyed the same as something
else. So, that would be about 6 keys - depending
on the situation. I also need another pair for the
Bill Acceptor, but if motivated I could match it to
something else. - EARL WEISS
This thread is making me want to go through my
big key ring and whittle it down a little. Changer,
building doors, meter box doors and drawers.
I could put the keys to the vacuums and vending
machines on a separate ring because I don’t need
those as often. The other thing I like to do once in
a while is to wash my key ring because it gets so
scuzzy. - WAXMAN
I’d just color-code them. Dabs of paint or something
on each key and the lock they go to - MC3033
I have keys to about 20 car washes. I bought a pack
of keyrings and a pack of 1-1/2” valve marking
brass disks and a letter punch kit to mark the disks.
All those are on a carabiner in alphabetical order
(I mark the owners’ initials so if they get stolen
the crook doesn’t know what they go to). - MEP001

Inch by inch,
hose by hose…
TRICKS OF THE
Any ideas on how much hose is supposed to rest on the ground when the nozzle is in its place so it’s safe for vehicles to get
in and out? I am trying to avoid the hose getting caught in cars trucks and bending the boom causing damage. DENNY
I don’t let them rest on the ground , 15 ft for me.
Depends on bay height. - TRAVELER17
We keep ours about 6” or 7” off the bay floor when
the gun is in the holder. You don’t want the hose
to be dragging on the bay floor when the customer
is using it, they don’t last very long when they are
dragged on the bay floor. - RANDY
Been doing this for many years and every installation...
HP hoses = boom to floor length + 3 ft.
FB hoses = boom to floor length + 4 ft.
CANTBREAK80
I use 15 footers for high pressure and foam brush.
They stay about 2’ off the floor when holstered. -
TOMS PTCARWASH
I like the bottom of the HP hose to be at or just
below my knee while I’m washing the side of a car.
…I use 11’ HP hoses with a swivel saver. If I used
a hose so short that the gun can’t reach the box,
they’d be maybe 6’ long and the gun wouldn’t
reach the floor by several feet. - MEP001
Yeah, right about knee height works nicely. And,
each location is different...there is no standard
hose length. 13’ headroom? 16’ headroom? Somewhere
in between? Straight or “Z” boom? Extended
boom mounting bracket or flush to the purlins?
- CANTBREAK80
My bays are a little longer but I use a 15’ hose. I
wrap all in bay hoses with the NFSGX25 Crush
Resistant Spiral Hose Guard - 0.8 Inch ID X 66
It works great. I don’t want the gun to reach the
coin/credit card boxes because some customers
spray the boxes to try to get free washes. It doesn’t
work and all that happens is the water freezes
which takes a long time to thaw before I can dry
them. - JMMUSTANG
Do your hoses bust a leak first, or wear out somewhere,
first? Mine busts somewhere, before wearing
out. - SOONERMAJC
I keep an eye on them and replace them before they
break. They usually break near the gun, and the early
sign is rust stains coming out of the cracks in the
hose. Sometimes I find a bubble of rust in the midlength
of the hose where it will eventually break. I
don’t use a bend restrictor at the gun because I’ve
had the hose burst under it, which I didn’t catch
because I couldn’t see the signs. - MEP001
We put a hose bend restrictor on each end of the
hose and flip flop the hose once a year. This helps
get you more service life out of the hose. - RANDY
I have short 20’ bays so I use a hose shorter than
most people. I currently use the mosmatic comfort
hose in a 12’ length with no swivel saver extension.
It forces large trucks to park carefully in the bay
and reduces runoff outside the bays. Haven’t had to
replace a comfort hose yet, I think I’ve had them in
use at a busy SS for at least a year. - GREG PACK
SPRING 2022 • 13

Carwash
Boom Assembly
MODEL 203
Zierco’s Original Swivel and
Boom Assembly, with
New Rebuildable
Cartridge
• Feather light rotating action
• Twin compression springs are
tension-adjustable for a variety
of hose and gun weights
• Swivel rotates 360˚ - 12 ft.
diameter
MODEL 203 FEATURES
• Temperatures to 280˚ max.,
pressure to 2000 psi
• Longer hose life as spring
prevents kinks
• Ruggedly built, satisfaction
guaranteed
• Proven performance with over 50 years
service in the field (Since 1962)
OPTIONAL
107C CARTRIDGE
FOR COMPLETE
INFORMATION
CALL
414-764-6630
FAX: (414) 764-9763
www.ziercowaterboy.com
107C Cartridge Features:
• Field Repairable
• 100% 304 Stainless Steel Internal
Materials Eliminate Failure Due to
Corrosion
• Double O-Ring Design Uses Any
Type of Grease
7355 S. 1st. Street
Oak Creek, WI 53154
sales@zierden.com
TM
VISA and Master Card accepted
DISTRIBUTOR INQUIRIES INVITED
QUALITY PRODUCTS SINCE 1937
14 • SPRING 2022

Carwash
Boom
Assemblies
Zierco’s Easy Service Swivel and
Boom Systems with
MODEL 204 and 206 FEATURES
• Twin compression springs are tension-adjustable
for a variety of hose and gun weights
• Swivel rotates 360˚ - 12 ft. diameter
• Temperatures to 280˚ max., pressure to 2000 psi
• Longer hose life as spring prevents kinks
• Ruggedly built, satisfaction guaranteed
• Optional stainless steel components
• Proven performance with over 50 years service in
the field (Since 1962)
Boom Systems with Full 360 Degree roTATIoN
Booms are Available with 3 Different Mountings
MODEL 204
ENHANCE YOUR SELF SERVING
CONVENIENCE
STYLE B
Flat Plate
Mounts directly
to the ceiling or
beam.
Easy to Use -"Feather Light" rotating action
STYLE C
Swivel Base
Mounts directly to
the ceiling.
MODEL 206
OFFSET Overhead Carwash Boom
Allows for TWO Center Boom Installation
STYLE D
Wall Bracket
Mounts to wall and
is adjustable so
boom swings
to wall when
not in use.
Ideal for foaming brushes.
FOR COMPLETE
INFORMATION
CALL
(414)-764-6630
www.ziercowaterboy.com
CONVERSION KIT
204B
To Convert Model 203
to a 204 Assembly
Remove boom body
from hinge plate
EASY 3 STEP PROCEDURE
TO CHANGE SEALS.
NO TOOLS REQUIRED.
Rotate hinge plate
counter clockwise to
remove seal elbow
Replace O-Rings
7355 S. 1st Street
Oak Creek, WI 53154
Fax: (414) 764-9763
sales@zierden.com
QUALITY PRODUCTS SINCE 1937
TM
DISTRIBUTOR
INQUIRIES
INVITED
VISA and Master Card
accepted
SPRING 2022 • 15

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16 • SPRING 2022

Giveth and then
taketh away
TRICKS OF THE
How do you refund people through cryptopay or Worldpay? It should be so simple. I couldn’t hear the
lady on the phone because of a rooster crowing so loudly! I swear to god! - BRICKS
It’s too much of a pain, I just give them the cash
back even if they used a card. It’s so few and far
between w the cards. If it was a common issue I
would do the Worldpay route. - TRAVELER17
I’ve always just sent them a refund check. However,
I’ve recently signed up for the merchant IQ
system. It takes a bit of work but you can reverse
the charges in their virtual terminal. It’s a pretty
clumsy process where you need to find their
transaction ID on cryptopay. You then login to the
virtual terminal, find the transaction, and there is a
“reverse” button. - GREG PACK
Thanks for this. My thing is sometimes people
will forget to push the button and never complain
about it. I watch the cameras and when I see
things happen, I like to fix it before they need to
complain. I can’t give them cash or check if I never
talk to them to get an address. - BRICKS
I try like hell not to give refunds, but give them a
Wash Code for a free wash. I’ve been lucky -- the
majority of the time it works real well and everyone’s
happy. Occasionally I get someone who says
they’re from out of town and won’t be back, so
then I have to send them a check. - CHEETAHEXPRESS
They have an app called IQ Pay. It is much easier
to navigate than the website. As best I can tell
you have to wait until the transaction clears (a
day or two) before you can see the actual amount
charged on the app. It is not perfect, but it beats
calling in or using the website. - DPD36
I’ve had no issues using the website for refunds. I rarely
give them out as I try to offer a wash code for the
IBA or give them Coinless credits if SS or vac, but if
there is a mistake, I just used the virtual terminal on
the website and refund. Yesterday I had a customer
that used my Profile and it shut down right after it
started. He drove off and never called me, but I found
the transaction and just refunded his card. I hope he at
least notices the refund. - SLASH007
I ask people to come by my office at the wash and
get some tokens or cash. 90% never come. - WAXMAN
Where oh where is my
water going?
In reviewing water usage of proposed wash (4 SS, 1 IBA) versus similar bay counts
in my town, the usage is double. What is the best way to troubleshoot? - KZOODOMER
From what most people here are probably going to say
is that it means it’s busy! Which is very good. Do the
finances match the water usage? Usually it’s a good indicator
of your overall business. - MARTINS
Check the usage from all washes in the area. Go to wash
at night and look for any leaks. And of course, watch the
place on a busy day. - MAC
…Water usage is merely a guide, not a predictor, so be
careful relying on it too much. This “calculating the revenue”
is notoriously difficult.
There are lots of reasons why 2 washes that appear
to be similar could have widely different water usage,
such as minutes sold, the efficiency of equipment (regens,
softeners, etc), tips, pressures, hoses, customer/demographic
washing habits, cleaning routines, recycling,
weep, leaks, seasonal differences, landscape watering, etc
etc. IBAs bring in another whole set of variables but you
posted in the self serve section so we’re assuming that’s
not relevant. - PAULLOVESJAMIE
Well if you looked at one of my washes you would say
I’m slammed. I’ve got a middle-of-the-road 4/1 in a rural
town and it’s an absolute joke what my water/sewer
rates are, they are ripping my lips off!!! SS one city over
washes 3x’s my lower volume wash and our bills are the
same!! So be careful if you’re only going by water usage.
Both touchless. - TRAVELER17
Just the difference between an older, slower IBA touchless
and a new one could be huge! - WAXMAN
I did a FOIA request on multiple locations in my area
on the same water hookup. One was a friend who does
2x the business with 1/2 the water. I figure it’s roughly
$500 a month that can be saved if corrected.
If it’s a public water system, many are posted online.
Ours is, but it’s only the current owner. I had to FOIA
the previous. - KZOODOMER
Water softener settings and efficiency, RO settings and
IBA type and manufacture. Huge variables. - STARRWASH
They could even just leave a faucet running on a sink
to inflate numbers. It’s happened. Just had one customer
that bought a wash and found the meter was faulty
and recording more water than was used. Had another
where the meter was located near the road and the
line between the meter and wash had been leaking for
a while. Most local water utilities will be able to check
these things or recommend someone who can. - DAN
KAMSICKAS
I had a random person turning on my water valve on my
water booster pump that was located in the auto bays. It
cost me an extra 90,000 gallons one month. Put a valve
lock on it and haven’t had the same problem since. Kids
can do crazy costly things! - KYWASHYWASH
SSCWN EDITOR
CHIMES IN:
If you’re upset about a higher-than-usual
water bill, be grateful you’re not the
Lakefront Management Agency in New
Orleans! Back in December 2021, the
taxpayer-funded public agency, Lakefront
Management Authority, received
a water bill for $3,042,089. According
to a report by 4WWL News, the agency,
which operates public properties such
as the New Orleans Lakefront Airport,
South Shore Harbor and Orleans Marina,
has been working to fix water leaks at
the airport, but no one was expecting a
7-figure bill.
The agency usually pays about
$16,000 per month according to the
Airport meter, but back in September
and October, it showed nearly a million
gallons of water used per day.
“The LMA has repaired numerous
leaking lines in recent years and has
limited resources to address the problems
on a comprehensive basis,” LMA
Executive Director Louis Capo stated.
Capo added that he would be meeting
with the Sewerage & Water Board to
discuss adjusting the bill and finding
better ways to monitor for leaks. Zoinks.
SPRING 2022 • 17

TRICKS OF THE
Free vacs for self serves?!?!
So crazy, it just might work…
The new thing I have been seeing are self serves having free vacuums, for example: from 8 a.m.-
8 p.m. unregulated. Now granted, most of them have an IBA of some kind on the same property
but the vacs you just drive up & vac no token required - very simple. My question is has anybody
ever done this for a straight-up self serve carwash only and had success and also did it increase
overall revenue? It seems the people that do this have very busy sites. How can you justify giving up the vac money?
I wonder if they are raising the meterbox price to a $3 or more start up to counterbalance the free vac? - TDLCONCEPTSLLC
…I have to say that I would never ever want to
give up the vacuum revenue. I charge two dollars
for vacuums and three dollars to start the bays. I
just can’t see how letting people use your vacuums
for free can increase your overall revenue with a
self-serve car wash. Not to mention the mess they
will make and the fact that people will abuse it so
bad when it’s free. - WAXMAN
Great questions, I’ve been contemplating this exact
scenario. Bump self serves to 3 or 4 dollars and
just let it ride. I just want to know if the bump will
make up for the vac only customer. - TRAVELER17
Hell no for me!!! It’s bad enough our industry
hasn’t kept up with pricing over time. I keep my
vacs working great and people need to pay for it.
At my self service car wash the 2nd source of revenue
is the vacs and doesn’t make sense to me why
anyone would give that up. Paying for the public
to give me their trash and block my bays doesn’t
sound appealing. - JACK954
I have many “customers” that come empty trash
and vacuum only. If I had free vacuums, I can only
imagine this would be much more of an issue. So,
I don’t see it happening for me.
I also have some customers that use a Mister
Carwash, that is about 10 miles from me, but they
come to my place to vacuum all the dog hair that
Mister can’t get. It would be nice to charge them
double. - TOMS PTCARWASH
I personally have never seen free vacs in a place
that does not offer monthly memberships. Free vacs
seem to be more tied to that model. Owners probably
figure that a certain percentage of the customers
are paying a monthly bill, so it is justified.
S.S. margins are much thinner and I would not
think they could absorb the free vacs - the operator
would be missing out on a lot of potential revenue.
No way to really police people who vac without
washing in either model, but I would think
it would be abused much more in a S.S. model.
It seems to me that many S.S. customers (not all)
wait longer between vacuuming, and some of
them are there 5-10 minutes. That is a lot to give
away. - WASHNSHINE
Also just think of the profitability of a vacuum.
It needs very little repair. Clean out once a week,
a new motor once a year, a new hose once a year,
new nozzles whenever they break them. And then
all that’s required is electricity to run it. The profit
is very good. Why give that up? - WAXMAN
No way. We charge $5 in bay with credit card, $6
in bay with cash and $3 for vacs. Vacs are 25-30%
of our revenue. We have automatics nearby with
free vacs, but buying a car wash is required. Yes,
we charge more for cash, as we are trying to push
credit card usage. Customers spend more and cash
is a hassle. No Coins either. - CARWASHBOY
A wash near me did that exact same thing with
free vacs and 3 months later he was DONE because
of the added stress of people just trashing
his place and the amount of disrespectful people
(not paying customers) it attracted. - DIAMONDWASH
I was about to reply that I’d only do it if a tunnel
with free vacs opened across the street, but then I
realized, why? Let the freeloaders abuse the tunnel’s
vacs. I used to run a wash where an EE with
free vacs opened down the street, and it decimated
our vac income, but I just kept everything clean
and working perfectly and after about a year the
vacs came back up to about 80% of what they had
been. Some people said they felt guilty just pulling
in off the street to use the free vacs. Others said
they didn’t maintain the vac area, not surprising
since they operate with only one or two employees.
- MEP001
I know an operator who did this at multiple locations.
He said his overall gross was up 20% over
the previous year. His sites are very busy.
I’m about to try it at a 4 bay. When I make the
switch, there will only be 1 carwash of any kind
with pay vacs in the entire county.
This site needs a lot of love so the income is really
low, nowhere to go but up. The vacs are so bad
there now my theory is they hurt the whole place
a lot. I’m hoping a good cleanup and some free
vacs bring the customers back. There is an 8 bay
1.5 miles from me with free vacs 7 am-7 pm. They
also have pay vacs for after hours. I realize there
are many other factors but that place crushes it.
They were busy before doing this, but its insane
now. I probably wouldnt do it if my competitors
weren’t, and I don’t want to be the last one to
change. fingers crossed - GETNBUSY
One of my sites is a 4/2 and extremely busy. Tunnel
coming in 2 miles away on the road behind me.
Just last week they filed for a permit to re-zone.
No guarantee but I’m planning on them getting
it. I will offer monthly wash packages before they
break ground. Still bouncing the idea around of
free vacs and bumping my bays up.
…the question is bumping prices everywhere else
so the consumer feels like they’re getting something
for free. I personally know a guy who owns a
Laundromat and he gives FREE dryers and wipes
the floor with his competitors – it doesn’t matter
that he bumped up his washing prices. People like
seeing “free.” - TRAVELER17
I’ve considered it many times. My site is busy on
the SS and IBA side, but my vacs have always seen
little cash/credit use. I think each vac averages
about $20/week. Now with unlimited on my IBA
I’ve been considering it more.
I do know that another SS location about 5 miles
from, a 4/3 has free vacs, just sold for an obscene
amount given the old equipment. $2.5mil with a
supposed $800K gross. - CAR_WASH_GUY
I believe it. I think it sends a powerful message
to the customers and advertising alone “Free Vacs”
is strong. The increase of trash would be my concern…
- TDLCONCEPTSLLC
18 • SPRING 2022

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SPRING 2022 • 19

Corporate Office: 81 Highland Avenue, Suite 300, Bethlehem, PA 18017 | icscarwashsystems.com | 800.642.9396
Defining the World of Car Wash Technology
20 • SPRING 2022

Around the Wash:
In
Transition
How a business owner can
withstand and benefit from
various curve balls,
changes and chaos.
Chuck Violand founded Violand Management Associates in 1987. VMA is a leader in executive development, management training, and business
performance maximization for entrepreneurial restoration and cleaning companies. As an author and popular speaker, Violand is a respected authority
on entrepreneurial small businesses, having spent more than 30 years as both a business consultant and an executive coach. He is a regular contributor
to trade journals and newsletters and is the author of the popular weekly leadership series Monday Morning Notes.
BY CHUCK VIOLAND
A while back, I wrote an article entitled “Sailboats,
Yachts, and Tall-Masted Ships.” In it, I used various
sizes of sailing vessels as a metaphor to explain the
transitions a business experiences as it grows.
It starts out small, similar to a recreational sailboat
cruising around a lake on a Saturday afternoon,
and ends up as a mighty, tall-masted ship
sailing the oceans.
I explored some of the challenges a business
owner and their team experience as their company
grows, much like the captain and crew of the vessels
experience as the boats they sail increase in size.
I explained how cash and the wind play similar
roles as motive forces for moving a business or a
sailboat forward, and how important it is to attract
and keep the right people, depending on the size
business or boat.
While I explored these changes from the physical
aspects of transitioning from one boat to another—
the money, people, and competitors for example—I
didn’t delve into the psychological or emotional aspects
experienced by the captain and crew.
As business owners we often think of transitioning
as something that happens toward the end of
our career or at a time when we’re leaving the business.
If we talk about it at all, we mention it like it’s
an event rather than a process. It usually involves
dreams of endless rounds of golf, sitting on a beach,
or doing the traveling we’ve put off until we had
more time or money.
But transitions don’t just take place when we’re
preparing to exit our company. They take place
throughout our life, our career, and the lifecycle of
our business. And each transition is a process, not
an event.
Some examples of the transitions we experience
in our personal life are when we leave the safety of
our home to attend our first day of school, when
we move out on our own to embark on our career,
when we marry, or when we have children.
In business, we can experience transitions even
more frequently as our company grows. They might
start the day we launch the company (or the day we
join one), or when we “get off the truck,” or hire our
first employee or manager. But transitions can also
involve losing a key worker or customer, or adding
service lines, territories, or store locations. Using the
SPRING 2022 • 21

WE WANT
YOUR
STORIES!
Do you have a funny
story from the bay?
Maybe an inspiring
tale from the wash?
Try something
new that worked well?
“You won’t believe what this
Darwin did at my wash…”
“The best decision I ever made
for my business was…”
“On rainy days, I like to…”
Reach out to Editor Debra Gorgos
debgorgos@gmail.com to share
your story with our readers.
Around the Wash
metaphor of sailboats, this means we’re moving to
increasingly larger, more-complex boats.
According to many experts, any transition involves
three distinct components: an ending, a time
of upheaval or chaos, and a new beginning. There is
no irony in the fact that the ending always comes
before the beginning. In other words, to fully grasp
a new beginning, we must let go of an ending. We
should also not be caught off guard by the middle
component—the upheaval and chaos that almost
always accompany a transition. They can cause uncertainty,
anxiety, and resistance to making a change.
According to author William Bridges, PhD,
“Change is situational. Transition, on the other
hand, is psychological.”
Bridges also writes, “…one of the most important
transitions that is likely to take place in a person’s
work life sometime after the age of forty: the
transition from being motivated by the chance to
demonstrate competence to being motivated by the
chance to find personal meaning in the work and its
results. It is the shift from the question of how to
the question of why.”
The idea of demonstrating competence goes
much deeper than just exhibiting the ability to perform
a task well. It also includes the emotional rewards
we receive when demonstrating our competence
to competitors, colleagues, or social networks.
These emotional rewards help satisfy our need to
find personal meaning, however we define it.
The role of an effective business founder is in a
constant state of transition from the day we start
our company. Some of the transitions are minor,
like hiring our first worker, remodeling our store
or plant, or assimilating our largest new customer.
Others can be major transitions that accompany
things like changing careers, taking on or losing a
partner, or attempting to fully embrace the role of
“manager” rather than “doer.” (In my opinion, it is
failure to successfully make this last transition that
underlies the statistic that over 70% of all businesses
have no employees.)
Transitioning is what happens when our business
grows, moving us from one size boat to a larger one.
And it’s not unusual for several transitions to take
place at the same time. We might be hiring more employees
and, depending on the change our business
is experiencing, that could include hiring managers
who give directions as well as receive them. In this
case, the change that’s taking place is in the number
of workers we’re hiring or in their business acumen.
The transition that’s taking place is within us as the
owner. It involves the evolution that must take place
as we make a mental shift and relinquish (delegate)
old responsibilities to embrace new ones. This is frequently
an uncomfortable and chaotic time, especially
for people with a high need to be in control.
Another example is when our company experiences
a sudden and significant increase in revenue
or profits. While this is a change most business
owners dream about and work years to achieve, the
transition can also take us by surprise. It requires a
shift on our part regarding our deep-seated beliefs
about money and our readiness to manage larger
amounts of it. When this transition isn’t handled
well, it often results in undisciplined purchases and
poor financial decisions on the owner’s part.
The examples are endless, and their impact is
compounded when several transitions are taking
place at the same time. These transitions frequently
include a temporary drop in the company’s profitability
and can cause even the strongest business
leader to want to cling to the old way of doing
things … and the old way of thinking.
When business owners don’t successfully make
these transitions—navigating the chaos experienced
in letting go of the past and embracing an unfamiliar
future—they find themselves trying to sail a
larger vessel while using the same skills and understanding
they had when they were sailing a much
smaller boat. Unfortunately, this rarely ends well for
the captain or crew.
For years, my counsel to clients who were undertaking
a significant initiative in their business—
increasing sales, hiring or discharging a key worker,
adding a new service, or making the heart-stopping
leap from a smaller boat to a larger one—was to expect
some things to fall apart. While I didn’t fully understand
the underlying reasons for this at the time,
I knew it almost always happened. I now realize this
is what William Bridges calls a period of confusion
and distress and what spiritual leader Richard Rohr
writes about in his book Falling Upward.
Transitioning is a process. It is growth on the part
of a CEO as they become more aware of the impermanence
of everything around them. It’s part of the
natural order of things in business and in life. But
it’s a part that many people struggle with. Transitioning
is not an event that only happens at the end
of a career. While a successful transition of business
leadership may be a CEO’s final act of greatness, it
certainly isn’t the only one.
Perhaps the biggest transition experienced by
many leaders of a growing business is one that takes
place under the radar of most other people. It’s the
leader’s very own growth and maturing as a business
leader, where they develop the skills and business
acumen to sail a bigger boat.
In his book Good to Great, author Jim Collins
refers to this as Level 5 leadership, writing, “Level
5 leaders are a study in duality: modest and willful,
humble and fearless.”
The growth that got leaders to this level never
takes place by accident, and it’s almost always accompanied
by that pesky in-between period of chaos
and uncertainty. It’s this ongoing transition that
equips leaders with the skills to lead larger companies
and sail bigger boats. But it doesn’t stop there.
Peter Senge, senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan
School of Management and author of The Fifth
Discipline, writes, “We forget that, in its essence,
leadership is about learning how to shape the future…
Leadership is about creating new realities.”
This applies to our business as well as to ourselves.
Does a leader grow because of the business’s
growth or does the business grow because of the
leader’s? I will argue it’s a leader’s growth that spurs
the company’s.
22 • SPRING 2022

self serve
& support equipment
SINGLE VACUUM
• Stainless Steel arches that are
designed for the single SS vacuums
• Fixed SS Boom to provide the hose
near the drivers door of the vehicle
• Vacuum boom can be ordered
to allow the hose to swing
over the vehicle
• Post is 3” x 6” x 8’ tall for the
fixed vac arch
Used for 2-6
self serve Bays
• High and low pressure gauge
• Pre-wired and pre-plumbed
• Low voltage electric panels
• Single V-belt & pulley
• Stainless steel belt guards
• Easy access to chemicals
• System lettering and
graphic decaling
• ETL/UL/CE APPROVED
SUPER SAVER
Available for 7-12 bays
Features
• Low pressure tire cleaner, medium
pressure pre-soak, high pressure soap,
foaming brush, rinse, foaming
conditioner, clear coat protectant,
high pressure wax
• All stainless steel construction
• Totally self-contained
• Removable pump assembly
• Model CAT 5CP2120
Pump, 4.0 GPM/1000 PSI
• Brass regulators
• Automatic chemical mixing tank
• Fused terminal blocks
• 3 HP 3 PH motor
The Power Pack
self-service car
wash system
is designed for the space
conscious. The modular
stainless steel framework
is about 25% shorter but
still includes most of the
same features as the
Super Saver 2500.
Optional
Features
• Bug remover
• Triple foam
brush
• Triple shine
• Spot-free
rinse (low or
medium
pressure)
• Marine
engine flush
UNDER $11,000.00
*STARTING AT UNDER $11,000.00
CARWASH IN A BOX
• Marinas
• RV Parks
• Beaches
• C-Stores
• Apartments
• Car Rental
• Auto Dealerships
• Car washes
• Laundromats
and More!
International models available.
9400 Series Vacuum
The 94000 Series Vacuums are constructed of high
quality, stainless steel and provide high performance.
SCAN
Here
SPRING 2022 • 23

Around the Wash
We’ve all witnessed examples of a company experiencing
rapid growth for a short period of time
only to retreat to its previous size. This is the equivalent
of jumping from one size boat to a larger one,
and then back again. The owner and team didn’t
have the skills, drive, or business acumen to sail the
larger vessel. This is not a judgment, it’s simply an
observation. Regardless, this is always a risky endeavor
as the chance to fall short of either boat and
end up splashing in the water is huge. These splashes
are usually painful and expensive but rarely fatal.
This is the chaos and uncertainty, that in-between
space between an ending and a beginning, that accompanies
every transition.
I also suspect this is one of the underlying reasons
so many business owners resist making that leap at
the end of their career. The splash in the water of
uncertainty can be terrifying to them, especially if
they don’t have that next, safe place to land.
There is no more frightening time for a CEO
than when it’s time to transition out of the business
they’ve spent so much of their life building.
It’s more frightening than the launch phase where
changes can happen quickly, every decision seems
like a life-or-death choice for the company, and
where cash is always in short supply. It’s greater
than during the growth years where the company’s
and its leader’s growth move in lockstep and the
focus shifts to attracting, keeping, and trusting competent
people to help grow the business, essentially
moving from one size boat to another.
Most business owners understand the physical
aspects of selling their business. Somebody writes a
check, and somebody receives one. One day they’re
shouldering the responsibilities of their company
and the next day they’re not. But too often former
owners overlook the emotional elements of selling
their company and the transition they’ll experience
as they leave one phase of their career and settle
into a new one.
If the intent is to set up the company for an outright
sale, then ensuring its health and navigating the
changes and transitions that are necessary to do so go
a long way in securing an attractive price. That’s the
simple choice, but not always the desired one.
We’re witnessing firsthand the contributions and
value people continue to bring to organizations as
they mature. The last two presidents of the United
States were sworn into office after they had turned
seventy. The chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway,
Warren Buffett, continues to lead the company
and affect global financial markets with his insights
at age 90 (his business partner, Charlie Munger, is
97!). Management guru Peter Drucker authored 10
books after his 85th birthday. Nationally, nearly 15%
of people over the age of 70 continue to work. Not
just because they need the income, but because they
want to continue to grow and to give back. So, while
many owners have moved out of their previous roles,
they’re transitioning into positions where they can
continue to bring value to their previous company
or to the larger business community.
The outdated notion that people should stop
working when they turn 65 and retire to a quiet
beach somewhere is just that—outdated. It’s based
on an archaic, industrial-age model of physical labor
jobs with little mental stimulation and even
fewer emotional rewards. So, the next transition for
many is into a role where they can leverage their
experiences and the lessons they learned over their
career and use that knowledge to mentor and guide
younger generations of workers.
Regardless of the changes we experience in our
company, or the size boat we are sailing, it’s how
successfully we manage the emotional transition
that accompanies these changes that will largely
determine the joy and fulfillment we’ll derive
from our work.
In the introduction to the book Synchronicity:
The Inner Path of Leadership by Joseph Jaworski,
Peter Senge writes, “One of the great mysteries of
our current state of consciousness is how we can
live in a world where absolutely nothing is fixed,
and yet perceive a world of ‘fixedness.’” “Because of
how we think,” he continues, “we’re strangling the
life out of ourselves.”
Embracing the transitions that accompany
change will help us avoid that.
24 • SPRING 2022
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225 Crown Blvd. Timberlake, NC 27583 | PO Box 488, Roxboro, NC 27573
SPRING 2022 • 25

INNOVATIONS
INTRODUCING
NEW AND IMPROVED PRODUCTS
AND SERVICES FOR SELF SERVE CAR WASHES
Presenting
the Best
Podcasts
to Help
Boost Your
Car Wash
Business.
■ Modern Carwash Podcast
The Modern Car Wash podcast is a bi-weekly podcast revealing the
inner workings of the most technologically advanced car washes
in the world. Host Dan St-Jacques speaks with some of the most
innovative minds in the industry.
Available on Amazon Music.
■ Carwash M&A
Join your host Lanese Barnett with Amplify Car Wash
Advisors to learn more about how to scale or sell your car wash
business. Here we take a deep dive into the current mergers
and acquisitions activity of the car wash industry with the goal
of keeping car wash owners informed on where the market is
today and where it’s going tomorrow so you can make educated
decisions about your business.
Available on Amazon Music.
■ Scaling Car Washes Podcast
Scaling Car Washes with JT Thomson focuses on helping car
wash owners build and scale their car wash operations. Your host
JT interviews experts in the many different areas that are critical to
successfully scaling a car wash business. The podcast focuses on
how to build, scale, and ultimately exit within the car wash industry.
JT talks with experts in many essential areas including finance,
operational infrastructure, marketing, legal, HR, and more so that
you can be more successful with your car wash business.
Available on Google Podcasts
■ Professional on the Go
“Professional on the Go” is a podcast that will give you the
inspiration, tips and tools on how to win and live your best life as
an independent professional. Your hosts are Barry Moltz, Small
Business expert and Chinwe Onyeagoro, who is the CEO of
PocketSuite which is an “office in your pocket” for independent
service professionals.
Available on iheartRadio.com
■ The How of Business
Hosted by Henry Lopez, this is a weekly podcast for aspiring
entrepreneurs and existing small business owners. If you are looking
for actionable advice, tips and techniques on how to start, run and
grow your business, this is the podcast for you.
Available through Apple Podcasts
■ How I Built My Small Business
This podcast is for those who want to build & improve their business
via stories of entrepreneurs that have built their own businesses.
Available through Apple Podcasts
26 • SPRING 2022

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SPRING 2022 • 27

28 • SPRING 2022

EXTRA!
EXTRA!
Presenting the news stories
featuring self serve car washes
Canadian car wash gets major makeover
Collier Carwash has of Thorold, Ontario, Canada,
has a new owner and new equipment, according
to a March 22 Thorold Today story.
Owner Brian Owens said he hopes he can give
the car wash a new lease on life.
“This one just needed some TLC, which is
why we took it over,” Owens said in the story.
“I’ve been in the car wash business for about 15
years now. I own one in Grimsby and I just took
over one in St. Catharines.”
Back in March, to celebrate the re-opening of
the car wash, Owens offered his costumers free
use of the Touchless Automatic system.
“The old [car wash] was in rough shape and
it lived a good life so there were a lot of costumers
that had lost confidence,” he said in the story.
“We wanted to let them know that there was a
brand-new piece of equipment in there, and to
just come and give it a try. At one point we had
16 cars waiting. Everyone was happy. Now hopefully
they’ll come back.”
Owens said recent repairs are just the beginning.
“Ideally, we’re looking to grow in the Niagara
region,” he said in the story. “The next step here is
we are going to be doing all of the self-serve coin
bays and putting in all brand-new equipment in
those. Three months from now they’re going to
look significantly different.”
Pollen count is way up
across the country
What’s bad news for allergy sufferers is good news
for car washes as the pollen count is way up from
coast to coast.
According to the website pollen.com, 45% of
the United States is experience medium to high
levels of pollen. As of May 2022, the website releases
this image of the amount of tree pollen (which
causes the yellow substance) in the United States:
Wise Guys Car Wash
adds on app
Wise Guys Car Wash, a chain in British Columbia,
Canada, offering express and self serve washes,
now offers a new app for members of The Wise
Guys Wash Club, according to a March 11 Casanet
story. The membership app is the only one of
its type offered in the area, according to the story.
The new app, which gives customers access to
a number of different services, including the Wise
Guys Wash Club, as well as the ability to buy single-vehicle
washes, buy and send gift cards, reload
the built-in wallet, get referral bonuses and even
solve a puzzle that could result in a reward.
The company recently added fleet accounts to
its offerings.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for our
customers,” Wise Guys manager Travis Wise said in
the story. He added that the app was an immediate
hit with customers.
The car wash located in Kelowna also offers
self-serve washing bays that are included in the
app but are not part of the Wash Club membership.
You can add money to your wallet (in the
app) and use the self-serve bays.
“As a Wash Club member, every additional vehicle
you sign up to your account will get you an
additional $5 off per month. If you refer a new
Wash Club member, both you and the new member
will get $10 in bonus wash “loot.” When you
buy a gift card or reload your wallet using the app
and enter the receipt email, you can save up to
15% in bonus wash loot.”
The app also features a weekly puzzle and the
person with the highest score receives a $10 credit
in the app’s wallet.
Wise Guys, which was started by Travis and his
father Grant Wise in 2003, has locations in Kelowna,
Penticton, Vernon and Kamloops.
Carson City
promotes using self
serve car washes
The capital of Nevada has launched the “I am
Carson River Watershed” campaign, by the Carson
Water Subconservancy District, which includes
a feature called Watershed Moments, a series of
public service announcements to help engage and
inform Nevadans about steps they can take to foster
a healthy watershed throughout 2022, a city
press release reported.
The March PSA in the series, “Use a Carwash,”
highlights the importance of using a full or selfserve
carwash to improve water quality, according
to a March 9 press release.
You can help protect the quality of our waters,
by using a full or self-serve car wash rather than
washing your cars, trucks, RVs, or boats at home,
the campaign stated. “The water used at these facilities
is cleaned and recycled. If you do choose
to wash your car at home, wash it on the lawn
or gravel rather than paved surfaces. This way the
ground can act as a filter for the dirt and soap, lessening
its impact to our waterways.”
Ten free car washes from Surf Thru were handed
out in March to help kick-start the campaign.
The campaign is funded by a Clean Water Act
319(h) grant administered by the Nevada Division
of Environmental Protection (NDEP) Water Quality
Planning Branch, according to the press release.
“The Watershed Moments campaign helps
Northern Nevadans learn how even small changes
can help protect the Carson River Watershed
for future generations to enjoy,” said NPS Branch
Manager Birgit Widegren in the press release.
“These PSAs support our mission of preserving
and restoring surface water resources for the benefit
of the community and the plants and animals
that call this area home.”
Michigan city lacks
a modern car wash,
states proposal
Several public hearings were held and a
business proposal was heard by the Sturgis
City Planning Commission, over plans for a
new car wash, according to a March 16 Sturgis
Journal report.
A special land use request was heard
to place a car wash at the site of the former
Johnston Skate O’Rama. Tom and Tim
Houseman, representing Turn-Key Carwash
Systems of Grand Rapids, stated they plan
to convert the vacant lot into a three-bay car
wash: two automatic and one self-serve, according
to the article.
Tim Houseman said they have built numerous
car washes over the years and this car
wash would be a welcomed addition to Sturgis.
“The area just doesn’t have a modern,
quality, consistent car wash,” Houseman said
in the story. “It is time to give the city a modern,
dependable facility.
As of March 11, the city received one response
from a neighboring resident who was
all for the car wash, but worried about the
potential traffic.
City officials and the developers said
they are currently unable to verify an easement
exists but will keep searching records
and are willing to work with the resident to
ease concerns. After the public hearing was
closed, the special land use request was approved,
the story said.
SPRING 2022 • 29

Car washes are becoming major investment opportunity, says firm
Its no surprise to you or myself, that car washes
are a major part of the American landscape, otherwise
we would be in the industry.... but, now, it
seems as if investors are realizing the magnitude of
a car wash’s role in the economy.
According to an April 12 Wealth Management
report, when Mister Car Wash debuted on the
NYSE last summer and its shares rallied to the
price of $22.40—49 percent above the IPO price
of $15—many private equity players took notice
and took action, either by investing more in the
car wash brands they already owned or by seeking
car wash operators to add to their portfolios.
Last year, Imperial Capital acquired Riptide
Auto Wash, Wafra acquired Motor City Car Wash
and Skyknight Capital added HyperShine Car
Wash to its portfolio.
“Today, these private equity-backed car wash
operators have the rare opportunity to establish
themselves as leaders in a highly fragmented space,
where roughly 75 percent of car wash companies
operate only one to two sites. Mister Car Wash,
for example, is the largest car wash operator in
the North America with nearly 400 locations nationwide.
Prior to its IPO, it too was private equity-backed:
Leonard Green & Partners LP had
owned the company since 2014,” the story stated.
According to John Lai, chairperson and CEO
of Mister Car Wash, “When we look at the size
of our industry, we see demand outpacing supply.
Even in the face of inflation and rising gas prices,
we believe that the joy customers receive from
keeping their car clean, coupled with the relative
affordability of our service, has created a strong
tailwind for expansion.”
However, to be precise, this does not include
self serve car washes... and right now, the focus
seems to just be on express models.
“The express car wash market is valued at
roughly $11 billion and is expected to expand at
a compound annual growth rate of 4.0 percent
to 4.8 percent through 2028, according to Grand
View Research Inc. Conveyor car washes are consistently
the most profitable in the car wash sector
in the U.S., where more than 72 percent of drivers
use professional car wash services an average of 13
times per year.”
Although no up-to-date data exists, industry
experts estimate there are approximately 10,000
express locations. If that doesn’t seem like a lot,
consider the face that there are 15,000 Starbucks
currently in the United States.
Though no research firm has established the
exact number of express wash locations, industry
experts estimate about 10,000 locations. To put
that in context, there are more than 15,000 Starbucks
in the United States.
Geoffrey Jervis, CEO of Mint Eco Car Wash
said in the story, “Car washes went from not being
on the private equity radar to being at forefront
for nearly every firm. They all want to be in the
industry in some way, which means there’s billions
of dollars flowing into this space right now. ...It is a
race to get sites because everybody’s looking for the
same type of real estate.”
Part of the appeal of car washes nowadays has to
do with the membership opportunities, the story said.
Chris Donner, vice president of Mammoth
EXTRA!
EXTRA!
Holdings, which currently operates 90 express
washes, said in the story, “It’s not unheard of for
a single location to have 5,000 subscribers, and
when you do the math, even at a lower cost package
of $20 per month, that’s $1.2 million in guaranteed
revenue annually.”
One example of optimism concerning express
washes is that Pink Bird Car Wash of Florida, which
is backed by Montgomery Street Partners, of Dallas,
Texas, said it plans to add at least 20 more express
washes to its portfolio. It currently operates just two
washes, but is actively searching for high-traffic areas.
That is quite the jump in current locations to
future growth.
Jervis said in the story they are studying its competition
as well as potential future competition.
Mint Eco has secured six properties for development
and is pursuing more than 300 existing car
wash and development sites in Palm Beach County.
“Ten to 20 years from now, we know there’s going
to be twice as many car washes, so I’m thinking
about how we can win when somebody builds a
competitive carwash next door to us,” Jervis explained
in the story. “The only way is if we are focused
on our brand and culture, and that includes a
differentiated real estate strategy.”
Russell Reynold, CEO of Spotless Car Wash
Brands, said in the story that the overall impression
and reputation of the car wash has changed
significantly over the years.
“Ten or 15 years ago, the car wash industry had
some black eyes in terms of whether you wanted one
of them on your retail corridor. That has changed.”
Headline-making jailbreak story
involves self serve car wash
A big national news story that seems to be gaining
more and more attention, thanks to its Hollywood-style
details, also involves a self serve car
wash. The story in which an Alabama corrections
officer helped an inmate break out of jail, is now
part of Self Serve Car Wash News because the officer
and the inmate were spotted at a car wash
in Evansville, Indiana. According to Fox 13, Vicky
White, the Alabama corrections officer who scandalized
the country by allegedly walking a murder
suspect and convicted felon out of the Lauderdale
County Jail in April, spent 11 days on the run, with
the felon, traveling from Florence, Alabama up to
Evansville, Indiana. White, along with Casey Cole
White were able to dodge police for an impressive
couple of days, however, surveillance footage from
a car wash not only showed the couple but their
vehicle as well. According to the story, Vicky had
stashed a copper-colored, 2007 Ford Edge SUV,
near the prison, that was used as the get-away car.
The vehicle was allegedly switched out because on
May 3, a car wash owner in Evansville, Indiana, reported
a possible sighting of the duo. “Surveillance
images show a tall man, later identified as Casey
White, at the self-serve car wash with a dark blue
Ford F-150 pickup. Marshals recovered that vehicle
Monday. Later that same day, they caught up
with White and White, who by then were using a
gray Cadillac.”
“It’s hard to believe that they’ve been here that
many days, but we were lucky that we stumbled
upon them today,” Sheriff Wedding said in the story.
Get a charge, and a wash
If you own an electric Hyundai vehicle, you
can now charge it and wash it at the same facility,
but you’ll have to go all the way to.... South Korea.
Hyundai Motor Company has launched EV Park -
Washholic Center in Bundang/Yongin, South Korea,
according to a March Hyundai Motor Group report,
for its EV customers. After rinsing the car with water,
four 100kW class rapid chargers are available at
the drying zone. According to the story, 56% of EV
owners do self-wash, which is much more than 35%
of owners using an automatic car wash. “EVs don’t
need to be refueled, so you don’t often use automatic
car washes at gas stations. This is why Hyundai Motor
Company built an EV park at the self-serve car
wash.” EV Parks aren’t just for charging the battery. If
you visit the Washholic Center Bundang/Yongin and
sign up for the ‘EV Park Membership’, the dry car
wash is always free, and you can freely use machines
such as vacuum cleaners and air guns the story said.
In addition, there are other benefits such as a welcome
drink upon your first visit, an additional 10%
savings with a car wash membership card, and a 5%
discount on car wash products.
30 • SPRING 2022

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SPRING 2022 • 31

FILL IN
THE BLANK
Do you plan on taking
a few days off this
summer to relax?
POLL
The biggest
risk I have
taken as a self
serve owner is
Not sure yet:
7.7%
Reaching down into the main pit
last night to pull out a comforter and
hoping there wasn’t a body wrapped
up in it. - MEP001
Heck YES!
38.5%
What’s a vacation?
53.8%
Purchasing a wash with the financials
scribbled on the back of an
envelope. But it all worked out ok. -
GREG_T
Building my first wash back in
1993. I had 2 toddlers a wife and a
$400,000 mortgage on the car wash
and had put everything I had to get
it. It had to be profitable or else. -
SOAPY
Deciding to buy-out my ex-husband
10 years ago. I’m not a plumber,
electrician or welder, but I LOVE my
car wash, my customers and the industry.
Income was flat and we were
heavy in debt. Since then, I’ve been
able to fix it up nicely and now it’s
making 3x gross. I just paid it off this
year! - KIMBERLY BERG
If you would like to contribute your own
answer, visit AutoCareForum.com and do a
keyword search of “fill in the blank.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
I close my carwash every summer for 7-10 days and go on vacation. Love every minute of it. I put
signs on all bays and auto that says - closed for vacation, will reopen on such and such date, see you
then! Never had any complaints. If you’re having to take care of business or a problem while on vacation,
as I generally did - Well, It’s not a vacation! - DON B.
I take several long vacations a year. This Saturday I’m headed to British Columbia for 10 days.
When I leave, my cellphone is turned over to a senior employee who also oversees my 2 other
businesses. I know how fortunate I am to have [someone who can make] good decisions and I
don’t 2nd guess those decisions. - SWAMPDONKEY
I still have a land line and have calls forwarded to my cell phone. When I leave, I forward all calls
to my son who also works in the business. My daughter is getting married this year and it will be
a 2-to-3-day event. This will be the first time in 28 years that my washes will be closed. I plan on
closing for 3 days right in the middle of hunting season. I can already hear the howls from the
hunters who will have to wait to clean their muddy vehicles. - - SOAPY
How do you physically close a car wash for 7-10 days? Do you have gates you can close, or do
you put up cones in the bays? I haven’t taken a vacation in 13 years & I am VERY ENVIOUS!!
… In 19 years, we’ve closed our car wash at least 10 times, but just for 1-2 days (for new asphalt
sealer, backflow device moved & water main plumbing replaced). Although we barricaded
the 2 driveways with 2 metal A-frame signs, 10 tall cones & caution tape, customers will move
them & drive into the bays. I can turn off the water & power, but what prevents the homeless
from setting up tents in my wash bays? That happened at 2 SS car washes in the next town, they
were trashed & vandalized!! I have 31 HD cameras but don’t have anyone I could delegate as a
security guard. We need to show up 2-3 times to move the homeless along... I could notify the
police that I’m closing down for a week, but I would still need to monitor cameras & call them. I
don’t have a gate that I can close & lock. Just curious as to what other owners do. - KIMBERLY BERG
*This unscientific poll was conducted via the carwashforum.com.
32 • SPRING 2022

CV-A
Features
■ Fragramatics 1600 hr Turbo Motor
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■ Filters – Four-bag system uses high performance,
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■ 2” dia. vac hose – high-flex, vinyl, crushable, 15 ft.
long. Includes cuff and polyethylene hand tool
■ ¼” x 25’ Wire braid or coil hose with inline gauge
Specifications
■ 1.25 HP ‘Big Dog’ high output compressor
■ Brushed Stainless Steel Tank and Main Cabinet
■ Coin acceptor – mechanical
■ Electrical - 120 V ac, 25 amps
■ Mounting - One internal and two external lugs
with security collars. Uses 3/8” bolts for secure
installation.
■ Tank Dimensions - 18.5”dia. x 42”h
■ Unit Weight - Net 145 lbs. Ship weight 185 lbs.
■ Ships in carton/pallet: 67”h x 32”w x 31”d
Options
■ Multi-coin acceptor
■ Lighted dome
■ Debris catcher
■ Dome colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
white
■ Hose colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
white, gray, black
fragramatics.com
3021 Midland Drive • Pine Bluff AR 71603
800-643-1574 • sales@fragramatics.com
SPRING 2022 • 33

888 920 2646
ETOWAH VALLEY EQUIPMENT
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34 • SPRING 2022

888 920 2646
CUSTOM BUILT EQUIPMENT
Pump Stands
Meter Boxes
Custom Made
NATIONWIDE INSTALLER NETWORK
How Does
Etowah Valley
Sell Quality Equipment
at such low prices?
We have invested heavily in state of the art
manufacturing equipment to insure the highest quality
equipment available anywhere. We manufacture
everything in house in order to maintain our quality
standards. Our sales volume allows us to purchase
raw materials at tremendous savings. We then
pass these savings along to our customers.
Join our Team!
Looking for
qualified installers
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the US, Canada
and Mexico. Also
have openings at
the factory.
www.etowahmfg.com
Etowah Valley Equipment
47 Etowah Center Dr
Etowah, NC 28729
sales@etowahmfg.com
888 920 2646
SPRING 2022 • 35

INDUSTRY DIRT
HAPPENINGS IN & AROUND THE SELF SERVE CARWASHING INDUSTRY
GO Car Wash to plant
over 35,000 trees
GO Car Wash of Denver, Colorado, is excited
to announce that after just one month of their
ongoing partnership with One Tree Planted, they
will be planting 35,708 trees in Susanville, California!
GO Car Wash vowed to plant a tree for
every new monthly membership sold, starting
February 14th, 2022.
According to an April 12 press release, the wash
organized an online vote, allowing members to select
their preferred locations for new trees to be
planted. California was the winner. The partnership’s
reforestation efforts in the Susanville, CA
area are particularly timely as this area was recently
damaged by wildfires, and the benefits of replanting
trees on over 2,000 acres of land are enormous.
One Tree Planted stated in the press release, “The
immediate local ecological benefits of reforestation
include reduced post fire erosion, enhanced water
quality and quantity, as well as wildlife habitat. The
restoration and preservation of watersheds are particularly
crucial to California in the face of Climate
Change and the state's already limited water supply.
This project takes place in watersheds that are
both important to the state water supply and which
have been hard hit by fire.”
An additional unique aspect of this project is
the presence of grey wolves in the project area,
the press release stated. “Grey wolves are a species
that has just recently returned to the state after
having been hunted to extinction within the state
boundaries over 100 years ago. As a large predator,
grey wolves rely on large landscapes with healthy
ecosystems. This project will both restore and protect
this important habitat.”
The benefits of this replanting effort will remain
far-reaching and sustainable well into the
future. “We’d like to thank each and every new
GO member who has helped make this incredible
reforestation effort possible,” said Brett Meinberg,
GO Car Wash COO, in the press release.
In other news, GO Car Wash is expanding to a
few more California locations. You can now find
GO locations in Loma Linda, Highland, Riverside,
and Hemet.
McClean Solutions joins
the carwashing industry
McClean Solutions, LLC (Bensalem, Pennsylvania)
is proud to announce its formation as a
manufacturer of detergents and protectants for the
car wash industry. According to a March 4 press
release, at the helm is Brent McCurdy, former
President of one of the largest car wash chemical
manufacturers in the industry with over 20 years
of expertise in the field. “The car wash chemical
business has been my home for a very long time,
and I’m looking forward to using that experience
to create something fresh and innovative, while
maintaining the level of customer service my industry
friends and partners are used to,” McCurdy
stated in the press release.
The company launch stands in the wake of
trending consolidation efforts among other solutions
providers in the car wash space. “When big
companies roll in and take over with big changes,
customer relationships tend to pay the price;” Mc-
Curdy said in the press release. “As an industry veteran,
I knew the market wouldn’t respond well to a
lot of these changes and saw an opportunity to connect
with distributors and operators while bringing
a new, exciting, quality product line to the market.”
McCurdy brings with him insider knowledge as he
is also the owner of a chain of car washes in the
Philadelphia area, including express exterior washes,
seven automatic car washes, and 26 self serves.
McCurdy is joined by his son Blake McCurdy
who will serve as Operations Manager, and Nikita
Klinisovs who will serve as National Sales Manager.
With a background in chemistry and an MBA,
Blake worked in operations management of the
family car wash business for years prior to joining
McClean. Klinisovs has owned and operated
one of the leading car wash chemistry distributors
in the Northeast and prides himself on consulting
carwashes to make them more successful.
The McClean headquarters is in Bensalem,
Pennsylvania and plants are located in East
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Cleveland, Ohio, and
Dallas, Texas.
Philadelphia Union and
EverWash Announce
New Partnership
The Philadelphia Union
and EverWash, also based
in Philadelphia, announced
in a joint statement
on February 25
that they have formed
a multi-year partnership
to make EverWash the Official
Car Wash Membership
Partner of the Philadelphia
Union and Subaru Park.
This is the first partnership
for EverWash with
a professional sports
team in any league.
A press release stated
that EverWash offers unlimited
car washes at one low
monthly price through the largest network of independent
car washes in the country. The Philadelphia-based
company is the leader in membership
sales, marketing and subscription management in
the car wash industry.
“We pride ourselves on innovation and look
for partners that share the same vision and spirit.
EverWash is a leader in the industry and we look
forward to introducing our fans to their service,”
said Charlie Slonaker, Chief Revenue Officer, Philadelphia
Union, in the press release.
“EverWash is beyond excited to partner with
our neighbors at the Philadelphia Union,” said
Scott Pashley, Chief Revenue Officer of Ever-
Wash, in the press release. “The Union is setting
the pace in the MLS Eastern Conference just as
we’re setting the pace for membership programs
in the car wash industry. We’re looking forward
to connecting Union fans with our community of
locally-owned car washes so they can save money
and simplify essential vehicle maintenance.”
As part of the partnership, EverWash will have
an engaging presence at Subaru Park on game days.
This includes advertising and activations such as
in-stadium branding and content, digital signage
visible on television broadcasts, fan engagement
activities within Subaru Plaza, and more. The
Philadelphia-based tech company will also be the
presenting sponsor for each “clean sheet”, or shutout,
that the Union earns during the team’s season,
which kicked off February 26.
36 • SPRING 2022

SPRING 2022 • 37

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You can get a specialized insurance policy custom fit for your carwash business with
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Coverage Options:
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38 • SPRING 2022

INDUSTRY DIRT
Proto-Vest, Inc. acquired
by its current president
(GLENDALE, AZ) – Effective
January 1, 2022, Proto-Vest
Inc. was acquired by
Jeff Reichard who has been
the company’s president
since June 2019. According
to a January 24 press
release, the company will
be operating under the name
Proto-Vest Dryers, LLC.
The transition of the two companies
has and will be seamless for the
customers, suppliers, and employees, the press
release stated. During his time as president, Reichard,
and the Proto-Vest Leadership Team, implemented
a variety of quality improvements,
process changes, a Kanban manufacturing system,
and a “Partnering Approach” with its customers.
The Leadership Team is working diligently
to continue building on the improvement of
the customer interface with a goal of providing
“World Class Service,” the press release stated,
with Reichard adding. “We now view and treat
our customers as true partners, not just customers.”
“I would like to thank the McElroy family for
their leadership since the conception of Proto
Vest, Inc. in 1969,” Reichard said in the press release.
“‘Mac’ McElroy was creative, highly visible
and opinionated… making him one of the great
legends in our industry.”
Rinsed, the car wash CRM, today announced it
raised $12 million in Series A financing from Bedrock
Capital and Founders Fund, according to a
May 2 press release. Rinsed helps car washes of all
sizes delight their customers and grow their subscription
revenue with easy-to-use customer relationship
management software. Rinsed integrates
with car washes' existing point-of-sale hardware,
and enables automated email and text marketing,
customer engagement to reduce churn, and online
sales directly through their website, the press release
stated.
John Luttig, of Founders Fund said in the press
release, "Rinsed is the only CRM built to support
the $15 billion car wash market."
"We are empowering operators with best-inclass
subscription management tools built specifically
for the needs of the car wash industry," said
Austin Esecson, CEO and co-founder of Rinsed,
in a statement. "As the car wash market shifts to
a subscription model, the problems faced by operators
now extend beyond the driveway to encompass
every interaction the wash has with its
customers and subscribers."
Esecson also said in a statement, “At Rinsed,
we want to enable car wash operators to
imbue every customer interaction with
the same quality of a personalized, frictionless
experience that they deliver
at the wash. That might start with an
automated follow-up text to a firsttime
wash customer, continue with the
conversion of that single-wash customer
to a subscriber through a single-page online
checkout form, and conclude with the user-friendly
mobile management of that membership
to update their credit card on file. We view
each touchpoint as an opportunity to further engage
with the customer and ultimately strengthen
that underlying relationship."
Rinsed was founded by Austin Esecson, Sam
Logan and Nic Hippenmeyer and serves more
than 300 car washes and grew annual recurring
revenue by over 400% in the past year, the press
release stated. Eric Stromberg, co-founder and
Managing Partner of Bedrock Capital, will be joining
the board as part of this transaction, and stated,
"The Rinsed team combines deep car wash expertise
with experience building scalable technology
products. The result is a purpose-built platform for
the industry, empowering operators everywhere to
build loyal relationships with customers and grow
revenue. We first invested in 2020 shortly after the
company was started. Given the speed of execution
and rapid growth since, we are thrilled to double
down and lead the Series A."
Mister Car Wash, Inc. (the "Company" or
"Mister"; NYSE: MCW), of Tucson, Arizona, announced
on March 18 that Mayra Chimienti has
been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. In her
new role, Chimienti will oversee operations, human
resources, integrations, project management,
learning & development, and internal communications.
In her prior role as Vice President of Operations
Services, Chimienti led the development of
key initiatives that allowed Mister to scale a consistent
service delivery centered around people
and hospitality. Under her leadership, the company
cultivated robust training and development
programs, launched a digitized learning platform
with customized curricula, and laid the foundation
for the support infrastructure that has allowed the
Company to execute at a higher level.
“Mayra has been a key part of the growth for
Mister Car Wash. She has brought leadership and
vision as we’ve built a best-in-class culture that is
centered around our people,” said John Lai, chairperson
and CEO of Mister Car Wash, in a press
release. “Promotion to the Chief Operating Officer
role is a natural next step for Mayra and exciting
for the future of our organization.”
Chimienti started her career in the industry
nearly 20 years ago and joined the company in
2007 as the Regional Trainer for the El Paso market.
In this position, she developed best practices
for training store-level team members on standard
procedures and best-in-class customer service. In
2010, she joined the Mister HQ team in Tucson,
Arizona, to continue her training efforts as Director
of Training and Development. Her in-depth
knowledge of day-to-day operations and ability
to strategically execute standardization have been
key to the successful growth of the organization,
the press release stated.
"I’m humbled and honored that this opportunity
will continue to allow me to serve the people
that make Mister Car Wash so special,” Chimienti
said in a statement. “I’m excited to keep building
on the foundation we have worked relentlessly to
establish and scale to new heights."
Mayra is a proud alumna of the University of
Texas at El Paso.
Car Wash CRM
Rinsed announces
$12M in financing
Mister appoints new
Chief Operating Officer
SPRING 2022 • 39

TIPs
Are you on
Apple maps?
Places on Maps, which replaced
Maps Connect, is a way
to add your business page and
information to Apple-run apps
such as Safari, Apple Wallet,
Siri and, of course, the map feature
which comes included on all Apple iPhones.
In order to claim your business, you have to
be able to answer a call to your business’s phone
number or upload an official document showing
the business’s address and name.
If you visit https://register.apple.com/placesonmaps/,
you can type in “carwash” or “car
wash” to see if yours is listed. If yours is not, you
have to scroll down to “add missing place” and
go from there.
You will need an Apple ID to register your
business. If you do not have one, you can create
one for free.
Got Stress?
Try this
High levels of stress at work –– and outside of it
–– can affect physical health, according to a recent
study by Harvard Medical School. In fact, repeated
activation of the fight-or-flight response can
disrupt bodily systems and increase susceptibility to
disease. “For example, repeated release of the stress
hormone cortisol can disturb the immune system,
and raise the likelihood of developing autoimmune
disorders, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s
disease. Chronic stress can also affect health by
interfering with healthy behaviors, such as exercise,
balanced eating, and sleep.”
The Harvard study, titled: How to handle
stress at work, lists this as one of the ways to deal
with stressors:
• Relax the Right Way: Relaxation helps
counter the physiological effects of
the fight-or-flight response, the study
states. For example, progressive muscle
relaxation helps reduce muscle tension
associated with anxiety. To do this, follow
these steps:
• Sit comfortably with your eyes closed.
• Working from your legs upward,
systematically tense and relax each major
muscle groups.
• Hold the tension for 10 seconds; release
tension for 20 seconds.
• Each time you release muscle tension,
think “relax” to yourself.
Need
funding?
Here’s
an idea
An SBIC is a privately owned company that’s
licensed and regulated by the Small Business
Administration (SBA). SBICs invest in small
businesses in the form of debt and equity. The
SBA doesn’t invest directly into small businesses,
but it does provide funding to qualified
SBICs with expertise in certain sectors or
industries. Those SBICs then use their private
funds, along with SBA-guaranteed funding, to
invest in small businesses.
Debt or equity? Or both?
• SBICs invest in small businesses through debt, equity, or a combination of both.
Debt is a loan an SBIC gives to a business, which the business must pay back,
along with any interest. Equity is a share of ownership an SBIC gets in a business
in exchange for providing funding. Sometimes, an SBIC invests in a business
through both debt and equity. Such an investment includes both loans and shares
of ownership. A typical SBIC investment is made over a 3-year period.
Debt
• A typical SBIC loan ranges from $250,000 to $10 million, with an interest rate
between 9% and 16%.
Equity
• SBICs will invest in your business in exchange for a share of ownership in your
company. Typical investments range from $100,000 to $5 million.
• Debt with equity
• Financing includes loans and ownership shares. Loan interest rates are typically
between 10% and 14%. Investments range from $250,000 to $10 million.
Check your eligibility
• SBICs typically target mature, profitable businesses with sufficient cashflow to pay
interest. However, each SBIC has its own investment profile in terms of targeted
industry, geography, company maturity, and the types and size of financing they
provide. There are a few universal requirements.
• Be a U.S. business: At least 51% of your employees and assets must be within
the U.S.
• Be a small business: Qualify as a small business according to SBA size standards.
You can see if your car wash qualifies by visiting sba.gov/size-standards.
• Be in an approved industry: Farmland, real estate, and financing are some of the
industries that don’t qualify.
40 • SPRING 2022

SPRING 2022 • 41

A LEADING MANUFACTURER OF CONTROLS,
INCLUDING DIGITAL TIMERS FOR THE CAR WASH INDUSTRY.
CONTACT YOUR
DISTRIBUTOR
TODAY!
42 • SPRING 2022
WWW.DIXMOR.COM
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SPRING 2022 • 43

FUN&
GAMES
SELF SERVE CELEBS!
Can You Guess the Name
of Each Celebrity?
CELEBRITY #1
CLUES: Born in 1986. Star of Transformers.
Co-starred in Indian Jones and the
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
CELEBRITY #2
CLUES: Was once married to Dennis
Rodman. She hosted MTV’s Singled
Out. In 1997 she starred as Lani
McKenzie in Baywatch.
CELEBRITY #3
CLUES: She was born in Germany in
1976. She co-starred in Troy, National
Treasure and National Treasure: Book of
Secrets.
1: Shia LaBeouf 2: Carmen Electra 3: Diane Kruger
44 • SPRING 2022

WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
Think these two pictures taken at a self serve car wash are the same?
Think again! There are six differences. Can you spot them all?
6. Exit signs are missing
5. Steeple is gone from roof
4. Window inside first bay is missing
3. Vehicle’s license plate is missing
2. Brick siding is higher
1. Bollard is red
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SPRING 2022 • 45

LOCKS
DO
THAT
T H E
T R I C K
Securing Your Car Wash At The Access Points
BY RICH MORAHAN
Citrus Heights Car Wash of Citrus Heights,
California, is located on a busy corner, with over
102k passing cars a day, according to the city
planning department. Yet that hasn’t deterred
the criminal army. Take a look at the picture.
Yes, these are the sparks from a battery-powered
grinder in the lower left, and yes, that’s the
grinderman’s partner spraying their parked car
to obscure the real work. Of course, there is a
camera, but the camera is great for deterrence,
but not prevention.
Why would a thief take a torch to a service
door, with all the noise, risk and exposure? Because
he thought that was the only way to get at
the money. By the way, he didn’t succeed. Short
of taking a nuclear option, he was thwarted by
Kimberly’s last line of defense: her high-security
lock system. Citrus Heights has 31 cameras, and
alarms monitored by the local police. Over the
years, Kimberly has seen more than just sparks
on her cameras. She’s seen metal shavings on the
ground below lock bodies and cylinders, evidence
of criminal tools meeting their security match.
She’s seen metal shavings, but little more than a
scratch on her locks.
46 • SPRING 2022

SPRING 2022 • 47

Securing Your Car Wash At The Access Points
Cameras, alarms and locks are key elements of the security net that
protects Citrus Heights. And Kimberly learned that while there are quality
“off the shelf” alarms and cameras, generic locks don’t deliver full security.
And Kimberly is impressed by more than the hardware. She is dedicated
to customer care for her own business. During divorce proceedings,
she was unsure if she wanted to keep the car wash. “It was my sisters who
reminded me how much I loved my customers, working at the car wash,
and being involved with the community. That was the turning point for
me. I decided to face my fears and keep my beloved car wash. What keeps
me going now is having fun and having something to look forward to. One
of my favorite quotes is ‘If you’re having fun, you’re doing it right!’ “
With that commitment to customer service, Kimberly recognizes
and appreciates the same commitment and support from her lock vendor.
“Lock America locks cost more than the ones I could order online,
but they’re worth every penny, and the customer service is priceless.”
There are desperate and clever criminals out there, and it can be a
challenge to keep a step ahead of them. Investing in a high-security lock
system improves your odds. As the old joke goes, “You don’t have to
outrun the bear, just the slowest one in the group.” The same principle
applies in a security-conscious cash business. You need an edge over the
other targets for the criminal world, and a high-security lock system
gives you that edge. Just ask Kimberly Berg.
Even with the emergence of tokens, the self-service car wash business
will remain cash driven for the foreseeable future. To protect that investment,
it’s time to invest in a security lock system.
Rich Morahan (www.rmorahan.com) writes frequently on security for the ATM, petroleum, propane
and vending industries. He can be reached at 617-240-0372 or rmwriteg@gmail.com.
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50 • SPRING 2022

Caught on Camera
BY JENNIFER SPEARS
All too often, carwash crime hits the headlines
seemingly on a weekly — if not more frequent —
basis across the United States. Similar to picking
the right camera or new technology, working with
your insurance provider as a new car wash owner
to match your needs can limit your exposure to
risk when it comes to crime. When combining preventative
measures, surveillance and protection,
any carwash can lower its exposure to crime.
Here are the major questions you should consider
when it comes to properly securing your car wash:
• Why are car washes so susceptible
to criminal activity?
• What types of security equipment
should car washes consider?
• Does my landscaping and lighting
add extra security to my car wash?
• Is my security equipment modern
and what new features are there?
■ What are some different
ways in which car washes
are susceptible to crime?
A simpler question would probably be to
ask what ways carwashes AREN’T susceptible
to crime? Unfortunately, it comes from all sides.
Thieves are looking for change: breaking into
vaults or cash acceptors, stringing changers, breaking
into vacuums, etc. And, remember, they will
cause thousands of dollars in damages for a couple
of dollars in change. They cannot tell how much
money is sitting at your wash, but their efforts to
steal it will be the same. Then there’s the people
who are just looking to vandalize your wash. Who
knows why they do it, but some will “tag” your car
wash property. There are also those who vandalize
a coin bay and bill acceptor possibly thinking
they will get “free time” at your self serve – these
people are sometimes the bucket washers who are
looking to spend little to no money. There are the
people damaging your car wash and driving off. Or
even those using stolen credit cards which will still
cost you. Not to mention the internal side of the
equation with employee theft of money or products
and giving out free washes to buddies and
family members. Attended facilities can have the
same if not more crime because it’s coming from
multiple sides. These people and these scenarios
can be recorded and used to capture the guilty
parties if you have the proper surveillance systems.
Having eyes on your business at all times 24/7
with remote access to live and recorded footage
can save you a lot of money in a very short amount
of time, especially with a self serve car wash. This
is money you didn’t even know you were losing in
some cases.
■ What type of security and
surveillance equipment and
technology should car washes consider?
Make it personal: If you only learn one thing
from this article, please let it be this: There is NO
one size fits all camera system that will work for
everyone. Expectations are different, preventative
measures needed at each facility might be widely
different based on the location, clientele, the type
of wash, services offered, hours open/closed, etc.
Make sure and work with a manufacturer that listens
to what YOU want instead of what they have
on special this week. And make sure the company
you’re dealing with can send you a custom quote
for each of YOUR facility. Look for someone that
will hold your hand through the entire process –
quoting, questions, purchasing, tech support. It’s
worth a lot more than people think.
Quality matters: Get good quality, IP68-rated
cameras that are specially designed and tested for
the car wash environment. A camera made for a
daycare playground isn’t going to withstand the
harsh chemicals and humidity within a car wash
type of environment. Getting the right camera for
EVERY area of the wash will make your life so
much easier now and in the future. If you’re like
me you want to put a system in one time and it
have it be amazing from the first time you hit the
on switch. When it comes to cameras you get what
you pay for.
The higher the better: High resolution. High
resolution, High resolution. You want to buy high
Key Features
to Consider
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a Lock System
• Tamper-proof keyway
• Pick and Drill resistance
• Non-duplicatable key blank
• Millions of Key Codes
• Key Code Flexibility
• Adaptability for multiple
configurations
• Person-to-person customer
support
• Track record in your type of
business and a variety of other
security-conscious industries
resolution. The difference between an analog camera
and an IP camera is night and day. You get 4-8x
the resolution with IP cameras, and the picture
quality is incredible. Most of the great car wash
camera equipment manufacturers are building
Network Video Recorders (NVR) and hybrid Digital
Video Recorders (DVR) these days and that’s
what you want. If you buy an existing facility and
it has a camera system it’s really nice to be able to
use the cameras and cabling that are still working
and then upgrade the DVR and some key cameras.
Use what you have until you need to change it. I
have never once heard anyone say they were sad
they went with the higher resolution equipment.
■ What site upgrades, such
as lighting or landscaping,
should new owners/operators
keep in mind as part of their risk
assessment and crime deterrent
strategies?
A well-lit facility, with visible cameras around,
with alarmed doors and placards, that also has a
well thought out landscaping design that eliminates
hiding places, shadows and visibility problems, is
much less likely to get broken into. Not giving people
places to hide and highlighting your awesome
architectural elements can absolutely work handin-hand.
Your risk goes down substantially and it all
adds up to a massive crime deterrent.
Theft and even employee thefts normally
happen because it’s easy for them to do it and get
SPRING 2022 • 51

52 • SPRING 2022

away with it. They’re looking for the opposite of
making money the right way by working hard. So
don’t make it easy for them. Put up infrared cameras
that can see day and night, and put them up
all around so customers can feel safer because of
them and thieves will go in the opposite direction.
Two-stage lighting that brightens when entering an
area, is both a help to customers, and a deterrent to
criminals. The best scenario is to prevent something
from happening as opposed to having to deal with a
break-in or burglary after the fact. Getting to sleep
at night instead of being woken up at 3 a.m. because
someone snuck around the dark areas behind
your building and ultimately took a cutting torch to
your equipment room roof, is WAY better.
■ What new features in security and
surveillance equipment are available for
car washes, and how can self serve car
washes take advantage of them?
Do you remember that comment above about
high resolution? Good! Because now I’m going to
talk about it again! Vehicle damage is a very real
problem for self serve bays, auto bays, tunnels,
flex serve and full serve facilities alike. Alleviating
these claims, fraudulent or ones that are perceived
real, can put $1000s of dollars back in your pocket.
Some opportunistic people absolutely see car
washes as a very easy target to get free money and
work done on their car. It’s not a nice reality but,
unfortunately, it’s a reality car wash owners have
to work with. Facilities with no vehicle inspection
system in place will lose against a complaining customer
every single time. Being able to prove there
was or was not damage on a vehicle prior to it entering
your car wash bay is all it takes to disprove
a claim and shut down the fraud. Believe it or not,
there are customers who will claim the pressure of
a self serve hose damaged the car’s paint. Or the
scrub brush, etc. It’s a case with little merit, you
and I know that, but maybe not when it comes to
a small claim court. So, have the proof ready to go
to stop any fraudulent claims. Now let’s talk about
the other side of the equation. The customer who
truly believes it was the car wash that did it. These
customers can still be loyal to your wash if you
politely show them the footage. Handle these people
with care. And, believe me, your insurance will
be VERY happy with you when you put a quality
surveillance system in place. A lot of them will
even give you a rate discount because of it. More
money back in your pocket. Yay!
■ Do you have anything else to add on
how car washes can prevent themselves
from becoming victims of crime?
I know it might sound goofy, but “be present”.
Talk to your customers, engage them, their
families and kids, your neighboring businesses and
the community as a whole. Go to town meetings,
Caught on Camera
sponsor sporting events, and even have a “town
washes for free” day once a month. It’s amazing
what can happen when people “know” you and
are invested in your business even in small ways.
Having a community looking out for your business
can pay off in big ways. Customers can stop
incidents from happening when you’re not there.
They can be witnesses to things happening even
when they’re just driving by. Call the police, call
you if your number is posted. “Be present” as much
as possible, and it will pay off in spades. Michael
Shayne Durden spent over 20 years burglarizing
homes in the Dallas, Texas area. Eventually, his life
of crime came to an end and he was arrested. In
a fascinating jailhouse interview, Durden admits
to what he looked for when it came to a robbery
and said one of the main things that deterred him
was a watchful and engaging neighborhood. Take
it from a career criminal and be present and get to
know your neighbors.
The article contributor is Jennifer Spears, carwash owner
and sales manager with CarWashCameras.com. With more
than 22 years of experience working with car washes and
more than 10000 camera systems under her belt she’s seen
it all. Her favorite phrases when it comes to cameras at any
type of vehicle facility? “There are never enough cameras!”
& “You need another hard drive with that?” She welcomes
comments and questions and can be reached at 866-301-
2288 and jennifer@carwashcameras.com.
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SPRING 2022 • 53

Darwin
DARWIN at
the
CARWASH
The investment in security cameras pays off for carwash operators
(and the readers of SSCWN) with these mostly frustrating, sometimes funny -- and always cautionary
-- stories of Darwins Caught on Camera. Images of these criminals and/or their vehicles were given
to police and the press. Many have been caught thanks to the prowess of security cameras.
I personally know the area in which
this criminal was caught.
It has many, many wineries (I have been told
[wink]) yet very few Uber and Lyft drivers are available
to transport groups of tired moms from one
winery to the next (I have heard [wink]). So, I am
wondering why this guy doesn’t just get a job doing
that? In any case, Waterloo, New York, resident Kenneth
Saunders, 25, has been arrested by the Seneca
County Sheriff’s Office on charges of petit larceny,
criminal mischief, and possession of burglar’s tools.
According to a May 3 story by Finger Lakes Daily
News, Saunders was allegedly caught on a security
camera at the Wet, White and Blue car wash in drilling
out one of the locks on one of the car wash’s
change machines. An investigation showed Saunders
allegedly stole approximately 5-dollars in change as a
result of the larceny.
A guy who is maybe looking to fill a
spot in Dom Torretto’s crew, is lucky he
didn’t kill anyone when his vehicle crashed into several
parked cars in Los Angeles. According to a May
2 Fox 26 story, the driver’s car flew through a busy
Los Angeles intersection, went airborne and crashed
into a restaurant. According to witnesses, the car was
traveling around 100 mph when it crashed.
The car smashed into the side of the Original
Tommy’s World Famous Hamburgers but the neighboring
business, Sam’s Car Wash, was not damaged.
Sam’s Car Wash provided footage of the crash and
was able to help police in the investigation.
Liam Gallagher? Oasis?
Wunderlich? Wonder Wall?
The coincidences are far too absurd, or maybe the
Oasis frontman chose a new career path and only
represents criminals with references to his number
one hits? You decide.
On April 21 a man named Jeremy Allen Wunderlich,
39, allegedly stole an industrial vacuum cleaner from a
Kalispell, Montana car wash and now faces a criminal
mischief charge in Flathead County District Court.
Employees of Sems Car Wash reported the theft of
the industrial vacuum to the Kalispell Police Department
on April 15, valuing the equipment at around
$2,500, according to a story posted in Bharat Daily
News, which, by the way, is an Irish news source.
Why is an Irish new source posting about a car wash
theft in Montana? Maybe it has to do with Wunderlich’s
lawyer’s name?
The car wash handed over surveillance footage
showing a green Chevrolet pickup truck with an
Idaho license plate arriving at the car wash around
10:30 p.m. on April 14. A man in a hoodie, jeans and
boots attached a tow strap to the vacuum and broke
it open before placing the equipment in the bed of
the pickup truck, the story said.
The next day authorities recovered the significantly
damaged vacuum. Authorities also pulled over a
Chevy pickup truck that matched the truck in the
video, according to court documents. “They identified
Wunderlich as the driver and noted that the truck was
reported stolen in Washington state,” the story said.
Officers also reportedly recovered the vacuum
cleaner’s metal plate from the truck along with a drill,
a broken drill bit, a sheet with residue, a prying tool
and a sniffing tube, according to court documents.
Wunderlich is already charged with criminal possession
of dangerous drugs in district court. His defense
attorney, Liam Gallagher, is representing him
as his client faces a maximum sentence of 10 years
behind bars if convicted of criminal mischief as well
as a $50,000 fine. No word on whether it’s the same
Gallegher from Oasis.
A serial car-hitter is behind bars,
thanks to a watchful car wash employee.
According to a KVUE abc story out of Austin,
Texas, Ruben Torres, is in custody after being accused
of intentionally hitting several people with an SUV.
According to court records, Torres hit a man while
driving a white SUV at a car wash. However, thanks
to Benjamin Sides, an employee of King of the Road
Car Wash, he watched the whole incident via surveillance
cameras while in his office.
“Boom, he runs him over, and takes off,” Sides
said in the story. “That is someone’s son, somebody’s
brother, an uncle. That’s not cool man,” said Sides,
referring to the victim, the story said.
According to court records, this isn’t the only person
Torres hit, the story said. Records show he hit
several other people including a Target employee in
a nearby shopping center. Both victims are expected
to be OK.
54 • SPRING 2022

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IT
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SPRING 2022 • 55

I’m no criminal activity expert, but this is a terrible get-away vehicle
Police in Entre County, Pennsylvania, are seeking the public’s help in identifying
a man accused of damaging a car wash door. According to a WTAJ report, a white truck pulling a black and
silver Homestead trailer was seen at Wash World Car Wash on April 30. “The driver of the truck reportedly
hit the wash bay door at 3:30 p.m. and then left the area,” the story said.
Geneva Police asked the public
for help in identifying a man who
caused heavy damage to a car wash in
Geneva, Alabama, on February 18, and it looks
like he was caught! Surveillance pictures offered
a pretty clear picture of the suspect’s
face and vehicle, which appears to be a “newer”
model Mitsubishi Convertable.
The incident happened at 8:30 on the night
of February 18th. According to News 4 story,
the police posted on their Facebook page that
the suspect had been identified. “UPDATE!!!
You are awesome!!! Thanks to all of you for the
response! We are pretty sure we have our man!”
the post read.
Well, it looks like America isn’t
the only country with bad drivers,
as a man in Sydney, Australia, is
being charged with crashing into a car wash
while intoxicated.
The driver was helped out of the car and
then he fled. According to an April 23 9News
report, a car wash employee, who was almost
hit, was kind enough to try and help the driver,
but he instead fled on foot. Here is footage
of him trying to flee the scene: Nice try, fella.
Police eventually caught him and found his
blood/alcohol level was 4 times the legal limit.
According to the car wash owner, the crash
caused about $30,000 (AUS) in damages.
A man in Boca Raton, Florida, with
terrible timing, was caught on camera
vandalizing a car wash… right before
cops showed up. According to a March 25 BocaNewsNow.com
story, a man vandalized the 495 Boca
Car Wash and the owner Andre Weliky said the suspect
returned after an hour and, “went bonkers on
several planters and orange cones.” It was then that
the police showed up.
The suspect was apparently unaware they were
there and in the middle of picking up the planters
when they arrived on the scene.
The man was then arrested and charged with
property damage and criminal mischief.
Thelma and Louise, these two are not.
A pair of women were caught on a car wash’s surveillance
camera with a stolen vehicle. One of the
thieves has been identified. According to a March
24 WCJB story, deputies are looking for 40-year-old
Terri Adinolfi and her thieving partner. The story
said the two broke into a vehicle at Forest Car Wash
and stole a bag containing 400 dollars worth of the
car owner’s belongings, including their wallet, cell
phone, and jewelry.
It is unclear what kind of footage this
man was hoping to catch, but now that he’s
in jail he will hopefully keep car wash patrons alone.
In Corpus Christi, Texas, surveillance video from a
southside car wash shows a man using his cell phone
to record a woman vacuuming her car, according to
a 3 News report, the woman had her back turned
while climbing into the back seat of her car and was
being filmed for more than eight minutes by the
stranger until she noticed him.
“Are you videoing me? Get the heck out of here,”
said carwash patron Taera McWha.
She then proceeded to notify the staff of the car
wash, the story said, and the man sped off quickly.
Alexander Lugo, Assistant Manager of Go Car Wash
stated in the story, “I don’t condone any of that stuff,
I do watch around. We have plenty of cameras and if
I do see something like that, I will act on it.”
McWha said she’s thankful for the local business’s
surveillance system.
Some people go on a date. Some eat
chocolates by themselves, and others,
apparently, rob a car wash. Three people
have been charged in connection with a burglary
that took place this last Valentine’s Day at Glacier
Bay Car Wash in Detroit Lakes, Michigan, according
to an April 12 Detroit Lakes Tribune report.
The story said that Percy Leonard French Jr., 27, of
Mahnomen and Jacob Martinez, 27, of Detroit Lakes
were charged with felony second-degree burglary
and felony first-degree damage to property, and Ariana
Marie Azure, 22, of Detroit Lakes was charged
with felony second-degree burglary.
According to court records, back on February 14
the two men entered the mechanical room at Glacier
Bay Car Wash and used tools to pry open the
change machine and it was all caught on video.
Based on the video, and a later confession by Martinez,
Azure drove French and Martinez to the car
wash at around 6:19 p.m. The two men entered the
mechanical room while Azure remained outside on
the lookout.
According to Martinez, French took the pipe fittings.
The two men are accused of using tools to open
the change machine and stealing about $12 in change.
The change machine sustained damage estimated
to cost $6,000 for replacement.=, the story said. Numerous
pipe fittings were also stolen that were worth
$6 to $9 each. The two men were caught in possession
of a bag full of metal pipe fittings and toolbox.
56 • SPRING 2022

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From Facebook
RESULT
The couple was identified and caught.
RESULT
Leads have come in; suspects still not apprehended.
RESULT
Suspect identified.
RESULT
Caught.
58 • SPRING 2022

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60 • SPRING 2022