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2 • SUMMER 2022

SUMMER 2022 • 3

CONTENTS
Fun & Games ..................5
Note to Self
BY DEBRA GORGOS, EDITOR
Tips ......................................8
Around the
Wash ................................. 10
Tricks of the
Trade ................................ 12
Innovations .................... 20
Industry
Dirt .................................... 24
Extra Extra ..................... 28
Association
News ................................. 36
Fill in the Bank ............ 43
I Like Big Trucks ........ 46
Darwin at the
Carwash .......................... 54
VOL. 50, NO. 3, SUMMER 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.
I truly think there is a fine line
between imagining the future
(a world like the Jetsons, for instance) and slowly being enveloped into an atmosphere
that is beyond comprehension.
Sure, there are no flying cars, etc., but innovations are so subconsciously added and
somewhat accepted that they somehow become the norm. For instance? I was at an
amusement park in upstate New York and when I went to buy a snack I was told the
entire park was completely cashless. There was no warning before entering the park.
It wasn’t a big deal, I guess? It was just the way it was. I imagine there are still people
out there who don’t believe or want to believe they do not have to carry around cash
as much anymore. I am somewhere in the middle. A child of the 80s, I had a feeling
computers were taking over. Now, as a middle-aged woman in the 2020s, I miss the
days of real photos, and landlines where you talk while sitting at the kitchen table, and
getting a snack at an amusement park with a $10 bill from my mom. And, you better
believe I am not giving my kids credit cards, you can mark my words. It makes sense
that a lot of businesses are going to or starting to embrace cashless transactions, but
will it stop there? I took my kids out to eat at a chain restaurant in Albany, NY. We
were greeted by a real-life human being AND a robot. Which one do you prefer? the
real-life human asked. We thought about it, and then, noting my dietary issues, and
my son’s need to have his burger cooked “just right” we opted for the human server.
Personally, as someone see-sawing between “I like modern-day technology” to “I miss
the good old days,” I cannot imagine being seated by a robot and following it to our
table like an employee at Spacely’s Space Sprockets. I need to talk to a real person.
Another thing that I cannot stand is where I need to call a store or company and am
told instead to start a chat online. Or to work with a bot overseas. For my recent birthday,
I was gifted a pair of shoes that did not fit. I had to call the majorly-huge national
shoe-selling giant, Zappos.com and I was shocked, SHOCKED, in a happy way, that
is, to have a human being on the other end of the phone. And with this, I will quickly
stand on my soapbox, and plead that If you have the means, please answer your phone
when your car wash customers call. I beg of you. I know it’s a pain in the ‘you know
what’, but it will make for a happy customer. A lot of those bad car wash reviews on
Yelp! Are due to customers not being able to reach the owner, etc.
As for where things are going, there are a lot of things the Jetsons got right: Video calls,
talking watches, un-manned vacuums, and flat-screen TVs; but one thing that hasn’t
changed, is the need for interpersonal charm.
As always, I hope you all enjoy this issue, and please feel free to reach out to me with
comments, questions, or complaints– I will even answer the phone if you want to call
me: 518-598-2287.
Sincerely,
All inquiries should be directed to:
Self Serve Car Wash News
110 Childs Ln., Franklin, TN 37067
jacksonv@sscwn.com
Copyright 2022. 2 Dollar Enterprises/SSCWN. All Rights Reserved
4 • SUMMER 2022

FUN & GAMES
WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
Think
these two pictures taken at a self serve car wash
are the same? Think again! There are four differences.
Can you spot them all?
1. Vacuum hose is lower 2. Garbage can is smaller 3. Bars in canopy are missing 4. Vehicle is missing
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SUMMER 2022 • 5

FUN&
GAMES
More Funny Signs
And THIS is why
you shouldn’t
wash your car in
your driveway
Oh my! A few years ago Red Huber of Orlando, Florida, was rinsing off his
vehicle in his driveway when he spotted a black bear staring at him from about
20 feet away. Huber, who also happens to be a professional photographer for
the Orlando Sentinel, snapped this shot before the bear tipped over a bucket of
soapy water, and proceeded to scamper off into the woods. With his stature, the
bear didn’t even offer to wash the roof for him. Thanks for nothing, bear!
6 • SUMMER 2022
- from carwashforum.com user sjb

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SUMMER 2022 • 7

TIPs
MARKETING TIP
TikTok now
offfers small
business platform
What is TikTok exactly? Is it like Facebook?
Instagram? Both? Are adults on it, too? The
answer to all of those questions is: Yes. The
popular social media tour de force known as
TikTok, and defined as a “leading destination
for short-form mobile video uploads.” This
means it is just a showcase of quick video clips.
Music and other features, filters and special
effects can be added to enhance each video, too.
And, now TikTok is offering various marketing
tools and resources for small businesses.
TikTok, which currently has over 500 million
subscribers across the work, has launched a
new initiative called “Follow Me,” which offers
small businesses the necessary tools to have a
successful business account. According to a July
11 tech.co story, the Follow Me program will
offer businesses a crash course in the functions,
features, and tools that TikTok currently
provides, and how they could be utilized in
your company’s social media strategy.
“TikTok describes the program — which runs
for six weeks from July 11 to August 19 — as a
‘multi-channel educational experience’ that will
drive real-world results. The program will include:
• A guide to setting up a free business
account
• Access to the creative center
• Insights into how TikTok’s Ads Manager
and Promotion features can be leveraged
to further reinforce campaign outcomes.‘
BUSINESS SERVICE TIP
Live from your carwash ... It’s IGNTFL!!!!
A car wash owner had the brilliant idea of livestreaming
his car wash so that people can see if
there’s a line/it’s busy, etc. The live stream was
broadcast on the car wash’s website. Not only did
this encourage people to visit when the car wash
was not busy, it also allowed customers to checkin
to see if the car wash was still busy and then
visit, instead of looking at another business.
Oh, and IGNTFL stands for “I Got No Time
For Lines.”
(Editor’s Note: This next tip is one of the best I have ever heard, and sadly, I cannot attribute it to the right person, so if you’re
reading this, and you shared this self serve car wash tip at The Car Wash Show a few years back, please let me know.)
MANAGEMENT SERVICE TIP
How about some free
small business resources?
The Small Business Digital Alliance (SBDA),
a new public-private co-sponsorship between
the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
and Business Forward, Inc., published a
comprehensive suite of free resources to help
small businesses expand their customer base,
manage their growth, find and retain talent, and
enter new markets. These resources are being
provided by some of America’s most respected
leaders in business, government, economic
development, and other aligned spaces. The
SBDA previously announced its first slate
of events and national members, including:
Amazon, Comcast, Google, Meta, PayPal,
Principal Financial Group, Square (Block, Inc.),
TriNet, Venmo, Verizon, Visa, and ZenBusiness.
Since launching, the SBDA has brought on
LinkedIn and Microsoft as national members.
In line with the Biden-Harris Administration’s
focus on building a better America, the SBDA’s
digital tools will help small businesses create
competitive advantages and lower the barriers
to entry to entrepreneurship for all aspiring
small business owners, especially those from
historically underserved and disadvantaged
communities. Beyond access to technical skills
development and tools, the SBDA will play a
significant role in helping entrepreneurs expand
their networks -- a key component for small
businesses as they seek new customers and
stronger relationships with vendors, lenders,
and other stakeholders needed for success.
Small businesses can also partake in regional
educational and networking events hosted
through the collaboration of the SBA, Business
Forward, Inc., and the SBDA’s national members.
How to access the SBDA’s Digital
Resource Library
Small businesses can navigate the SBDA
national members’ tools and resources through
the library for more personalized learning by
visiting smallbusinessdigitalalliance.com. The
library will be updated monthly with new
resources throughout the year.
Resources available to small business owners
through the SBDA library include:
• Tools geared toward establishing a digital
presence, reaching new markets, managing
growth, finding and retaining talent,
improving operations, expanding customer
bases, e-commerce, and raising capital;
• Live workshops and curricula tailored to
business leaders’ needs;
• Development and support in accelerating
online and social media strategies; and
• Trainings to assist in accessing and
utilizing digital tools provided by
national members.
TECHNOLOGY TIP
Erase before you toss
Not sure if this is obvious or not, but scammers out there like
to look in the trash for computers, hard drives, etc. Therefore, it’s
important to properly delete all information before you throw
anything away. According to the website MindMyBusiness.com,
“Small businesses commonly go through various devices as the
company grows. Before getting rid of an old computer, be sure the
hard drive is erased. For data and identity thieves, a computer thrown
in the trash can be a gold mine. Even a copier can store documents
on its internal hard drive until those files are overwritten.”
How to do this of course depends on the computer brand, but
it is pretty simple… and worth it.
SUCCESS TIP
“Your success is limited
by your personal
development- what you
think you’re capable of,
what you think you deserve,
and the mindsets that hold
you back.”
— Jeffrey Shaw, The Self-Employed
Life: Business and Personal
Development Strategies That
Create Sustainable Success
8 • SUMMER 2022

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SUMMER 2022 • 9

Around the Wash
How Self Serves are
Doing in the U.S. and AUS
Following a successful Car Wash Show, held by the International Carwash Association last April in Nashville, and with the upcoming
Car Wash Show Australia, being held this September, in which the numbers are already exceeding initial expectations, we spoke
with both presidents to find out where self serves stand. Though an ocean or oceans apart, there are many similarities between the
Land of Opportunity and the Land Downunder – from recessions to upgrades owners seem to want and fear the same thing. To find
out what, read the following is a Q&A with Eric Wulf, CEO of the International Carwash Association and Neil Fox, president of the
Australian Car Wash Association.
What is trending right
now with self-serve
owners? Are they looking
for particular upgrades?
Eric Wulf, CEO of the International
Carwash Association: My sense is that
there is still a significant opportunity for the
self-service segment to:
• (a) upgrade payment acceptance equipment
(e.g., credit card and NFC), and
• (b) consider new trends in building design /
architecture.
Neil Fox, Australian Car Wash Association
President: Continuous infrastructure
upgrade and development is a crucial part of any
business strategy; however, COVID impacts of the
past couple of years have slowed planned developments
for some operators. Interestingly, for others,
the COVID period was seen as an opportunity to
undertake site maintenance and upgrades.
Fortunately, Car Wash Show Australia hits Sydney
in September 2022. The Show will be the
first chance in several years that car wash operators
have been able to gather, discuss and research
site upgrades and new developments since 2018.
We will be in a better position to assess future
development trends in the latter part of the year.
Do you think self-serve
owners have anything to
worry about with a possible
upcoming recession?
Eric Wulf (ICA): I don’t think any business is
recession-proof, and there are only two ways to
maintain profitability – reduce expenses or increase
revenues (or do both, and grow margin). Good
operators will be looking for options to do both.
Neil Fox (ACWA): There has certainly been
plenty of chatter about recession amongst financial
analysts; however, new and used vehicle sales
and prices remain incredibly strong in Australia.
It is reasonable to consider that a well-run selfserve
in Australia will continue to perform as it
satisfies the car washing demands of a significant
customer segment.
In a recession, if we have one, self-serve has
even more upside as it is a low-cost way for consumers
to wash their cars.
For many people in Australia, their vehicle
remains their most or second-most valuable
possession (after their home). Vehicle owners,
therefore, are incentivised to maintain their
assets, even during a recession. Indeed, car wash
has proven to be quite resilient under most economic
conditions. And self-serve, being a lower-cost
commercial car wash option, is likely to be
less impacted during an economic downturn than
more expensive car wash methods.
What do you think
self-serve owners want
to do with their self-serves
down the road?
Eric Wulf (ICA): Make money! To do that, it
will be incumbent upon them to continue executing
on the core tenants of great products, great
site and great value.
Neil Fox (ACWA): Although there have been
recent increases in tunnel wash development, we
are yet to see the rapid expansion of this wash
model experienced in the United States.
The most popular car wash model in Australia
is a site with automatic machines (roll-over or
touchfree) combined with self-serve bays. Self-serve
remains a much sought-after wash option amongst
car owners in the Australian market, and it is likely
to remain a staple in the short to mid-term.
10 • SUMMER 2022

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SUMMER 2022 • 11

TRICKS OF THE
(Note: Some posts feature minor
edits for readability.)
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
Water bill, say what?
I just bought a car wash with 3 self serve bays and 1 in bay automatic.
I’m having a serious issue with my water bill. It is higher than all other
bills combined, and I am honestly in the hole - YOUNGS PREMIUM WASH
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
When you have no customers, and all reservoirs are
full, go to the street meter and check for flow at the
meter. There should be none. If there is, you may
have a leak between the meter and the equipment
room. I have a $1,200 water bill from last year to
prove it can happen.
Next, check the tips you are using on the self
serve bays. Make sure they are new. As an example,
we use a 1505 tip. One big one to check is if you
use a water softener (the one that uses salt). See
how long and how often it’s regenerating. If it does
this at night, you’ll never notice just how much water
can go through one of those babies (until you
get a bill). - EDREDTOP
How many cubic feet of water are you using per
month? How much is your water bill? - RANDY
Hello, I don’t know that answer and I’ll need to figure
that out. But to put it simply, here are my bills:
Loan: $630; electric $500; gas $350; Internet $200;
and water $1800. …And I’ve only had the carwash
for about two weeks now, but I would say revenue
is in the ballpark of $2500-$3000 a month- YOUNGS
PREMIUM WASH
Just doing mental math with what you gave us, a
couple impressions:
Your water+sewer rate is about $3 per hundred
gallons, which is high-ish but not wildly out of line.
Your electricity/water ratio appears to be in the
ballpark too. That’s usually what would tip me off
to a leak, so I suspect you don’t have one. $200 a
month for Internet? Yikes! -PAULLOVESJAMIE
The internet bill is unconfirmed I still have to
have that installed this week. But if you look at
the numbers, I’m making $2500-$3000 a month
in revenue MAX, bills = over $3500. And from
most car wash owners I’ve talked to, that water bill
is out of the park compared to the numbers given
-youngs premium wash
Looking at your water bill the rates don’t seem
that out of line, but it looks like they estimated the
start and end meter. Nobody’s water bill starts at
exactly that amount and ends at an exact amount.
With a usage of exactly 60,000 gallons
I would take the bill you have down to the meter
and 1st see if those end numbers match up and
then see if the meter is moving with nothing running.
If it is moving cut the water off in the equipment
room, then check the meter again. If it’s still
moving, you have a leak – if not you’re good and
also look for leaks in the equipment room and beyond
-DAWGWASH
You are only making 1/4 or less than what you should
for that much usage. Something is not right! -2BIZ
That bill seems crazy high. We pay approximately
that, quarterly. We have 3 self serve bays and one auto.
Try calling the city. I know our city is VERY helpful
when it comes to water usage. They will help you narrow
down the problem if there is one. -BERT79
Something is wrong BIG TIME! in a month you
consumed 60,000 cubic feet of water or 448,800
gallons of water or 14960 gallons a day. Either you
have a massive leak or you’re supplying water to
your neighbors, or you have a defective meter.
I’d check the meter tonight to see if the meter is
turning when everything is full like what edredtop
said. I can turn my incoming water off at the backflow
preventor.
One of the car washes here, when they went to install
another in-bay automatic they had to increase
the size of the water meter. When they turned the
water off the burger restaurant owner next door
came over screaming blood murder because they
lost their water. Turns out when they built the burger
restaurant, they tapped into the car wash water
supply! -RANDY
Randy, how can you tell his water is metered in cubic
feet? -I.B. WASHINCARS
99% of the municipal water meters I’ve dealt with
are in cubic feet. Even if the water meter was in
gallons, 60,000 gallons of water for a small 3 bay car
with an in-bay automatic that’s only doing $3000 a
month is still way too high. -RANDY
So, the water bill of $1800-$2000 a month fits the
income of around $2500-$3000 a month? How on
earth can I even break even that way? That’s what
makes me think there has to be a leak or something
gone wrong… -YOUNGS PREMIUM WASH
When I had a leak in my
incoming watermain, I
knew I had a problem,
water was coming up
out of the pavement.
Another thing you can
do is to note the meter
reading and then fill
a 15-gallon container and
then check your meter reading
to see if it’s right on or not or call the city and have
them check the meter. My new meter has a recording
device on it so they can download everything
there is to know about the meter, what time and
how much water I use, etc. When they read the meter,
they just drive by and it’s done. -RANDY
When we had a broken water main underground
you would see a large wet area when it was dry
for weeks. It allowed us to isolate the crack to a
10’ section but was still expensive to dig up and
repair. Hopefully you have some building plans to
know where the line is located, otherwise contact
town engineering dept for a copy that was submitted
to them when the place was built. Some towns
will mark your water line for you so you can focus
on the right area. Your water/sewer costs per gal
($0.03) are average from what we have seen, and
we have a few locations. Lastly, look to see if you
have a weep system, perhaps you are constantly
weeping all the bays all day long due to a stuck
solenoid. It looks like you have several businesses
on the same lot so your numbers may not represent
just the carwash portion. -ROZ
If your meter is in gallons like Randy said, fill a
bucket or 55-gallon drum and see if the 2 numbers
are close. I once built a wash and put a brand-new
city supplied meter in. My water bill was 3X at
the new wash even though it was doing the same
amount as another wash I had. I made them come
out with a verified meter that they had checked at
the main division. When they checked the first meter,
they supplied me it was registering 2.5 times
the real amount of water. I had to fight the city to
get back any of the extra money I had been paying
for months and only got a fraction back. They
could also be using a multiplier on a water meter
that does not need one. -SOAPY
12 • SUMMER 2022

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SUMMER 2022 • 13

TRICKS OF THE
Quonset Hut Curiosity
Yep, she’s a beauty! Guessing late 60s vintage? We are getting ready to paint this eyesore... anyone have a picture
of a Quonset-style wash from back in the day that had a cool paint job? - SCOTT.DOWNEY
I actually liked the old Robo buildings. - WASHNSHINE
1970s - RYANCROSS11
Vintage 1960s - 2BIZ
Back in the days of “wash, rinse and wax” as the
only options on the dial - And maybe not even the
wax in some places! - WASHNSHINE
There is a Quonset hut wash in Massachusetts, it
might be Tewksbury. They put a flat modern-looking
facade on the front to make it look modern.
The rear is still original. The owners built a tunnel
on the rear of the property. I’ve only been there
once in the middle of the night. I was told it was a
very busy location. - ERIC H
The first job that I had was helping out at a
RoboWash. I was about 12 years old.
My current 4 bay self serve was built about
1964. I’ll see if I can confirm a build date.
It’s cinder block construction. - BILL CAPRON
Painting today - SCOTT.DOWNEY
Hey everyone! Saw this thread and had to jump
in! I own/ operate what started as a Robo Wash in
1960! Haven’t had a Robo since 1984. Now have
three wands and a Hydro Spray Classic auto. Pop
bought the place in ‘73. Completely remodeled in
‘84. Worked there every day until he turned 90!
The place has been called “The Quonset Car Wash”
since it opened. I am 1/4 mile south of what was
the main gate to The Quonset Naval Air Station in
North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The place where
the Quonset Hut was invented during WW2! -
CHUCKMIESTER
14 • SUMMER 2022

What the weep?
TRICKS OF THE
So, I am new to the car wash game. Just finishing my first month with 2 locations.
What would cause water to be weeping out of 2 of my guns even with all the weep
valves closed and the weep system turned off? It is a constant stream of water. Bad
valves? Not sure what else to look at. Thanks for the help! - AZSUDS
Rinse solenoids? Need more info… - MEP001
It’s old Ryko equipment that’s probably 35 years
old. - AZSUDS
If it’s that old, it’s more likely the little rubber puck
on the solenoid stems are worn. Either replace part
or the solenoid. - MAC
Could be trash holding the plungers up in the solenoids.
Is it 100% water or is there any chemical
with it? - $!CMAD3K
Just water - AZSUDS
The easiest thing to do would be to disconnect the
hoses off the pump that is leaking to determine
which solenoid valve is actually leaking and then
go from there. It could be something as simple as a
little debris under the valve seat or it could be the
valve itself. You want to try and use the same valve
as what’s on your equipment now. I used to hate
going into an equipment room to work on someone’s
equipment and they had a mishmash of wires
and junk components… - RANDY
I recently had the same problem with my old Ryko
Power Wash IV equipment. I diagnosed using the
following approach:
Feel the temperature of water weeping out of
the gun to see if it is hot or cold. In my case the
water was cold. I then closed the cold-water feed
to the bench and to see if the water stopped.
In my case it did. To make 100% sure this was
the issue I also disconnected the supply hose and
turned the cold-water feed on.
In my case it started dripping out of the hose, so
I was pretty sure that was the issue. I replaced the
1” solenoid feeding the pumps.
I can get you a part number for the Parker solenoid
tomorrow if you like. My equipment uses
24VAC solenoids.
Attached picture of my wash equipment. Don’t
judge too harshly, I have since done a lot of work
cleaning this bench up. - JAMES.IRELAND
If your rinse water is street pressure, it’s most likely
that solenoid valve. Hopefully you have a shut off
valve before the solenoid. Shut it and if the water
stops weeping you need to replace the plunger and
valve seat. If when you shut off the rinse, it keeps
weeping, go down the line, soap, wax etc., keep
shutting them off one at a time until you stop the
weep, then rebuild that valve. - TOMS PTCARWASH
So, it ended up being the rinse solenoid! Thanks everyone!
- AZSUDS
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SUMMER 2022 • 15

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email: Brandi.Evans@alliant.com
http://wwwwesterncarwash.com
CA DOI Lie. #OC36861
16 • SUMMER 2022

Stop!
In the name of a car wash
TRICKS OF THE
I really need to pick a name for my car wash. I’m in a small
town that has two ss/iba washes. I own one and someone else
owns the other, but both are known as Muncy Carwash. I’ve
found that I can’t advertise without people asking if we are,
“The one by the hospital or the one with the laundry?” it’s very
frustrating. I’m invested in making my little wash the best that I
can, so I’ve spent way too much time racking my brain for just
the right name. Last night I had a semi back into my sign and
bent it over, so I’m motivated to finally pick something. How did
you finally pick your washes name? I did really like “HomeTown
Car Wash,” but some guy about 100 miles away has that. I’m
close to the home of the Little League, so I was thinking of Little
League Carwash. Dino Carwash would be fun, cheesy as hell,
but I always wanted to stick a 30-foot fiberglass dinosaur on a
building. My mom joked that I should call it Hit & Run Car
Wash because semis keep turning around in my parking lot
knocking stuff over and then driving off. Does anyone have advice
on picking a name for a small 3ss/1iba wash? - NSTRAVA
Mine is at a main cross-street on a much more major
road, so I just named it after the cross-street.
The important stats to look at are how many
looked up your phone number or asked for directions
to your wash. - NMEP001
I don’t have a side street, both car washes are on
the same road about 1 mile apart. - NSTRAVA
Possibly pick the school mascot. Ours is a bulldog
so I chose DAWGWASH. There are tons of choices,
just have fun with it and go with it… SCRUB-
BIES, PROWASH … - NDAWGWASH
My washes are named after my daughter, Claire,
so: Claire’s Car Wash.
As mentioned above, have fun with it. Something
industry related or community related would be
the best way to go. Here in Ft Worth aka Cowtown
or Funky Town which I have seen both used in car
wash names. - NFREEMAN
Here’s a few names that we like. Wash-me Car
Wash, Speedi Car Wash, Classic Car Wash, Splash
and Dash Car Wash, Classy Chassis Car Wash. Mr.
Sudsy Car Wash, Big Dog Car Wash. - NRANDY
We’re located on a busy corner in town, so we
named it after the town - “Citrus Heights Car
Wash”. I would encourage you to make the name
fun & memorable and create a vision for your customers.
I like the Dinosaur & Little League ideas!
- NKIMBERLY BERG
I know someone who took the first initial of each
of their kids and made up a name. Fun, easy to
remember, or something that describes where you
are located. - NROZ
How about “Home Run Car Wash” - NWASHNSHINE
Does Muncy have a local nickname…?
I suggest you go with - what it is, and where it is located,
or where it is located, and what it is…. Keep
it simple, you are going to want to sell it down the
road… so avoid “Bobs Car Wash” … - NSJB
Muncy Indians is the high school mascot’s name,
I didn’t want to do anything with Indians. I didn’t
think it was appropriate. Unfortunately, it being
such a small town it isn’t known for anything. I’ve
even gone to the local historical society looking
to see if anything stood out. The next town over
is known as the home of the little league World
Series and that’s why I was thinking “Little League
Carwash.” - NSTRAVA
I don’t think it matters as much as you think it
matters. A strong name is nice, but the big headline
on any signs or advertising is “car wash”. you
want a name that can transfer easily to the next
owner. That’s why I would avoid using personal
names. I would also avoid any names with a sexual
connotation or anything too cute. Definitely disregard
all the names that you came up with after a
few beers etc.
If you want to lead the customers in a certain direction,
you can do it with your name. Like if you
always offer rich chemicals and soaps, you could
call it something like super suds. - NWAXMAN
I think you are right. I was talking to another owner
and he also made that point, you can think of
the greatest name in the world but people will still
refer to it as “the carwash” That being said I still
want to come up with a good name to differentiate
my wash from the other that’s a mile away
on the same street with the same name. - NSTRAVA
What side of town are you located? Another option
would be to give it a compass name - like
“South Side Car Wash” (if you’re located on the
south side), etc. Though not everyone knows their
compass points… - NKIMBERLY BERG
You also have to be careful about infringing on any
copyrights or trademarks. I knew a guy that named
his automatic tunnel “AutoMagic Car Wash.” He
got up to three locations built and established
and then was slapped with a lawsuit by the detail/chemical
company named AutoMagic and he
had to change his name (he just called it Magic
Car Wash) He had to change all sings in front of
the buildings, on the buildings, coupon books, ads,
media, merchandising etc. So, in short, be careful
and Google anything you are strongly considering
seeing if there is any type of protection on it. -
NWASHNSHINE
We used to drink Keystone Beer, so we named it
Keystone carwash. - NWATER GUY
HOME RUN CAR WASH?
ALL STAR CARWASH? - NDAWGWASH
BayWash
Mine are “Water U Doing.” - NSOONERMAJIC
“World’s Greatest Car Wash”
…or soon to be… - NSJB
I agree with a name that means something personal
to you. Here’s why we named ours Cheetah
Express (after a visit to South Africa and a one-onone
experience with Cheetahs): - NCHEETAHEXPRESS
Slugger Wash & Rinse?
Dirty Be Gone? - NMCARTER1990
How about Diamond Wash? - NCBCHEVY4X4
This might be contentious, but how about, “The
Best Wash in Muncy”? - NEW WASHDOG
SSCWN EDITOR
CHIMES IN:
(using a serious TV
reporter voice)
SSCWN will keep tabs
on the development of
this story and will report
the chosen name in an
upcoming issue as soon
as it is available.
SUMMER 2022 • 17

TRICKS OF THE
And the truck would have been clean,
if it wasn’t for you crazy kids!
- D&D U-WASH
WOW! That Foam looks like Spray Paint. - CAR-
WASHBOY
Stupid kids I’m sure it’s some TikTok trend ... -
RFREEMAN
There is some “tic tok” trend going. I have had 4
this week coming in at night videoing themselves,
each one spent $25+ hahaha!! - CBCHEVY4X4
Your customers are dancing on cars, mine dance
with AR’s - GHETTO WASH
Our kids and future are in great hands, at least their
parents taught them to respect others property
- TRAVELER17
Yes, until you get a letter from her attorney seeking
damages because your facility is not completely
idiot proof! - TOMS PTCARWASH
It’s getting weird… - RFREEMAN
Beavis and Butthead...huha..huha...I know, let’s
try going like 60 mph and slam on the brakes, see
if we can hold on...huha...huha, yea, that would
be so cool. - TWODOSE
Here’s the brand of Triple
Foam we use. It doesn’t stain
skin or clothes. - D&D U-WASH
Dang and I get mad when I
have to tell them to turn the
music down. I bet they were
great for business!!! - TRAV-
ELER17
It’s going around! - TIMMB
That was not an AR but an AK-47 variant. It’s all
fun and games until the po po show. Too bad you
don’t have audio. “No really officer we were just
shooting a music video.” - OURTOWN
Wholly $%#! Ghetto....it’s a circus over there!
Looked like they were trying to film some amateur
music video....idiots! On top of blocking your wash!
- RFREEMAN
18 • SUMMER 2022

SUMMER 2022 • 19

PRODUCT NEWS
INNOVATIONS
INTRODUCING
Date: June 2022
New nozzle from
General Pum
General Pump
1174 Northland Drive
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone: 651-454-6500
FAX: 651-454-8015
General Pump Introduces New Nozzle: GP Blaster
NEW AND IMPROVED PRODUCTS
AND SERVICES FOR SELF SERVE CAR WASHES
New tunnel wash series
from Belanger
Belanger, a product brand of OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions, is proud to
General Pump, makers of the finest spray nozzles available, is now introducing the GP Blaster!.
General Pump, makers of some of the finest spray nozzles
announce that it unveiled its new “Legend By Belanger” Tunnel Wash Series
Consisting of hardened stainless steel, the GP Blaster’s high-impact design offers superior cleaning,
available, is now introducing the GP Blaster!
product brand at the International Carwash Association’s “Car Wash Show®.”
further enhancing the effectiveness of a spray system. In addition, The Blaster’s elongated body
Consisting of hardened stainless steel, the GP Blaster’s highimpact
The Legend By Belanger brand pays homage to Belanger’s more than 50-year
cleans surfaces from longer distances and is also available without the elongated body as a rapid
change
design
nozzle
offers
holder.
superior
Finally,
cleaning,
history as an innovator and creative trendsetter in the tunnel wash space.
these nozzles feature a durable, cost-effective design
Legend By Belanger builds on Belanger’s status as the first company
• further enhancing the effectiveness of a spray system.
For more information, contact General Pump Inside Sales/Customer Service at 888.474.5487 to develop a x199. soft-touch tunnel wash system and draws on its decades of
In addition, The Blaster’s elongated body
engineering know-how and experience to continue to develop vehicle wash
• cleans surfaces from
innovations that no other company can match. This drive and commitment
longer distances and
have helped Belanger redefine the tunnel wash industry, with the company’s
is also available
150-plus U.S. patents as evidence of this commitment to innovation.
without the elongated
“The Legend By Belanger product brand pays tribute to the more than 50
body as a rapid
years that Belanger has been one of the vehicle wash industry’s most trusted
• change nozzle
and revered name in tunnel wash excellence,” said Warren Day, Vice President
holder. Finally,
and General Manager of OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions. “Attendees at The
these nozzles
Car Wash Show will be getting a first look at some of the new equipment
feature a durable,
innovations that we will be launching later this year and we are eager to receive
cost-effective design.
some initial feedback from our long-time customers and channel partners.”
Water treatment system from INOWA
INOWA presents its latest development, the fully
biological water treatment system C BIO.
The water is treated biologically in the basin
in a sustainable and resource-saving way. The
system is suitable for all convenient wash water
filtration units and has a lot of advantages:
• Low contamination inside the washing
booth resulting in longer cleaning intervals
• Clear water
• No odors
• Maintenance-free fixed-bed bioreactor
• Sustainable and resource-saving
• Long service life for filters and wash
system.
INOWA offers its solution in pre-fabricated
concrete basins as well as an export-friendly
variant for installation in concrete tanks made
on site. The latest installations of the system
have been for a wash tunnel, a rollover and self
serve car wash.
New in-bay automatic from PDQ
The new LaserWash® 360 Plus In-Bay Automatic
Car Wash establishes a new performance
standard through its Smart 360 Technology,
which enables the wash to “think for itself” and be
responsive to the dynamic conditions in the wash
bay. The Smart 360 Cleaning System provides
better wash coverage through the use of rounded
arch corners, optimized chemical-application timing
and tilting arch functions. The Smart 360 Arch
Control System provides a relaxing entry into the
wash bay with quicker throughput rates by moving
around the complete vehicle perimeter for
more thorough coverage. PDQ’s LaserJuice line of
wash detergents can be used with the system. The
LaserJuice chemicals are non-synthetic, naturally
derived and biodegradable, which makes them
safer for vehicles, operators and the environment.
The integrated Smart 360 Drying System offers
the unique FlashDry service that streamlines the
amount of time needed to perform basic drying
functions. All the Smart 360 features can be managed
and monitored through the system’s Smart
360 networking capabilities. This consists of an
easy-to-use browser interface that allows wash
operators to access all key operating functions and
reports from anywhere in the world. It also enables
the operator to change wash packages, view
performance and trend reports, and monitor all
machine functions via a few clicks of a mouse and
no need for special software.
The LaserWash 360 Plus can be fully integrated
with entry systems, controllers and management
software from PSD Codax. PSD Codax, which is
the United Kingdom subsidiary for OPW VWS
product brand Innovative Control Systems®, has
been a leader in the development of vehicle wash
technologies since 1991. Starting with a simple
keypad for code entry, PSD Codax has grown into
an innovator that today offers cutting-edge vehicle
wash technologies that help support and grow
the wash operator’s business while helping make
the wash experience as seamless and pleasurable
as possible for the driver.
All PDQ wash systems can be integrated with
vehicle wash entry, management and control technology
from fellow OPW VWS product brand
Innovative Control Systems®. Since 1988, ICS
has been developing equipment and systems that
are designed to enable vehicle-wash operators to
maximize their profitability.
20 • SUMMER 2022

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SUMMER 2022 • 21

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225 Crown Blvd. Timberlake, NC 27583 | PO Box 488, Roxboro, NC 27573
22 • SUMMER 2022

Everything you need to Succeed
D&S Car Wash Supply
SUMMER 2022 • 23

INDUSTRY DIRT
HAPPENINGS IN & AROUND THE SELF SERVE CARWASHING INDUSTRY
OPW names new
Business Unit Manager,
and scholarship winners
OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions, of Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania, which was formed in January 2019
and consists of PDQ Manufacturing, Inc., Belanger,
Inc., and Innovative Control Systems, has named
Kevin Ahnert as the company’s new Business Unit
Manager for Payment Solutions and Controls, according
to a May 9, 2022, press release.
Ahnert started his career in the car wash industry
in the late 1990s and was previously the Vice
President of Operations at ICS (Innovative Control
Systems). In 2008, Ahnert transitioned to the food
distribution industry but is now excited to return to
the vehicle wash industry as part of the OPW Vehicle
Wash Solutions team, the press release stated.
“I am thrilled to have Kevin Ahnert join our
team to lead Payment Solutions and Controls,”
Warren Day, Vice President and General Manager,
OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions, stated in the press
release. “Kevin brings a wealth of leadership experience,
as well as vehicle wash industry knowledge
to help guide and grow our payment solutions and
controls portfolio.”
“I look forward to being a part of the OPW Vehicle
Wash Solutions team,” Ahnert stated in the press
release. “Vehicle wash technology is growing at an
unprecedented pace, and I am excited to be part of
an innovative team that delivers cutting-edge technology
to improve customers’ wash experiences.”
To learn more about the complete range of
OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions systems and equipment,
please visit opwvws.com.
In other OPW news, the company has announced
the winners of the 2022 Dover Scholars Program.
Dover Scholarships are made available to the
children of full-time employees of Dover and its
Operating Companies worldwide. Selections are
made by a four-member committee of college admissions
professionals from prominent universities
based on academic excellence, leadership abilities
and extracurricular activities. Winners represent
both high school seniors and current college students
and may receive up to $12,000 in scholarship
support over the four years of their undergraduate
education. Now in its eleventh year, the
program has awarded 373 scholarships, providing
approximately $2.6 million in financial support to
deserving students.
The winners of the 2022 Dover Scholars Program,
include:
• Joon Chun, child of OPW employee Hee
Chun. Chun is a high school student attending
Lawrence Free State High School in Lawrence,
Kansas.
• Elizabeth Hutchinson, child of Acme Cryogenics
employee Daniel Hutchinson. Hutchinson is
a high school senior attending Birchwood
Academy in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
• Benjamin Olenick, child of OPW employee
Douglas Olenick. Olenick is a high school
senior attending Talawanda High School in
Oxford, Ohio.
• Nikhil Verma, child of Innovative Control
Systems employee Nirmal Verma. Verma is a
college student attending Pennsylvania State
University majoring in aerospace engineering.
“Congratulations to Joon, Elizabeth, Benjamin
and Nikhil for being awarded four of the 30 scholarships
granted worldwide,” Kevin Long, President
of OPW, stated in a press release. “Recipients of this
prestigious scholarship were selected from students
who applied across all Dover Operating Companies
globally. Being selected for this scholarship is a true
honor and we commend our four awardees, along
with the entire 2022 class of scholarship recipients
for their outstanding achievements.”
EverWash acquires
OmniX technology,
partners with Car IQ
Recent data from OmniX reveals 40% of car
wash members return to the same car wash location
within a year of canceling their memberships,
according to an EverWash press release. ”For
mom-and-pop shops looking to bring these members
back into their community, this data signals
that owners need consistent, ongoing opportunities
to regain lost customers.”
Working with hundreds of independent wash
owners nationally, the EverWash app now functions
as more than just a network of car washes —
it’s a tool for small businesses to learn more about
their customers, habits and preferences. OmniX
technology is bringing AI to EverWash partnered
locations, providing valuable insights and data for
car wash owners to improve operations and services.
The app alerts owners when former members
have come back to their locations and facilitates
touch points beyond that initial return.
“Through acquisitions like OmniX, EverWash is
providing industry-changing innovation and leadership
that focuses on the car wash owner and customer—giving
dual benefits that meet customers
and owners where they are,” the press release stated.
In other EverWash news, the company has
partnered with Car IQ®, a company that has created
a fleet payment solution that will allow fleet
vehicles to pay for washes at EverWash car wash
locations without the need for a credit card.
“We’re committed to creating the greatest customer
experience in the car wash industry, and
fleets are a major focus for us,” Scott Pashley, Chief
Revenue Officer at EverWash, stated in a press release.
“Car IQ is the perfect partner for us as we expand
our capabilities as the only company in the car
wash industry with autonomous payment for fleets,
and the only company creating value for our wash
partners by driving new customers and members to
our 800+ locations.”
Car IQ’s contactless and secure payment network
allows connected cars and trucks to pay merchants
and service providers without a credit card through
proprietary identifying management technology.
Together, EverWash and Car IQ provide transparency
to fleet managers with real-time data on
who is washing cars, that helps to eliminate fraud,
centralize billing, and provide an unprecedented
frictionless consumer experience for drivers who
now do not need to use a credit card to buy a car
wash, the press release stated.
“EverWash has built the largest network of car
washes in the nation, and we’re thrilled to bring our
autonomous payment technology to their already robust
management platform,” Matt Nicholson, Senior
Vice President at Car IQ, stated in the press release.
“This partnership magnifies the value we’re each delivering
to our fleet managers and drivers as we work
to bring innovative technology to the space.”
24 • SUMMER 2022

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SUMMER 2022 • 25

INDUSTRY DIRT
D&S announces new
name and logo
“Since its founding in 1972, “D&S” has been the
core of our identity with occasional changes to our
tagline over the years. Likewise, the faithful blue
shield of our logo has stood the test of time from
nearly the beginning. We began this year with a
special logo in recognition of our 50th Anniversary,”
the company stated in a press release.
The company said it is excited to publicly
present the all-new D&S name and logo. The
rationale for the change, according to the the
company were the following factors:
To project a dynamic, forward-looking symbol
of the ownership change to Lometa Capital Partners
while maintaining our core D&S identity.
To rebrand as D&S Car Wash Supply in a
manner that differentiates the name change
more effectively than a simple word substitution
To accommodate brand extension logos such as
our Field Sales & Service Division*
To give the fifty-year-old face of D&S a makeover
for a more contemporary, compelling and upto-date
symbol of our firm.
The new logo development was not taken lightly,
according to the company. The process entailed
researching graphic design, color and style trends,
creating various conceptual renderings, soliciting
HERE IS THE
OLDER LOGO:
AND, HERE IS
THE BRAND
NEW LOGO:
feedback from a variety of people, a ranking of finalists,
and refining the selected design.
“Another version of the updated logo is currently
in use by D&S Field Sales and Service (FSS). This
image is designated with the addition of “Field Sales
and Service” below the logo,” stated the company.
As for the company’s new name, it all started
when back in June, D&S, D&S Car Wash Supply
(“D&S”), a portfolio company of Lometa Capital
Partners, announced it had acquired D&S Car
Wash Systems (“DSS”).
Headquartered in High Ridge, Missouri, DSS
was the exclusive distributor of D&S’s brand-recognized,
high-performance car wash systems including
in-bay automatic, self-serve, and truck wash
products, in the St. Louis MSA area, according to a
press release. In addition to selling equipment, DSS
provided its customers with the day-to-day service
required to keep a top-tier car wash in excellent
working condition including new equipment installs,
maintenance, chemical supply, and business
advice. DSS customers included neighborhood car
washes, regional c-store chains, car dealerships, and
car rental facilities, among others.
DSS will form the nucleus of D&S’ new Field
Sales & Service division (“FSS”) which will focus
on areas where historical distributor coverage has
been non-existent or weak. FSS will strengthen
D&S’s relationship with car wash owners by
enabling seamless integration from new equipment
sale to installations, to chemical sales and
maintenance, and full-circle back to equipment
refurbishment. FSS will augment its organic
growth with additional distributor acquisitions
to further expand D&S’ reach.
Tim Huntington, CEO of D&S, stated in the
press release, “We are thrilled to expand our relationship
with DSS and formally bring them
onto our team after years of successfully working
together at the distributor-level.”
Bill Hoaglin, former owner of DSS and President
of FSS, remarked, also stated in the press
release, “A combination of D&S and DSS creates
an exciting value proposition for car wash owners
which will separate FSS from its competitors in a
rapidly changing marketplace.”
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Defining the World of Car Wash Technology
SUMMER 2022 • 27

EXTRA!
EXTRA!
Presenting the news stories
featuring self serve car washes
Spotless Brands
expands to over
100 Locations in less
than three years
Spotless Brands, a portfolio company
of Baltimore-based Access Holdings,
announced in a June 2, 2022,
press release, the addition of its 100th
car wash location. After its establishment
in January 2020, Spotless closed
on its first partnership with Cobblestone
Auto Spa in February 2020, with
27 locations at the time. This milestone
highlights Spotless Brands ability
to innovate and scale through a robust
actionable pipeline all while setting
a new standard of quality service. “I
am tremendously proud of our team
and their commitment to growth,
quality, and service. Success would
not be possible without the hard work
and dedication our entire team has
demonstrated by providing the highest
quality of service and care for our
customers,” said Russ Reynolds, CEO
of Spotless Brands, in the press release.
Spotless Brands currently partners
with three leading car wash operators
in premier markets across the country
and continues to expand with a robust
actionable pipeline.
• Cobblestone Auto Spa in
Phoenix, Arizona and Denver,
Colorado.
• Okie Express Auto Wash in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
• Flagship Car Wash in Maryland,
Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
The Spotless Brands platform
creates the opportunity for its partners
to access purpose-built credit
facilities to support ambitious growth
initiatives, while removing the risk
associated with traditional financing
solutions. In addition, car wash
operators experience robust development
opportunities for employees
and attractive transaction structures
allowing them to achieve partial
liquidity, while sharing in the upside
value created through the partnership.
Spotless Brands is dedicated
to executing a purposeful growth
strategy by partnering with leading
express car wash operators in attractive
markets.
28 • SUMMER 2022
National car wash real estate firm helps
with Ultimate Shine deal
MIRACLE, LLC, a national car wash real estate and
M&A advisory firm, represented Ultimate Shine, a leading
car wash brand established by David Wild in 2005 in
the closing of its investment partnership with Spotless
Brands(see previous story).
According to a July 19 press release, Ultimate Shine’s
17 locations across Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia
will add to Spotless Brands’ 103 existing locations
and contribute to the growth of one of the nation’s
leading car wash aggregators. The partnership will enable
Ultimate Shine to grow to 50 locations as Spotless
targets overall platform growth to 250 locations by the
end of 2023.
Thomas Coffman, broker at MIRACLE, LLC, a car
wash real estate and M&A advisory firm and Patrick
Yeghnazar of 1V1sion Capital, a boutique advisory
firm, represented Ultimate Shine in the transaction.
“The Wild Family has built a tremendous portfolio
of car washes under the Ultimate Shine brand and is
well-known and respected in the car wash industry,”
Coffman stated in the press release. “Customers can
expect the same great experience under the partnership
with Spotless Brands and the great operational
expertise offered by its COO Christian Seem. The
Wild Family and Wild Construction work hard to
build high-quality assets fast, which I know will lead
this partnership to significant growth and success. It
has been exhilarating to work among two top-notch
groups during this transaction.”
Express Car Wash, founded by Nashville native
Christian Carbone, has purchased two locations
from Smith Brothers Carwash, an express car wash
chain in Nashville, according to a May 12 press release.
Thomas Coffman of Miracle, LLC, a leading car
wash real estate and M&A advisory firm, brokered
both transactions.
“EZ Express will fully renovate these locations over
the coming months,” said Coffman, Miracle, LLC broker,
in the press release. “The locations’ previous customers
will now be able to enjoy a whole new carwash
experience.”
Tutera Group and Chris Crawford of Arc-Tech-
Con International will redevelop the Smith Bros. locations
into EZ Express.
Among the oldest car washes in Nashville, the two
locations will be redeveloped into state-of-the-art express
car wash tunnels.
The rebranded locations will add to seven other EZ
Express locations under development in southeast Tennessee,
where customers can enjoy a fast, high-quality,
eco-friendly car wash delivered with world-class customer
service and care.
“We are excited to support the growth of Ultimate
Shine as they combine with Spotless Car Wash
Brands,” said Patrick Yeghnazar, managing director of
1V1sion Capital, in the press release. “The combined
platform under the leadership of Russ Reynolds and
team represents a best-in-class growth platform serving
the car wash industry.”
Ultimate Shine Founder and President David Wild
stated that it has been a pleasure to work with MIR-
ACLE and 1V1sion Capital. “Patrick and team were
fully committed to the process from commencement
to completion,” he stated in the press release. They understood
our business drivers both at the existing sites
and the development pipeline and supported us as we
built our partnership with Spotless. The team demonstrated
deep domain expertise to ensure our partners
fully grasped the value in our business and the future
pipeline. The Wild family is delighted with the outcome
and looking forward to working with the team
in the future as we continue to grow.”
Russ Reynolds, CEO of Spotless Brands, admitted
that these transactions can often be complicated,
but that was not the case here. “MIRACLE, 1V1sion
Capital and the collective internal and external teams
from both sides did a great job getting the transaction
done while also keeping an eye on the long-term prize
for growth in the Ultimate Shine car wash footprint
through a partnership with Spotless Brands,” he stated
in the press release.
EZ Express Car Wash acquires two Tennessee washes;
starts development in Florida
The two new locations include:
• 14965 Old Hickory Boulevard, Nashville
• 436 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville
EZ Express Car Wash has also started the development
of three new car washes in southern Florida, according
to a June 15 press release. The three locations
include Miami, Pembroke Park and Haverhill. Each car
wash will include over $1 million of state-of-the-art
equipment manufactured locally in Tamarac, Florida, by
Sonny’s The Carwash Factory.
M&M Land Enterprises is developing the locations.
Lombardi Development is the general contractor.
The new car washes will add to four other EZ Express
locations under construction in the Southeastern
part of the United States. Customers can enjoy
a fast, high-quality, eco-friendly car wash delivered
with world-class customer service and care.
The South Florida locations include:
• 2701 Southwest 137 Ave., Miami
• 3301 Hallandale Beach Blvd, Pembroke Park
• 1098 North Military Trail, Haverhill

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SUMMER 2022 • 29

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…”
EXTRA! EXTRA!
What is up with Lubbock, Texas?
In Northwest Texas is a city called Lubbock—
known as the home of Texas Tech University, and
is the largest contiguous cotton-growing region in
the world, is now making headlines for something
else. In the past 10 years, the city has seen a substantial
amount of new car washes. In fact, according
to an April 20 EverythingLubbock.com report,
Lubbock has seen a 60% growth in car wash businesses
in the past 10 years.
“We opened our first [location] here in February
2012 and it’s exploded since then,” Jay Wyatt, CEO
at Mighty Wash said, in the story. “We’ve seen the
buyouts of local car washes by national car wash
companies and then there’s been some new builds.”
One reason, the article states, is the weather.
“This is one of the greatest climates for car washes
just because the weather changes about every 15
Skogie’s Car Washes makes daring and
generous move
Canadian-based Skogie’s Car Washes states
it not only want to keep your ride clean, they
also want to give you a break at the gas pump.
“With gasoline prices skyrocketing, Skogie’s
is extending the value of the tokens it hands
out when customers buy a wash—tokens that
up to now could just be used for time in the
self-serve wash bays and at its vacuums,” a press
release stated.
As of July 31, Skogie’s is taking 25 cents
off the price of gasoline for each token when
customers purchase gas at the PetroCan station
located at Skogies Auto Spa on Underhill
Street in Kelowna.
“So many of our regular customers have lots
of tokens saved up and we want to help them
out, given the price of gas is so high right now,”
minutes,” Wyatt said in the story.
People from neighboring towns will make the
trek to Lubbock just to get their car washes. One
car wash customer said in the story, “I’m not used
to it for sure, it’s nice, it almost seems like every
other block there’s a car wash so it’s convenient,
easy and accessible” said one car wash user.
Drivers come as often as once a week for a
wash, opting in for the most popular option of
monthly memberships.
In 2012, Lubbock had just four car washes and
now it has about 20 different options to choose from.
“You hope that those people that are near your
carwash use your carwash, but they can drive right
past it if you’re not doing the right thing. But as
Lubbock grows that’s how the car wash industry
will grow,” Wyatt added in the story.
said Chris Skoglund, a co-owner of Skogie’s
Car Washes, stated in the press release.
Skogies’s customers can use as many as 20
tokens at a time in any purchase.
“To use the tokens for gas, customers must
pre-pay for their gasoline inside the Auto Spa
store, not at the pumps. Skogie’s has dispensed
the tokens at its Clement, Auto Spa and Vernon
locations for more than a year now, says
Skoglund and they have proved popular with
customers as each token provides eight minutes
of vacuuming time and is worth $2 in its
self-serve bays.
But now the value of the tokens has increased,
the company slogan “No. 1 in safety,
No. 1 in quality” has a new addition— No. 1 in
value too,” the press release stated.
Zips Car Wash to continue growth
with Atlantic Street Capital
Reach out to Editor Debra Gorgos
debgorgos@gmail.com to share
your story with our readers.
30 • SUMMER 2022
Atlantic Street Capital (“Atlantic Street” or
“ASC”), a private equity firm that invests in lower
middle market companies to unlock equity value
through an operationally intensive investment
approach, announced in a May 17, 2022, press
release the agreement to increase its investment
in its portfolio company, Zips Car Wash (“Zips”).
The transaction allows ASC to acquire equity
from founding shareholders and build upon an
operating strategy that has already driven considerable
growth. The transaction is expected to be
completed in the second quarter.
Zips, a national car wash chain with over 200
locations under a single-brand concept, initially
worked with Atlantic Street Capital Fund IV
(“ASC IV”) in May 2020, and helped increase the
number of locations from 185 to 235.
During ASC’s initial hold, Zips has developed
into a top brand with advanced car wash technology
and improved customer service, the press release
stated. ASC installed a proven management
team with a passion for driving growth, brand
development and customer experience. Through
development of its subscription-based models,
Zips Unlimited Wash Club memberships today
represent a majority of revenue and contribute to
strong revenue stability, according to the press release.
“We approach all of our investments as essential
service providers,” said ASC Managing Partner,
Andy Wilkins, “helping professionalize companies,
driving organic growth, and building them into industry
leaders. Zips is a powerful example of how
the combined resources of Atlantic Street’s investment
team and 30-strong dedicated operating advisor
team gives us a sustainable advantage in driving
remarkable success – in this case outpacing our underwriting
case in just two years.”
Whit Williams, ASC Managing Partner, stated
in the press release, “The increase in Zips’ enterprise
value has predominantly been a result of
operational improvements driving significant organic
growth at the company. We still have a long
runway for those initiatives to affect even stronger
results, and to use our scale and operational capabilities
to substantially grow site count in a large,
fragmented market. We’re excited to partner with
our investors, as well as increase the GP’s investment
in Zips to capitalize on this opportunity.”

Breaking down the cause
of inflation
According to a brilliant article from smallbiztrends.com,
inflation is one of the most pressing
issues right now for small business owners.
The current inflation crisis, according to the article
is caused by several factors. Let’s breakdown
the list:
• The Ukraine War: When Russia started
attacking its neighbor, the oil, gas and
metals supplied by Russia were impacted.
And, as a surprise to many, Ukraine is a
huge supplier of wheat and corn. As a result
of the five commodities being implicated,
the prices have soared for what is available.
• Soaring Energy Prices: Energy prices
overall are up 34%, and gas is up 49%.
The reason? Once again it has to do with
Russia. “This is mainly due to the sanctions
put on Russia since the start of the war by
the US, EU, and other major economies.
When sanctions are imposed on a country,
the prices of their exports go up. And since
Russia is a major oil exporter, the prices
of energy commodities have skyrocketed.
The price for a barrel of crude oil has been
as high as $123.70 in 2022 with oil prices
being only $76.08 when the year started,”
the article said.
• Demand of outstripping supplies: Consumer
demand is faster than the rate of production
…”Global supply chains continue having
issues that are a contributing factor to the
sky-high prices we’re continuing to see
everywhere.”
• Consumer price: Food costs are up, due to
the high costs of transportation and the fact
that food factory workers are being paid
high wages, leading to less money for other
factory needs.
• The Federal Reserve: It seems as if
Federal Chair Jerome Powell, along with
others, didn’t think the inflation threat was
something to worry about back in 2021.
“The Federal Reserve has a target inflation
rate of 2%, based on the Consumer
Price Index (CPI),” the article stated.
“The current rate is about 8.6% meaning
they’ll likely raise interest rates in an effort
to slow the economy and bring inflation
down. However, many experts, including
former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman
Ben Bernanke, say the Federal Reserve
has moved too slowly. Especially at a time
when inflation is so high.” According to the
article, the Federal Reserve has already
EXTRA! EXTRA!
raised interest rates three times this year in
an attempt to head off inflation, but so far
these efforts have been unsuccessful.
• Trillions in stimulus money: Across the
globe, governments rewarded trillions
in stimuli money during the COVID-19
pandemic. “The United States alone
injected about $5 trillion of government
aid into the hands of its citizens. When
the government prints more money, it
devalues the currency, decreases consumer
purchasing power, and leads to our current
financial situation.
There you have it, folks. But, is a recession
coming? The answer: It has been 10 years since
the last recession. The pattern usually shows an
ebb and flow to recessions coming and going, but
always to different degrees. According to smallbiztrends.com,
Some economists believe that it is
only temporary and that prices will eventually stabilize.
However, others believe that we are in for
a period of sustained higher inflation. Only time
will tell which is correct. In the meantime, consumers
will need to be careful with their spending
in order to avoid financial difficulties.”
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SUMMER 2022 • 31

Carwash
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MODEL 203 FEATURES
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sales@zierden.com
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DISTRIBUTOR INQUIRIES INVITED
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32 • SUMMER 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
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MODEL 204
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Fax: (414) 764-9763
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QUALITY PRODUCTS SINCE 1937
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SUMMER 2022 • 33

Welcome, New Self Serves!
EXTRA!
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Casper, Wyoming
A new Rocky Mountain Car Wash location
held its grand opening celebration
on June 18, according to a press release, in
which free washes were given away from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Giveaways to Blue Ridge
Coffee and Black Tooth Brewing, and car
wash swag were also handed out.
The new car wash features three automatic
bays (touch free and soft touch), five oversized
self-serve bays, and free vacuums. This location
also offers a newly added wash level featuring
ceramic coating, the press release stated.
Car wash memberships are also offered that
can be used at any Rocky Mountain Car Wash
location, with three locations in Casper and nine
locations across Wyoming. The press release said
that more locations are expected for Wyoming.
Garrison,
Minnesota
The Garrison Car Wash and Laundromat
opened in July, according to a
July 16 Aitkin Independent Age story.
The new business features both a
self-service and touchless car wash,
and six sets of washers and dryers.
Other amenities include a table for
folding laundry, a vacuum for car interiors,
and a large car washing bay for
oversized vehicles, the story reported.
Hot Springs,
Arkansas
A grand opening ceremony
was held at the Eagle Car Wash
on May 27, with profits going to
the Cutter Morning Star School,
which is located next to the district
administration offices and is on the school
property, The Sentinel-Record reported.
The car wash was newly renovated, and now
features four self-serve bays and two vacuum stations,
and new lighting, allowing the property to
be fully lit 24-hours a day, along with 24-hour
surveillance. The wash will be open seven days a
week, 24 hours a day and will continuously raise
money for school programs and other activities
such as sports and student organizations. The bays
will accept credit and debit cards as well as cash
and coins, the story said.
“We’re excited for this to be open for the community,”
Cutter Morning Star School Superintendent
Nancy Anderson said in the
story. “I know it’s been out of
service for quite some time and
we finally found a way to make
it happen. And it’s something
that’s going to support our school,
help support our activities, but also
it’s for the community. The day before
the grand opening, the school’s coaching
staff volunteered to wash the car of every faculty
and staff member.
“They have also washed all the school vehicles
and the buses,” Anderson said in the story. “And
so they’ve spent a lot of time out here but I really
appreciate the hard work they’ve put in. I know
the teachers appreciate that service too. They were
very excited about it.”
To try and eliminate crime activity the car wash
empties out all of the money each evening.
“Everything is very secure. I just want the community
to know that if they come down here and
wash their car at 9 o’clock at night, they’re safe.
Because we do have 24-hour-a-day surveillance on
everything, including the vacuum cleaners in the
back, and so this is a safe area,” Anderson said in
the story.
The school’s portable library is located beside
the car wash and has a bench for the children to
use to read, the story said.
“We’re going to use it for our activities, you
know, cheerleading, band, softball, basketball, Beta
Club ... whatever activity needs the money,” Anderson
added. “What we’ll be doing is -- on our
digital sign -- we will be posting, ‘This week all
profits from the car wash will go to the Beta Club,’
‘This week all profits from the car wash will go to
the football team,’ ‘This week all profits will go
to’ whatever activity group that might be needing
some money. Whether it’s a trip or if they need
new uniforms -- whatever it might be.
One unique feature of the wash? COVID-19
sanitizer that is not for the hands, but for the vehicles.
The option is one of the offerings on the dial
menu inside each bay.
34 • SUMMER 2022

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SUMMER 2022 • 35

2022 CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
*All events are subject to changes
due to current circumstances.
SEPT 19-22, 2022
Heartland Carwash Association: 2022
Product & Equipment Show
The Prairie Meadows Events and
Conference Center | Altoona, Iowa
SEPT 20-22, 2022
Northeast Regional Carwash Convention
Atlantic City, New Jersey
OCT 12-13, 2022
Western Carwash Association’s Disneyland
Education and Road Show
Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, California
NOV 16, 2022
2022 Kleen-Rite EXPO
Columbia, Pennsylvania
FEB 22-24, 2023
Southwest Car Wash Association’s
Convention & Expo
Fort Worth Convention Center
MAY 8-10, 2023
2023 ICA Car Wash Show
Las Vegas
Association News
NRCC keynote speaker announced
New York Times Author, Travis Mills, will give the
Keynote Address at the 32nd Northeast Regional
Carwash Convention (NRCC), September 19-21,
at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Mills, who
is famous for writing Tough as They Come, will be
amongst a long list of extinguished guests and educational
offerings, according to a NECA press release.
The NRCC is staged to feature its most powerful
lineup of education and equipment displays to
date, according to 2022 Co-Chairman, Dave Ellard,
representing the New England Carwash Association
(NECA), which is this year’s host. “We had
to overcome a lot of obstacles to get our show to
market last year, but the 32nd NRCC is going to be
seamless and full of exceptional programming and
exhibits,” Ellard added. At the top of “must-sees” at
this year’s event is Keynote Speaker Mills, who is a
retired United States Army Staff Sergeant who calls
himself a recalibrated warrior, motivational speaker,
New England Carwash Association
actor, author and advocate for veterans and amputees.
Staff Sergeant Mills lost portions of both arms
and legs from an IED (improvised explosive device)
while on active duty in Afghanistan. He continues to
overcome life’s challenges daily by breaking physical
barriers and defying the odds. His drive and positivity
is infectious. Mills and his wife Kelsey founded the
Travis Mills Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to
benefit and assist post 9/11 veterans who have been
injured in active duty or as a result of their service
to the country. He also started, shortly after forming
the foundation, The Mills Group LLC, affording
him the opportunity to speak to companies and
organizations nationwide inspiring all to overcome
life’s challenges and adversity. “Hearing Travis’ story
and seeing what he has done to make his life so rich
and philanthropic will inspire us all,” said Ellard in
the press release. “He has risen above adversity and
given back in a way few of us could ever imagine.”
Australian Car Wash Association
Car Wash Show Australia
set to smash sales records
The upcoming Car Wash Show Australia 2022,
being held September 22, 2022, looks set to be bigger
and better than ever when it hits Sydney, Australia,
an ACWA press release stated.
The July 27 press release stated that the Show,
which will be held for the first time in Sydney, will
move to a purpose-built trade show venue at Sydney
International Convention Centre (ICC).
ACWA initially committed to its largest exhibition
space booking when it reserved the ICC Gallery
section, however, within days of opening sales,
it became clear even more space would be needed.
With so many exhibitors committing to greater
space, this year’s tradeshow floor will be alive with
colour and machinery— the like of which the Australian
Show has never seen before, according to
ACWA’s Business Manager Doug Cross.
Carwash Operators of New Jersey
CWONJ Bus Tour covers
Newark Sites
The Car Wash Operators of New Jersey
(CWONJ) toured three carwash sites on Tuesday,
May 24, in the Newark, New Jersey area, according
to a May 26 press release. Approximately 50 participated
in the day’s event that highlighted Wash
Hounds in Bayonne, Supreme Car Wash in Newark
and Soaring of Elmwood. “The weather held out,
36 • SUMMER 2022
the bus was full and the washes each had their own
flavor,” according to CWONJ President Dino Nicoletta.
“There was a lot to see and learn on this tour.”
The event also featured a sit-down lunch at Fernandes
Steak House on Fleming Avenue, a local
Newark favorite. The restaurant is nestled in a former
bank and is known for its rodizio (all-you-caneat
style) and endless parade of Brazilian meats.
“In addition to the three great sites we toured, our
lunch hit it out of the park,” said Nicoletta. “If you
missed this one, you really missed out.”
The event was sponsored by Bus Tour Sponsor
DRB Systems and Lunch Sponsors NCS/Vacutech
and EverWash. “It’s thanks to our generous
sponsors that we can hold such a first-class event.
I thank them on behalf of the membership and
board,” said Nicoletta.
The association’s next outing is its 20th Children’s
Specialized Hospital Annual Golf Outing, August 1,
at Suburban Golf Club in Union. Proceeds from the
event go to the hospital which is the largest pediatric
rehabilitation hospital in the country. You can learn
more at childrens-specialized.org. Sponsorship and
attendee information is available at cwonj.com.

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■ ¼” x 25’ Wire braid or coil hose with inline gauge
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SUMMER 2022 • 37

Association News
New York State Car Wash Association
NYSCWA tour features
express models, update on
Electrification Initiative
The New York State Car Wash Association
(NYSCWA) demonstrated its resilience and value
during its Spring Carwash Tour in the Albany market
on June 1, 2022, according to a press release.
Just shy of 60 attendees toured three new express
exterior sites and gathered at The
Century House in Latham to hear from
New York State Commissioner John
B. Howard, who spoke on the electrification
initiative that will impact the
industry.
The event began with a tour of Wash
Boss, of East Greenbush, a 3.8 acre express
site that opened in 2021 and is owned by Kim
and Jim Enzien. The car wash broke first-year projections
by washing approximately 140,000 cars. It
features MacNeil/NCS equipment, DRB controls,
Vacutech vacs and Airlift doors.
Next on the tour was Knockout in Guilderland,
New York. This express defied the odds and opened
after overcoming supply issues and delays brought
on by COVID, zoning hurdles, DOT challenges,
significant site reconstruction and town opposition.
It is now a beautiful location featuring equipment
by MacNeil/NCS, G&G Industrial Lighting, Captive
Air, PurClean/PurWater reclaim, Vacutech
vacs and DRB controls. It is also one of the longest
John B. Howard
tunnels in the Northeast coming
in at 190 feet. It opened in September
of 2020 and is owned by
Richard and Sandra Hameroff.
The final site on the tour was
the newest Capital District Hoffman
Car Wash on Troy-Schenectady
Road in Latham, New York. The
site opened in the late fall of 2020 after
the owners decided that digging two wells beat
paying an impact fee to hook into the town’s
water line. The site boasts unique foam
wraparounds using advanced controls
to produce a faster, better and safer
wash. The $6 million site features
Micrologic, Vacutech vacs, Simoniz
chemical and InnovateIt equipment.
Walt Hartl
Mike Benmosche
“Each wash has its own unique elements
and flavor,” said NYSCWA President
Walt Hartl. “That is what makes these
tours so valuable and fun. And, hey, the rain held
out until the last wash!”
Event sponsors included Bus Tour Sponsor NCS,
Dinner Sponsor Micrologic and Hors D’Oeuvre
Sponsor DRB.
The Association had secured industry leader Bill
Martin of Metro Express and Amplify Car Wash
Advisors out of Boise, Idaho, to speak after dinner,
but due to illness he had to take a raincheck until
the fall event, so the group pivoted and asked New
York State Commissioner John B. Howard to pitch
hit. The Commissioner spoke on the state’s “All
Electric Building Act” (A.8432), which would mandate
that a municipality not issue
a building permit for any new
commercial or residential building
submitted after 12/31/23
unless the building is all electric.
This Act stems from former Governor
Andrew Cuomo’s Climate
Leadership and Community Protection
Act (CLCPA) signed into law in
2019 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40
percent by 2030, and to no less than 85 percent by
2050. He also took questions from attendees who
are not in support of the Act. “Commissioner Howard
made some good points and helped clarify the
issue, but it’s not an effort that will be kind to our
industry,” Hartl said in the press release. “He did advise
us to reach out to our local legislators and let
them know of our opposition and why. He said we
needed to be more than just squeaky wheels, and
we will be. Out board will be directed by our trusted
Lobbyist, Bill Crowell, and kick off our efforts in
the coming weeks.”
Long-time NYSCWA board member and Treasurer,
Mike Benmosche, was also honored by President
Hartl for his years of unwavering service to
the Association.
The association’s next event is its Fall Carwash
Tour & Membership meeting in the Utica market,
on October 20. The day will also include a
tour and meal at the FX Matt Brewing Company
in Utica and an address by Bill Martin, who will
speak on the industry’s evolution and future. For
more information visit nyscwa.com.
International Carwash Association
Bill Dahm inducted into
Car Wash Hall of Fame;
Number in for 2022 Show;
2021 Booth winners
announced
“The contributions that Bill and the entire Dahm
family have made to this industry are nothing short
of incredible,” ICA CEO Eric Wulf said at the 2022
Car Wash Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Mike’s/Crew Carwash was founded in 1948 by
Joe and Ed Dahm. Bill (Joe’s son) joined the organization
in 1974. Since that time, Bill has built Crew
Carwash into one of the most respected multigenerational
family businesses in the car wash industry
with over 40 midwest locations in the U.S.
Bill’s legacy is about the culture that he’s helped
foster and expand through the organization. Every
member of the crew feels like a member of the family,
and the organization goes out of its way to ensure
that as it grows, that core tenant stays intact. Crew
Carwash focuses its brand promise on “Clean, Fast
and Friendly” for the consumer. Crew has been the
recipient of numerous workplace awards, including
Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work 2022.
“From the moment I walked through the door at
Crew, I felt like a Dahm,” Crew president and chief
operating officer Billy Schaming said. “You feel like
family, it’s not just a phrase on a wall.”
Crew Carwash team members often cite the
phrase “We’re in the people business, we just happen
to wash cars” and that is a term that permeates the
entire professional car wash industry. Much of that
goes back to the founders of Crew Carwash and the
work that Bill did to ensure that culture remained.
“He’s passionate about what he does,” Sally Grant,
executive vice president of Crew Carwash, said. “He
[Dad] taught us how to be a good person, but also
how to be a business leader.”
Bill believes the Crew family business’ best years
are still ahead.
“I hope that one of my legacies is instilling in my
children and my grandchildren a stewardship
mentality,” he said. “Where they feel at
the end of the day, their goal is to leave the
business a little better than they received.”
In other International Car Wash Association
news, the numbers are in for the 2022
Car Wash Show that took place last May.
According to the ICA, approximately 8,000
attendees perused the showroom floor at
the Nashville Convention Center. Last year,
more than 7,400 car wash professionals attended
the 2021 Car Wash Show, which
was held in Las Vegas from November 15-17.
And, finally, the ICA announced that in a year that
broke records in sheer volume of exhibiting space at
The Car Wash Show, there were many standout exhibitors
and extravagant booths that helped fill that
space with style. Every year, International Carwash
Association® awards the best booths at The Show
with the Brian Campbell Best Booth Award - these
winners are voted for by the attendees. For the first
time ever there are two award categories: “arge and
medium-sized booth.
This year’s winners of the Brian Campbell Best
Booth Award are:
• Motor City Wash Works - Large Size Booth
• Stinger Chemical - Medium Size Booth
38 • SUMMER 2022

SUMMER 2022 • 39

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SUMMER 2022 • 41

42 • SUMMER 2022
nrcc-keynote-2022-9-5x13.indd 1
7/18/22 8:02 PM

FILL
IN THE BLANK
We ask. You answer!
When I see a
bucket washer
in one of my bays,
I
I explain to bucket washers that the city
and my insurance does not allow off site
chemicals to be brought in and used. I
become liable for it when it happens. I also
point to the 3 signs per bay I have that says
No bucket washing. A local sewer authority
was hit by some illegal chemicals being
dumped somewhere in their system that did
hundreds of thousands dollars in damage
to the treatment plant. - SOAPY
If it’s not busy, I don’t approach them. Too
many of my customers don’t speak English,
so the odds are they won’t understand
me. If it’s busy, I point out that there are
people waiting and they can’t do it. They’re
generally very understanding (if they
understand) and don’t give me any grief,
in which case I thank them and drop some
coins in for them if I see them with the timer
on. I have in the past gotten all kinds of
bad interactions to the point I’ve called the
police. All the same with detailing in the
bays after washing. - MEP001
Leave them alone if not busy, ask them to
put money in the bay box if there is anyone
waiting. Kick them out if they act entitled
and throw a fit. Most are understanding,
some are a**holes. - SLASH007
Leave them be as long as there is an empty
bay and no queues. Most spend some
money and they tell their friends that we are
easy going so in the long view it probably
helps us. - ROZ
If we’re not too busy, I usually don’t say
anything. I did create this sign, so in case
it’s a busy day I can “nicely” point to it and
encourage them to finish. I also like to tell
them we’re OPEN 24 HOURS, so if they
like to bucket wash, or hand dry, to come
earlier or later in the day. - KIMBERLY BERG
…I typically approach and apologize
for being a bugger… but…. There’s no
bucket washing unless the timer is ticking,
and point to the sign (see below)….most
apologize and adapt…depending on the
current business, I might say, “How about
next time…?” - SJB
I SEE $$$. They have to fill the bucket w/
water. Then they have to spend more $$$
to rinse. - D&D U-WASH
But what about the 30 minutes in-between
when they’re slowly mitt-washing, while
other customers are waiting to wash? I’ve
lost about $20 on lost time, and possibly
the customer waiting. He’ll drive to the
next car wash & leave me a 1-star Google
review. - KIMBERLY BERG
We have waiting customers pull right
behind each bay that is busy. That does
help. That lets the bucket washer know that
there’s another customer waiting. We used
to stress about bucket washers, (tell them
that they can’t bucket wash, and mention
the best times to do it.) At times it didn’t go
very well. We do have 6 SS bays. That does
help a lot. … Towel DRYING in a bay when
BUSY is a NO, NO! - D&D U-WASH
I agree! Some “entitled” customers
will protest and tell me, “yeah, but I’m
using YOUR towel that I just bought!”
I like the analogy I’ve read here on the
carwashforum.com: Would McDonald’s
allow a customer to eat their food in the
Drive-thru lane? - KIMBERLY BERG
If you would like to contribute your own answer, visit AutoCareForum.com and do a keyword search of “fill in the blank.”
SUMMER 2022 • 43

POLL
Are you
completely
cashless at
your car wash?
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
It seems to me that there will always be a
varying degree of both types of customers
- cash and credit, depending on location/
demographics etc. Your business might be
95% credit card users and 5% cash, but even
at that, those 5% might wash elsewhere if you
don’t have the cash option at your wash. I’m
just not willing to give up 5% - or even 1% of my
customers. - WASHNSHINE
I think I will eventually-maybe five Years or so. -
GREG PACK
All bays, vacuums and the dog wash are
cashless and only have credit card readers. We
sell custom wash cards (for people who only
have cash) from our Mega Vendor 3. Best set
up for self serve I have seen. We have had zero
vandalism for over 2 years. Best decision we
have made as it is the best of both worlds. We
are about 80% Credit/Debit and 20% Cash. -
CARWASHMAFIA
0% Yes
We ask. You answer!
90% No
10% No, but thinking about it
That set-up would not work here in a small
South Texas rural town where many don’t
even have credit cards or computers.
Our business is currently 65% credit
cards/35% cash. - CHEETAHEXPRESS
I traveled in the UK for two weeks and never
once used cash. EVERYTHING is TAP to PAY,
even the donation boxes located inside
churches (you can select any amount
and tap to pay it - no matter the amount).
Not many car washes in the UK, perhaps
an untapped market.... - ROZ
I wonder how long before we will be
accepting cryptocurrencies … If ever…? - SJB
There is a new laundromat in town that, if I recall
correctly, is using this system and does not have
a changer or coin mechs on any machine. I’m
hoping this is on Cryptopay’s radar. - OURTOWN
FORUM Q&A
This question was originally posted on carwashforum.com on January 3,
2019. It has since gotten 79 replies. The latest of which are below.
What are your biggest pet peeves as a self serve car wash owner?
The “not my problem” or “I don’t care” attitude.
Customers that can’t walk five feet to put trash
in a trashcan and just throw it on the ground.
(i hate when people use steel wool pads and
leave them in the bays).
Customers who bring mud caked trucks and
ATVs and just leave the bays full of mud (screw
the next customer I guess).
Customers that tangle up the hoses and just
don’t want to take 5-10 seconds to hang them
back up. Customers that use anything other
than quarters in our vacs, even though we
have multiple signs that state “Quarters Only”.
(I currently have about 60 car wash tokens in
a jar that have jammed my vacs in the last few
months).
Honorable Mention: The Dirt Bandits: people
that break into our vac cleanout door and
dump the trash out on the ground and just
leave them open. - KG00273
I have been pleasantly surprised by the number
of customers that only want to hand bucket
wash and are now willing to keep the meter
running …. When I approach a customer bucket
washing for the first time, I apologize for being a
bugger, reference the sign (see bucket washing
post above), and then they usually apologize
to me and correct the situation…. Of course this
44 • SUMMER 2022
does not happen all the time, but it is awesome
when it does!
FYI… put locks on your vacuum doors to keep
the deadbeats out of the vacs…
My biggest pet peeve is the deadbeat that
is constantly coming on the property to hussle
customers, and wanting to wash the customers
cars… even with a police station across the
street, it is a challenge to get the police to reenforce
these laws… - SJB
But don’t just put padlocks on the original
hasps, they’ll just twist the hasps off. I had to
make lock brackets out of 1/4” angle stainless to
keep them out. - MEP001
We did that years ago and it worked out pretty
well until they started taking a crowbar to the
hinge on the door, ruined the door and dented
in the housing of the vacuum. We leave them
unlocked now, we put a cable tie where the lock
was and clean them out every day. - RANDY
Simple. Have your trash man go through the
vacs often. My trash man goes through the vacs
every day or two and the bums know they won’t
find anything. - KAR B KLEEN
People doing dangerous activities. I tuned into
this yesterday. If his door would have jammed,
he’d have a face full of low ph…and 1000psi
through zero degree nozzles. He jumped back in
it and drove it through the dryers. - BRICKS
We live in an area with lots of farms and 4WD
tracks, so mud is simply a part of life for us. We
have a 3 bay SS wash, and I shovel out about
50 gallons of mud each week. We also have 4”
drains, and have to really keep on top of any
muck building up. - GREG_T
People that put snow in the eyes to leave the
doors open to let the steam escape, but don’t
take the snow out when done - RYANCROSS11

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SUMMER 2022 • 45

BIG
TRUCKS
I LIKE
AND I CANNOT LIE
Jeff Staffin doesn’t hold back when talking about
owning a truck wash. “It is not for everyone…,” he
says. “…and, it is not for every car wash.” What
Staffin means is that there has to be little to no
competition. And an ability to clean out the bay,
as there is a lot of mud, debris and road grime (see
sidebar) that has to be washed off. And, of course,
you have to have trucks. Lots of trucks driving by.
Also, RVs, boats, trailers… you get the idea. Staffin
owns eight car washes with a total of 70 bays
throughout, three of which accommodate larger
vehicles. Located throughout the Dallas and Fort
Worth areas. Dump trucks, gravel haulers and anything
dirty come to his washes. And, he adds, business
is booming.
Staffin has been in the car washing business for
about 30 years. The truck washes came about after
he saw an untapped opportunity. “It seemed like
no one else wanted to mess with trucks and there
weren’t any around. I saw an opportunity to make
one successful. It had the right location. I soon
made a reputation with the drivers. We welcomed
18-wheelers, and now, we are setting record sales.”
But it’s not all smooth, sailing, or trucking, that is.
“A customer can make a really big mess, so
you’re looking at a lot of labor to clean it up. The
washes can be aggressive to the building. The coin
acceptors can get dirty, and they can short-out.
Also, since there’s so much dirt and debris, the pits
have to be pumped out more often. Also, you have
to clean the hoses and wands as they are crossing
over very dirty vehicles. I have a full-time attendant
on hand, even though they are self serves,
who works eight hours a day to help maintain the
bays.” He adds that they have to pump out the
sand traps once a month.
And, lastly, Staffin notes that because of the
higher pressure needed the chemicals will run out
We don’t have a catwalk, says Staffin. Instead,
we have 48” wands for people to use.
a lot faster. “I am lucky if I get 18 months out of
our pumps.”
What’s great about the truck washes? Truckers,
says Staffin, are on the road at all hours, therefore
they can use the wash at slower times. Plus, trucks
aren’t going anywhere any time soon. RV sales are
up, thanks to a pandemic that put families on the
road while quarantining. And construction is starting
back up at full force.
One tip Staffin offers is that if you’re looking to
offer a truck wash, along with doing a truck-, boat-
, RV- and other-big-vehicle count, Staffin said it’s
important to take credit cards. “Credit cards are
huge for us,” said Staffin. “With cash, a customer
would be up high washing their truck and would
have to climb down and add money.”
Also, know that word-of-mouth is huge in the
trucking industry. Offer up a great truck wash, and
word will get out. Trucks, after all, still have those
CB radios.
46 • SUMMER 2022

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SUMMER 2022 • 47

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IT
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options. As far as online opportunities focused on the car wash
industry go, nothing has provided the consistent click-throughs at
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48 • SUMMER 2022

SOOTERS CAR WASH INC. OF HALSTEAD, KANSAS
The wash opened in 1965 as a 2-bay operation. A large truck bay was opened in 1970.
I LIKE BIG TRUCKS AND I CANNOT LIE
HEYFIELD CAR AND BOAT WASH OF
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
ULTIMATE WISHY WASHY OF
DELANSON, NEW YORK
Owner Spiro Kagas has a
very successful truck wash in
a rural area of upstate New
York. One key to his success?
He said he doesn’t
discourage “mudders” and
will never turn a customer
away no matter how much
mud they need to wash off.
“We are out in the country; it
goes with the territory.”
Greg Tomamichel says the truck bay offered
at his Heyfield Car and Boat Wash of Victoria,
Australia, has been a great money maker. “We
inherited the truck bay from the previous owner,
but we would regard it as a very important
part of our wash,” says Tomamichel. “[Today] if
we were planning a new wash from scratch, we
would certainly incorporate a truck bay.” The
reason, he said, is that it certainly opens his
wash to a larger range of customers, who will
quite often, have a much larger spend per visit.
As for maintenance, Tomamichel said not
much is different from the work involved with
a regular self serve bay. “Our truck bay is essentially
just an over-sized self service bay, so
the maintenance is similar. However, because
it is a larger bay, it attracts large 4WDs, tractors,
trucks, trailers etc. and therefore [sees a
lot] more mud.”
But with more mud, comes more time inside
the bay. “My guess is that 20-30 minutes for a
truck would be the normal range.” Tomamichel
notes that when he uses the term “truck” he’s
referring to a semi-trailer type arrangement
rather than a pick-up truck.
ULTRA CLEAN CAR WASH, LLC OF
GEORGETOWN, OHIO
“I have a truck bay that a semi can
pull through.14.5’ of clearance under the
boom... I get semis, boats, campers, trucks
and trailers. All of which can’t use the inside
bays. I also encourage ATVs, mowers,
and muddy trucks to use the outside bay
so it’s easier to clean up and helps keep the
inside bays cleaner. Seems to work ok for
me… I occasionally get a mess that makes
me [upset]...But I get that in any of the
bays. So, I just try to take the good with the
bad and keep moving forward.”
• 2Biz (Ohio)
SUMMER 2022 • 49

BY THE
NUMBERS
3.6 MILLION!
There are approximately 3.6 million professional
truck drivers in the United States, according to
the American Trucking Associations (ATA). Of
these drivers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS) states that more than 2 million drive heavy
trucks and tractor-trailers, and more than 1.5 million
are delivery drivers or driver/sales workers.
36.9 MILLION!
According to the American Trucking Association,
the United States has around 36.9 million
registered trucks for agricultural and business purposes.
More than two million from this figure are
trailers. While 3.91 million are class 8 trucks that
are straight trucks or tractors.
From a trucker’s mouth….
“I do a thorough washing of the truck at least
once a month or more often. It depends on the
area I am driving through because sometimes
I have to drive through a desert with enormous
amounts of dust. This is when I clean the truck at
the end of the shift because I don’t want it to be
too dirty the next day…”
Shared on a Washing Your Truck Forum
RVS
11.2 MILLION!
DUMP TRUCKS
490,649!
Zippia’s data science team found that out
of 30 million profiles surveyed:
• There are over 490,649 dump truck drivers
currently employed in the United States.
• The majority of dump truck drivers
are located in San Antonio,
Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina.
• Dump truck drivers are most
in-demand in Phoenix, Arizona.
• Dump truck drivers are paid an
average annual salary of $50,959.
• Wisconsin is the best state
for dump truck drivers to live.
From: Software Advice,
a company that reviews trucking software
RV ownership is at a record high with 11.2 million
households owning an RV in 2021, up 62%
over 6.9 million households in 2001 and 26%
more than 8.9 million RV-owning households in
2011, according to the RV Industry Association.
The RV industry has been consistently growing
year after year, according to the website The Wandering
RV. In the last few years, the industry has
seen millennials living in RVs, retirees swapping
to the RV life, and the age 35-55 crowd taking a
larger market share than the typical 60+ buyers.
According to the quarterly and annual shipment
forecasts prepared by ITR Economics for
the RV Industry Association, the latest projection
shows total 2021 RV shipments ranging between
565,848 and 586,281 units with the most likely
year-end total being 576,065 units. That total
would represent a 33.8% increase over the 2020
year-end total of 430,412 units.
According to TitleMax, Here are the top ten
U.S. states where people spend the most per year
on RV sales and service overall:
1. California: $549,800,000
2. Texas: $424,200,000
3. Florida: $306,200,000
4. New York: $225,900,000
5. Minnesota: $187,400,000
6. Arizona: $174,400,000
7. Illinois: $173,800,000
8. Pennsylvania: $170,600,000
Here are the top 25 U.S. states where
people spend the most per year on RV
sales and RV service per capita:
1. Alaska: $39 per year per capita
2. Oregon: $39 per year per capita
3. Montana: $37 per year per capita
4. Minnesota: $33 per year per capita
5. South Dakota: $32 per year per capita
6. Wyoming: $32 per year per capita
7. Nevada: $30 per year per capita
8. New Mexico: $29 per year per capita
50 • SUMMER 2022

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SUMMER 2022 • 51

I LIKE BIG TRUCKS AND I CANNOT LIE
INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS IN THE UNITED STATES By:GISGeograph
WHAT IS ROAD GRIME?
Road grime is so much more than just dirt, according
to www.autofinesse.com. “The list of contaminants
while on the road is extensive; take unburnt fuel, additives,
vanadium, Iron, Sulfur, oil brake dust, tar, grease,
bitumen, and cement dust to name but a few,” the
website states. “If left on, rainwater washes away the
water-soluble components of all these things leaving
just non-water-soluble parts behind, which can then be
baked on by the sun.”
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SUMMER 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.
Do you agree that it is a strange choice
of clothing for a robbery, being a shirt
that is missing a chunk of cloth to expose
a very distinct tattoo?
In any event, police in Sedalia, Missouri, have
released some surveillance photos from a burglary
that took place at the Hurricane Bay Car Wash in
July. “The photos show two men, one with a red
head covering and the other with a green head covering.
The man in the red is wearing a sleeveless
Florida Georgia Line t-shirt,” according to a 13
KRCG story. Now, if we could only figure out
what the heck that tattoo is?
Here are my guesses:
One of the Rice Krispies guys, Snap,
Crackle or Pop:
Or Woody Woodpecker?:
Or, if you turn the image upside down, maybe
Rosie the Jetson’s Robot-Maid?
If your name is February Finnegan
or March McAdams and you live
near San Antonio, Texas, you better
have a strong alibi for the morning of July 12. It
seems as if a car wash owner is close to catching
two people who robbed and damaged his car
wash around 7:10 a.m. Denis Brown, the owner
of Flight Line Car Wash, in San Antonio, took to
his TikTok account to post the following message:
This morning at 7:10 a.m., my car wash was broken
into by two gutless thieves. These individuals
not only broke into our car wash and stole money,
but they also damaged our business.
He then added, according to the San Antonio
Current, that he was able to get clear images of
the two suspects thanks to the car wash’s facial
recognition surveillance system. The next day,
Brown posted an update to TikTok and stated: If
you enjoy dancing in the bar and your name is a
And, in Fort Myers, Florida, we have
a much more recognizable tattoo (along with a
much more reasonable, run-of-the-mill t-shirt)
that will hopefully lead to an arrest. According
to NBC 2 News, police are asking for assistance
in identifying the man pictured below who was
caught on camera stealing a vehicle from a Soft
Touch Car Wash on July 2. The vehicle was later
recovered, but the man is still on the loose.
month, we’re on to ya. I’d make yourself present.
To celebrate the major lead in identifying the
suspects, Brown offered customers his $16 washes
for $5. The discount was not offered to the suspects,
of course.
In a strange turn of events and coincidences,
Brown has had to publicly apologize to local
dancer April Martinez a.k.a. “La Chiquitita” who
has been wrongfully harassed for committing the
crime. In an updated story from the San Antonio
Current, Martinez said, via a Facebook post, that
she has received harassing messages from people
accusing her of being the person caught on video
around the time of the Flight Line Car Wash heist.
Brown, according to the story, was later forced
to issue yet another TikTok update, informing his
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followers that Martinez didn’t commit the crime.
“I never called out April Martinez, who happens
to be a dancer in San Antonio. …Do you know
how many Aprils there are in San Antonio that
happen to dance?”
You gotta love how these two men are
cautious enough to wear bike helmets,
but one is biking with an angle grinder
in his backpack, and is essentially living a life of
crime. Safety first, I guess? Back in June, two men
in Adelaide, Australia, were caught on camera using
an angle grinder to slice their way into a coin
container at a car wash, according to 9 News. “The
frustrated owners of the Adelaide car wash say the
men got just $20 - but caused thousands of dollars
of damage,” the story said.
The pair were seen pulling out an angle grinder
and using it to slice into the vacuum machines.
They then pulled out a pair of pliers. Hey, if they
can haul that much around on their backs, then
they can certainly get jobs as bike messengers or
couriers. The duo were able to steal about $20
worth of coins, which is equal to about $13 here
in the United States. Damages of course were in
the thousands. Also, $20 in Australia can maybe
get you a can of Fosters beer and a vegemite sandwich
if you’re lucky.
Well, I’m no Perry Mason, but it’s pretty
easy to catch the culprit when there is really only
one suspect. In Monroe, Louisiana, police were
called to the Rocket Lube and Car Wash on June
15 after a customer complained that their gun
was missing from their car. According to KTVE/
KARD, the customer said they had gotten their car
detailed and before taking off, noticed their 9mm
Derringer was missing. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist
to realize that after only one man worked
on the vehicle, he was more than likely the culprit.
After reviewing the camera footage, “authorities
allegedly saw 48-year-old Michael Jerome
Perry being the only employee detailing the vehicle.
While cleaning the car, Perry stops briefly and
looks around, removing the pistol from his right
pocket and placing it in a black bag.”
Ding-a-ding dong! The thief is caught!
According to witnesses, when the customer
complained about the missing gun, Perry allegedly
grabbed the black bag and walked away from the
scene of the crime and hid something under a bush.
Perry was eventually charged with theft and possession
of a firearm by a person convicted of certain
felonies.
Goodness gracious! A person
who is apparently auditioning
to be the next Kool-Aid Man: …
caused a lot of damage to the Blast and Vac
Car Wash in Westlake, Louisiana, last June.
The owners of a car wash in Westlake,
Louisiana, woke up to find out their bill
reader and change machine had been
vandalized and stolen overnight on June 7.
It seems as if the suspect or suspects broke
the brick surrounding the machines and
took them that way for some odd reason,
according to a Gator 99.5 story. The owners
of the car wash said the suspects were
caught on camera during the act, but they
are instead offering a reward for the return
of the machines that were stolen. While
police analyze the video footage, the owners
of the car wash are offering a $1,000
reward for the safe return of the bill reader
and change machine.
Who did this guy think he was? Mad
Max of Fury Road? Shooting a person on
an atv is not easy! A man was arrested in Butte
County, California, in connection to two shootings
that took place in June and May. Jason Kraft,
36, was arraigned on two counts of assault with
a semi-automatic handgun, two counts of possession
of a firearm by a felon and a count of causing
great bodily injury with a firearm, after the two
shootings were caught on surveillance cameras.
Kraft is suspected of shooting 41-year-old Bobby
Rogers who was riding his ATV at the time.
Rogers was shot once in the back and was taken to
the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police
released surveillance footage to Action News
Now, which led to a tip identifying Kraft. When
police caught up with him, he took off on a short
foot pursuit, before being apprehended.
According to Action News Now, police located a
semi-automatic ghost gun, consistent with the caliber
believed to have been used when Rogers was shot.
Upon further investigation, police were able to
tie Kraft to another shooting which took place at
a car wash in Oroville, California, back on May
11. “The video shows a driver of a car attempting
to hide behind the carwash as it was being chased
by a driver in a different car,” the story said. Footage
allegedly shows Kraft getting out of the vehicle
and firing two shots at the car. “Casings at the
carwash were consistent with the caliber used to
shoot Rogers on the ATV, the ghost gun, and ammunition
and gun supplies found at Kraft’s home
during a search warrant,” the story said.
Call me crazy, (don’t worry if you
do, you’re not the first), but the burglar in
the following story is definitely connected to the
owner of the storage unit. Otherwise, the following
robbery is an exaggerated case of Let’s Make
a Deal. What’s behind door number 137? An old
mattress and tax forms! Or what’s behind door
number 82? Boxes and boxes of nothing special!
In Cabell County, West Virginia, a man was caught
on camera breaking into a storage unit at the Storage
Units by Midland Car Wash, according to a
May 18 WSAZ story.
What if it is the guy’s storage unit and he simply
forgot the combination to the lock? I can see that
happening to me. I repeatedly have a dream where
I am in high school and cannot remember the combination
to my locker. Anyone else have this dream?
The Cabell County Sheriff’s Office released
photos and videos and said they are hoping to
identify the culprit.
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“It’s a terrible way of trying to
resolve your issues”... Boy, isn’t
that the understatement of the
year! In Detroit, “stunning surveillance
video shows the driver of a truck veering
into oncoming traffic …striking a white sedan
and crashing into a building,” according
to a June 13 WXYZ report.
Police Officer Kurt Worboys told WXYZ
that an altercation apparently happened
around 1 p.m. at another location. That altercation
led to a vehicle chase in which the
driver of a red truck was chasing the driver
of the white sedan before the truck driver
drove the wrong way.
Employees at a car wash nearby said they
heard shots fired and got down before the
truck plowed into the building and flipped,
but police say they don’t believe any shots
were fired at this point, WXYZ reported.
“I thought the building was going down,”
one witness said in the story.
Surveillance video shows two people
crawling out of the red truck after the accident.
The two people were then taken into
custody. This leads us to the quote of the year:
“It’s a terrible way of trying to resolve your
issues,” said Worboys. You ain’t kidding, Kurt!
Catching Criminals through Facebook Posts
The few. The shameful. The jerk.
With a last name like “Christmas”
he should be a bit more jolly!
Three people have been charged
with burglarizing the Glacier
Bay car wash in Detroit Lakes,
Minnesota, back in February, according
to a Detroit Lakes online report. The three
include Jacob Martinez, Ariana Azure and
Percy French, the latter of which should not
be confused with the famous Percy French
of Ireland, the acclaimed songwriter, and
artist. The Irish French not only never left
Europe, he has also been dead for over 100
years.
The Minnesota-based French, along with
the other two criminals, were caught on video
back in February burglarizing the car wash
on February 14.
Video shows the two men entering
the mechanical room and prying open the
change machine. They got about $12 in
change, but caused $6,000 in damages. They
also stole numerous pipe fittings, worth $6
to $9 each. The two men were later found
by police along with a bag full of pipe fittings,
and a tool box belonging to Glacier
Bay, inside Azure’s vehicle.
The three were then arrested.
I am going to commit a crime using
a really distinguishable vehicle!
And, finally, we have this story out of Sandy Valley,
Nevada, where a couple, who clearly hasn’t
caught on to the Marie Kondo sensation of “tidying
up” by getting rid of clutter, was caught after
the man below was caught on camera breaking
into the Sandy Valley Car Wash. After his picture
was posted on Facebook, the car, as well as the
man were identified.
This lovely man not only was caught
on camera vandalizing a car wash
(with a very distinguishable vehicle inside the bay,
I might add…) he also left behind some of his dna!
A Facebook post by James Benda of Smith Falls,
Ontario, Canada, shows a man smashing the wall
of the car wash and then supposedly urinating into
the drain. It is unclear if Benda is the owner of the
wash, but, what is clear is that the man has a very
recognizable mustache:
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