TOGWT
26-10-2005, 07:21 PM
What do you like most about detailing?
I’m a perfectionist and find detailing therapeutic (someone said once, “It’s my golf”, fits me exactly)
What are your favourite products/processes and why?
Klasse All-In-One, Sealant Glaze, Zaino Z Products and ***** Carnauba waxes.
Ease of use, durability and end result.
Zanio and ***** Concourse Carnauba wax as a LSP
Zanio’s durability is a big plus as well as Carnauba‘s depth of shine
303 Aerospace Protectant
Amongst the best UVR protection out there and their Cleaner & Spot Remover (a cleaning solution on steroids)
What’s your dream car and why?
Mercedes Benz SL500, for its looks and performance
Jaguar XK8, sensual looks and performance
Austin Mini Copper S, my all time favourite fun car to drive
What’s the best thing you’ve learned about detailing?
Identify the material and match a cleaner to it with regard to its pH value and the chemicals it contains. APC I liken to ‘one-size-fits-all’ always a compromise. What has also been reinforced here is that “It’s the surface preparation that makes the difference, not the product”.
Something I read on a detailing forum once has stuck with me ever since, ‘Each one teach one”
What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
I love to write (anything from how-to articles to poetry) and respond to questions on detailing. My latest writing project, Automotive Detailing – inside & out – for the Perfectionist is almost complete and I hope to publish by April ’05. I have always tried to find out not just “How it works, but also “Why” it works. With that in mind I probably respond with more detail than some think is necessary. But try to write in a way that helps the reader to understand not only "How" to do something, but "Why" they are doing it.
Listening to music (mostly smooth jazz and classical music) I love to cook (back in my young days I graduated from a French (La Cuisenaire Gordon Bleu Academy, Paris) the combination of tasting as I cook, eating and enjoying wines plus being asked to cook for friends ‘events’ has made for a battle of the waistline. I try to counteract it with fitness training (another partnership business I have an active interest in, no pun intended) and martial arts training that include Kendo, Karate and Tai Chi.
Travel has always been something I love to do (hitch-hiked and worked on luxury liners to see the world, just after college and before joining the RAF) favourite designation besides home, is Europe particularly Paris, France.
Do you have any pets?
I keep and breed Koi fish (as you can’t take them for a walk I’m forced to find alternative exercise)
Name three secret techniques that you think you should share to fellow detailers.
The type of paint (manufacturer, single or two-stage paint and colour will all make a difference in product / detailing method selection.)
Where are you from and where do you live now?
I was born and brought up in London (Hampstead) England. I now spend my time in between Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA and England.
What was your first car and what got you interested in keeping cars perfect?
My first car was a 1956 Triumph TR3. My Father has a collection of Jaguar’s and used to enter them in concourse events, which got me interested in detailing
My first detailed car (1954) was a 1929 Bentley that belong to my Fathers friend Brigadier John Dix of Kensington, London. If, as they say, "God is in the details," then a 1929 Bentley is truly a religious experience. It has always been a relaxing past time for me and while at college I had a part-time business detailing classic vintage cars. I have tried virtually every top product on the market ever since using Chelsea™ leather cleaners as well as the arm-breaking Simoniz ® polish /wax.
Current automobiles- 2003 Jaguar XK8 Convertible BRG (surprise), 2004 Audi TT Roadster 225HP (Grey) and a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL (Brown)
What motivates you to detail?
I find it very relaxing, fun and like to have a detailed (exterior, interior, engine bay and trunk) car to drive.
Would you ever pay someone else to detail your car?
As I get older its something I think about but I’m not so sure I could sit back and let someone else do it.
Does detailing run in the family at all, or are you the only normal one?
I began detailing Mercedes-Benz / BMW at my Father’s dealership as well as his Jag collection back in the 50's, he enters them into Concourse d’ Elegance events and as such I’m used to a large number of high-end new and used cars, so I’m not alone in my addiction.
What is your favourite part about detailing?
I'd have to say the interior as that’s were most people spend most of their time when driving. But I really like the total effect of a detailed vehicle (especially when it gets a place in competition.)
If detailing is a hobby for you, would you like to do it full time, or do you feel that it would take the fun out of it?
I admire the full-time pro detailer, there is a lot of hard work involved, I couldn’t do it full-time day after day (even when I was younger) but it got me through college so I know how hard it can be. Besides I’ve been an Architectural Engineer for 35+ years now and I’m beginning to like it
Other Things
Avatar: The Starkicker
When the Old Grey Whistle Test went on air (BBC Television, England) in 1971 it was unique. The Star kicker was its adopted avatar. In a world accustomed to Top of the Pops, here was a show on which the bands performed album tracks and were interviewed after they had played. This was before the days of miming, the music was live and, since the idea was to air new sounds, many of the bands were making their first television appearance. Presenter Bob (whispering Bob) Harris recalls how the show's name was inspired by the doormen (in grey suits) who worked at the music publishing houses in London's Denmark Street, known as 'tin pan alley':
"It was a 'tin pan alley' phrase from years ago. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys. The ones they could remember and could whistle having heard it just once or twice had passed the old grey whistle test
My adaptation:
The old grey whistle test (TOGWT) infers that the blokes with a little grey in their hair have tested these products or tools in real world situations, on many different car marques and various automotive paint systems; they are recommended as they have been found to do what they were designed to do, usually more than adequately.
That’s my story, what’s yours?
{each one / teach one][then student /becomes teacher}
JonM
I’m a perfectionist and find detailing therapeutic (someone said once, “It’s my golf”, fits me exactly)
What are your favourite products/processes and why?
Klasse All-In-One, Sealant Glaze, Zaino Z Products and ***** Carnauba waxes.
Ease of use, durability and end result.
Zanio and ***** Concourse Carnauba wax as a LSP
Zanio’s durability is a big plus as well as Carnauba‘s depth of shine
303 Aerospace Protectant
Amongst the best UVR protection out there and their Cleaner & Spot Remover (a cleaning solution on steroids)
What’s your dream car and why?
Mercedes Benz SL500, for its looks and performance
Jaguar XK8, sensual looks and performance
Austin Mini Copper S, my all time favourite fun car to drive
What’s the best thing you’ve learned about detailing?
Identify the material and match a cleaner to it with regard to its pH value and the chemicals it contains. APC I liken to ‘one-size-fits-all’ always a compromise. What has also been reinforced here is that “It’s the surface preparation that makes the difference, not the product”.
Something I read on a detailing forum once has stuck with me ever since, ‘Each one teach one”
What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
I love to write (anything from how-to articles to poetry) and respond to questions on detailing. My latest writing project, Automotive Detailing – inside & out – for the Perfectionist is almost complete and I hope to publish by April ’05. I have always tried to find out not just “How it works, but also “Why” it works. With that in mind I probably respond with more detail than some think is necessary. But try to write in a way that helps the reader to understand not only "How" to do something, but "Why" they are doing it.
Listening to music (mostly smooth jazz and classical music) I love to cook (back in my young days I graduated from a French (La Cuisenaire Gordon Bleu Academy, Paris) the combination of tasting as I cook, eating and enjoying wines plus being asked to cook for friends ‘events’ has made for a battle of the waistline. I try to counteract it with fitness training (another partnership business I have an active interest in, no pun intended) and martial arts training that include Kendo, Karate and Tai Chi.
Travel has always been something I love to do (hitch-hiked and worked on luxury liners to see the world, just after college and before joining the RAF) favourite designation besides home, is Europe particularly Paris, France.
Do you have any pets?
I keep and breed Koi fish (as you can’t take them for a walk I’m forced to find alternative exercise)
Name three secret techniques that you think you should share to fellow detailers.
The type of paint (manufacturer, single or two-stage paint and colour will all make a difference in product / detailing method selection.)
Where are you from and where do you live now?
I was born and brought up in London (Hampstead) England. I now spend my time in between Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA and England.
What was your first car and what got you interested in keeping cars perfect?
My first car was a 1956 Triumph TR3. My Father has a collection of Jaguar’s and used to enter them in concourse events, which got me interested in detailing
My first detailed car (1954) was a 1929 Bentley that belong to my Fathers friend Brigadier John Dix of Kensington, London. If, as they say, "God is in the details," then a 1929 Bentley is truly a religious experience. It has always been a relaxing past time for me and while at college I had a part-time business detailing classic vintage cars. I have tried virtually every top product on the market ever since using Chelsea™ leather cleaners as well as the arm-breaking Simoniz ® polish /wax.
Current automobiles- 2003 Jaguar XK8 Convertible BRG (surprise), 2004 Audi TT Roadster 225HP (Grey) and a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL (Brown)
What motivates you to detail?
I find it very relaxing, fun and like to have a detailed (exterior, interior, engine bay and trunk) car to drive.
Would you ever pay someone else to detail your car?
As I get older its something I think about but I’m not so sure I could sit back and let someone else do it.
Does detailing run in the family at all, or are you the only normal one?
I began detailing Mercedes-Benz / BMW at my Father’s dealership as well as his Jag collection back in the 50's, he enters them into Concourse d’ Elegance events and as such I’m used to a large number of high-end new and used cars, so I’m not alone in my addiction.
What is your favourite part about detailing?
I'd have to say the interior as that’s were most people spend most of their time when driving. But I really like the total effect of a detailed vehicle (especially when it gets a place in competition.)
If detailing is a hobby for you, would you like to do it full time, or do you feel that it would take the fun out of it?
I admire the full-time pro detailer, there is a lot of hard work involved, I couldn’t do it full-time day after day (even when I was younger) but it got me through college so I know how hard it can be. Besides I’ve been an Architectural Engineer for 35+ years now and I’m beginning to like it
Other Things
Avatar: The Starkicker
When the Old Grey Whistle Test went on air (BBC Television, England) in 1971 it was unique. The Star kicker was its adopted avatar. In a world accustomed to Top of the Pops, here was a show on which the bands performed album tracks and were interviewed after they had played. This was before the days of miming, the music was live and, since the idea was to air new sounds, many of the bands were making their first television appearance. Presenter Bob (whispering Bob) Harris recalls how the show's name was inspired by the doormen (in grey suits) who worked at the music publishing houses in London's Denmark Street, known as 'tin pan alley':
"It was a 'tin pan alley' phrase from years ago. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys. The ones they could remember and could whistle having heard it just once or twice had passed the old grey whistle test
My adaptation:
The old grey whistle test (TOGWT) infers that the blokes with a little grey in their hair have tested these products or tools in real world situations, on many different car marques and various automotive paint systems; they are recommended as they have been found to do what they were designed to do, usually more than adequately.
That’s my story, what’s yours?
{each one / teach one][then student /becomes teacher}
JonM