I'm STILL in shock!
I've been detailing my cars (for better or worse) since I was 16 with my first car. The detailing bug bit me at about that time, when I worked at a car wash. I'd see cars transform from 'filthy' to 'clean,' and it was so satisfying. Even though back then, all I saw was either dirty or clean, I didn't see swirls, oxidation, or any of those things that detailers hone in on.
A few years later, I worked at a mid-level detailing shop - where I began to actually see all those flaws that I obsess over now. Plus I started to develop the skill set to correct those issues. It was all downhill from there. This was still years before the internet, so quality information was hard to come by, so I did most everything by trial and error, and getting a lot of things wrong.
Finally the internet arrived, and information flowed freely. Thing is though, that a lot of the information wasn't the best. My skills improved and I became a competent detailer - good, but nowhere near my real potential. The worst thing was that I didn't know how much better I could get. Tere was no "Breakthrough" moment. I was good, but detailing was still hard work and I was beginning to lose interest, BECAUSE getting the results I was after was so labor intensive.
Fast forward to about this time last year. I 'discovered DIY Detail and Yvan Lacroix, whose teaching turned all my beliefs in detailing upside down. His simplistic, logical approach to methods, products and processes turned what was becoming a chore, into something fast, easier that I believed it could be, but most of all, FUN again. In the past year, my skill set has skyrocketed as I was finally able to rethink everything I knew, or thought I knew and "get things right."
About the time I started watching Yvan's videos, I saw a segment where a man was having difficulty applying a ceramic coating to his car. Yvan personally went to his house and not only talked him through the issues ... but helped him polish the car and apply the coating! I thought "How cool is that?" and expressed that in the video's comment section. Yvan responded to my post, saying "You never know." Since then, I've messaged Yvan a few times, and he usually responds pretty quickly. Two weeks ago, I won DIY Detail's 25 mm cord free DA polisher and Yvan had contacted me personally to arrange delivery details. Too, a short time ago, he posted his travel route from the western states to Canada, saying thatr if anyone is close to his route, and would like a visit, to respond to his post. I mentioned that his route passed right by Summit Racing Equipment (which is literally right off the exit of I-76, and is less than 3 miles from my house). I said there was more than enough room for his tour bus, and that I would be thrilled to meet him there. He did me one better.
Yesterday, a bit after 9am, he messaged me, asking if I was available. DUH!! YES!! Then he asked my address and if he could park at the business at the end of my street. I said that my driveway is 20' x 80' and that his bus should fit, even though I live on a dead end street. A few hours later, he messaged that he and Sylvie were 45 minutes out. A bit after that, I see a monstrous RV, painted in maroon bedliner, with "LACROIX CRUISER" blazend on the front pulling up my street. He somehow managed to turn the gargantuan motor home around on my street, parking in front of my house. Next thing I know, the man himself was walking up my driveway, with Sylvie nearby, already filming.
We chatted briefly and he asked if I was OK with them filming - again, DUH. He then interviews me for one of his podcasts where he visits detailers, talks with them and gives advice on how to improve their detail spaces ... it was mostly a blur, and I'm sure it was obvious that I was overwhelmed. Over all, they were there about an hour. Just two car guys chatting about detailing, a really pleasant couple.
Here are two pics. One of me & Yvan in my garage & one of the behemoth he arrived in. I'm taking the picture of the two of us, having it printed and framed, then hanging it in my garage next to my detailing stuff.
I've been detailing my cars (for better or worse) since I was 16 with my first car. The detailing bug bit me at about that time, when I worked at a car wash. I'd see cars transform from 'filthy' to 'clean,' and it was so satisfying. Even though back then, all I saw was either dirty or clean, I didn't see swirls, oxidation, or any of those things that detailers hone in on.
A few years later, I worked at a mid-level detailing shop - where I began to actually see all those flaws that I obsess over now. Plus I started to develop the skill set to correct those issues. It was all downhill from there. This was still years before the internet, so quality information was hard to come by, so I did most everything by trial and error, and getting a lot of things wrong.
Finally the internet arrived, and information flowed freely. Thing is though, that a lot of the information wasn't the best. My skills improved and I became a competent detailer - good, but nowhere near my real potential. The worst thing was that I didn't know how much better I could get. Tere was no "Breakthrough" moment. I was good, but detailing was still hard work and I was beginning to lose interest, BECAUSE getting the results I was after was so labor intensive.
Fast forward to about this time last year. I 'discovered DIY Detail and Yvan Lacroix, whose teaching turned all my beliefs in detailing upside down. His simplistic, logical approach to methods, products and processes turned what was becoming a chore, into something fast, easier that I believed it could be, but most of all, FUN again. In the past year, my skill set has skyrocketed as I was finally able to rethink everything I knew, or thought I knew and "get things right."
About the time I started watching Yvan's videos, I saw a segment where a man was having difficulty applying a ceramic coating to his car. Yvan personally went to his house and not only talked him through the issues ... but helped him polish the car and apply the coating! I thought "How cool is that?" and expressed that in the video's comment section. Yvan responded to my post, saying "You never know." Since then, I've messaged Yvan a few times, and he usually responds pretty quickly. Two weeks ago, I won DIY Detail's 25 mm cord free DA polisher and Yvan had contacted me personally to arrange delivery details. Too, a short time ago, he posted his travel route from the western states to Canada, saying thatr if anyone is close to his route, and would like a visit, to respond to his post. I mentioned that his route passed right by Summit Racing Equipment (which is literally right off the exit of I-76, and is less than 3 miles from my house). I said there was more than enough room for his tour bus, and that I would be thrilled to meet him there. He did me one better.
Yesterday, a bit after 9am, he messaged me, asking if I was available. DUH!! YES!! Then he asked my address and if he could park at the business at the end of my street. I said that my driveway is 20' x 80' and that his bus should fit, even though I live on a dead end street. A few hours later, he messaged that he and Sylvie were 45 minutes out. A bit after that, I see a monstrous RV, painted in maroon bedliner, with "LACROIX CRUISER" blazend on the front pulling up my street. He somehow managed to turn the gargantuan motor home around on my street, parking in front of my house. Next thing I know, the man himself was walking up my driveway, with Sylvie nearby, already filming.
We chatted briefly and he asked if I was OK with them filming - again, DUH. He then interviews me for one of his podcasts where he visits detailers, talks with them and gives advice on how to improve their detail spaces ... it was mostly a blur, and I'm sure it was obvious that I was overwhelmed. Over all, they were there about an hour. Just two car guys chatting about detailing, a really pleasant couple.
Here are two pics. One of me & Yvan in my garage & one of the behemoth he arrived in. I'm taking the picture of the two of us, having it printed and framed, then hanging it in my garage next to my detailing stuff.
Now I know what rinseless means, thanks for posting. 
