Thursday, December 5, 2013
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Article Featured in Lamorinda Patch
The Lafayette Car Wash & Detail Center is definitely a family affair.
Blake Wellen now oversees the day-to-day operations at the business his father, Jesse, bought in 1990.
Wellen also met his wife, Julie Rubio, while working at the car wash on the eastern end of Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
A number of employees have also met their significant others in the midst of the soap, spray and industrial dryers.
In addition, the car wash owners use the "family first" rule when looking for new employees. They prefer to hire family members of people who already work there.
"We really view it here as one big family," said Wellen.
The car wash itself as been around since the 1960s. It even had a gas station on the property until the 1980s.
In 1990, Jesse Wellen, a Marin County real estate agent, bought the car wash as an investment. Wellen, who is now in his early 70s, is still a co-owner, along with his son Blake.
The younger Wellen was a teenager at the time of the purchase. He worked there during summers and at other times.
"I was in and out and around the business," he said.
After high school, Wellen went to UCLA, where he competed in water polo. After college, he played professional water polo for several years in Rome.
When he came back, he worked in the restaurant industry for a few more years before deciding to join his father in the car washing profession about eight years ago.
"It was a great opportunity to work with my dad in a business that was a great business," he said.
The car wash has added detailing and body repair components in recent years. You can now get a car wash as well as a dent fixed and some detailing work done when you visit.
"It's a one-stop shop for your car," said Wellen.
Wellen said the secret to the business' success is simple.
"We pay attention to detail and attention to our customers," said Wellen. "It's an honest, well-run business."
For the future, the family plans to continue the tradition.
"Our mission is to simply keep this up," said Wellen.
And a new generation may be on the horizon.
Wellen's 17-year-old son, Elijah, is now doing shifts at the car wash.
Blake Wellen now oversees the day-to-day operations at the business his father, Jesse, bought in 1990.
Wellen also met his wife, Julie Rubio, while working at the car wash on the eastern end of Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
A number of employees have also met their significant others in the midst of the soap, spray and industrial dryers.
In addition, the car wash owners use the "family first" rule when looking for new employees. They prefer to hire family members of people who already work there.
"We really view it here as one big family," said Wellen.
The car wash itself as been around since the 1960s. It even had a gas station on the property until the 1980s.
In 1990, Jesse Wellen, a Marin County real estate agent, bought the car wash as an investment. Wellen, who is now in his early 70s, is still a co-owner, along with his son Blake.
The younger Wellen was a teenager at the time of the purchase. He worked there during summers and at other times.
"I was in and out and around the business," he said.
After high school, Wellen went to UCLA, where he competed in water polo. After college, he played professional water polo for several years in Rome.
When he came back, he worked in the restaurant industry for a few more years before deciding to join his father in the car washing profession about eight years ago.
"It was a great opportunity to work with my dad in a business that was a great business," he said.
The car wash has added detailing and body repair components in recent years. You can now get a car wash as well as a dent fixed and some detailing work done when you visit.
"It's a one-stop shop for your car," said Wellen.
Wellen said the secret to the business' success is simple.
"We pay attention to detail and attention to our customers," said Wellen. "It's an honest, well-run business."
For the future, the family plans to continue the tradition.
"Our mission is to simply keep this up," said Wellen.
And a new generation may be on the horizon.
Wellen's 17-year-old son, Elijah, is now doing shifts at the car wash.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Bugs VS Cars
Vehilce owners hate love bugs, stink bugs and any other insects that fly into their cars and then stick to the surface. According to Kleen-Rite Soap Specialist Doug Gibbs, corrosive body fluids from the love bugs, for example, bite into clearcoat. To remove the fluids, "a strong solvent/alkaline-based product," is needed, and dwell time, followed up with a high pressure rinse. If a driver doesn’t wash it off, "corrosive body fluids can etch into clearcoat and forms a bond with paint."
Lafayette Car Wash has the right solution to get rid of those bugs on your car!!!
Lafayette Car Wash has the right solution to get rid of those bugs on your car!!!
Friday, October 11, 2013
Importance of using a CLAY BAR in detailing
What is a clay bar & why would you use one?
An automotive clay bar is made of a synthetic polymer that is often elastic in nature. The elasticity of a clay bar allows you to mold the clay into a usable shape. It also allows you to kneed the clay to expose a fresh clay surface. A clay bar is used in combination with a clay bar lubricant. The lubricant is used to provide a slick surface that the clay glides over. Many quick detailers work as clay bar lubricants, but some work better than others. The action of gliding the clay over a surface will pick up embedded contamination or wear it down so the surface is as smooth as glass.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Bicycle car wash in Europe. Very cool!
VENRAY, The Netherlands - Because he got annoyed with long queues at washing areas at Mountainbike trails Luc Sterckx decided to design an automated wash tunnel. It’s targeting Mountainbikes, but of course also suited for all other bike categories.
The automated wash tunnel operates under medium pressure with which the bikes gets free of mud and thoroughly cleaned. Velo Wash uses no chemicals and no brushes.
The wash stops automatically when the bike gets out at the other side of the tunnel. The bike is now standing ready in the wheel-collector to be removed from the gutter. The cleaning process takes about 10 seconds.
After the bike is taken of the wash system, the saddle-fork will go back in 2 seconds to the starting position and a new dirty bike can be put on.
Velo Wash is made by Rowafil Manufacturing located in Venray, The Netherlands. The company is wholly owned by iClean Carwash Technologies BV. More at www.rowafil.com
The video below shows how it all works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au2yRxnSlnw.
Velo Wash automated tunnel operates under medium pressure and uses no chemicals and no brushes. – Photo Rowafil Manufacturing
Spray tubes at different angles
The bike is placed backwards on the transport gutter and when you press the start button a fork will take the saddle automatically through the Velo wash. Inside there are placed spray tubes with 2 x 4 nozzles at different angles, giving a maximum cleaning effect on the bike. The water pressure is around 50 bar.The wash stops automatically when the bike gets out at the other side of the tunnel. The bike is now standing ready in the wheel-collector to be removed from the gutter. The cleaning process takes about 10 seconds.
After the bike is taken of the wash system, the saddle-fork will go back in 2 seconds to the starting position and a new dirty bike can be put on.
Velo Wash is made by Rowafil Manufacturing located in Venray, The Netherlands. The company is wholly owned by iClean Carwash Technologies BV. More at www.rowafil.com
The video below shows how it all works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au2yRxnSlnw.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Great Review
Here's a great testimonial from a Chamber of Commerce member I recieved two days ago;
"I wanted to make a comment at the Board meeting today but didn't know if it was appropriate. I have my car washed at Lafayette Car Wash regularly. The last few months the guy that takes the info about what type of car wash detail I want has been encouraging me to try their new repair service. My car is around... five years old and had a lot of paint chips from people parking next to me and hitting my door. Yesterday he offered fixing all the spots for $200. I decided to try it. I was astounded how perfect everything turned out. There were only two spots they couldn't fix. I had purchased a small container of my car paint at the Honda dealer last year and they used that so it matched. I still have a couple of spots he told me in advance they couldn't fix. I would sure recommend people try it."
Thanks for the great feedback JoAnne.
"I wanted to make a comment at the Board meeting today but didn't know if it was appropriate. I have my car washed at Lafayette Car Wash regularly. The last few months the guy that takes the info about what type of car wash detail I want has been encouraging me to try their new repair service. My car is around... five years old and had a lot of paint chips from people parking next to me and hitting my door. Yesterday he offered fixing all the spots for $200. I decided to try it. I was astounded how perfect everything turned out. There were only two spots they couldn't fix. I had purchased a small container of my car paint at the Honda dealer last year and they used that so it matched. I still have a couple of spots he told me in advance they couldn't fix. I would sure recommend people try it."
Thanks for the great feedback JoAnne.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Graduation gift
Our Gift Certificate Sale is still going to be ending soon.
Get the PERFECT GIFT!!
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Beautiful day!
First off; It is an absolutely beautiful day! Come on down because we are fully staffed and the lines are moving quickly.
Secondly; I love the new Iphone 5 and the Panaramic photos.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Mother's Day preparation!
Happy Mother's Day weekend to All of the mothers out there. You all deserve a clean car. Again happy Mother's Day!
Friday, May 3, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
New Stingray! Can't wait to see one of them here at the wash.
http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/2014-corvette-stingray-priced-51-995-accelerates-quickly-163031997.html
Anyone in the market for the new corvette? Looks amazing.
Anyone in the market for the new corvette? Looks amazing.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Ronn Scorpion
Ronn Scorpion
The Scorpion, the company says, will produce 450 horsepower by way of a twin turbocharged Acura TL-sourced VTEC V6, coupled with a Ronn Motor Company proprietary system that creates 130 octane hydrogen fuel on the fly using electrical energy produced by the car's powertrain. Ronn claims the Scorpion will achieve 40 mpg highway by mixing the hydrogen fuel with gasoline at a variable ratio based on needs.
YouTube: Ronn Scorpion
The Scorpion, the company says, will produce 450 horsepower by way of a twin turbocharged Acura TL-sourced VTEC V6, coupled with a Ronn Motor Company proprietary system that creates 130 octane hydrogen fuel on the fly using electrical energy produced by the car's powertrain. Ronn claims the Scorpion will achieve 40 mpg highway by mixing the hydrogen fuel with gasoline at a variable ratio based on needs.
YouTube: Ronn Scorpion
Friday, April 19, 2013
Dear Friends and Customers,
Please take a moment to write Lafayette City Council and let them know you would like to support the City's plan to install intermittent medians on the East end of Mt. Diablo Blvd. The plan includes space between the medians for adequate access to business along the boulevard.
Email to;
cityhall@lovelafayette.org
Please take a moment to write Lafayette City Council and let them know you would like to support the City's plan to install intermittent medians on the East end of Mt. Diablo Blvd. The plan includes space between the medians for adequate access to business along the boulevard.
Email to;
cityhall@lovelafayette.org
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
http://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2013/03/28/rolls-royce-design-director-on-why-america-cant-make-cool-cars/?partner=yahootix
Rolls-Royce Design Director On Why America Can't Make Cool Cars
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
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