VOI Car Wash?

[SRT²]

This will be my first VOI so I may have missed some obvious things.

I have a funny feeling that most of the people bringing their Vipers like to have it clean (ok, most are probably like me and are over obsessed with keeping them spotless) I checked with VOI headquarters and they told me that we would not have any access to water and they did not recommend using any of the carwashes that were close to the hotels. (the hotel may get upset if we raided all of their bottled water)

So, what has everyone done in the past? I figured the break dust can be dealt with day to day but if we get rained on before our parade laps we may be scrambling for some water.

 

[bluequadcab]

I plan on using Groit's Speed Shine which is detail spray and using microfiber towels. I've been doing this for months now instead of washing the Viper as I was doing before. Thanks to ViperTony for tipping me off that I don't have to wash the Viper every week. This has worked even after getting caught in the rain and I actually think it takes less time than washing it.

 

[SRT²]

That is a good idea. Will this work with the break dust also?

 

[Paul Hawker]

At past VOI's usually some ambitious detail guy would be around offering his services.

Others just break out the detail spray or give their cars a quick california duster going over.

Usually enough free time to attend to the beautification process.

 

[bluequadcab]

It says you can use it on your wheels. :
The Most Popular Car Care Product We Offer Is Speed Shine®
This is the finest spray and wipe cleaner and detailer available. I use Speed Shine® more often than any other car care product we make. It's a fast, safe way to keep any painted surface clean and brilliant. A perfect between-washes cleaner for your vehicles. A quick mist and light toweling removes dust and other foreign residue and leaves behind a brilliant surface. Forget about the puddle you just drove through, the dust cloud that landed on your paint or the bird that picked your car to relieve itself on. I keep Speed Shine® and a 100% Cotton Cloth in my trunk to remove bird droppings as quickly as possible, before they etch the paint. The best part is that it only takes ten minutes to detail your entire car. Special lubricants won't scratch your paint's surface. Perfect for all paints, clearcoats, wheels, chrome and exterior plastic trim. Extends time between washes! Speed Shine® is best used with our 100% Cotton Cloths or our Micro Fiber Cloths.

 

[Brian GTS]

Unless you have only driven it a few miles, I'm not that big of an advocate of using only detail spray to clean an automobile finish. If your particular about the finish on your car, it can introduce swirl marks in the clear coat as you wipe the dust/dirt onto your cloth. I still prefer the soap/water approach to rinse the debris from the vehicle...much safer.

I would definitely not use it on wheels to clean brake dust. Brake pads are made of material that will definitely introduce fine scratches in the clear coat finish of your rims as you wipe them.

Don't get me wrong, the detail spray is okay, but only if you have a very small amount of dust on the car.

If you're driving your car hours to VOI, it would be better to have a place to bucket wash. Wish they did!!! I thought someone told me they did this at past VOI's???

 

[SRT²]

Thanks for the good feedback. I do prefer the water wash and rinse myself. (if I can get to the H2O)

 

[Rick530]

someone pack a hose and soap, I'm sure one of the neighboring buisnesses would be happy to have a parking lot full of vipers.

 

[Venomiss]

Here are some car washes complete with a map for each one. Might be helpful.


CAr washes near Downtown Detroit - Google Maps

 

[SylvanSRT]

just as ViperHQ would not recomend a local wash(downtown) neither would I, just not a good idea

 

[GR8_ASP]

Here are some car washes complete with a map for each one. Might be helpful.


CAr washes near Downtown Detroit - Google Maps

Put your internet searches away for Detroit. I am sure something will be worked out but venturing into the surrounding neighborhoods (you can drop the neighbor portion) is not good advice. Being a resident in this area for way too long I would never advise anyone to take an expensive car to a local car wash within the Detroit city region.

Some sound advice would be for a place or places on the return from the track day as those areas are no problem. That would be from Chelsea, Ann Arbor and back toward the airport. Many, many opportunities there. If you travel to the Prefix event on Tuesday evening there are also many locations in the north suburbs.

 

[texas_venom]

I am curious if anyone wants to get a ClearMask installed while they are there?

 

[BS99GTS]

Only been to downtown Detroit one time......for Super Bowl XL! It was a little too cold for most criminal activity, except for the most ambitious and hard working types!

I'm not too familiar with the surrounding metro area......is the Dearborn area safe enough to wash my car in the early am?

 

[Venomiss]

Put your internet searches away for Detroit. I am sure something will be worked out but venturing into the surrounding neighborhoods (you can drop the neighbor portion) is not good advice. Being a resident in this area for way too long I would never advise anyone to take an expensive car to a local car wash within the Detroit city region.

Some sound advice would be for a place or places on the return from the track day as those areas are no problem. That would be from Chelsea, Ann Arbor and back toward the airport. Many, many opportunities there. If you travel to the Prefix event on Tuesday evening there are also many locations in the north suburbs.

Would you guys make a list for VOI attendees and post some maps of the safer areas?
That would be a good thing.

 

[gts_2001]

As a former Detroit resident (till the age of 21) and now residing in Grand Rapids, my advice is to wash your car North of 8 Mile Road (anyone remember the eminem flick "8 mile"?) Just my 2 cents. I'll see you all at VOI X and would be happy to lead a caravan to either East Point or Harper Woods (suburbs outside of Detroit that I feel are "safe") as that's where I plan to wash mine should the need arise. Although a little bit of a trek, it'll take me back to the area I grew up in and I know is safe. BTW, I'm a CCW holder and likely will be packing a 9 or two as well!

Safe travels everyone!!

 

[GR8_ASP]

Venomiss my statement is that there is NO SAFE place in the vicinity of the hotels to wash your car. No map needed. That is why I suggested the Ann Arbor to Chelsea region or northern region. Literally hundreds to map so that is not possible. Punch in car wash on your GPS once outside of Detroit central and take it from there.

 

[knuk]

BTW, I'm a CCW holder and likely will be packing a 9 or two as well!

Safe travels everyone!!

Sounds like the best bet is to lock myself in the hotel room!!

 

[GTSnake]

Only been to downtown Detroit one time......for Super Bowl XL! It was a little too cold for most criminal activity, except for the most ambitious and hard working types!

I'm not too familiar with the surrounding metro area......is the Dearborn area safe enough to wash my car in the early am?

Dearborn is hit or miss. If you stay on the west side of Southfield Freeway it's safe but on the East side I would NOT go there without an armed ******.

 

[Rolstar]

I was in Detroit last year for Belle Isle. The hotel let us use their water out back in the parking lot. I brought a bucket and wash.

 

[SRT²]

I am hoping we can sweet talk the hotel management to work something out to have access to H2O.

 

[RichieSRT10]

When you arrive at the hotel you need to find the maintenance man. One $50 bill later you will have a hose for the entire event. It works for me at the Hampton Inn every year.

 

[Brian GTS]

When you arrive at the hotel you need to find the maintenance man. One $50 bill later you will have a hose for the entire event. It works for me at the Hampton Inn every year.

Good thinking! I'll gladly chip in for this.

 

[Venomiss]

As a former Detroit resident (till the age of 21) and now residing in Grand Rapids, my advice is to wash your car North of 8 Mile Road (anyone remember the eminem flick "8 mile"?) Just my 2 cents. I'll see you all at VOI X and would be happy to lead a caravan to either East Point or Harper Woods (suburbs outside of Detroit that I feel are "safe") as that's where I plan to wash mine should the need arise. Although a little bit of a trek, it'll take me back to the area I grew up in and I know is safe. BTW, I'm a CCW holder and likely will be packing a 9 or two as well!

Safe travels everyone!!

Thank you very much for the offer to help! Some might take you up on this offer.
Hopefully they will have access to water like others mentioned at the hotel.....

 

[SRT²]

I think we should just bring one of those sink adaptors and just run a hose from our bathroom faucet out the window, down 15 stories to the parking lot. If we each bring a 100 foot hose we should be able to make one run!

 

[BS99GTS]

Just wandering around the internet... I found this guy! Mobile water and electricity......anyone know him(?)....if ambitious maybe he could have a "field" day at VOI?

Superior Detailing - Metro Detroit's Premier Mobile Auto Detailing Service

There are a few of these guys in our area and they do very good work.......I didn't see a phone number tho?

 

[xlrashn]

OK... I am going to show my Iowa colors here. What exactly happens that is bad at these downtown car washes? Could some of you local folks fill us in on what to watch for? I am getting a little nervous about the trip now.

 

[SylvanSRT]

Around the casinos and other well traveled areas(Comerica park, Ren Cen, Cobo hall, ect...) are fine, you DO NOT want to be driving around SOME of the neighborhoods in the city, If you do not know your way around ! Its not what might happen at the car washes its on your way to/from or while you are waiting. Like anyother place in the world there are good and decent areas and there are some bad and worse areas also safe/unsafe. I go to the city all the time and have even broken down(years ago) and got help form people in the city. During the day most places are just fine, again you dont want to be wandering around without knowing where you are or where your going. Just common sense.

Besides you never know you could run into Mayor Kwame in a dark alley and who knows what might happen, LOL.

Seriously use common sense in the city and you will be fine.

All you out of towners must try Lafayette Coney Island in downtown its a staple(on Lafayette in down town)

 

[FE 065]

There's probably safety in numbers. If 10 Vipers show up at a local car wash during daylight hours there'd be much less chance of anything going wrong. You'd think there'd be a dealership that would make water available for a slight fee.

 

[ViperVon]

I live about 40 minutes north of the hotels kind of close to Auburn Hills and Rochester where some of the tours will be. Anybody that wants to detail their car is more than welcome at my place. Don't know if it will be convenient but I'm just throwing it out there. Who knows could also end up on a boat ride for a bit......Feel free to PM me. I also being a long time resident of the area, would not recommend any car washes near the hotels. Not trying to scare anyone just common sense.

 

[dave6666]

I think we should just bring one of those sink adaptors and just run a hose from our bathroom faucet out the window, down 15 stories to the parking lot. If we each bring a 100 foot hose we should be able to make one run!

Resulting in water pressure that can cut trees down...