Greetings from Joisey

**smuglysman** · 11-08-2012, 07:32 AM

Greetings from "Dirty Jersey". Decided to jump in today and post an intro. My name is Tom and I'm currently working as an EMT in northwest NJ. Been doing this work for 10 years now and, like me, its getting old. I've been browsing this site and others for a couple of months now. I really enjoy watching the videos of Mike and friends doing the cars. I actually find them very informative as well as fun to watch.

I've been called nuts and crazy and other things for saying this, but, I find washing and waxing cars relaxing. I'm not sure why. I guess its because I really like the end result and get a feeling of accomplishment when its all there in front of me. Now you may have noticed that i said "washing and waxing cars", yup a clueless well meaning lad. I have learned so much from this site that I feel I'm back in school again (boy I hated school). I will be starting detailing cars in the Spring. Already been "practicing" on my (very understanding and supportive) family's vehicles. Thanking the man upstairs for choosing the family I got, because some families woulda killed me for the mistakes I made. Luckily one of them works at a dealership and gets a good deal from the body shop manager for fixing them.

I'm hoping to save enough to go down to sunny Florida and attend one of Mikes classes. i do have family down there (and she is glad shes not here having me test my skills on her bike and car) so I could use it as a working vacation. Of course I'll have to invest in a map. My lil sis lives somewhere near Bonita Springs (pretty sure on the west coast).
I'm not really as bad as I make out here, but I do need some guidance. This site has been by far the biggest help to me. Unfortunately I live in an apartment complex with no access to water and space to detail cars.

My plan in the Spring is to detail "on the side" til I save enough to eventually work into it full time. The past two years have taken their toll on me mentally and physically with Irene and Sandy hitting us hard. Don't know if I can do 96 hour shifts anymore. BTW Thanks to everyone for the nice posts on the Sandy aka Frankenstorm thread.
I have ordered the book package by Mike and Renny (sp?) and look forward to soaking up more valuable information. I have the entrepenurial (again sp?) spirit and the passion for the work so I am confident (yet realistic) that I will be successful. Looking forward to getting to AutoGeek Garage for a boot camp sometime in the future. IMHO you can never learn enough.

Oh and BTW I talk just as much as I write, big old windbag

**BobbyG** · 11-08-2012, 07:43 AM

To Autogeek Online Tom!!

Detailing = relaxation, yup, you've come to the right place...

**GS2011** · 11-08-2012, 07:55 AM

Mike Phillips · 11-08-2012, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by smuglysman

I've been browsing this site and others for a couple of months now. I really enjoy watching the videos of Mike and friends doing the cars. I actually find them very informative as well as fun to watch.

I'm hoping to save enough to go down to sunny Florida and attend one of Mikes classes.

Welcome to Autogeek Online!

Thanks for the kind workds. You'll find the environment on this forum to be very friendly and helpful...

Keep in mind, when you attend one of my classes I do my best to have REALLY COOL CARS to work on, not just rentals or mundane transportation cars...

My next class is in January,

Next Detailing Boot Camp Class In January!

Click here to sign-up for Mike Phillips's Detailing Boot Camp

Here's what my last class of students were able to learn on...

Pictures & Comments from September 2012 Detailing Boot Camp

1940 Ford Hotrod Coupe!

Holograms

1966 Corvette Sting Ray!

Trashed 2008 Cadillac CTS

Doesn't look as good in full sun...

Here's Audry removing swirls and scratches out of the passenger side fender using the D300 Correction Compound

Here's Erik removing swirls and scratches out of the hood, note how he places his hand inside the D-Handle to position his hand directly onto the head of the polisher.

You learn a LOT but also have fun and create memories that last a life time not to mention obtain skills that will last a lifetime...