BLOG

Car wash facilities have come a long way since the Automatic Laundry car wash was opened in Detroit in 1914! Tommy’s Express brings us into the future and many miles away from manual washes. The All About The Car podcast team visits General Manager Corey Heinz on location at Tommy’s Express in Weston, WI. You can read the blog here and listen to the full podcast episode below. 

 

Rob:

Welcome to our podcast. All about the car brought to you by Schierl Tire and Service. I'm your host, Rob Hoffman, an auto service specialist with over 44 years of industry experience. On the ride with me today, our regular guest Brian Call a 40 year veteran of the automotive industry. Hello Brian.

Brian:

Hey Rob. Great to be with you.

Rob:

And Bill Schierl, a guy that drives a lot of miles, whether it be sleet, rain, or snow or sun, and always has a lot of great questions. Welcome back, Bill.

Bill:

Hi, Rob. Great to be here and looking forward to getting into a clean car this time.

Rob:

Oh yeah. Today we have been invited to record onsite at Tommy's Express Car Wash in Wausau and are sitting with Corey Hines general manager. Hello Corey.

Corey:

Hello.

Rob:

Thanks for having us Corey.

Corey:

Absolutely. This is definitely my first time ever doing anything like this, so,

Rob:

Well, we're gonna add a good time

Corey:

Excuse me already.

Rob:

Well, let's hop in, buckle up and hit the road.

Rob:

I'm pretty sure all of us have used a car wash or two in our day, but not sure I remember one quite like the one are visiting today. As a matter of fact, today's car washes have evolved from a pretty simple idea over 100 years ago in 1914, the first car wash business opened in Detroit and was called the automatic laundry. They literally hand pushed the car through a tunnel, where the attendants manually soaked, rinsed and dried the car. Well then in the forties, the automatic conveyor system was incorporated, which slowly led to the automation that we experience today. Things are a little bit different now, aren't they? Corey

Corey:

They really are. And especially with Tommy's Express. It's an express car wash. So we can do a lot of cars in a minute, hour and day.

Bill:

Fantastic.

Rob:

Not your grandpa's car wash anymore, is it

Corey:

Absolutely not? If you're third in line, you're not gonna wait 15, 20 minutes.

Rob:

Now, how long has Tommy's been in the Wausau area?

Corey:

So we opened Weston December of 19 and then Wausau, I'm gonna say July and excuse me if I'm wrong. July of 20.

Rob:

Okay. So somewhat fresh in the area,

Corey:

Correct. We are very, very fresh in the area,

Bill:

A good timing as people were away and using their vehicles. So I would assume somewhat,

Corey:

Well, obviously COVID did not help. Definitely hurt because everyone pretty much is staying in their homes. So we are one of the fastest growing initially here in Weston and getting to almost 3000 members in a very,

Rob:

Oh My gosh,

Corey:

Short time in a very short time. But then obviously we had to be shut down for six weeks and feel like we're just kind of recovering from that yet.

Bill:

Fair enough.

Rob:

Yeah. Times have definitely been a little bit different the last couple years. So we all find our way to make it happen. And obviously you are for sure.

Corey:

Yes. Absolutely.

Rob:

Now Tommy's, isn't just about central Wisconsin they're across the country, is that correct?

Corey:

Correct. We are a franchise. There's about a hundred of them right now and probably another 50 to a hundred anticipated to open real soon.

Rob:

Well, that's some definite growth for sure. Tell us a little bit about the state of the art equipment and, and what we're seeing here is just amazingly impressive. I've never seen another place like this. I guess I gotta get out a little bit more but tell us a little bit about the technology that's involved in washing cars here.

Corey:

It's all on a conveyor system. So it's not the old chain driven system where your kinda locks in your wheel. We try to teach our guests. It's a self-loading system also. So we try to get them to learn how to come in slow and right when they get on our belt, there's flights that actually keep the wheels from sliding off and, and they come in slow and put the car in neutral. And then basically it does the rest all by itself. I mean, it just takes the car right on through and under probably about two minutes from the conveyor system to even timing's is big with the water mission and saving on water where we recycle, reclaim about 50% of our water. So we actually use a lot less water than any other carwash also.

Corey:

So does the the driver of the car stay in the vehicle?

Rob:

Yes. They stay in the vehicle

Rob:

Oh, so it's a show too.

Corey:

Oh yeah.

Bill:

Generally you'd like them to stay in the vehicle. It's...

Corey:

Correct. And keep their windows up because otherwise they get the inside...

Bill:

Another helpful thing.

Rob:

Some of those cars need that too. Need the inside.

Corey:

Correct and unfortunately we do not touch a car. We don't prep. It's all done by the wash.

Rob:

Wow.

Bill:

Awesome.

Rob:

Underbody as well, I would assume?

Corey:

Yes. Underbody flush that's actually starts on their second package. It's called the super wash.

Bill:

So does it also add like the foam and the wax and all of the protectives?

Corey:

Yes. We have different levels of washes starting with just our basic quality wash, which is, I guess you can just say soap and water, just your basic exterior wash, going up to the super wash where we add the under body flush and then a little wheel cleaning and then goes up to all the way to the works, where we add the tire shine and the body wax and rain protectant and all that.

Rob:

Now you had talked a little bit about the water reclamation or.

Corey:

Yes. Reclaimed system or...

Rob:

Yeah, absolutely. So you're thinking about more than just what's happening on a day to day basis here. You're thinking about the big picture, thinking about the community. Do you do any giving back to the communities that you do business in?

Corey:

Yes, we do. I mean, we're always giving to fundraisers. I mean, from giving them six months, you know, to raffle off, we're really excited this year that we've gotten into little league and.

Rob:

Nice.

Corey:

We're gonna sponsor a girls team and a boys team. And that's just something we really wanted to get into to give back to the community.

Bill:

What are your hours? I mean, you know, like people's schedules have changed dramatically over the time and you know, like driving down the road sometimes I just think, oh, wow. Yeah, I need a car wash like right now.

Corey:

Correct. There's seven o'clock till seven o'clock. Okay. So unfortunately we can't be open 24-7 because of staffing issues. There's a lot of moving parts. We always have to be staffed well

Rob:

Now, when we pulled in your facility today, we saw some signage that talked about an app. Tell us a little bit more about that.

Corey:

Correct. So basically what the app does for anyone out there. If they go on the Tommy Express app, they can actually get their first month of their new member. They can get their first month for free too. So we're based off of memberships. You can still get your individual wash if you want, but we're trying to push people into the Tommy Club, which means they can go through the app lanes, the second and third lane to just reads their back license plate and they're in and out. They can come three times a day, 50 times a month if they really wanted to. I always tell 'em, I don't really recommend 50 times a month, but they could, if they want

Bill:

Manufacturer specification of paint.

Corey:

Correct. But some people they do use it. We see some people two, three times a day, if they're going by they're coming through some of it's probably an entertainment value.

Bill:

Right.

Corey:

But they can, if they're unlimited members and that's what they do.

Bill:

It does kinda look like a Disney ride or something I have to...

Corey:

It does.

Bill:

Like I could see entertainment for sure. Especially with kids in the car.

Corey:

Correct. And there's a lot of cell phones doing Facebook and things like that while they're going through. So

Rob:

Come on, kids, it's hop in the car, we're going to Tommy's.

Corey:

Exactly. It's entertainment for some,

Rob:

And, and really you have a great website. I learned a lot about Tommy's car wash or, Tommy's Express. Is that correct?

Corey:

Correct, Tommy's Express.

Rob:

Am I saying Tommy's express okay. Through that website. And that was at Tommy's express dot com. Just amazing information about the equipment and everything that you do.

Corey:

Right. And it talks about the family and how they got started and when the franchise started. So yeah. So there's a lot of information on that.

Rob:

Well, let's talk a little bit more about the reasons why a car wash is so important. And we did a podcast previously with the Portage county highway department,

Bill:

Correct.

Rob:

Where we talked about what they laid down on the highways to make it safe or keep it safe. And that's probably, correct me if I'm wrong Corey, the number one reason why you're here is that sodium chloride or salt as commonly known.

Corey:

Yes. And actually last year we had such a nice winter I'm one that hates winters. I really do. . I mean, if it's nice, all winter, I usually used to like that, but now that I'm in this business, we want the crap, right?

cross-talk:

yes, we do. Crap.

Corey:

I know the ideal time is when it snows for a day, they throw that salt on and then it's, then it's 30 degrees for two days. Then we'll have record days, literally, because they're just lined up trying to get all that salt off their cars. But last year, really wasn't a great winter for us because it was just too nice. But this year is more of a perfect winter for

Rob:

The car wash business.

Corey:

There's a lot of salt,

Rob:

There's a lot of there's salt out out there.

Corey:

Yes.

Rob:

And that's the main reason is that sodium chloride or salt as they call it even table salt, I've heard the rock salt,.

Corey:

Correct.

Rob:

It just makes everything white.

Corey:

Oh exactly. And that's, what's so great about the unlimited club is they can leave and you know, with your cars, you can go down the street and it's.

Bill:

Right.

Corey:

It's salt again. So

Rob:

Yeah it doesn't take long.

Bill:

All Spring.

Corey:

Feel free to go through again,

Bill:

Keep driving through the mist of all the water coming off the road.

Corey:

Exactly.

Rob:

Oh yeah... Doesn't take long.

Corey:

Yep.

Rob:

Yeah. That salt keeps us safe, but man, we sure don't look good. so you make us look better for Sure.

Corey:

Exactly.

Rob:

The other reason for those frequent car washes and being a member of Tommy's of course, is the protecting your investment.

Corey:

Right? It's the second biggest investment people usually have after their homes is their cars. So just keeping them clean and, and again, any time they are dirty they can come through. If they're a member,

Rob:

The prices of new cars that we just keep hearing about that in the news, it just keeps going up and up and up all the more reason to make sure you're protecting that investment. Plus people are hanging on to 'em longer.

Corey:

Well, exactly.

Rob:

The average age Bryan is what?

Brian:

12 and a half years now,

Rob:

Isiit 12 and a half? It just keeps going up.

Corey:

Yeah. With our situation, not many cars to buy. I mean, you're gonna see this even continue a lot longer.

Bill:

Very true.

Rob:

And of course, when it comes time to sell that car, then you wanna protect your investment. So your resale value holds too.

Corey:

Right?

Rob:

And it seems like the number it's like four or five years in our, our neck of the woods here with the salt use is when you start to see those little rust spots come through and usually starts from the bottom up I think.

Corey:

Correct.

Rob:

As with every all about the car podcast, we always break away for a Wisconsin road trip. And today we're hopping in the car and heading to Tim's Hill. How many of our listeners have heard of Tim's Hill? Well, it is the highest natural point in Wisconsin. So it definitely has something to brag about.

Bill:

And it's also the situation of that as a hill because it's 48 and a half feet short of itself to be able to call it a mountain.

Rob:

Oh, wow. So that's pretty impressive. And this is just straight north of Medford, Wisconsin, I believe and...

Brian:

Yup it's up in not too far away from Medford

Rob:

Okima? Is that the closest?

Brian:

Yep. Yep.

Rob:

Okay. Okay. Well, let's see. So it looks like a little bit of a battle of the Hills, so...

Bill:

Yeah

Rob:

Rib Mountain and...

Bill:

Well they just get to call themselves that a hi a Rib Mount because they just took the name. But geography wise as a geographer would still call them both hills.

Brian:

And it's just slightly shorter in height, the actual height of the hill itself.

Bill:

Yes.

Brian:

Not including the man made structures on top of it.

Bill:

It's a service done in 1962 that made all that reality.

Corey:

but it's also amazing how all of the big storms in Wausau go around that big mountain.

Bill:

Right.

Speaker 4:

Rob:

Yeah.

Corey:

Just miss us completely

Rob:

Kind of crazy how that works. yeah. Tim's Hill. They also talk about a county park there. So there's a lot of things you can do. It's definitely a destination. There's a boat landing, a fishing pier, hiking trails, picnic tables, grills, playground equipment. So it sounds like a good place to take the family on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon in the summer

Bill:

May through October,

Rob:

May through October

Bill:

7:30 am to 9:30 PM is the park hours

Speaker 1:

To put that on the calendar. They talk about 1,951 and a half feet above sea level.

Corey:

Now who measured that last foot?

Rob:

I just, I dunno,

Corey:

Half a foot, I should say.

Rob:

Yeah. That's getting pretty specific.

Corey:

Have size 12 shoes.

Rob:

Yeah, exactly. Definitely a competition on height here for sure. And Brian, you and I had previous conversation about the rustic roads of Wisconsin. So the designated rustic roads, there's a two mile rustic road that takes you right to the top.

Brian:

Yep. Right off the park leads you right into it.

Rob:

Yep. Rustic road number 62 to be exact. So there's definitely a little destination going on here and have a good time. And you get to experience a rustic road as well.

Bill:

And both of 'em Rib Mountain and Tim's Hill is connected on the ice age trail.

Rob:

Oh, perfect.

Bill:

Which is which great if you're doing different segments of the trail as kind of like something to do in Wisconsin, Corey, have you ever been to Tim's hill?

Corey:

I have not. And I'm kind of surprised being from this area. It's not that far.

Bill:

No

Rob:

It's not.

Corey:

That I don't even remember are going through the town.

Bill:

Right. Well, I think it might be because there's not the skiing situation that Rib Mountain has or Granite Peak now has.

Corey:

Granite peak yes.

Bill:

That makes such a difference for winter activities,

Corey:

Which is just huge in this area for the winter.

Rob:

Okay. We're back at it. We're gonna talk a little bit more about keeping a clean machine as we get back from our Wisconsin road trip. And we probably just got it dirty on that trip. So we're gonna come back and talk about getting her cleaned up again. So the importance of keeping it clean top to bottom, inside and out, and we briefly talked a little bit more or earlier, and we briefly talked about this a little bit earlier Corey, but doing the underbody too. That's where the rust usually starts. Am I right?

Corey:

Correct. Especially this time of year, when someone comes through the line, just wanting the quality wash, we always ask if they want that $3 upgrade to the underbody flush and, and that, and everybody knows that's where all the salt just really likes to settle.

Rob:

Plus you can kind of whisk away those little oil driplets for a while too.

Corey:

Correct.

Rob:

And I know you don't really get into the interiors or do any kind of scrubbing or inside, but do you have any tips on getting rid of those nasty white salt stains,

Corey:

The white salt stains inside?

Rob:

Inside on the carpet. I mean just any personal tips on that one.

Corey:

Well, what I'll add is we don't touch any cars inside or out, but we do have free vacuums and we also have free matt washers, which really work well. If you don't have those big thick weather tech ones, they don't go through our machine, but the cloth ones and even the thin rubber ones, they really does a good job. I mean, when you put it through the machine, it's almost like a soap and it just goes right through it.

Rob:

Just kinda kinda scrubs it?

Corey:

Yeah. It scrubs it real well, but I've had the cloth ones and, and they do a real, incredible job getting a lot of those salt stains off.

Bill:

Does it kind of come out of it relatively dry or dry-ish? I mean like

Corey:

They're damp

Bill:

Okay. That's pretty darn good.

Corey:

I'll say a wet damp.

Bill:

yeah.

Corey:

I'll create a new word and obviously the rubber, there's still gonna be some moisture on them, but you can put 'em right back in the car and put your feet on em, and it's not gonna bother. 'em

Bill:

Fantastic. And actually the vacuum stations look pretty darn cool.

Rob:

Yeah.

Corey:

They are. And we try to pride ourself and being out there and making sure they're not clogged, you will not believe what people try to suck up in vacuums. It's

Rob:

Who gets to empty all their money out of the bins out of there at the end of the day?

Corey:

Actually we have a fund and it's a,

Rob:

I bet you do.

Corey:

Few hundred dollars. And we do some team functions and.

Rob:

Perfect.

Corey:

Off of everybody's change. And I mean, we've actually found up to like the seven, $10 in like,

Rob:

Wow.

Corey:

One. I mean, that's how people are sometimes if it's,

Bill:

They just didn't wanna pick it all up.

Corey:

Suck it all up. Exactly. They pick it up. So we sometimes have 'em soaked in water and soap for a few days to try to get all that black crud off and make change. And we go do little team functions

Bill:

Spends the same way, doesn't it?

Corey:

Absolutely.

Speaker 1:

. Now I noticed on your website too, that you take pride in keeping the tires clean. Also there's some type of a tire shine or something that your process puts on and

Corey:

Correct at the end of the wash, if you have the works wash, which is our best one, there it's rollers. And then they come in and basically roll a shine on your wheels as they go through.

Rob:

And of course at Schielr Tire and Service, we're all about tires. So we're glad that you keep making our tires look so good.

Corey:

And it's basically what the fame or what we claim is that it gives them that wet look, that's what we're trying to do.

Bill:

Right yeah. So what has changed between, you know, technology of today as you're going through the express car wash, you know, like the systems that have changed over time, like where they started from and just what's really new.

Corey:

I think the biggest thing would be the chain driven compared to our conveyor belt transporter belt is what they call it, that system. And that's probably the biggest thing that Tommy's Express has kind of mastered along with, along with the patent and license plate recognition. I mean, people are always, I mean, some people still will hold out their phone and it's like, nah, it's not reading. You can hold your phone up all the time and it's not gonna do anything.

Bill:

Right.

Corey:

Sometimes they still think the phone is what's giving them to go through and is like, no, it's a back license plate. And so I think that would be the two things that Tommy's is so far in advance with anyone else.

Rob:

So you had mentioned earlier that the process is really touchless when a car goes through, is that...

Corey:

Oh, correct. Yeah.

Rob:

Okay.

Corey:

We don't touch a car, but it is a soft cloth wash. So there are wraps and huggers that are touching the car.

Rob:

Yeah. And the reason I bring that up is I remember back in the old days, when I used to go through a car wash with my dad and the mirrors are like folding bending over backwards and the front bug deflectors flying off and.

Corey:

Right.

Rob:

It just doesn't happen anymore with today's technology.

Corey:

Sometimes it almost is a depending on what kind of car, there's some cars that the mirrors are just a little more loose. And so sometimes our wraps will fold them in.

Rob:

So they may fold 'em in.

Corey:

Yeah. And we just pop 'em out. We tell people that if they have the automatic mirrors, ah, they might as well just bring 'em in. But yeah, so that still can happen where the mirrors get flipped with our wraps because every car is a little different. I mean, you have their skinnier cars and your bigger cars and it's all set up. This whole wash can be run on an iPad.

Rob:

Oh wow.

Corey:

So every pulse we can change, you know, we can always change things to make, come in earlier or later. And we try our best that we will try to get every sized car as clean as possible. But obviously there's gonna be some designs of some cars that possibly because of the overhang in the back window, that the brushes might not get to the back as well. But we're always trying to make improvements to our wash, to satisfy every kind of car.

Bill:

Especially when you get into aftermarket parts that people have tricked out their vehicle.

Corey:

Correct. exactly.

Rob:

There's a lot of 'em out there like that.

Bill:

Right.

Corey:

Right. Right. Most definitely.

Rob:

Now the age old question that I guess I struggle with all the time is I'm trying to figure out when to go through a car washes, when's the best time to do that. Should we be weather Watchers? Should we know what's coming? You know what I'm talking about? Do you go through the car wash? You spend the money, you get it done. And then it snows the next day. Did that really make sense?

Corey:

It does now. But again, if you're in the unlimited club, which I heard you will be when we open up Steven's point, , we're hoping next October

Rob:

Next October. Okay.

Corey:

You'll be the first one we call we'll make you the first member.

Bill:

So then it doesn't matter.

Corey:

We might even have you be the first one to go through? Why not? But anyway, again, if you're a member, it doesn't matter if it's dirty wash it, but before Tommy's Express, you're always kind of thinking Okay is it gonna be nice...

Rob:

Okay's when is that best time.

Corey:

Yeah, ok, I can get it clean and it's gonna be clean for a week because it's nice weather.

Rob:

Is there a better temperature than another to get that done?

Corey:

Well, what's really funny is sometimes I think it's crazy, but we're open even if it's 50 below.

Rob:

Oh wow.

Corey:

I do think some of the people coming through are a little crazy sometimes, but I suppose the people that have heated garages

Bill:

Right. It does really matter.

Corey:

They go through and go, go to the heated garage, but you can wash your car 365 days a year here.

Rob:

Cause if you're coming through at, let's say 10 degrees or 10 below, I would imagine once you got home and you're not in a heated garage, you might be freezing up a little bit.

Corey:

You can. Our claim is that we dry a car. We have two heated blowers, a million BTUs each.

Rob:

Oh wow.

Corey:

And 18 other blowers. Not heated, but the other ones are just blowers. And our claim is about 85% dry. So even the door jams, I would still suggest if somebody does come through at 10, just, just wipe that those door jams that probably save you from freezing. But personally I've never had an issue. We always have to wash one of our own vehicles first in the start of the day. So it's 10 below. Guess I gotta go through with mine and

Rob:

Geez, drive a clean car don't you?

Speaker 2:

Corey:

Exactly. So, but I've never experienced mine freezing, but I'm not gonna say it can't happen.

Bill:

Right, exactly. Right. But the odds are low. That it'll happen. And at least driving around, getting out, getting in again,

Corey:

Correct. And with the heat on if it is cold, but obviously when the sun is out, that's when we get busy. I mean even today kind of dreary day, but that sun would come out, we'd be probably triple.

Bill:

Right.

Corey:

Of what we're doing right now.

Bill:

Makes sense. When I look at your car.

Corey:

It's all about the sun, but you know what? That's like life too. I mean, when that sun comes up, we're just a little bit more active

Rob:

Now because we're talking about keeping your ride clean. I just wanted to throw out a reminder as we're getting to the end of our podcast here, but always keep your trunk clean too. And Corey, I know you guys don't get into that and, but it is important because the trunk is where we have that emergency kit that we've talked about in previous podcasts in the event that you might have a problem alongside the road and make sure you know where that is and that you can get to it.

Corey:

Right.

Rob:

So it's just kind of the whole picture about keeping your vehicle orderly and clean Today. We've learned a few tips and tricks on keeping your ride clean. And we thank you, Corey, for inviting us to visit Tommy's Express experience in Wausau.

Corey:

Anytime. And maybe we can hook up again when we open Steven's point.

Bill:

That'd be awesome.

Rob:

We'll see you then. We hope to have you ride along next time on all about the car to listen to previous episodes, find additional resources, or to simply send us a message head to all about the car podcast dot com. We'll see you next time.