South Island’s first self-service vehicle wash

Press, 10 April 1987, Page 25

South Island’s first self-service vehicle wash

The South Island’s first self-service vehicle wash will open this week-end. Bruce Reid Motors, Ltd, which is on the comer of Moorhouse Avenue and Selwyn Street, has had a Tom Thumb car-wash operating from its premises for a number of years.

A new system called Washworld has just been installed however, so that there are now six selfservice bays as well as a Tom Thumb unit. ‘‘Washworld is a 24hour self-service coinoperated vehicle wash system,” says Mr Bruce Reid, the managing director of Bruce Reid Motors, Ltd, and Washworld Corporation South Island Ltd.

“Our new Washworld system offers a vehicle cleaning service to customers who provide their own labour,” he says. “The system can deal with cars, vans, motorbikes, recreational vehicles, trucks, boats, machinery and anything else which is portable and washable.”

Mr Reid says the Washworld which has been in Auckland for three years has drawn customers which include all age groups, income levels and both sexes. “Most of these customers choose self-service because of the personal

satisfaction that is gained by accomplishing the task themselves,” he says. “Others, such as commercial operators, choose to use Washworld because there is no other commercial method of washing vans and trucks. “We have made one of the six self-service bays wider than the others so there’s room for two platforms. This means that anything with high sides, such as trucks and caravans, can be cleaned — something which was impossible with the Tom Thumb. It’s also good if you want to get up and clean the roof of large vehicle. “We’ve also added two new features to the Tom Thumb unit We’ve installed a foam arch which at the beginning of the cycle sprays liquid polish onto the car, and the brushes work it into the paintwork.

“Then at the end of the cycle we add a further compound — a beadwax — which puts a sealing coating on the final preparation.” Mr Reid says the Washworld system is easy to use.

“The instructions are up on the wall, so it’s easy to come in and read them, then follow through with what you want to do,” he says.

“There are seven selections possible, and they and the instruction sheet are all colour coded.

“The coin-operated system takes 50 cent pieces, and there is a time schedule alongside to tell you how much time you get; for example, one 50 cent piece gets one minute and five seconds of action. “So that having a pocketful of 50 cent pieces isn’t a problem, we’ve put, in a money changing machine which can change $5 and $2 notes. "There’s 900 pounds pressure hot water in the gun which is controlled by a trigger, and there are various intensities of de- ‘ tergent. “The options which can be used for the wash are pre-soak, bubble brush, high pressure soap, highpressure rinse, high-pres-sure hot wax, foaming engine cleaner and foaming tyre cleaner. "The great thing about it all, of course, is that you don’t have to go around and find everything — it’s all here.

“We also have heavy duty vacuum cleaners which have big diameter long hoses, and can be used before or after the wash.

“They’re controlled by separate coin meters. “We also have special

mat holders so you can spray your mats, and they virtually won’t need drying. “Another big advantage is we’re open 24 hours a day, thanks to the big lights we’ve in each bay. So now, even on the way home from a party at 3 o’clock in the morning, you can clean your car.” This complex is the first in the South Island. Auckland has had one for three years now, and the company there is the New Zealand agent for the American equipment and the American design. We’re the South Island agent for the Auckland company,” says Mr Reid.