The 2020 Pit Stop
So 2020 has been off to a rough start.... to put it in the most gentle terms.
We didn't even get into the Spring before we started dealing with a PANDEMIC, of all things. Given the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus, much of the country, and the world, is in some stage of lock-down as our species tries to stay safe and wait out the storm.
Because of the incredible toll this virus has taken on the way people are adjusting to it, the ripple effects of our adjustments are being felt in an incredibly strong way globally. In relation to the automotive world, things have essentially come to a near standstill like they have with so many other industries. Besides the obvious signs that sales and manufacturing have taken a nosedive, events and major shows have been cancelled altogether.
However, not all is lost. The Geneva auto show managed to go virtual and debut many important new European cars, which you can see here. Many famous auto museums such as the Peterson in L.A. have gone online for virtual tours, so you can still get your fix. And with sales being non-existent and dealers trying to clear out inventory, it is definitely a buyers market. In fact you can now do just about all of your transaction and delivery without leaving your home, as dealers scramble to make the process as seamless and clean as possible - possibly forever changing a part of their business model for the future.
Now if you're lucky enough to have things generally under control in your household while you're social distancing from the world, and you're an automotive enthusiast, what else can you do? There are probably no local meets and cars-and-coffee's to go to. Tracks are closed and test drives aren't readily available (let alone a smart thing to do.) And though the highways are pretty empty, you really don't want to be caught stranded too far from home right now. So in lieu of mobile activities, now is a good time to catch up on your to-do list with your car.
Just like you may already be doing with your house, that might mean catching up on maintenance you can do on your own. Maybe you've got repairs that you can handle yourself over the course of a weekend. Maybe it's time for some upgrades on your suspension, brakes, electronics, or other areas that you can work on in your garage. After all it's easier than ever nowadays with so many forums and YouTube videos to walk you through just about everything. But even if you're not mechanically inclined or willing, something ANYONE can do is clean up their car. Properly.
If you are a fan of auto-detailing like yours truly, you've likely been watching and partaking in the explosion of detailing knowledge and products made available over the last decade. Again, thanks to the internet, it's been easier than ever to learn how to give your car that showroom look, fix up swirl marks, hard water spots, and battle scars from years past. There are plenty of great detailing sites (autopia.org and detailing.com come to mind) and YouTube channels with detailing guides out there. But what I've been looking out for due to recent events, is not just cleaning, but disinfecting and sanitizing your car's interior. Apparently I'm not the only one, as there's been a surge of interest on the topic. It's not enough anymore just to do a quick vacuum and wipe down. There is great value in in going to the next level.
If you stop and think about it for 30 seconds, you'll realize that a car that you use everyday for months and years on end, and the areas inside it that you repeatedly touch, is one of the "germ-iest" places you spend your time. In that regard one of my favorite detailers, Larry Kosilla, and his brand, AMMO NYC, came out with some food for thought on this very topic. In this very thorough video, he starts with a little background about the COVID-19 virus and proceeds to break down areas in your vehicle that you need to concentrate on to generally make your interior a cleaner, and thus safer place to be. Even if you're only slightly curious, it's worth watching to understand why it's important and get a sense of what needs to be focused on.
So let's take advantage of a few hours during our down time and give our cars - and in turn, ourselves - a little bit of well deserved effort and love. You might even find it therapeutic to put on some music and just go to work. No better time than the present - and that's not a hyperbole. Stay safe out there!
We didn't even get into the Spring before we started dealing with a PANDEMIC, of all things. Given the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus, much of the country, and the world, is in some stage of lock-down as our species tries to stay safe and wait out the storm.
However, not all is lost. The Geneva auto show managed to go virtual and debut many important new European cars, which you can see here. Many famous auto museums such as the Peterson in L.A. have gone online for virtual tours, so you can still get your fix. And with sales being non-existent and dealers trying to clear out inventory, it is definitely a buyers market. In fact you can now do just about all of your transaction and delivery without leaving your home, as dealers scramble to make the process as seamless and clean as possible - possibly forever changing a part of their business model for the future.
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| carscoops.com |
Now if you're lucky enough to have things generally under control in your household while you're social distancing from the world, and you're an automotive enthusiast, what else can you do? There are probably no local meets and cars-and-coffee's to go to. Tracks are closed and test drives aren't readily available (let alone a smart thing to do.) And though the highways are pretty empty, you really don't want to be caught stranded too far from home right now. So in lieu of mobile activities, now is a good time to catch up on your to-do list with your car.
Just like you may already be doing with your house, that might mean catching up on maintenance you can do on your own. Maybe you've got repairs that you can handle yourself over the course of a weekend. Maybe it's time for some upgrades on your suspension, brakes, electronics, or other areas that you can work on in your garage. After all it's easier than ever nowadays with so many forums and YouTube videos to walk you through just about everything. But even if you're not mechanically inclined or willing, something ANYONE can do is clean up their car. Properly.
 |
| Where to begin? With that which you have an opportunity to do only now given the circumstances... |
If you are a fan of auto-detailing like yours truly, you've likely been watching and partaking in the explosion of detailing knowledge and products made available over the last decade. Again, thanks to the internet, it's been easier than ever to learn how to give your car that showroom look, fix up swirl marks, hard water spots, and battle scars from years past. There are plenty of great detailing sites (autopia.org and detailing.com come to mind) and YouTube channels with detailing guides out there. But what I've been looking out for due to recent events, is not just cleaning, but disinfecting and sanitizing your car's interior. Apparently I'm not the only one, as there's been a surge of interest on the topic. It's not enough anymore just to do a quick vacuum and wipe down. There is great value in in going to the next level.
 |
| Larry in his element. c/o theDrive |
If you stop and think about it for 30 seconds, you'll realize that a car that you use everyday for months and years on end, and the areas inside it that you repeatedly touch, is one of the "germ-iest" places you spend your time. In that regard one of my favorite detailers, Larry Kosilla, and his brand, AMMO NYC, came out with some food for thought on this very topic. In this very thorough video, he starts with a little background about the COVID-19 virus and proceeds to break down areas in your vehicle that you need to concentrate on to generally make your interior a cleaner, and thus safer place to be. Even if you're only slightly curious, it's worth watching to understand why it's important and get a sense of what needs to be focused on.
So let's take advantage of a few hours during our down time and give our cars - and in turn, ourselves - a little bit of well deserved effort and love. You might even find it therapeutic to put on some music and just go to work. No better time than the present - and that's not a hyperbole. Stay safe out there!
Great post. Hope you and the family are well. Had to make a run to the post office today. Popped the tops of the Z and had a very pleasant drive that helped clear the mind. At least for a little while. Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteNothing like a little wind in your hair as you row through the gears to help ease the mind. Great to hear, hope you and the fam are doing great as well!
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