>> ... Next Generation ...
Devil Is In
The Details
Auto detailer returns cars
to like-new condition.
MARIELLE TEMKIN
I JN INTERN
I
want my customers to drive away with that new car feel," said Jason Shanker, 25,
and thanks to his keen eye for detail and strict adherence to making cars look
as perfect as possible, the owner of Jay's Auto Detailing in Berkley does just that
whenever possible.
His career with cars started in collision damage, but he decided detailing was more
natural for him. "I like being able to start and finish a job," Shanker said. "I can take as
much time as I want and get the results I'm looking for. You don't get that with every
job."
Shanker scrubs every inch of a car's interior with a toothbrush, and he is certified in
carpet cleaning from the Clean Trust. "I know what cleaning material works best on
different types of stains and odors," he explained.
Everything Shanker knows about detailing he has learned through experience. "My
boss from Motor City Auto Spa taught me the process of going through a car. Before
that, I didn't really have a method to follow," he said. "My process might take longer
than most, but the extra time is worth it."
Norman Yono, 25, of Beverly Hills, has gone to Shanker for auto detailing for years.
"His attention to detail makes him far superior to any other detailer I've ever gone to,"
said Yono.
"His techniques and how meticulous he is make him second to none. I brought him
a Mustang Cobra one time that was really scratched up and in bad shape, and when I
came to pick it up, I actually didn't recognize it because it looked so good.
"His work costs more than others, but he uses top-of-the-line materials and spends
so much time on each car that it's worth it. You really get what you pay for," Yono said.
Currently renting space in Berkley Collision's building, Shanker hopes to move to his
own space once he gets his business on more solid ground, as it has only been open
full-time for four months.
"Ultimately, I'd love to be on Woodward because of the car community there, but I'd
also like to be in West Bloomfield or Birmingham to be closer to the Jewish community,"
he said.
UPCOMING EVENTS
w IDELBER 9
I EGT
FRIDAY, AUG. 3
Startup Soup
TechTown, Wayne State University's research and
technology park and business incubator, invites
Metro Detroiters to see what's brewing among local
entrepreneurs at its inaugural Startup SOUP, a novel
business plan pitch competition, at 5:30 p.m. at 2051
Rosa Parks Blvd. in Detroit. Finalists have a chance to
win more than $1,500, plus business training from
TechTown. The public is invited to attend Startup SOUP;
the cost is $5 at the door for soup, salad, bread and a
vote to pick the winner.
SATURDAY, AUG. 11
Eastern Market "Come Hungry,
Leave Happy" Tour
From 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Meet at 9:45 a.m. in
Rocky Peanut Co. on Russell Street west of Shed 2 in
Detroit's Eastern Market. Eat your way through the
market as the tour hops from shed to shed, visiting
specialty stores to learn about unique products, hear fun
facts, go behind the scenes and sample various foods.
$30. More info at www.feetonthestreettours.com .
32 August 2 2012
Eventually Shanker hopes to work on three to four cars a day. "I would need a staff
at that point," he explained, "because there aren't enough hours in the day to spend
eight hours on that many cars." He also wants to offer window tinting and audio
installation. "I want to be the one who does everything," Shanker said.
Most of Shanker's business is currently generated through word-of-mouth
recommendations, and he has placed ads on Craigslist and Facebook. He also attends
Michigan Gumball's weekly events on Mondays in Roseville and Wednesdays in Clinton
Township where he does promotional tire shining to build business.
"I go to a lot of CommunityNEXT's events like the Torah on Tap nights in addition to
Hillel events and do networking for my business with people I meet there," he said.
With the Woodward Dream Cruise approaching, Shanker will advertise more heavily,
particularly because his favorite cars to work on are classic and vintage ones.
The most time he ever spent with one car was 18 hours. "It was my friend's Jeep
Wrangler, and he is very picky. I wanted it to look extra good, so the extra time was
necessary," he said.
To restore a car's paint quality, Shanker washes the car and then scrubs it with a clay
bar — a synthetic sponge that removes impurities and bumps from paint.
"It acts almost like a magnet to pull contaminants out of the paint," Shanker said.
His final step is polishing it, for which Shanker uses his own mixture of glaze and
sealant—he calls it Shankashine.
"If you want your car to look absolutely the best," Shanker said, "you should come to
me because I do whatever I can to make cars look as good as possible."
Jay's Auto Detailing, 3611 12 Mile, Berkley. (248) 302-4988.
www.jaysautodetail.com .
Heidelberg Detroit's
Got Talent
From noon-8 p.m. on
Heidelberg Street in Detroit.
Enjoy a celebration of the
community and a chance to
build on the thriving pulse
of art in Detroit. Throughout
the festival, the Heidelberg
aft Project will showcase
talented individuals from
the city of Detroit in the
four artistic categories of Culinary
Arts, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts, while connecting
these young adults with local industry leaders for
insight and mentorship. The Heidelberg Project is
accepting submissions for its upcoming community
festival to Anton Bassey at Ant.bassey@gmail.com .
Submission guidelines are available at www.
heidelberg.org .
Witat S
SUNDAY, AUG. 19
JCycle II
JCycle is a bicycle tour (20 miles, 10 stops) of
Detroit designed to celebrate exciting developments
and explore the city's rich
Jewish history in an up-
close and personal way. A
coalition of organizations
A
of Histori bike tour
have come together
c Jewish
to present this event,
Detroit
now in its second
year, to highlight the
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contributions of Jewish
leaders, past and
present, who've enriched
our culture and history. The all-new route
begins at Milliken State Park, home of the historic
marker depicting Michigan's first Jewish fur traders and
Civil War soldiers, travels east to Elmwood Cemetery
to Indian Village and back past the Heidelberg Project,
Eastern Market and Grand Circus Park, winds to the
west side of Detroit with stops at Corktown's Spaulding
Court and the Summer in the City House at Clark Park
and finally returning through downtown to Milliken
State Park.
Begins at 9:30 a.m. Plan on the ride taking around
four hours. Registration fee $25.
For more info, call (248) 432-5517 or visit
http://conta.cc/MJ3DH5 . A portion of the proceeds to
benefit the Back Alley Bikes Project.
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