In the spring of 1993, I embarked on the first steps of what would evolve into a thirty year odyssey into automotive detailing.
This journey began with the purchase of my first car, a 1989 Suzuki Swift, which though not considered an expensive vehicle by most, held significant value to me as a twenty-year-old. Determined to restore it to its former glory, my passion for automotive detailing was kindled.
Shortly after acquiring the car I had the privilege of meeting an automotive detailing professional responsible for maintaining my father's company cars. Intrigued by this meticulous craft, I went and delved into the intricacies of interior and exterior detailing, product selection, and technique. This initial encounter and subsequent discussions marked the genesis of my enduring fascination with automotive detailing, a passion that would become as central to my life as martial arts and philosophy was to my idol, Bruce Lee.
Detailing became a source of fun, purpose, and turned into a relentless pursuit of perfection. As the saying goes, the journey itself often holds more significance than the destination. You may never achieve perfection but getting very close to it sure makes all the effort so worthwhile.
Over the years I have devoted so much time to continuous research, experimentation with over one hundred and sixty brands of products plus the fulfilment of a big goal - to buy my first ever dream car which I had wanted since 1979 after watching Mad Max as a six year old - a 1972 Ford XA Falcon Fairmont two-door coupe with a 351 4V V8 engine with a race cam, new C4 Trans, hurst racing shifter and some nice wheels and big wide tyres. The journey of constant R & D testing led me to embrace the digital age, opening doors to a vast online community of fellow enthusiasts and experts from around the world, sharing insights on forums like Detailing World, Autopia, Detail City, and many others where some great knowledge was gained. This is where I shared my earliest and some of my best work over the 2000’s
An unwavering commitment to self-improvement and the technical aspects of detailing culminated in my professional entry into the field. My forward-thinking approach was evident in my ability to foresee the introduction of a number of things well before their eventual release. Items such as microfiber pads which in 2002 I envisioned we would be using to polish paint within several years. They were already in use in the OEM world and I adopted them as soon as they hit the market in 2011. Also I was one of the earliest in the western world to discover and embrace denim and velvet pads from their asian creators as well as rinseless wash technology in 2002 and ceramic coatings in 2008. I’ve not been the first always with new tech but most certainly one of the early adopters of any new technology that provides many benefits and allowed detailers like myself to do things we could not before or get better results.
In 2011-2012 I was fortunate enough to contribute to a leading crash repair industry magazine, writing articles on the subject of polishing including the use of long throw polishers. Australia was one of the first to get the Bigfoot technology and these articles I wrote led to the opportunity to test the machines and products for a few power tool companies such as Festool and Dynabrade.
Among my forward-looking concepts, one stands out: my vision back in 2006 that the future of random orbital polishing was with variable orbit stroke polishers. Three, four or five orbit sizes on one polisher. This was inspired by the purchase of a dual orbit sander/polisher from Metabo that year. It is still being sold globally now and is one hell of a good final polisher for intricate areas and finishes better than most long throw polishers.
It would take a decade for the first variable orbit polisher, the UDOS 51E to be patented and released to the market, despite my tireless attempts to get it made by any power tool company that would listen and take on my concept. My new vision for variable orbit polishers could make a deep and lasting impact on the industry and even revolutionise it.
My UFO polisher concept would fill a big gap in the marketplace that still exists and is sorely needed to eliminate the need for two different polishers.
From my humble beginnings in a home garage in 2006, I got to expand to part of a one-thousand-square-meter workshop in 2007. Notably, I achieved the distinction of becoming the first detailer to be invited on the first ever industry-based podcast show. In 2010, my journey took an enlightening turn as I encountered a new brand of polishing products and connected with the company's director, who would become my revered mentor and teacher to this day and where my best knowledge was gained. Also I headed to the USA to help a friend setup his shop and returned there for a second visit in 2013.
Today, I am still humble and very proud of what I've done in thirty years but far from ready to settle or stop. I have bigger fish to fry. But I'm far from ready to settle, I'm hungrier than ever to do more for this industry that gave me a purpose in life and earned me some excellent income and so many great friends and peers who respect me for my knowledge and skills.
I am recognized as a critical thinker and a visionary by some of my peers and have a great reputation with many but I'll never let any praise from anyone get to my head and make me think I'm any better than anyone else, there is always more to learn and my mind is fully open to learn from anyone about anything. There's also a hell of a lot to share with others too via my training. I'm no nikola tesla, edison or elon musk but I do believe that god has given me somewhat of a visionary mind with a few of many ideas that could go on to revolutionise the industry or seriously evolve it.
I'm always seeking to learn more, find new breakthrough products and tools and working on new ideas and concepts, brainstorming away to try and improve the industry trying to come up with solutions. Often I'm looking outside the industry for inspirational new product and tool ideas.
One thing is for sure, I am an advocate for innovation and would love to play a part in it.
