Lights, Camera, Shine On!
Words: Robby Pacicco / Photos: provided by Kahn Media
Wax on, wax off. The famous words Mr. Miyagi etched into the minds of countless music montage loving movie buffs since 1984. Although the Karate Kid film was a hit underdog story with some inspirational music to hit the treadmill with, it lent little to the imagination of what it fully entails to properly detail a functional piece of art. Automobile and motorcycle detailing is an underappreciated art with much more to it than simply applying some random product picked up off the shelf and then removing it with a cloth, revealing your carnauba framed reflection in the glossy paint. Like any artistic craft, it is a full process. Plant and Page didn’t simply put songs or performances together, they built a product surrounded by feeling, emotion and passion. The same technique Chris Walters and Jeremy Porrazzo use to create a reputable and respected name for themselves. Just ask veteran comedian and gearhead Jay Leno. It’s no secret that Jay Leno has an impressive collection of motorcycles and cars as his very popular web and TV series Jay Leno’s Garage puts his love in plain view for the world to see. With a collection as immaculate as his, how does he well, keep them immaculate? The answer is simple, it’s pure respect and trust, both of which he publicly displays in Walters and Porrazzo.
In late 2016 the Jay Leno’s Garage Advanced Vehicle Care (JLG AVC) product line launched having been developed by both Chris Walters and Jeremy Porrazzo with the support of the Leno himself. “I think it all stems from childhood,” says Chris as he reflected on where his automobile passion came from. “I needed money for BMX parts, so like most kids my age, I’d wash the neighbor’s cars.” Thus was born the car lover and innocently the entrepreneur. “In 2012 or so I started working sales, marketing and business development with Jeremy who ran a family-owned chemical development and blending operation in Southern California. The focus there was developing eco-friendly formulations for surface correction. We marketed and sold products to the refinishing side of the business and by necessity I learned my way around a rotary polisher. It’s a blessing and a curse,” he exclaims. “Sure, I was learning a new trade, but before I knew how to look at paint and identify defects, I thought all paint jobs were created equal. Now my eye is hyper-critical and I can spot a swirl mark or fisheye from a mile away! It’s great and all but my OCD kicks in and I have to fight the urge at times to want to correct every single minor issue,” confesses Chris. Explaining how he and Jeremy became involved with JLG, “We’ve been involved with the Garage on and off over the years,” says Chris. “We worked with Jay’s in-house detailer numerous times and we’d provide products, but so would the other guys. When Jay’s detailer left the team, we got a call from the shop foreman who asked if we could recommend someone local. Instead of handing the business off to someone else, we figured detailing at Jay’s would be the ultimate feather in our cap! So we jumped all over the opportunity and began providing detailing services exclusively for Jay and his collection in addition to running the chemical business.” As time went on and they kept Jay Leno’s collection in pristine condition, Jeremy and Chris continued to perfect their products over days, weeks, months and years. Not looking for a quick and easy result, they used patience as their greatest tool and Jay’s available collection of motorized fine art as their motivation.
The diversity of the Leno collection is as wide ranged as what you hear playing out of the speakers as Chris or Jeremy work to music. “To say we have a wide variety would be an understatement,” tells Chris. It’s entirely understandable considering these guys are trusted to work on anything from a hyper powered and rare modern day Mclaren P1 or Ford GT, to an almost prehistoric assortment of steam powered motor cars and classic Bugattis. “From hip hop to classic rock and everything in between. Usually it’s Led Zeppelin, Johnny Cash or Frank Sinatra, but sounds from Notorious B.I.G. to the Cramps have also been known to grace the playlist.” Diversity obviously takes over the garage floor at Leno’s as it does the music playlist, but it doesn’t end there since it shows in the line of products offered by the JLG AVC. With the understanding of how fragile the paint on the surface of a car or motorcycle is, Jeremy and Chris know it is necessary to have a full range of quality products to pamper and protect it. Of course this means the JLG AVC line of products goes beyond just waxing on and waxing off. “When you start to understand how delicate your vehicle’s paint is, you can begin to realize the importance of taking precaution at every step of the detailing process.” With the launch of their highly praised drying aid spray named Evaporate, it just goes to show how simply drying the car is not enough after washing it. “Evaporate represents an emerging trend in detailing technology called drying aids or drying agents. Soaps help lubricate your wash mitt, detail sprays help lubricate your microfiber towels, but what about the drying process? The drying process has been widely ignored in the past. Water isn’t enough to prevent your drying towel from marring the painted surface. You need something that can help absorb the excess water and lubricate the drying towel to prevent it from leaving behind swirls or scratches. Enter Evaporate, it does both of those things and leaves behind an incredible shine. It’s the perfect complement right after you soap down and rinse the car.” Evaporate might seem like overkill to some, but it’s not. Automobile detailers are very particular in how perfect their work appears. One smudge, swirl or a single drop of a dried water mark will drive them insane. The same goes for collectors like Jay Leno. All the hard work it took to accumulate such machines needs to reflect in the upkeep and appearance of them as well. Especially a collection such as his that can be seen regularly on his show or cruising around sunny Burbank, California.
As the auto industry evolves so does the industry of automotive care products. Despite their already well-established collection, Jeremy and Chris continue to research and develop every day. “We work hard to stay on the cutting-edge of appearance trends in the automotive industry,” confirms Chris. “Coatings and chemistry are always evolving, and so is taste. One of the more recent trends is people opting for matte finishes on their vehicles. Some OEM’s are offering matte finishes straight from the factory and some car owners are opting to paint or wrap the vehicle themselves. Either way, matte paint requires different care than glossy paint and the chemicals need to adapt to those needs as well. We’re working on a matte paint detailer for 2018, and we should have it ready for the spring!”
Like the hard working instrument, lighting and sound technicians behind the scenes at a Springsteen show, Porrazzo and Walters might not be on the stage but their incredible efforts are enjoyed by the headlining artist and the fans alike. They’re product line is available for everyone to experience simply by ordering online individually or in a variety of prepared kits. From tires and wheels to windows and dashboards, they have the consumer covered at very reasonable prices. Without the handy work of the team behind the continuously evolving and advancing line of Jay Leno’s Garage Advanced Vehicle Care products, the comedian would only have a stable full of cool cars and motorcycles. However due to their relationship, he has a stable of concours d’élégance ready beauty queens, which any Joe Sixpack would be able to achieve easily using the same exact products. Imagine that, a Hollywood shine for an affordable price endorsed by a guy who knows a thing or two about cars. Sounds to us like the making of some sweet music.
To learn more about the complete line of Jay Leno’s Garage Advanced Vehicle Care products visit https://www.lenosgarage.com
