Hello, Kansas City, and welcome back to the Bespoke Automotive Refinement Podcast, your number 1 podcast for all your kansas city car detailing needs. We are so glad that you’ve joined us tonight on this wonderful fall day. We’re getting close to the change of the leaves, the chilly weather, pumpkin spice, going to Louisburg for the cider mill—all kinds of fun fall things.
As people prepare for fall and the winter, Thomas, is there anything they need to be mindful of so they’re preserving their vehicles to the utmost?
“Yes, guys, seriously—get your vehicles sealed for wintertime. Harmful road salts in the winter absolutely wreck your vehicle’s clear coat. They’ll cause oxidation, fading, and leave your car looking dull. One winter with no wax or sealant can make a car look awful. So if you have a high-end car or even a daily driver and you want to preserve it, reach out to us at 620-282-0402.”
I’m going to ask you some more questions. Are you ready, Thomas? “I came out the womb ready.”
Number one: what are the red flags of a bad detail job?
“Well, cup holders are a big one. Check the cracks and crevices of your interior—are they clean, or do you still see dust and gunk? Look under your seats, between the console and floorboards. If you see debris left behind, that’s a problem. After a wash, if there are still water marks under the mirrors, door handles, or emblems, that shows they didn’t blow dry the car properly. Also, if you notice new swirls or scratches in the paint, they probably used a bad wash method. And if the tires look greasy but the wheels aren’t truly clean, that’s another giveaway.”
Next question: what’s one detailing step most people skip but shouldn’t?
“The wheel barrels, man. I’m a wheel guy. Wheels set a car apart. If you’ve got gloss black 8-spoke monoblock wheels but leave brake dust in the barrels, the car won’t look complete. I actually had to re-clean the wheels on your dad’s truck today because brake dust was still between the spokes after the first pass. That’s the difference between average work and Kansas City car detailing done right.”
What made you fall in love with detailing in the first place?
“I was a troubled teenager. I didn’t play sports, but I was always a car guy. At 14, I started detailing as a punishment—and I fell in love with it. It was the first thing I enjoyed that was physically taxing but rewarding. The first cars I worked on, I didn’t know what I was doing—I used foam brushes at a car wash, scratched paint with a chamois, and thought vacuuming was a detail. But I knew there was so much more to learn. Growing up in a small town of 8,000 people with no professional shop around, I became known for always having the cleanest car. I had the glossiest paint and the cleanest wheel barrels in town. That’s when I knew this would be more than just a hobby.”
If you could detail any celebrity’s car, who would it be?
“Jay Leno. I’ve actually done a car he was part-owner of, but I was paid by a middleman, not Leno himself. Jay’s collection is insane, and he owns the McLaren F1—a $25 million car. For any car guy, that’s the holy grail. To detail one would be a dream, and if you impress Leno with your work, you’re probably landing a good gig.”
What’s the wildest car you’ve ever worked on?
“A Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing—that’s a $10 million car. Another was a Porsche Carrera GT. I got to drive it after detailing it. The guy paid $700,000, and today it’s worth $2.5 million. That V10 was the best-sounding engine I’ve ever heard. Wild doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
So if somebody’s wanting to get hold of you to work on one of their cars, how should they do it?
“The best way to get a hold of us for any Kansas City car detailing package or service is to call 620-282-0402. You can also go online to bespokerefinement.com. There you’ll find a list of all our different Kansas City car detailing packages, Kansas City car detailing services, and everything we offer for clients who want the best in Kansas City car detailing.”