TOURING CARWASHES, LEARNING HOW TO SAVE $, AND HAVING FUN: MCA COMES TO CHARLES TOWN, WV

If you attended the March 17 MCA meeting in Charles Town, West Virginia, you know we had a great turnout, toured two very interesting washes, and wrapped up the evening with a fine program. Want to know what you missed?  Read further.

We assembled at the Inn at Charles Town, part of the Charles Town Races and Slots complex. The most frequent comment heard upon arrival was "I had no idea it was so close." It seems that Charles Town is one of those places that seem far away if you live in Maryland or points south in Virginia, but is really a quick drive.

Our first stop was the new Charles Town Auto Wash, where General Manager Tara Perry and her team gave us a behind the scenes glimpse of this state of the art wash. From the long drive-through tunnel to the conveyor belt express detailing, this wash seems to have it all.

We then went to nearby 340 Wash and Lube and Cully Rinaldi gave us a tour of this excellent wash with automatic and self-serve bays. Attendees commented, as they often do on tours, how helpful it was to see other washes.

Back at the hotel, we assembled for drinks and conversation. When this group gets together, there is always lots of good information exchanged. Whether you are new to the industry, or a long-time member, this casual time is the way to learn new things, solve problems, and make powerful industry connections.

Dinner was a tasty cut of prime rib, with all the trimmings, followed by an apple tart. All agreed that the food was outstanding.

Following dinner, our speaker, Jim Belanger, from CMI (Carwash Management Integrators), gave an extremely informative presentation on carwash savings through automation.  He provided an excellent overview on variable frequency drives, as well as remote monitoring. Clearly, in these challenging economic times, even small savings become important because of the long-term impact. Click here to view Jim Belanger's Power Point slides.

Following the meeting, some headed home, but many, who were staying over for the evening, caught the hotel shuttle for the casino to enjoy the slots and horse-racing.

The consensus seems to be that Charles Town should definitely go on our list of preferred venues. Next time MCA comes to Charles Town, be sure to be there!

Our next meeting is April 28, in Chesapeake Beach, MD. Click here for details.

Click here for more photos.