Roselle man shares passion for detailing cars with others

A car enthusiast, Sam Reiss of Barlett already was familiar with how to make his vehicles look good when he took a class with auto detailer guru Gary Kouba a few years ago.

But Reiss still learned a couple of things he didn't know.

"I found him to be really very knowledgeable. Even though he had his own business, he didn't promote any one product," Reiss said. "I couldn't recommend him higher."

Kouba sold his Roselle business, Perfect Auto Finish, last year, and now is devoting himself to giving the auto detail clinics that he started when he was personally shining people's cars. People have good reason for wanting their vehicles to retain their value, he said.

"A car is usually the second biggest investment people make outside their home," he said

Kouba gives his presentations at area libraries, park districts and auto clubs. He's done one series of hands-on classes at a high school and would like to do others.

His DVD shot a few years ago, "How to Keep You Car Looking New For Pennies A Day," can be found in some local libraries and has aired numerous times on cable TV.

"I can be walking around in a shopping mall sometimes and people recognize me from cable TV," he said.

Kouba started giving car clinics about six months after he started his business in 2002. The business was a dream-come-true for Kouba, who had a background in sales and marketing, but he soon found he wanted to do more than shine cars.

"I wanted to share my knowledge with the public. I thought a car clinic would be something different," he said.

He gave his first presentation at the Roselle Public Library.

"That first class brought in 65 people, which was a record attendance for a first-run class in the library's history," he said.

Kouba has given about 200 presentations since then, and has more scheduled for this summer and fall. Carol Stream Public Library brings him back each year by popular request, said Matthew Westan, adult services librarian.

"He always been very professional," Westan said.

Kouba said he aims to keep his two-hour presentations fun and informative, with time for questions. He tells listeners about products they can buy to save money doing the detail work themselves. Car dealers often overcharge for processes such as synthetic paint sealing, he said.

"I show people how to do it for as little as three dollars an application," he said. "A lot of car dealers charge between $800 and $1,200."

Before a car is polished and sealed, Kouba said it should be washed and then "clayed" to remove microcontaminants that don't come off in the wash.

"That really is what makes an eye-popping finish show up," he said.

Detailing a car can take four to seven hours depending on the size, Kouba said. A typical price for a professionally done job that includes the engine, interior and exterior would be $225, he said.

Kouba's own detail business and car clinics he gave garnered him international attention. He served on the board of the Professional Detailers Association and became an Internet spokesman for car manufacturers. Detailers in other states contacted him about starting their own classes.

He contributed information for a book on how to start an auto detail business, and continues to write articles for auto detail magazines.

His work brought him in contact with celebrities, too. Kouba detailed a car given away on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and a Lexus autographed by Paul McCarthy that was auctioned for charity.

He attracted high-end clients who requested the work on their cars be done only by him.

But Kouba, who started his business on a part-time basis and continued his outside employment part-time, found the physical work of detailing along with giving the classes too stressful. Last year, he sold Perfect Auto Finish to Kevin Traver, a young man who had worked with him and shared his interest in cars.

Traver said he continues to service many of Kouba's customers.

"If I ever need help or have a question on a vehicle, he's always around to give advice," Traver said. "He's really enthusiastic and really into cars."

Kouba's love for cars started with the first he owned, a 1969 Chevelle, and he now keeps a 2007 Solstice convertible and customized PT Cruiser in mint condition. He said his wife and three sons don't share his consuming interest in the automobile, but he recommends that anyone follow their passions.

"If you have a passion for what you do or want to do, success is automatically going to follow," he said. "There is going to be a natural energy that is just going to flow from your mind and body."

Auto detailing classes

Des Plaines Library, 10 a.m. to noon June 28

Prospect Heights Park District, 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 17

Bolingbrook Park District, 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 18

Arlington Heights Park District, 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 20

Buffalo Grove Park District, 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 23

Forest Park Library, 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 24

Batavia Park District, 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 25

Buffalo Grove Park District, 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 11

Bensenville Park District, 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 18

Bolingbrook Park District, 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 25

Prospect Heights Park District, 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 13

To contact Kouba, e-mail him at turbomang@aol.com