On a busy Saturday morning, a parade of cars floods the entrance of the Viking Auto Spa located in Red Hook. The first thing the customer notices is the welcoming smile of 38–year-old Mexican immigrant, Victor Lopez, who dons a Brooklyn snapback.
Victor Lopez when he was 34 years old.
The Viking Auto Spa is known for its amazing services and hand washes that make any car look brand new. It is no surprise that this car wash is one of the most packed and busy ones found in the Red Hook neighborhood. Even though this car wash is busy, workers such as Victor are able to spark up a conversation with the customers, while washing the cars in a timely manner. These conversations are mostly centered on car models, car engines, and modifications. These conversations can last for nearly five minutes, which is the amount of time it takes for Victor to make the customer’s car look brand new. “I’ve been going to this car wash for nearly four years. I love the service, workers, atmosphere, and most of all, the little amount of time it takes to get my car washed,” notes the Nissan Altima driver who is smoking a cigarette outside his car.
Customers are not the only ones that complement Victor on his excellent services; on the contrary, the manager and workers of the car wash also have something to say. Karim Morsy, one of Victor’s close friends, states that “people come to our car wash not only to get their cars washed, but to have a friendly chat with Victor. Victor is really outgoing and he attracts so many customers.” Simply put, Victor is a fishing hook for business in the Red Hook neighborhood! The efficient services of the car wash can be attributed to the vast knowledge that Victor has about cars. Victor’s knowledge about cars spans from his love for them. This love translates into his work ethic in which he washes and takes care of every car as if it is his own.
Victor and his family left the state of Guerrero and arrived in America in 1992 for economic reasons. Immediately after graduating from John Dewey High School, Victor had to drop out of trade school in order to help raise money to feed his family. He worked as a busboy for nearly 8 years at the Greenhouse Café and this is where he met his wife, Linda. Victor’s passion for cars made him decide to quit his job at the Greenhouse Café and start working at the Viking Auto Spa. Currently, he is working at the car wash and attending automotive trade school. Victor links his determination to work and study to his passion for cars at a young age.
“I always had a love for cars since I was a young boy. In Metlatónoc, cars are considereda luxury to have and it is awesome that it is more affordable over here,” Victor says, as he and his partners scrub the windshield of the white tinted BMW X5. Victor hopes that he can save up and buy a normal German car such as an Audi or Volkswagen. He actually does not want to buy a high-priced German car such as a BMW or Benz because he knows that maintenance of these cars are expensive and out of his budget. Victor knows that he will be able to accomplish his dreams after he graduates from automotive trade school and becomes an auto mechanic. Until then, Victor must wake up everyday at 6 AM in order to take the B61 to work.
If you are driving around the Red Hook neighborhood, you should definitely make a stop to this car wash. Similar to a Viking’s home, the car wash is Victor’s ship and he hopes that he can continue building up and enlarging it. He will be able to accomplish this goal in this vast never-ending sea with his strong work ethic, passion for cars, and his perseverance.
As I am about to take my leave, I hear both Victor and his customers making car jokes and laughing. Even though I do not understand any of the jokes, this sight of happiness makes me realize that the car wash is a place that Victor can truly call home!
