car wash cultures?

For sometimne I've been interested in phenomenon of the hand Car Wash. Over the last ten years, the old petrol stations round Manchester have closed down and these small businesses have sprung up in their place, literally. So now there are fewer places to buy petrol, but more places and more people who wash the cars.

Who own the Car Washes? Who manage them? Who work there? and why dont people wash their own car any more? - and why are the hand car washes taking over from the automated or DIY car washes on garage forecourts.

Apart from this working at the Car Wash seems like such a very hard job - its like a modern form of 19th century mill working - but it's on display for all to see. Long hours - harsh conditions - cold, wet, back breaking and low pay - or is it?
At the car wash, cultures collide. Here I sit idly listening to Radio 3/4/5 (depending on the time of day), nice and warm with the blower on, wondering what to do for tea, while this young lad with red raw hands and wet feet is leathering my windscreen. The Car Wash becomes a metaphor for dislocation and disconnection, for a division of class and cultural experience - separated only by the shatterproof screen.

Invited by Kerenza Mc Clarnan to take part in her Buddleia commission project in Cheetham Hill, I soon found that Car Wash Culture predominates on The Cheetham Hill Road....