A Conversation with Elmer, the Man Behind Riotous
Blog Post #1 — Riotous Car Care | Riot Garage
In our first-ever blog post, we sat down with Elmer — veteran, lifelong gearhead, and founder of Riotous Car Care and Riot Garage — to talk about how a scratched hood, four classic builds, and 35 years of systems leadership turned into a detailing brand built on protocol, preservation, and proof.
Interviewer: You spent 35 years in IT. That’s a long career in one industry. What made you walk away from it?
Elmer: I didn’t really walk away — it evolved.
I started as an engineer, moved into project and program management, then into senior operations and senior director roles. That career taught me how to think in systems, manage complexity, and build things that actually last.
But I’m also a 100% disabled veteran. I needed something tangible — something that kept my brain engaged and my body active — when time and circumstances allow. For me, that was always the garage.
Interviewer: Let’s talk about the cars. You’ve got quite the fleet.
Elmer: (laughs) Yeah — I’ve been building for years.
There’s Riot, my 1970 AMC AMX. She’s the reason this brand exists. Then there’s Mina, my 1969 Wagoneer finished in Chrysler Canyon Sunset metallic orange. She’s not a weekend toy — she’s my daily driver now. I actually sold a newer Ram 3500 MegaCab Limited so I could drive her every day. There’s Spunky, a 1979 Cherokee Chief powered by a 401. And Gladys — a 1963 Kaiser Gladiator running a stout 406ci small-block Chevy backed by a built 4L80E transmission.
These aren’t trailer queens. They’re restomods — fresh paint, modern drivetrains, built to be driven. Every one of them has been obsessed over. Every bolt, every panel, every detail.
Interviewer: So how does a guy with four serious builds end up starting a detailing company?
Elmer: Honestly? Somebody else’s carelessness.
I trusted a shop with Riot. She didn’t leave the factory with lacquer paint, but she was repainted in lacquer in the 1980s. That work was done by master craftsmen in the Milwaukee area, when the front and rear lower chin spoilers and the side skirting were added and fully leaded in.
I dropped her off for a full suspension and drivetrain swap — a new 9-inch Ford rear end, a Stage 2 cammed LT1, and a T56 transmission. Months of work. When I got her back, the hood and fender tops were covered in deep scratches. The kind that makes your stomach drop every time you look at the car.
Riot was born the first time I was able to really unleash that combination — the cammed LT1, the T56, and the correctly geared 9-inch Ford rear. That car is an absolute riot to drive. Honestly, I’m not even sure I was driving her — I think she rode me.
Interviewer: What did the shop say?
Elmer: “They happen.”
That was it.
The problem with old lacquer is there often isn’t enough material left to correct it safely. We tried — and every pass reminded us we were on borrowed time. The rest of the car was mechanically brand new, and those scratches couldn’t be fixed.
That moment changed everything.
Interviewer: Changed everything how?
Elmer: I decided I would never be that vulnerable again.
If I’m going to trust someone with my vehicles — vehicles I’ve spent years building — I need to understand exactly what should be happening and be able to verify it’s being done right.
So I went all in: paint correction, coatings, decontamination, surface chemistry, protection science. I learned it on my own cars — the ones I care about the most.
Interviewer: And that learning process became a system.
Elmer: It did. Eight steps. A protocol that works every time, on every surface.
I didn’t set out to start a business. I set out to protect my own cars. But once I had the system dialed, I realized it worked consistently. And the products I was using didn’t always support that system the way I needed them to.
So I started developing my own.
Interviewer: For people just finding you — what is Riotous?
Elmer: Simple.
Riotous Car Care is our service side — mobile detailing, paint correction, ceramic coatings. Riot Garage is our product side — the same products we use in the field, available to DIYers and professionals.
Same philosophy. Same protocol. Two sides of the same coin.
You can book us to do the work, or you can buy the same products and do it yourself. Either way, you’re getting the system.
Interviewer: Riot Garage is up to 19 products now?
Elmer: That’s Riot Garage.
The backbone is The Riot Protocol™ — our 8-step system. The Riot Line™ exists to teach why each step matters, not just what to buy.
It’s not “buy this product.” It’s “here’s the system, here’s the science, here’s why this step exists.”
Interviewer: You carry other brands as well. How does Riot Garage fit alongside them?
Elmer: With humility — and confidence.
Those brands have earned their reputations. We’re not trying to replace anyone. We’re offering another option — a system-driven option with a protocol behind it.
We’re comfortable putting our name on it. Literally — it’s on the label.
We’d rather let the products — and the outcomes they produce — speak for themselves.
Interviewer: You’re a new brand. No reviews yet. How do you handle that?
Elmer: With honesty.
We’re new publicly, not in practice. These products have been tested on six-figure restomod builds — my own cars. Cars I would never risk with something I didn’t believe in.
Use the products. Tell us what you think. We’ll listen. We’ll improve.
Interviewer: Tell me about your team.
Elmer: Every detailer who represents Riotous Car Care is vetted, trained, insured, and protocol-driven.
This isn’t a side-hustle operation. Consistency matters. Your car should receive the same level of care whether I’m there personally or one of our team members is executing the work.
Interviewer: And you’re not the cheapest option.
Elmer: No — and we’re upfront about why.
When you hire the best talent and equip them with the right tools, you can’t be the cheapest. What you can be is consistent, accountable, and worth it.
Interviewer: Where are you based, and where do you operate?
Elmer: Our shop, retail store, and warehouse are in Savanna, Illinois, open by appointment.
Our primary mobile service area covers Chicago’s west and northwest suburbs, plus a 40-mile radius around Savanna. We’re expanding into additional areas, so keep an eye out.
Interviewer: I heard something about an ambulance?
Elmer: (laughs) We’re converting one into a fully self-contained mobile detailing rig. When it’s ready, it’ll be on the road — and if you’re lucky, it might show up in your driveway.
Interviewer: You’ve also got something coming for rust prevention?
Elmer: Yes — Riotous Fleet Services.
You can probably tell I have an affinity for old full-size Jeeps — I’ve had a few (smiles). It genuinely pains me to see them rusting away. For a while, I tried to rescue as many as I could — shipping trucks back from California to North Carolina for restoration or reconditioning.
Watching what rust does to good vehicles is what pushed me to truly understand — and solve for — the conditions we live and operate in here in the Rust Belt.
We’re building services specifically to fight that — heated pressure washing, spray salt treatments, and underbody protection — for fleets, RVs, agricultural equipment — and for owners who plan to keep their vehicles long-term — anything that lives outside and takes a beating from the elements.
Interviewer: Last question. What’s the philosophy behind all of this?
Elmer: Preservation over replacement.
Vehicles deserve systems, not shortcuts. And for the DIYers — don’t wait until you know everything. Start now. Follow the protocol. Learn. Progress.
And as for the name?
Riot — the AMX — is the reason this exists.
If you’re not having a Riot, why do it?
Riotous Car Care Detail Obsessed. Veteran Owned.
Quietly Perfect Finish. Do It the Riot Way™
About Riotous
Riotous Car Care is a mobile detailing service serving the Chicago west and northwest suburbs and the Savanna, Illinois area. Riot Garage is a 19-product detailing and protection line built around The Riot Protocol™ — an 8-step system for surface preparation, correction, and protection. All products are made in the USA.
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