Noblesville Automotive

When Mike's Carwash first opened in 1948, it was one of only 18 carwash businesses in the United States. Today, the family-owned establishment keeps the 65-year-old tradition of gussying up automobiles alive at 42 locations throughout the Midwest. At each location, accommodating staffers stand by to assist customers during the cleaning process. Decked out in cartoon neckties, the cheerful team ushers cars into computer-controlled washers that eschew traditional gear-operated brushes and baseball bats in favor of controlled sprays and soft cloths. After the mixture of eight signature soaps de-grimes surfaces, 200-miles-per-hour gusts of hot air dry vehicles instantly. Mike's also offers specialty coats to give car exteriors and tires additional shine.

Easy Airport Parking offers safe haven to cars whose owners are bound for Indianapolis International Airport. Drivers silence engines in a valet lane and exchange keys or ignition-lodged screwdrivers for a claim check, relinquishing vehicles to employees who steer them into a standard or oversize spot. They then hop aboard a shuttle bus that drops off at terminals within 5 or 10 minutes. Since the buses run 24 hours a day, jet setters can call for a pickup as soon as they return, no matter the hour. The parking lot is also open all day and night, with security fences, cameras, and guards watching over roadsters and keeping patrons' personal chauffeurs from escaping. For an additional fee, cars can freshen up with a wash.

The founder of Rayburn Revolution Tires wanted to spur a new movement in the auto-care industry, one based on not only mending cars, but also ensuring their longevity. He and his staff start with the most important component, bumper stickers about honor students, and continue on to focus on tires. Each time they install tires, they also check alignment and include new rubber valves. The crew performs a range of preventative maintenance beneath shelves brimming with products certified by the Society for Automotive Engineers.