<< wait a sec... am I reading this right?
you can aim a garden hose at your car, spray water out of it, into the engine compartment, with the hood open, directed mainly at the engine and it's components and this is perfectly safe? >>
Yes, for the most part that is true. Just don't aim pressure directly at the ignition, or intake. Street cars are meant to be driven in the rain, so getting some water on the engine is not a problem. As long as you aren't forcing water into any of the electrical areas, you are fine. I used to work at a used car lot, and we had to clean engines on the time. Just spray it down with some good cleaner, and hose it off, being careful to not spray right at electrical areas.