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RJ De Vera - EP.112
About this episode
RJ De Vera, a legendary figure in the automotive scene, joins the Right Hand Drive Guys to share his extensive journey through the world of JDM cars and car culture. From his early days selling parts out of his mom's garage to consulting on the Fast and Furious franchise, RJ's stories highlight the evolution of the automotive industry over the past three decades. He discusses his current role at SEMA, the resurgence of interest in JDM cars, and the importance of advocating for the automotive aftermarket. Listeners will enjoy his nostalgic tales and insights into the future of car culture.
Topics:
fast and furious
sema involvement
jdm culture
car shows
import car history
drifting
project cars
automotive advocacy
nostalgia
car modifications
Cars:
BMW 3 Series
BMW Z3
BMW Z4
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet SSR
Ford Falcon
Ford Mustang
Honda Accord
Honda NSX
Honda S2000
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Nissan GT-R
Nissan Skyline
Pontiac GTO
Subaru WRX
Toyota Celica
Toyota GR 86
Toyota MR2
Toyota Prius
Toyota Supra
THE OG! In episode 112 we go beyond Fast and The Furious. RJ shares stories from Japan in the 90's, SoCals first car meets, and how SEMA is incorporating JDM cars into their lineup. What is next for RJ? Listen along and find out!
Socials @RHDGUYS - @RJ_DEVERA
Merch + Parts - http://RHDGUYS.COM
Technical
Too Afraid to Ask
Car
Mitsubishi Lancer Evos
"I can see myself too. If I remember correctly, that particular had probably had the Pepsi Evo, which we built a number of Lancer Evo's right when they got to the US, and we gave them away actually. And so I got to use those as vehicles to launch new wheels, but at the same time, you know, do some work with with a with a brand like Pepsi, which I couldn't believe at the time still can't believe sometimes now, but I'd work with them for a good five years, you know."
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Car
Chevrolet SSR
"...ned in that way, right? People had racing hard or SSR or move and like all this stuff that we love now ..."
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Car
Toyota MR2
"...were not mustangs or Camaros, but were civics and MR2s and supras and or sevens right so. So yeah, it wa..."
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Car
Ford Mustang
"...ven more. Performance oriented cars that were not mustangs or Camaros, but were civics and MR2s and supras a..."
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Car
Chevrolet Camaro
"...rformance oriented cars that were not mustangs or Camaros, but were civics and MR2s and supras and or seven..."
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Car
Toyota Supra
"...mustangs or Camaros, but were civics and MR2s and supras and or sevens right so. So yeah, it was definitel..."
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Car
Ford Falcon
"...1 came for the inaugural event and I think it was Falcon Tied or arranged it but then there was an invetat..."
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Car
Pontiac Gto
"...t the time. Sam had the Viper Reese had I think a Pontiac GTO or something like that. Oh who been that Sam who ..."
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Car
Subaru WRX
"But now they're kind of back still through a distributor but you know they displayed a pure right it displayed it's he must so it's cool to see this resurgence of like you know not just new brands but old brands that like guys like me like oh my god's a kiss or oh my god you know it's great right like I've known Kenji a great since he started there as just like an R&D guy in the 90s and now he's the president you know doing really full on like crates motors right. That was just stuff in our dreams so it feels like it's come around full circle all user words a couple times for me where it was like I was part of this big movement and then the movie made it like it's saying we big and then got kind of cliche and I kind of died out for a little while and then kind of started to have its own kind of segmentation with like evos and WRX's and and then you know the new youtubers kind of got into it they didn't even know what they were going to get into but they did. And now that's exposed people right like Dustin I think does a great job of exposing a bunch of stuff in Japan."
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Car
Nissan R33
"I mean he does a great job of like visiting Omori factory and showing you what that's like and you know going to these different tracks and so yeah it feels really cool to see you. It was really cool to see it kind of come come around again you know where people are super interested in right hand drive cars and JDM cars and cars that you couldn't get in the US like the evil 5 or R 33 or an S15. So I feel like there's more or even cars like the cappuccino oddly enough."
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Car
BMW E46
"But there's also a code mingling right of just anything cool and kind of retro whether it's Euro or American or Japanese you know I feel like when I was growing up was very much like Japanese cars only you know. And I think there's still a segment where it's that like GT are only you know yeah but I think like there's a generation that's more open like it's a E 46 BMW it's R 32 it's you know 70s Camaro they can like park next to each other and converse and like appreciate each other's cars regardless of theroad because right that's I don't know it has I agree it has kind of come around like that where you know the old muscle guys can appreciate the Japanese muscles so to speak and vice versa. Yeah I mean you go to car meet now I mean you bring a GTR let's say an NSX the amount of people that will just ask you questions about those two cars right from being cars in the 90s it's way different than when I was doing it in the 90s we're like oh what is that."
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Car
Honda S2000
"...g a black one. But yeah I just I just finished my S2000 projects I need to chill out a little bit. You go..."
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Car
Toyota Gr86
"...nk in terms of modern car you know it's got to be GR86 or Supra you see it most of the boots I think tha..."
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Car
Toyota Prius
"...that just brought one or two cars. There were one Prius 3G are 86 is one Supra and I'm 33 in that in that..."
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Car
Toyota Celica
"...vor of like the stuff that's there but. A few 70s Celicas that were pretty interesting oh that's cool and s..."
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Car
Honda Accord
"...000 so at the time I got rid of everything but my accord so thought we're not to have a project car coming..."
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Car
Nissan Gtr
"...n I guess you could say and then yep that's my 33 GTR and Aaron has his 32 GTST behind us. Okay then go..."
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20 cars
20 cars featured
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