INTERVIEW BY MARY LENDZION
PHOTOS BY NMRA STAFF
Jim Johnson appreciates that he was raised near the Motor City, and continues to reside near the car capital of the world.
He was introduced to the car culture early on, and he has been immersed in it ever since.
His former neighbors used to let him come over and watch them work on their cars, and before long, he was cruising with them on Telegraph, Michigan Avenue, Woodward Avenue and in other hot spots in Dearborn and surrounding cities in Michigan.
He is proud to say that his very first car was a 1972 Cutlass, and while there were several cars in between, he is even more proud to say that he currently campaigns a 1992 Mustang GT in NMRA ARP Open Comp, and occasionally, NMCA MagnaFuel Open Comp.
When he is not racing, Johnson bowls on multiple leagues, with his car-loving brother, Craig, as well as his nephew, Jacob Johnson, and fellow racer Frank Hoffman. He has a lot of experience when it comes to rolling balls toward pins and knocking them down, as his father owned a bowling pro shop back in the day, and Johnson spent hour upon hour there.
What he likes most about racing, and bowling, is the camaraderie. Being around groups of people who become his friends, wish him good luck and give him high-fives means a lot to him.
Read on for more about Johnson, who is married to Andrea, has two children and a grandchild and works as a Material, Planning and Logistics Analyst at Performance Assembly Solutions in Livonia, Michigan.
At the time of this interview, he was in the eighth-place in 2023 NMRA ARP Open Comp points in his Mustang boasting a small-block Ford built by Roush Competition Engines and a C4 by Sean’s Transmissions, and clocking 9.50s in the quarter-mile.
WHAT WILL YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EARLY EXPOSURE TO CARS?
Growing up in Inkster, Michigan, we had a family across the street who was really into cars. The father, Ray Hunt, painted cars out of his garage, and he had a really nice 1967 Chevelle SS, and his two sons, had really nice street cars. Jimmy had a 1969 Camaro and Mike had a 1968 Cutlass 442. I was about 16 or 17 when I really started hanging out with them, and I would get to help them every now and then, and go cruise and watch cars on Telegraph. That really turned me onto cars.
DID RAY, MIKE AND JIMMY INFLUENCE YOUR CHOICE FOR A FIRST CAR?
They definitely did. I bought a clean, all-original 1972 Cutlass after I graduated from John Glenn High School in Westland, Michigan, from a lady named Renee. It was jade green with a black vinyl top, and it had a 350 Rocket engine and a Turbo 350 transmission. I didn’t soup it up because I was right out of high school and didn’t have the money to do that. I just drove it around and took it to cruise-ins in the Detroit and Dearborn area.
HOW DID IT FEEL TO BE INTRODUCED TO THE THRIVING DETROIT AND DEARBORN CAR CULTURE?
I absolutely love being part of it, and cruising in the car and meeting other people who were cruising in their cars. Going out on Telegraph, or to Woodward Avenue, and other places, means a lot to me. I like seeing all of the cars, and hearing about all of the work people put into their cars. You really do meet a lot of great people in the car scene.
WHAT CAR DID YOU CLIMB INTO AFTER THE 1972 CUTLASS?
I got my 1973 Camaro Z28 from Mike Hunt. It was all-original with brown paint, a 350 cubic-inch engine and a Toploader transmission. I had grown envious of the Hunts because of all of the cool cars they had. Looking back on all of these makes me realize what a great childhood I had. Anyway, that 1973 Camaro Z28 was the first car I ever tore apart and restored. I rebuilt the engine and transmission, and Ray Hunt painted the car Viper Red for me. It was his choice to paint it Viper Red. I cruised the car around on the streets and I showed it in car shows, like the Barn Show in Livonia, Michigan. It is funny because I entered that show just a few weeks after the car was painted, and the engine started smoking when I pulled in because the rings were shot, but I still managed to win a car show award that day.
WAS THE 1973 CAMARO Z28 THE FIRST CAR TOOK TO THE TRACK?
Yes, it was. My friends, Allen and David Wilson, whom I met while cruising on Telegraph, suggested I start taking it to test and tune sessions at Milan Dragway in Michigan, and I ran 11.50s. Sadly, I don’t have that car anymore. It got stolen.
WE ARE SORRY TO HEAR THE 1973 CAMARO Z28 WAS STOLEN, ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL OF THE MEMORIES YOU MADE WITH THE CAR.
That was definitely a bummer. It happened while my wife, Andrea, and I were out of town. After that, I bought a new 2001 Mustang Cobra from the dealership. It was black and had a Four Valve engine and manual transmission. I was driving it to work and cruising it on Telegraph, and I raced NMRA for the first time in that car, in the Mod Motor class in 2002. It only had 500 miles on it when I raced it. I remember it being a blast to try that category and meet people like Susan Roush McClenaghan and Roxanne Shepard. I had the car until one day in 2010, when Andrea was driving it and a guy pulled up alongside of her and asked if she wanted to sell it. It was an offer we couldn’t refuse, and we used the money to buy an enclosed trailer.
WHEN DID YOU PURCHASE THE BEAUTIFUL BLACK 1992 MUSTANG GT YOU HAVE NOW?
I bought that in 2007, from Allen Wilson. I Iove Fox body Mustangs. I think they are iconic. Allen had been cruising in it and he took it to Milan Dragway a few times, and I just really liked it. When I bought it, it had a 302 cubic-inch engine and a five-speed transmission, and I cruised in it like that for a while. Then I pulled the engine out and rebuilt it into a 347 stroker, with help from Allen. We also installed a C4 transmission by Sean’s Transmissions, and the car ran 11.20s at the track. Then about 12 years ago, I tried NMRA Open Comp for the first time, and fell in love with it.
YOU HAVE MADE QUITE A HOME FOR YOURSELF IN NMRA ARP OPEN COMP.
I have met so many great people in Open Comp, and they have become close friends. They actually make me want to continue racing in NMRA Open Comp. These are the kind of people who want you to do well. We help each other with our cars, especially if we have problems, and we hang out together and eat together after racing. To me, there is no other class like it. On top of that, I like the challenge of the class. There is nothing easy about it, and there are actually 101 ways to lose in Open Comp. I have to be dialed in, and stay dialed in all weekend long. I can win and lose a race on the tree as well as on the top end, and I am racing against the best, and I like that.
YOUR FRIEND AND NMCA DART NA 10.5 RACER RICK RICCARDI RECENTLY HELPED WITH SOME UPGRADES TO YOUR MUSTANG. WHAT ALL DID HE DO?
Last winter, I took my car to Redeye Racecars in Florida, where Ricky works, and he did suspension work and fixed the torque box, among some other things. In addition to being a great friend, he does great work, and he is always willing to help anyone who needs help. I drove from Michigan to Florida for that work, so that should tell you how I feel about Ricky and the work he does. His wife, Jenni, is just as amazing. There is nothing they wouldn’t do to help someone.
DO YOU PLAN TO HAVE MORE WORK DONE TO YOUR MUSTANG OVER WINTER?
I’m taking the car back to Redeye Racecars for a new 8.8 rear end. It will be narrowed and I will switch from 12-inch rims to 10-inch rims. They will lower the car down and do some chassis work, and add to the cage so that it is Funny Car-style. Ricky and Marc Poldino, who works with Ricky, are very talented, and I trust them with my car.
WHO HELPS YOU ALONG THE WAY?
My wife, Andrea, is just as into cars and racing as I am, and I appreciate all of her help. I also want to thank Ricky and Jenni Riccardi, Tom Hoffman, Dennis Corn of Roush Competition Engines and his father, Bob Corn, my fellow racers and friends, Theresa Johnson and my sponsors and supporters, Velocity CNC, Westland Bowl, Clean Air Testing, Sean’s Transmissions, Superb Decals, Blair Hill Specialty Coffees, Skunk Racing Performance Parts, Street Metal Action, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Cribley Drilling and LAT Oils.
(Interview from Fastest Street Car magazine)
PHOTOS BY NMRA STAFF
Jim Johnson appreciates that he was raised near the Motor City, and continues to reside near the car capital of the world.
He was introduced to the car culture early on, and he has been immersed in it ever since.
His former neighbors used to let him come over and watch them work on their cars, and before long, he was cruising with them on Telegraph, Michigan Avenue, Woodward Avenue and in other hot spots in Dearborn and surrounding cities in Michigan.
He is proud to say that his very first car was a 1972 Cutlass, and while there were several cars in between, he is even more proud to say that he currently campaigns a 1992 Mustang GT in NMRA ARP Open Comp, and occasionally, NMCA MagnaFuel Open Comp.
When he is not racing, Johnson bowls on multiple leagues, with his car-loving brother, Craig, as well as his nephew, Jacob Johnson, and fellow racer Frank Hoffman. He has a lot of experience when it comes to rolling balls toward pins and knocking them down, as his father owned a bowling pro shop back in the day, and Johnson spent hour upon hour there.
What he likes most about racing, and bowling, is the camaraderie. Being around groups of people who become his friends, wish him good luck and give him high-fives means a lot to him.
Read on for more about Johnson, who is married to Andrea, has two children and a grandchild and works as a Material, Planning and Logistics Analyst at Performance Assembly Solutions in Livonia, Michigan.
At the time of this interview, he was in the eighth-place in 2023 NMRA ARP Open Comp points in his Mustang boasting a small-block Ford built by Roush Competition Engines and a C4 by Sean’s Transmissions, and clocking 9.50s in the quarter-mile.
WHAT WILL YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EARLY EXPOSURE TO CARS?
Growing up in Inkster, Michigan, we had a family across the street who was really into cars. The father, Ray Hunt, painted cars out of his garage, and he had a really nice 1967 Chevelle SS, and his two sons, had really nice street cars. Jimmy had a 1969 Camaro and Mike had a 1968 Cutlass 442. I was about 16 or 17 when I really started hanging out with them, and I would get to help them every now and then, and go cruise and watch cars on Telegraph. That really turned me onto cars.
DID RAY, MIKE AND JIMMY INFLUENCE YOUR CHOICE FOR A FIRST CAR?
They definitely did. I bought a clean, all-original 1972 Cutlass after I graduated from John Glenn High School in Westland, Michigan, from a lady named Renee. It was jade green with a black vinyl top, and it had a 350 Rocket engine and a Turbo 350 transmission. I didn’t soup it up because I was right out of high school and didn’t have the money to do that. I just drove it around and took it to cruise-ins in the Detroit and Dearborn area.
HOW DID IT FEEL TO BE INTRODUCED TO THE THRIVING DETROIT AND DEARBORN CAR CULTURE?
I absolutely love being part of it, and cruising in the car and meeting other people who were cruising in their cars. Going out on Telegraph, or to Woodward Avenue, and other places, means a lot to me. I like seeing all of the cars, and hearing about all of the work people put into their cars. You really do meet a lot of great people in the car scene.
WHAT CAR DID YOU CLIMB INTO AFTER THE 1972 CUTLASS?
I got my 1973 Camaro Z28 from Mike Hunt. It was all-original with brown paint, a 350 cubic-inch engine and a Toploader transmission. I had grown envious of the Hunts because of all of the cool cars they had. Looking back on all of these makes me realize what a great childhood I had. Anyway, that 1973 Camaro Z28 was the first car I ever tore apart and restored. I rebuilt the engine and transmission, and Ray Hunt painted the car Viper Red for me. It was his choice to paint it Viper Red. I cruised the car around on the streets and I showed it in car shows, like the Barn Show in Livonia, Michigan. It is funny because I entered that show just a few weeks after the car was painted, and the engine started smoking when I pulled in because the rings were shot, but I still managed to win a car show award that day.
WAS THE 1973 CAMARO Z28 THE FIRST CAR TOOK TO THE TRACK?
Yes, it was. My friends, Allen and David Wilson, whom I met while cruising on Telegraph, suggested I start taking it to test and tune sessions at Milan Dragway in Michigan, and I ran 11.50s. Sadly, I don’t have that car anymore. It got stolen.
WE ARE SORRY TO HEAR THE 1973 CAMARO Z28 WAS STOLEN, ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL OF THE MEMORIES YOU MADE WITH THE CAR.
That was definitely a bummer. It happened while my wife, Andrea, and I were out of town. After that, I bought a new 2001 Mustang Cobra from the dealership. It was black and had a Four Valve engine and manual transmission. I was driving it to work and cruising it on Telegraph, and I raced NMRA for the first time in that car, in the Mod Motor class in 2002. It only had 500 miles on it when I raced it. I remember it being a blast to try that category and meet people like Susan Roush McClenaghan and Roxanne Shepard. I had the car until one day in 2010, when Andrea was driving it and a guy pulled up alongside of her and asked if she wanted to sell it. It was an offer we couldn’t refuse, and we used the money to buy an enclosed trailer.
WHEN DID YOU PURCHASE THE BEAUTIFUL BLACK 1992 MUSTANG GT YOU HAVE NOW?
I bought that in 2007, from Allen Wilson. I Iove Fox body Mustangs. I think they are iconic. Allen had been cruising in it and he took it to Milan Dragway a few times, and I just really liked it. When I bought it, it had a 302 cubic-inch engine and a five-speed transmission, and I cruised in it like that for a while. Then I pulled the engine out and rebuilt it into a 347 stroker, with help from Allen. We also installed a C4 transmission by Sean’s Transmissions, and the car ran 11.20s at the track. Then about 12 years ago, I tried NMRA Open Comp for the first time, and fell in love with it.
YOU HAVE MADE QUITE A HOME FOR YOURSELF IN NMRA ARP OPEN COMP.
I have met so many great people in Open Comp, and they have become close friends. They actually make me want to continue racing in NMRA Open Comp. These are the kind of people who want you to do well. We help each other with our cars, especially if we have problems, and we hang out together and eat together after racing. To me, there is no other class like it. On top of that, I like the challenge of the class. There is nothing easy about it, and there are actually 101 ways to lose in Open Comp. I have to be dialed in, and stay dialed in all weekend long. I can win and lose a race on the tree as well as on the top end, and I am racing against the best, and I like that.
YOUR FRIEND AND NMCA DART NA 10.5 RACER RICK RICCARDI RECENTLY HELPED WITH SOME UPGRADES TO YOUR MUSTANG. WHAT ALL DID HE DO?
Last winter, I took my car to Redeye Racecars in Florida, where Ricky works, and he did suspension work and fixed the torque box, among some other things. In addition to being a great friend, he does great work, and he is always willing to help anyone who needs help. I drove from Michigan to Florida for that work, so that should tell you how I feel about Ricky and the work he does. His wife, Jenni, is just as amazing. There is nothing they wouldn’t do to help someone.
DO YOU PLAN TO HAVE MORE WORK DONE TO YOUR MUSTANG OVER WINTER?
I’m taking the car back to Redeye Racecars for a new 8.8 rear end. It will be narrowed and I will switch from 12-inch rims to 10-inch rims. They will lower the car down and do some chassis work, and add to the cage so that it is Funny Car-style. Ricky and Marc Poldino, who works with Ricky, are very talented, and I trust them with my car.
WHO HELPS YOU ALONG THE WAY?
My wife, Andrea, is just as into cars and racing as I am, and I appreciate all of her help. I also want to thank Ricky and Jenni Riccardi, Tom Hoffman, Dennis Corn of Roush Competition Engines and his father, Bob Corn, my fellow racers and friends, Theresa Johnson and my sponsors and supporters, Velocity CNC, Westland Bowl, Clean Air Testing, Sean’s Transmissions, Superb Decals, Blair Hill Specialty Coffees, Skunk Racing Performance Parts, Street Metal Action, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Cribley Drilling and LAT Oils.
(Interview from Fastest Street Car magazine)