James' love for cars started in his neighborhood, where a local car enthusiast owned a literal fleet of clean, stylish vehicles—his favorite being a white Audi with gold BBS wheels. Surrounded by friends who shared the same passion, James naturally fell into the car scene.

 

His gift for working with his hands quickly revealed itself, and soon, tinkering turned into a calling.​He became a working mechanic in 2004–2005, starting as a Lube Tech in Greenbrier before joining Firestone as a Training Technician from 2006 to 2008.

 

He spent several years sharpening his skills in shops around the area until launching Street Speed Unlimited, which has roots dating back to 2006 when it started as a Dodge Neon enthusiast idea between high school friends. Today, the brand represents performance, precision, and pure car culture.​But James isn’t just about fast cars—he’s also committed to giving back.

 

He regularly hosts a Basic Automotive Maintenance Workshop for high school-aged young men and other mentorship groups, sharing his knowledge and encouraging the next generation to learn, build, and lead.