Editor’s Notes

We are delighted to share the story of James, a professional heavy diesel mechanic who has been involved in the automotive for over half a decade! Based in Sydney Australia, James is a passionate and knowledgeable mechanic, with experience and knowledge to back up his work. His love and enthusiasm for all categories of automotive sport is shown in his knowledge of diagnosis and repair work for commercial vehicles, public transportation buses, and performance cars. With a fiery passion for not only creating unique and exciting cars, but also detailing vehicles to showroom specifications, James shares his work and knowledge on his Instagram platform, which has helped many people complete their builds, and further improve their detailing business. This is why MaXpeedingRods is excited to work with James to be your gateway to performance driving, and to write this article!

In this article, James will discuss how he came to become a car enthusiast, then eventually decide on choosing to become a mechanic as a career path, and finally end up discovering MaXpeedingRods.

The Origins Of My Need For Speed

It all started when I was still in primary school, and I was playing on my brother’s Nintendo DS Lite. It just so happened that we had a game chip called Need For Speed Carbon: Own The City. I still remember playing that game for hours on end, working hard to get new colour schemes, and me spending ages designing new patterns for my car. While that wasn’t what got me into cars, it definitely was the spark that lead to my fiery passion for cars.

From there on out, I slowly got introduced to more car culture staples such as Forza Horizon 1, Gran turismo, Initial D, the Fast and Furious series, and much more! In 2017, when I entered high school, I made a friend who also likes cars. Although I didn’t know much at the time, he definitely was a major catalyst that led to my hobby of cars as well. Soon enough, I finally started to pull apart toy cars and small little engines for fun, before watching videos on how people work on cars, and before you know it, I’m learning from people how to work on actual vehicle motors!

Me (right) meeting “Tarzan” Yamada at WTAC!

From Passion to Profession

By 2019, I had already immersed myself deeply into the automotive scene, fueled by a passion for cars. My love for working on performance vehicles led me to pursue a career in the field. In 2020, I sought out work experience opportunities, starting at a shop conveniently located just five minutes from my school. Soon after, I enrolled in a School Based Apprenticeship Traineeship (SBAT) program. My first work experience was a week-long stint at an automotive shop, where the owner eagerly took me under his wing.

Me pulling apart the wiring harness on a Honda CRV

After completing this initial experience, I joined another light vehicle shop near my school and began studying for a Certificate 3 in Light Vehicle through a Tafe course. The work was demanding, with long hours and harsh conditions, but it sharpened my skills and deepened my understanding of car repair and diagnostics. Over the three years I spent there, I worked on a variety of vehicles—from European to Japanese imports—honing my technical knowledge under the guidance of a wise, young mechanic.

My work experience shop, with an AE86

Following my time at the second shop, I decided to take a break from work to recover physically. However, during an offroading trip with friends, I quickly diagnosed a hub failure on a Nissan Patrol. Impressed by my quick thinking, my friend’s father offered me a job as a heavy diesel mechanic, specializing in public transport buses, which is my current role. My journey from hobbyist to professional mechanic taught me that the automotive industry requires both hands-on experience and a strong theoretical understanding. If you’re considering a career in this field, be prepared for hard work, but know that the effort is worth the reward.

Some photos from my previous workplace

Me diagnosing a leak in the intercooler on a diesel truck engine at Tafe

My Experience With MaXpeedingrods

My journey with MaXpeedingRods began back in 2020, when I first installed a set of their coilovers on a friend’s Honda Civic. Initially, I didn’t think much about the brand. My main focus was on getting the job done and getting the car back on the road. But once we took the Civic out for a test drive, I quickly realized how much of a difference those coilovers made. The handling was sharper, and the car’s responsiveness through corners was noticeably improved. It was clear that these coilovers had a significant impact on the driving experience.

Encouraged by the results I saw with my friend’s car, I decided to put MaXpeedingRods products to the test on my own vehicle—a BMW e36. I wanted to see not only how well the coilovers performed but also how much stress and wear they could handle over time. After the installation, I spent the first few weeks driving conservatively to properly break in the new suspension. Once that period was over, I started pushing my e36 harder, making adjustments to suit my aggressive driving style.

Now, after more than two years of intense use, I’m happy to report that the coilovers are still going strong. While there has been some expected wear and tear, the suspension continues to perform admirably, even after enduring countless miles of rough driving conditions. The durability and performance have far exceeded my expectations for a budget-friendly product.

Soon, I’ll be upgrading to MaXpeedingRods’ new T7 line of coilovers, and I’m eager to see how they compare. If my previous experience is anything to go by, I’m confident that they’ll deliver the same level of performance, if not better. MaXpeedingRods has proven to me that their products are built to withstand not just daily driving but also the demands of performance enthusiasts like myself.

Some photos of the “rsty36” with the MaXpeedingrods coilovers installed

A Journey Fueled by Passion and Performance

James’ story is a perfect example of how passion can transform into expertise, and how the right tools and products can make all the difference along the way.  

At MaXpeedingRods, we’re proud to support James’ journey with our reliable products. If you’re looking to elevate your automotive projects, explore our range, including the T7 coilovers, on the official MaXpeedingRods website. We’re here to help you maximize your driving experience!