Jonathan “JDM” Wong’s journey reads like the ultimate dream for anyone immersed in Japanese car culture. Born in Hollywood and raised in Pasadena, he fell in love with modified JDM cars as a teen. Alongside high school friends, he co-founded Team Macross 7, linking up with other import crews through AOL’s Import Racing chatrooms and staging drag races and car shows across the SGV—solidifying his place in SoCal’s grassroots tuning scene.
In 1998, Jonathan joined Super Street Magazine as an associate editor. His deep passion for JDM tuning and charisma helped define the magazine’s authentic voice. Over the next 15 years, he rose to editor‑in‑chief, traveling across the U.S. and Japan in search of standout sport compacts. Under his influence, the brand surged online—becoming the first auto title to hit 1 million followers on Instagram and Facebook.
Jonathan’s own builds echo his ethos: he painstakingly restored a '90 Civic EF Si using a rare one‑off Rocket Bunny kit directly from Kei Miura of TRA/Kyoto—an emblem of his dedication to authenticity and community trust. His storytelling and editorial instincts also shaped magazine culture; in a MotorTrend oral history, he recalled how Super Street carved its identity by helping readers install mods themselves—a nod to their DIY roots.
After departing Super Street in 2014, Jonathan pivoted into media agency work. He now serves as an account manager at The ID Agency, steering major automotive clients like Formula DRIFT. His expertise continues influencing car culture, albeit behind the scenes. Off duty, he’s equally colorful—passionate about graffiti, sneaker collecting, ’90s hip‑hop, global food adventures with his wife, and, of course, SoCal cruise nights.
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Music Credits
Intro
Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG
Stinger
Scarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio Library
Outro
Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG
__________________
My SGV Podcast:
Website: www.mysgv.net
Newsletter: Beyond the Mic
Patreon: MySGV Podcast
info@sgvmasterkey.com
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