An Interview with Jonny Smith [ILoveBass/RollHard]

Hey Jonny! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and the work you do/did within automotive culture?

Hey James. Well I’m 25 and work for the Wine merchant Majestic Wines as an assistant manager, not the job you’d expect someone who likes to lie on the floor in the cold shouting at a bolt that’s seized? I've been into cars for a very long time. Say all my life really, since the day I got my first Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars when I was 2 or 3. I own a 98 VW Polo which was my first car, and still my only car. Been a long 7 years with it constantly tinkering and changing the look as I come across different ideas and inspiration. I currently take photos for Rollhard and also work at the car shows we attend and host ourselves through the year with our Trade Stand. I also occasionally take photos and write articles for ILoveBass from NI as their south east photographer and cover the local shows they can’t attend.

What does car culture mean to you?

Nowadays, mainly Friends and Family. I’ve met so many people though modifying my silly Polo. People who live from a few hours away to living across the pond in America, who i flew over to meet earlier this year, and even people in Japan, where I hope to go in the next year or two! The memories that the culture has created for me is unbelievable and something I long to carry on.

And what do the public think of it?

That we’re maniacs, dangerous drivers, love to sit in McDonalds car park and drop our litter everywhere. Shame.

And lastly the police?

Same as the public but unfortunately they pick on us a lot and don’t really get it. Always pulling us over picking on small faults on the car or making up some obscure ‘law’ to give us a ticket. Pretty sure if they took a decent look there’d see we probably have the best kept cars on the road and know every little detail about them. Is a shame they pick on us. I’ve been quite lucky with Police encounters. Just be polite to them and their attitude suddenly changes. There are few who do appreciate what we do, especially when they see we’re not the typical ‘Boy Racer’.

My brand, Car Club Subete, aims to raise the public and political opinion of car culture in whatever way it can. Would you be interested in working with or consuming media/products from a brand like this? What would you like to see?

Sounds like a good idea! It’s something that needs some addressing. The perception of people modifying cars is unfortunately still stuck in the 90’s with Need For Speed: Underground. If they actually got a glimpse at some of the people who modify their car I think they’d be very surprised. Not sure they’d picture a 50 year old man modifying his MK1 Golf fitting an R32 in the engine bay. It’s not all massive body kits, spoilers, 4” exhausts and neons nowadays.

Is there any tips you’d offer for people looking to work in automotive media?

I would say just get out there, attend shows and try and learn what goes on, not just looking at the shiny cars. It was a few years until I started writing articles and shooting photos of events. Learning the equipment of you’re choice and you’ll stand out!!

But my biggest tip would be to have fun, make new friendships and you’ll enjoy it a lot more!

I guess thats it man! Is there anything you’d like to add at all?

Neons are still cool…

Thanks for your time man! Speak soon!

Take care, been a pleasure!

Jonny and the folks at RollHard and ILoveBass are great, check 'em out if you wanna see more cars...

https://www.rollhard.co.uk/

http://www.ilovebass.co.uk/

Have a gander at Jonny's Flickr too

https://www.flickr.com/photos/strange_notes/

ALL IMAGES OWNED BY JONNY SMITH & USED WITH PERMISSION