Jamison McCall, also known as RJ, brought his passion for mechanical engineering to Durham and Toronto from Trinidad. He has been inspiring young individuals to follow their passion for cars and has helped youth in the automotive community. His passion for automobiles came from his father, who had a shop in Trinidad and taught him everything he needed to know.
“I fell into his footsteps and getting everything pretty much done with him. We would be everywhere together,” he said.
McCall believes there has been a lack of father-son relationships among today’s youth, and he has been integrating the love his father gave him to fill this gap for youth.
“I was happy to motivate a lot of young youth like myself,” he said.
McCall emphasizes that you don’t need a shop or expensive tools to pursue mechanical engineering and build cars. He built his car on his driveway with Canadian Tire tools.
“I’m happy to see others’ reactions, which is priceless,” he said.
Bryce Phillips, owner of 6ix Side Detailing, has carried McCall’s legacy through his own mobile detailing business and by educating staff and students at Ajax High School.
Phillips remembers McCall asking him: “Why don’t you do show cars?” McCall assured Phillips a lot of people would like that.
“Which is how he led me down to education and teaching students how things work, how to do an engine swap on a Miata, and put basically any motor inside it,” said Phillips.
McCall encouraged Jack Dashper, one of his friends, to learn more about cars and helped by providing what he needed to work independently.
“I know quite a bit about cars and I don’t think it would have been the same without him,” he said.
At car meets, Dashper said McCall treats every youth who is interested in his cars with great kindness.
“I think in his head, he imagines every kid he talks to like his own son or daughter which is why he’s so influential. He is not promoting guys going to car meets doing burnouts and being extremely obnoxious and ruining the scene, he’s promoting the mechanical aspect of it and talking about what he has done to his car or what it takes to get to that level he is in now,” he said.
McCall has been a significant role model to the young generations invested in automotive within the region and has been inspiring people with his work.
He advises people to work very hard.
“And don’t plant all your eggs in one hatch,” he said.