From the underground streets of SoCal to the global stage, RJ de Vera has been at the heart of tuner culture’s biggest moments. In this episode of The Creative Drive, we dive into his journey from shaping Super Street magazine, to consulting on the original Fast & Furious, to influencing the industry at SEMA and Meguiar’s. RJ shares untold stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and how tuner culture went mainstream. This conversation is packed with history, strategy, and inspiration from one of the scene’s true pioneers.

0:00 Cold Opening RJ de Vera

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From the underground streets of SoCal to the global stage, RJ de Vera has been at the heart of tuner culture’s biggest moments. In this episode of The Creative Drive, we dive into his journey from shaping Super Street magazine, to consulting on the original Fast & Furious, to influencing the industry at SEMA and Meguiar’s. RJ shares untold stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and how tuner culture went mainstream. This conversation is packed with history, strategy, and inspiration from one of the scene’s true pioneers.

0:00 Cold Opening RJ de Vera

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Le Mans class winner and TV host Justin Bell joins Creative Drive to share stories from racing at a high level and making the transition to media. From winning on the track to co-hosting with Tommy Kendall, Justin reveals what it takes to bring personality, humor, and insider knowledge to motorsports coverage.

0:00 Justin Bell Intro

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Visit brettkingdesign.com for limited exclusive Brett King Design Canvas Project 01 MERCH

In this episode of The Creative Drive with Taro Koki, renowed helmet designer Brett King from Brett King Design reveals the inspiration, process, and philosophy behind the Canvas Project — a groundbreaking approach to helmet art where, for the first time, there's no input from a client. Just pure artistic vision.

The Canvas Project 001 is not a commission. It's an art project done on a helmet as the canvas. 

We dig into the design, the business, the challenges of working with clients, and how collaborations in motorsport gear are evolving — with appearances from Preston Folkestad of Simpson Performance Products.

0:00 Intro 

Note: We experienced some technical difficulties with the audio in this episode. While it may not meet our usual quality standards, we didn’t want to let that stop us from sharing this great conversation. Thanks for your patience—and we appreciate you sticking with us!

Amber Bernstein aka Kill.Bambi: The Car Girl DJ Taking Over Twitch & the Streets

From her modified Audi R8 to streaming to thousands on Twitch, Amber has crafted a bold personal brand that’s turning heads and inspiring a new wave of creators.

0:00 Intro

A rapid-fire round of car vs. culture questions

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In this episode, The Creative Drive dives into the world of Christopher Bowes, the visionary behind Subaru's Launch Control, the long lasting YouTube series that reshaped how fans experience factory-backed motorsports. From his early inspiration to founding Bowes Media Inc., Chris shares how he blends storytelling craft with emotional authenticity — creating work that goes beyond cars and competition.

We explore the evolution of Launch Control, from its original pitch to its current home on the RACER Network, and how Chris navigates the high-stakes balance between access, vulnerability, and compelling narrative. He opens up about the creative battles he’s fought, the pressures of working under tight deadlines, and the moments that nearly broke him — but made the story worth telling.

This is an episode about vision, integrity, and building legacy through motorsports storytelling.

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In this episode of The Creative Drive, we’re joined by Ryan Millen — off road racer and member of one of America and New Zealand's most iconic racing families. Son of Rod Millen and brother to Rhys Millen, Ryan has forged his own path from formula cars to rally stages, winning in the American Rally Association, working with brands like Toyota along the way and now desert racing in trophy trucks. 

We get into Ryan’s unique journey, the pressures and perks of a legendary last name, and how he blends performance with personality in the age of motorsports storytelling. From his take on off-road racing to content strategy for modern drivers, this conversation is packed with insight, humor, and a look into what keeps Ryan creatively driven.

Watch or listen now. 

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In this episode of The Creative Drive, host Taro Koki sits down with the one and only Larry Chen. Larry is one of the most iconic and influential automotive photographers and content creators in the world today. Known for his unmistakable style, relentless work ethic, and deep love for car culture, Larry has become the go-to visual storyteller for some of the biggest names in motorsports and the aftermarket world.

Starting from humble beginnings shooting cars on the streets of Los Angeles, Larry turned his passion into a career by mastering the craft of automotive photography — capturing not just cars, but the spirit behind them. His work spans every corner of the car world: from grassroots drift events to the global stage of Formula Drift, from SEMA builds to Pikes Peak, from classic JDM icons to electric hypercars.

He is the official photographer for Formula Drift, a Canon Explorer of Light (one of the most prestigious honors in the photography world), and a creative force behind brands and countless OEM and aftermarket brands.

If you’ve seen a jaw-dropping rolling shot, an epic drift angle frozen in time, or a SEMA build immortalized before it hit the floor — chances are, Larry Chen was behind the lens.

0:00 Cold Open

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In this episode of Creative Drive, we sit down with Kenji Sumino from GReddy Performance Inc., the U.S. division of Japan's Trust Company Ltd., based in Irvine, California. Under his leadership, GReddy has become a prominent name in the automotive aftermarket industry, specializing in performance parts for Japanese vehicles, including turbochargers, exhaust systems, and electronics.

Sumino has played a pivotal role in adapting GReddy's offerings to the U.S. market, focusing on developing products tailored for left-hand-drive vehicles and popular American models. His efforts have helped GReddy navigate challenges such as the 2008 financial crisis and evolving emissions regulations, ensuring the company's resilience and continued relevance in the tuning community.

Sumino is deeply involved in car culture. He has collaborated with notable figures like Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift actor, Sung Kang on his famous Fugu Z(Nissan 240Z), Dai Yoshihara on projects such as an 800-horsepower R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R. Additionally, his meticulously built 1990 Honda Civic hatchback, known for its attention to detail and performance, was even immortalized as a Hot Wheels collectible.

Sumino's commitment to the automotive world extends to preserving and promoting tuner culture, ensuring that the passion for performance and customization continues to thrive in the modern era.

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In this episode of Creative Drive, we sit down with award-winning motorsport photographer Jamey Price to explore what it takes to freeze speed, emotion, and intensity in a single frame. From F1 paddocks to IMSA and WEC endurance races around the world, Jamey shares his journey into motorsports photography, his creative process under pressure, and what it's like living life behind the lens on the global racing circuit.

📸 Topics we cover: How Jamey got his start in racing photography

Techniques for shooting motion, emotion, and pure chaos

Life on the road, favorite tracks, and staying creatively sharp

How social media and the creator economy are changing photography

What it’s really like shooting inside Formula 1

Advice for aspiring motorsport creatives If you love racing, storytelling, or photography—this one’s for you.

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