MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- For many people stationed here, their ve-hicles are nothing more than a meansof
transportation from point a to point b. However, for one Marine, hooking up his car is a way of life.
For Cpl. Jerome Brooks, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron supply administration clerk, fixing up his every day grocery-getter into a cutting edge vehicle with aftermarket parts has earned him respect in the Japanese circuit and even gotten him published in a major car magazine.
When Brooks first purchased his 1989 Toyota Crown Royal Saloon Edition for $2,600, he knew exactly what he could do to the vehicle to make it stand out around the Station. By reading various magazines, both American and Japanese, Brooks realized his unique position to become an American pioneer in V.I.P. car tuning.
V.I.P. is the art of upgrading luxury cars to give them your own personal touch, explained Brooks. When I first started getting into it there were no Americans in Japan that were hooking up luxury cars instead of compacts.
What Brooks did to his Crown was enough for V.I.P. Magazine to recognize his vehicle amongst thousands of submissions.
However, turning his stock vehicle into a tuned show car back in 2001 took him on a long road of research and part swaps.
He initially upgraded his stock wheels to bigger 17-inch wheels. Shortly after installing his new wheels, Brooks upgraded the size again to 18 inches and installed an air suspension controller to eliminate the gap between his tires and fenders to make the wheels stand out more.
The wheels really balance the appearance of the car to the point where they catch people's eye. So far it has worked every time, Brooks said smiling.
While originally upgrading his wheels, Brooks purchased a performance muffler to further enhance the looks of his car, while improving the performance and sound. However, just like his original upgraded wheels, his first aftermarket muffler was soon upgraded to a better looking and sounding oval-tip muffler.
With the wheels and muffler, Brooks' car was catching eyes from passersby, so he decided to upgrade the interior so he could enjoy his work inside the car as much as the spectators outside.
I installed a custom stereo system and then later color matched the dash and installed and painted a custom steering wheel, he noted. Most of the work on the inside of my car was performed by me and a few friends with the same interest.
One of Brooks' friends who has helped him throughout the transformation of his Crown is Petty Officer 1st class Charles Phelps, Station cryogenics machinist and V.I.P. enthusiast.
Brooks has one of the nicest cars on the Station, and you can really tell that he has put a lot of heart into it, said Phelps. He still has big plans, and when he finishes them he will have the nicest car around here.
Although some of the upgrades Brooks plans on installing may seem expensive for some people, to him every upgrade is well worth the cost.
Before I purchase any part I ensure that I am getting the best product and the best deal, and then I figure installation costs if am not able to perform the job myself, said Brooks. My wife and I worked together on this project, and she even helps me research and purchase parts from local vendors.
Ultimately, Brooks' goal is to enter and place in a Japanese car show. But even if he doesn?t steal the show with his ride, knowing what he has done to his car is rewarding enough.
My car just represents who I am and what I like, he said. I look at other people's cars and they look at mine and if we see things we like we try to do the same thing with a personal twist. It is all about respect and appreciating what yourself and others have made.