SP Rides: Hello, Freedom
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: James Wallace
Age: 29
Occupation: Security, photographer
Hobbies: Off-roading, hiking, playing video games
Year/Make/Model: 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Exterior: Custom Fenders, Smitty Built Stinger bumper
Suspension: 2.5-inch Rubicon lift, wheel lockers, Dana 44 axle, aftermarket gears
Wheels and Tires: 17-inch Liquid Metal Wheels Gatlin, Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Kevlar 35×12.5×17
Off-road use: 30,000-lumens, 52-inch light bar
James Wallace has been quite the globetrotter. Born in Hawaii, he’s spent much of his life all over the Midwest. But it was during his time living in Colorado that he became smitten with becoming a Jeeper — what people with a fascination for Jeeps are affectionately called. He’s owned two of these vehicles in the past and has visited Pikes Peak, the Rocky Mountains and more while spending time in the Great Outdoors. His first taste of off-roading came when a friend, who owned an old ’88 Jeep Wrangler with square lights, convinced him to go for a ride.
Then about 10 years ago, Wallace returned to Oahu to take care of his mother. “That first year was all about struggle, having that roof over your head,” said the now 29-year-old photographer who works in the security business. Back in the land of his birthplace, he dabbled in everything from low riders to motorcycles, but Wallace knew that he wanted to live the island life in its purest form when it came to his choice of automobile.
In 2011, while shopping for a BMW, he spotted a white Jeep tucked away in the back of the parking lot. The salesman, who happened to know him, asked, “You really want to get that?” Yes, Wallace said. The allure of a sparkly new BMW held no power over him and soon, he was riding off the lot in possession of a 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
Immediately, Wallace decided to modify the Jeep to pass recon, but during that process, he began a slight transformation to bring the Jeep to his liking. This included installing a 2.5-inch Rubicon Lift over 17-inch Liquid Metal Wheels Gatlins. These flashy pieces are fitted with Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Kevlars, measured at 35×12.5×17 all around. The rear Dana 44 axle keeps things moving while lockers and gears get the Jeep through the tough stuff. Wallace also has a Bully Dog ECU system that allows him to adjust his gearing and performance depending on whether he’s taking it to the asphalt or the rough stuff.
After the modifications, Wallace quickly joined Oahu Jeeps, an island-based Jeep club. The club is family oriented and made up of many other Jeep owners who just like to off-road, camp and have fun. Group members hold regular meets while traveling to all of the choice spots around Oahu, such as Bellows, the North Shore and through Waikiki — with their doors gone and their Jeep tops off.
When it comes to being an enthusiast, Wallace insisted that he absolutely needed the freedom that Jeeps are known for. “I missed that feeling,” he explained. “It’s a Jeep thing. You just feel empty,
otherwise.”
Currently, Wallace has a blast hauling the family all around the island. So if you happen to see him on Oahu’s roadways, make sure you give Wallace the a blast hauling the family Jeep wave.
“I’ll give them one right back!” he promised.
