Johnston Research & Performance

JRP was founded in 1989 by Derek Johnston as an evolution of a home business to construct a distribution network for dealerships and performance shops to have access to the highest quality parts in Canada. What initially started out as a small local start-up business to support a growing network of Volkswagen Dealers, eventually grew to encompass m... ost Automotive brands, as well as both large and small Performance shops. Recognizing the potential for growth, Derek Johnston quickly laid the foundation that JRP is built upon. Before the internet and when faxing was taking hold, trying to build a relationship directly with foreign manufacturers in 1991 proved challenging. However, it was early 1993 when Founder Derek Johnston, Automotive Engineer and avid car enthusiast left his executive position within a fortune 100 company to fully focus on building Johnston Research & Performance, Inc. (JRP, Inc.) This focus came at a time when the economy was not strong. However being sensitive to the trends in the industry, Johnston focused the development towards a market he knew would see growth in the coming years. Import cars were fun and people were hungry to personalize and improve on their cars. In 1993, a chance meeting with Mike Westwood at Alamo Autosports in San Antonio Texas led to a three year partnership which gave JRP access to parts from many of the manufacturers not represented in Canada and carried on until Alamo was sold a few years later. Another opportunity was created when Johnston made his first appearance at the 1995 Tokyo Auto Salon. A small division of Toyota (TRD), was rapidly expanding and showcasing their products. A contact made through Alamo at TRD USA paved the way for Johnston to present his ideas for TRD within Canada and a new relationship was formed. TRD became one of the most popular brands JRP has housed and still holds its notoriety to this day. Another notable connection was those made with Apexi and Greddy. Twenty three years later JRP still stands as a representative for these ...Read More