Anna Monica / L’Observateur / September 27, 2000

It could be called “the three J’s,” but instead the shop which sells high performance parts for race cars is named “J&J Speed Shop” and is located in LaPlace, of all places. Evidently there is a passion for racing among ourlocals. That encouraged several friends with the same interests to gettogether for a business venture after planning for a year.

The friends, incidentally, all have names that begin with “J,” and include John McMichael and Julia Morgan of LaPlace and John Hall of Reserve. Thesebusiness partners/friends can claim diversity in a number of ways. Femalemember Julia is experienced in the sport and can go head-to-head with the men in her knowledge of it. She is also an African American, verycomfortable with her role in the business and among her partners/friends.

All have been friends for a long time, with a mutual respect for each other.

For over a year the partners dreamed of opening this kind of a shop since the closest one is in Independence. Except for that, racers have to order outof a catalog or travel even farther away for their needs. Their inventoryincludes parts for dirt bikes, circle track and any high-performance parts. Imay have some of this information a little confused, but I really was interested when I found out about this new venture and those involved in it.

Both Johns are involved in other businesses. I didn’t get to meet JohnMcMichael, who actually doesn’t race, but learned that he and wife, Lisette, had two children, the late Jessica and a son, Wes, a teacher and minister in California. John Hall, also a family man, has a 1988 Mustang that he uses fordragging in Baton Rouge, Eunice and Hattiesburg. His in-laws are also St. Johnnatives, Myrna and Donald Cox, parents of his wife, Janet, and their children are John, Josh and Joette (more J’s). Julia’s husband, Mickey, is a mechanic inLaPlace and also works on his own race car, a 1969 Camaro. Mickey isqualified to give advice and tech support.

Julia doesn’t take a background, however, because she had a keen interest in racing cars long before she married Mickey. Her car was a 1979 Camaro. She and Mickey have a total of seven children with Romone, 15, Warren, 6 and Daniel, 3, living at home. Julia and Mickey have been foster parents forthe state of Louisiana for seven years. They joined together and are proudof having had Daniel since he was 5 months old and who was officially adopted in August.

These partners all like quarter-mile drag racing. They have come up with afigure of 742 hot rods in the parish alone, not counting the street hot rods.

They should know, they’re in the business. There is talk about a track,perhaps two, which are being built in Donaldsonville. The next one would be inEunice. Regardless, the three “J’s” have high hopes for success in selling highperformance parts to others who share their interest, right here at home.

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