I’ve been meaning to put this blog out for a while now, just haven’t found the time to sit down and write for a minute. One of my friends from the neighborhood, Benjo and I both have 3rd gen Toyota 4runners that we like to daily and occasionally camp out of. He had a really nice custom build out done in the back of his truck that involved a sleeping platform, storage drawers, a pull out cooking surface, cutting board…all done with super nice wood work.
I asked who did it and the conversation went something like this…
Me: Does he have a shop?
Benjo: No he does it out of his mom’s garage.
Me: Is he like a carpenter or something?
Benjo: Nah, I’m not really sure what he does, I know he used to run a bar in Siargao
Me: Oh so he’s Filipino? Like he just moved here?
Benjo: Nah, he's from South Pas. I don't think he's Filipino.
Me : *confused*
He ended up sending me his IG profile "ilovesquirrrels" - obscure as hell. Who is this mystery dude with badass woodworking skills? Overtime, I noticed the page develop into "Squirrelconcepts" and the story started to unravel.
Before we dive into the story, lets take it back a little...about 8-9 years back. I just moved back to Eagle Rock from Hawaii and was daily driving a 4x4 1st gen Sequoia. I was in the market for something smaller and fun to drive, specifically an e30. I stumbled upon this craigslist ad of a super clean, white s52 swapped e30.
It had the option to buy with BBS's or Compomotive Motorsport wheels.
I immediately shot the text message and made an arrangement to see it. This young dude comes out and shows me the car. We take a drive in it…and its exactly what I imagine - pulls super hard, sounds amazing. I don't remember specifics, but I ended up not buying it. Although I did find myself thinking about it a lot after.
Turns out that guy was V - the mystery Squirrel guy. He was fresh out of college and selling all his stuff to fund an epic surf trip traveling through southeast Asia. Throughout his travels he apprentices for a wood worker, picks up skills, remodels a house in Thailand, and ends up opening a bar in Siargao which he successfully runs for several years. Life was good, then the pandemic hit. V ends up back in LA with a blank slate. The passion for life, adventure, and quality builds naturally involves Toyota trucks, awesome camping build outs, and a love for the 22R motor. Squirrel Concepts is born.
When you visit the Squirrel Compound, you just know good stuff happens there. The energy just brings about good times and creativity.
The walls tell stories of past adventures from all over the world.
V, Adam, Mark, and Chai all just seem to have this crazy drive to learn, apply, and improve on anything and everything they come across in the shop…and something tells me that’s just how they handle everything else in life too.
It’s inspiring to watch this group of young guys master a craft and find creative ways to make it fit and fund their adventurous lifestyles. It’s hopeful is what it is.
I look forward to hanging with these guys more, our 3rd gen 4runner will definitely be getting a Squirrel treatment sometime this year. There is also another e30 in the picture again with some cool stuff already being done to it.
I’m going to end it with this…its January 2023, let’s all take a page out of the Squirrel book. Learn a skill and take an adventure this year.