Drag Illustrated Issue 141, February 2019 | Page 51

D.I. COLUMNIST The Real Deal with Tommy D'Aprile M any of us have been involved in motorsports for a long time. I can remem- ber as a kid watching ABC’s Wide World of Sports and seeing the Top Fuel drag- sters compete. Racing and competition have been part of my life from the age of 8 when I started competing in motocross. My eye was always on the prize and I’ve always had the drive to push myself harder and harder. I was taught that what you put in is what you will get out. You don’t plant corn and ex- pect potatoes, do you? Hard work can and usually does bring better results. So, the question I have for you is, do you think you are successful? Now I will tell you this is not a trick question, but I will often get crazy answers when I ask this. The truth is most people find it hard to define success. Society will tell you that success is based on how much you have: how much money, how many houses, what type of car you drive, how many races and championships you have attained, and the list goes on and on. I was watching the U.S. Nationals on TV last summer. “The Big Go,” as it is often called, is a very prestigious drag race and spans over a week. Some people say being at that race is like Groundhog Day because it’s so long and drawn out. The race gets a lot of attention and draws racers from all over the country and even the world trying to win that prestigious trophy. The race is undoubtedly a big one, but here is what the commen- tators said over and over about this race. They said if you haven’t won Indy then you haven’t won anything. They would say over and over how other race wins were nothing compared to this race. How stupid those statements are! Although it would be wonderful to win such a big race, I find no less value in winning any other race either at a national, divisional or local level. My kids recently doubled up in Jr. Dragster competition at our local track, one winning in the 8.90 class and one winning in the 7.90 class, and I wouldn’t trade that for any other race win, including the U.S. Nationals. Could it be that we are allowing others, including the media, to define real success? My personal opinion is that people are no more valued winning a Top Fuel championship over those winning a local bracket race. The difference is the attention given to each. So, an- other question you can ask yourself is, where is your attention? Are you always looking for approval from others or trying to win trophies so you will be viewed as a success, or can you realize that you are a success even without a single win or trophy? Here’s the real deal. You are what you say you are. With statements like “I’ll never,” “I can’t,” and “I’m not,” you will certainly struggle with success. On the flip side, when you say “I can,” “I am,” and “I will,” you will absolutely see the difference in the attitude you portray. I have won a lot of races and have been blessed in this sport, but the true success for me lies not in the trophies, but in what I left behind. Remember this: people will never remember how many races you won, but they will remember you. I often say this and it’s because I want people to know that they all have gifts and are true success stories, if only they would change their focus. The choice is yours to make. Email Tommy at tommyd@dragillustrated.com February 2019 Performance Under Pressure ARP Head/Main Studs, Rod Bolts Provide The Reliability You Need! With cylinder pressures north of 12,000 psi in the most extreme drag racing applications, keeping combustion chambers sealed and the bottom-end secure is of paramount importance. That’s why leading crew chiefs and engine builders rely on premium ARP fasteners. They’re available in a variety of premium alloys that are nominally rated up to 280,000 psi tensile strength and benefit from manufacturing techniques that improve durability. In-house heat-treating, precision machining and thread-rolling per spec AS8879D after hardening ensures the best possible strength, corrosion resistance, fatigue life and fitment. The same attention to detail is found in every ARP fastener. Check out the new 2019 catalog (available online or by mail) and see what ARP can do for you. 800-826-3045 www.arp-bolts.com DragIllustrated.com Get a FREE copy of the new 2019 catalog online | D r a g I l l u s t r a t e d | 51