the conquering pursuits of the diehards of the world, especially when it’ s a DI event they’ re coming to experience!
Since the beginning of the series, the DI team has attended the PDRA Awards Banquet. Former sales execs Will Mandell and Scott Dorman( left) join the group here.
extremely cool racing aspect, a deep-dive study in“ discovering America” was a bonus that came along with the job as I traversed the country searching for dragstrips, while also discovering great restaurants, fishing spots, and unexpected friendships. Those many experiences are the things I’ ll take with me forever.
� What are you most proud of when you think about your own involvement with DI? My niche involvement with Drag IllustrateD is heavily slanted toward the sportsman racer, the low-budget guy or gal who labors all week to earn money to race locally on weekends. They do it for the love of the sport and never really anticipate bigtime recognition in a national magazine.
But then something unexpected happens: I’ ll be tooling around the country and pull through the gates of a dragstrip I’ ve never been to before. Some photos are snapped, some questions are asked, and of course, some subscriptions are sold at the track by yours truly. A month or so later the story comes out, and suddenly a handful of sportsman racers open a crisp new edition of DI that came in the mail, and there’ s their race car featured in print! They show it off at the local Waffle House, and the waitress even wants their autograph!
Yes, it’ s happened exactly as I’ ve described, and no telling how many other ways when someone is over-the-moon with excitement because of a photo and some text that describes their passion for the sport they love. Just to be a part of someone’ s proudest moment, something that will be framed and hung on the wall and enjoyed for years to come, is an awesome feeling, and something that always makes me proud that I can be involved.
� What are you most proud of when it comes to DI’ s involvement in the sport?
So many people I’ ve met over the years have told me that Drag IllustrateD’ s diversity of coverage is what they enjoy most about the magazine. People comment that they love to read about the stars of the sport at the highest level, and then flip the page and see a feature story about their local track, celebrated with the same excitement. To be able to continue capturing such far-reaching diversity in each issue is something I’ ve always been proud of.
I would be remiss if I didn’ t mention the DI Winter Series, and the indelible mark that has been etched in our sport as a result. So many people communicate to me the impact of this event, and how great are the lengths they’ ve gone to and through just to attend in some form or fashion. I never grow tired of hearing about
� D’ APRILE
TOMMY D’ APRILE
Columnist
� How and when did you join DI?
I believe I joined at the start. I remember Wes starting this whole deal and thought it was going to be a great thing to do.
� Do you have a favorite or most memorable issue?
My favorite issue is every issue. DI brings every aspect of drag racing together, and like a box of chocolates,“ you never know what you’ re gonna get.”
� What are you most proud of when you think about your own involvement with DI?
Being able to share my thoughts and perspectives on our sport and how people will come up to me thanking me for a column I wrote even if
“ PASSION AND EXCITEMENT AND AMAZING PEOPLE FUEL THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP...”
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