Meet Dina Parise of Dina Parise Ventures in Sugar Hill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dina Parise.

Dina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Dina’ Spicy Meatball’ Parise is the President of Dina Parise Ventures, Driver, Chef, PR person, Spokeswoman, Social Media and Marketing Maestro. I am the 2015 IHRA Pro Mod World Champion and the first female to hold that esteemed title, yet that only scratches the surface. How many former Professional Figure Skating, World Champion Pro Mod Drivers do you know? That’s right! Only one!

I was a competitive gymnast all through school, but my real passion was figure skating. My ultimate dream was to skate professionally for the World-Renowned’ Ice Capades’. I took that passion and made my dream a reality, although it almost did not come to fruition! I passed the audition with flying colors, but there was an issue. I was told I did not meet the height requirement. In the scheme of things, that did not seem to matter to the gentleman running the audition. He was so happy with my performance, he had me ‘amend’ my height on the application, and the rest is history. I then skated, touring with the ‘Ice Capades’ for four years. And time then moved on. Did you ever see something and just know you had to try it? Even if maybe you did not succeed, but you just had to try? Well, that’s just what I thought when I began Drag Racing. I had to try it. When your very first time down the ¼ mile is 9 seconds at 146 MPH, you know you mean business! Not to mention, I was in my 30’s at the time. There was no looking back from there!

Now in my Pro Mod Cadillac ‘Stella’, I power down the ¼ mile track in under 6 seconds at over 240 MPH. I like to say, “I was born with glitter in my veins and a led foot!” Racing is not just a man’s game, as some may think. The most engaging part about it is the fact that in racing, men and women compete equally and are not segregated by gender. Something many people do not realize is that Drag Racing circuits and touring Ice shows are quite parallel.

Touring with an Ice show consists of traveling week to week from venue to venue. The ice surface changes, but the performer still has their ‘skates’ and ‘sequin costumes. The fans wait for autographs, and the children have positive role models to look up to. In racing, the game is the same, although the venue and the equipment may be vastly different. The racers race at a different track (venue) each week. The track surface changes, and racers have ‘Tires’ (for performance) and ‘Fire suit’ (as clothing). When coming back from a run, fans wait to have autographs signed, and meet the drivers. You see, it’s all relative!

The team I have created has a rich history in giving back to the community on many levels. I have always gone by the motto, ‘it’s an accomplishment to get to the finish line first, but the journey getting there is what is most important.’ I am very proud to take fan engagement to the next level in the way of programs I have developed to honor our nation’s Veterans and Military Members. Creating visibility honoring those who have served this great nation is paramount to me.

Having an eclectic background has led me into the realm of motivational speaking combined with elite athlete mentorship as well as keynote speaking for various companies and events. I have also ventured into the hosting side. My days as a performer for the Ice Capades honed my skills for promotion, marketing, and on-camera work. I want people (especially females) to know they can achieve anything they set their minds to. Never let anyone tell you no. Follow your dreams. If you feel the need to try it, then try it! Life is not a dress rehearsal, As I always say, In life, you get one ticket, and I’m using mine until it expires!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has been far from smooth. But, if it were easy, everyone would do it, right? The world of Drag Racing itself is not only highly competitive but extremely technical. I am competitive by nature, so I thoroughly enjoy the competition. As for the technical side, I leave that to my husband, Andrew. He is my car chief. He tunes the car to run at its best and top speeds. Most importantly, he combs over the car to ensure my safety. At 3,000HP anything can happen in the blink of an eye. We need to be prepared for the ‘what if ‘s,’ and there have been a few. Never a regret, though. You move on, and you learn from every pass down the racetrack.

One of the biggest challenges I face with my team is funding. I am well aware of what it takes to create ROI (Return on Investment). I learned at an early age, from the best in the business, how to go out of the box and create visibility and excitement. One of the issues I see today is repetitiveness. Many think what works for one will work for them, and no one is willing to go out of the box and try something or someone new.

Please tell us about the business.
My business is a muli-faceted. I am a World Champion Drag Racer, but that’s not where I ‘hang my helmet.’ Being a complete Marketing entity, representing my partners, is essential. Many are not aware of what that entails. I work as a spokesperson, motivational, and keynote speaker. I can utilize my unique background for many purposes, including athlete mentorship and as well as mentoring regarding consumer relations. I have vast experience regarding how to create positive visibility for any brand, large or small. Mine is a more personalized representation for any said company. Consumers relate more to ‘real’ people when it comes to product loyalty. I am most proud of the role model that I have become, for all age groups. My aim has always been to inspire and create positivity through engagement. Giving anyone the courage to change, try something new, or just improve their lives is what I strive to do.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My biggest supporter and cheerleader is my husband, Andrew. We will be married 20 years in April! We met at a difficult time in my life. He has always been a positive influence for me, and I have never had to look back. My first experience at a live Drag Race was with him, watching him race the car he built. I fell in love with the sport from that day on. With his encouragement, I went to Frank Hawley Drag Racing School and received my license. We became a two car team. We had 2 Pro Mod Corvettes, and we did quite well. We then sold both Corvettes to purchase the Cadillac I am currently driving. My husband no longer drives but is my Car Chief. Technically, Drag Racing is his dream, but my reality. He mentors and supports me every step of the way. In doing that, we (I say we, not I) won a World Championship in 2015. There is a lot to be said for that. He has surely given up a lot for me, and I appreciate it. I also need to thank our partners CRC Industries, Lucas Oil, DJ Safety, PTEN Marketing, Ride Heels Down, Speedwire Systems and RBS Superchargers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dinapariseventures.com/
• Email: Dina@DinaPariseRacing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dpariseracing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DPariseRacing
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DPariseRacing
• Yelp: https://www.youtube.com/c/DinaPariseRacing
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinapariseracing/

Image Credit:
All photos are watermarked…
Chris Sears, Copetition Plus (Roger Richards), Nostalgia Drag World,DPR (myself)

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