Women in Motor Sports

Candyce Marsh - Unstoppable Racer

Audrey Zavodsky — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:54:27 -0700

Candyce Marsh
Unstoppable Racer, Former Girl Scout and Role Model

By Corilyn Shropshire

Candyce Marsh likes going fast, so fast that she's made it her business hot-rodding from zero to 208 miles per hour in six and a half seconds flat. When Candyce isn't busy racing in her soaped-up Pontiac Firebird, she's reminding young girls that with a bit of confidence, lots of drive—and the will to stick-to-it, nothing is out of their reach. "There wasn't a space for me" in drag racing, she says, "Until I decided to carve one out."

With that kind of confidence it's not shocking that Candyce, 26, had the guts to begin drag racing on the amateur circuit at age 17 while still managing to squeeze-in her insanely jam-packed schedule: cheerleading, the senior class presidency and college applications—you know the drill.

A decade later, Candyce has a mind for business, a master's degree in engineering, and a still, a major crush on speed—and that's not going away anytime soon. Last fall she turned pro near her hometown of Raleigh, N.C. and became what is believed to be the first African American woman drag racer.

Being a pro demands discipline, persistence and commitment with no guarantees of glory, and Candyce is going full-throttle—juggling the demands of managing Candyce Marsh Racing, the close-knit racing crew she and her Dad-turned-business partner, Clarence, assembled to help push her to the top of her sport. There's also killer workouts four times-per week to stay fit, and the involved process of working with her crew to prep her 2,300 horsepower car for the drag strip. The toughest part, Candyce says, is hunting down corporate sponsors to help fuel her dream of becoming a champion drag racer.

Oh yeah, in between all that–she's determined to have a life—catching up with friends over dinner, spending quality-time with her large, extended family and playing with her puppy, Zoe. "It's a daily balance and struggle," Candyce says, "but you have to do it." Perhaps, but that's enough to make an average girl ache for a rare day-off luxuriating in a mani/pedi or simply vegging-out. Instead, you're more likely to find Candyce as she recently was—hanging-out with a group of giggly eight to ten-year-olds at a birthday party at Applebee's.

Volunteering in her hometown, and being a role model to girls is just as important as racing, she says. "Not everyone is going to share their story with these girls and motivate them to be all they can be." So in between signing autographs and answering questions about her favorite food (fried chicken) and swapping tales about what they want to be when they grow up, Candyce dropped some pointers on what's important—stuff that all soon-to-be superstars should know. Coming from the mouth of a "big sister," with movie star looks and a super-cool job, Candyce's simple and obvious advice carries the weight of gold:

Make education your top priority
Keep an open mind. Listen to your parents, they want what's best for you
Be safe. Wear a seatbelt
Believe in yourself and don't waste too much time worrying about what other people think. Figure out your passion and then pursue it
Lastly, be humble and take nothing for granted

It's not about finishing first, winning or becoming number one, but doing what you love, says Candyce. "Racing is my passion. It's what I've chosen to do."

Mackena Bell to Debut in K&N Pro Series

Audrey Zavodsky — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:34:57 -0700

http://www.thundervalleyracing.com/speed-channel-to-cover-mackena-bell-debut-in-kn-pro-series/1060

From Professional Skater to Racer

Audrey Zavodsky — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:26:58 -0700

March 23, 2010

When You're a Woman in Motorsports, All's Fair In Love And Racing

You may recall the name Dina Parise from an article written in 'Ask Patty' a couple years ago. It was then that Dina, a former professional skater for the 'Ice Capades,' traded her skates for seat in her husband's 1967 Camaro and began her Drag Racing career for the Parise Racing team.

Make no mistake; this is not NASCAR. This is Drag Racing. No left turns required. "It's a question I am asked frequently," said Dina. "Another question I am asked is, do you do what Danica Patrick does? My reply is no. Then I explain that in Drag Racing, we run our race a quarter-mile at a time. That's it. We reach speeds over 230 mph in the quarter-mile in 6 seconds. It's a rush!"

This is no ordinary race team: Parise Racing is a two car, husband and wife, Pro Modified Drag Racing team. Dina and her husband Andrew are the owners as well as drivers of two of the most beautiful and powerful vehicles on the Drag Racing circuit today. "We have our work cut out for us running a two-car team," said Dina. "At times the work is grueling, but it all comes down to doing what you love. Andrew and I do it all right now. I cook, that is why they call me 'the Chef.' Andrew drives his racecar and the rig from place to place, to name just a few jobs. We each have our specific duties, and we try to keep it well choreographed, for everything to run smoothly."

It has been over a year now since Dina stepped up to the Pro Mod. She says that was a change her husband was not quite expecting. "We were ready to retire the Camaro, because I wanted to go faster," said Dina. "Problem was, Andrew was surprised when I told him I wanted to drive a Pro Mod. He had already purchased a 1967 Camaro body to build. Much to his dismay, my mind was set to go in a completely different direction." That problem was later solved by Dina's brother Charlie purchasing the Camaro body to build for himself, and a call to chassis builder Tim McAmis was the next step.

Continue reading "When You're a Woman in Motorsports, All's Fair In Love And Racing" »

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Courageous Persuaders program harnesses creativity to deliver youth-to-youth message about dangers of underage drinking

Audrey Zavodsky — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:27:25 -0800

TROY, Mich., Feb. 4, 2010 - The Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) Education Foundation is reminding students that the deadline for entry into the Courageous Persuaders video competition is approaching quickly. The deadline for entry is February 10, 2010. The announcement was made by DADA President Bill Perkins.

Courageous Persuaders is a competition-based scholarship program that invites high school students to create a 30-second television commercial about the dangers of underage drinking. The commercials are targeted toward middle school-aged children, with the winning entries aired on television and via streaming video on the www.courageouspersuaders.com Web site. The winning entry will also be shown in select Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) branches.

"This program provides an opportunity for both high school students and middle school students to stop and seriously consider the dangers of underage drinking," said Perkins. "High school students who create the commercials are actively engaged in developing the message, while the middle school students who judge the videos, determining which has the greatest impact, are being positively influenced. The Courageous Persuaders program truly makes a difference by connecting with these young people at a particularly impressionable age, influencing thinking and behavior in an interesting and entertaining way."

The DADA Education Foundation also announced the Awards Celebration will be held at the Troy Marriott on May 18, 2010 and feature a red carpet event, strolling supper and enhanced awards presentation, hosted by Fox 2 News Anchor Huel Perkins.

The Courageous Persuaders program was created in 2000 by Oakland County District Judge Michael A. Martone and John Barczyk, a local McCann-Erickson advertising executive. In 2007, the DADA became the primary sponsor and administrator of the Courageous Persuaders program through its DADA Education Foundation. Last year, the contest drew 737 entries from 1,196 students in 42 states.

Winning entries are eligible for the following scholarship awards:

Grand Prize: $3,000
First Place: $1,500
Second Place: $1,000
Third Place: $500

Additionally, special awards are also presented by Courageous Persuaders partners:

Lindsey Renee Cianciolo Family Memorial Scholarship: $3,000 - two $1,500 Michigan-based scholarship winners
Adcraft Club of Detroit Award: $2,000 - presented to the commercial that conveyed factual information about the dangers of alcohol use
New York festivals: $2,000 - chosen based on the commercial's effectiveness to inform and inspire
USA Today Award: $1,000 - chosen by the USA Today Detroit staff from among the most persuasive commercials, as judged by middle school students
State Farm Insurance: $1,000 - awarded to a Michigan-based entry
USA Today Courageous Leader Award - presented to a special teacher for his or her extraordinary support of the Courageous Persuaders program

Winners are selected after several rounds of judging. During the first round, a panel from the DADA views the entries and identifies the top 60 contenders. Those entries are then reviewed by students at middle schools, who complete questionnaires. Results of the questionnaires determine the winners.

To view the winning commercials and/or enter the 2009-2010 competition, visit the Web site at www.courageouspersuaders.com, or contact Sandy Herp at 248.283.5138 or sherp@dada.org.

The Bondurant School New Race Series

Audrey Zavodsky — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:15:22 -0700

THE BOB BONDURANT SCHOOL OF HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVING JULY 2009

Bondurant Championship Race Series
Debuts September 2009!!!

Breaking new ground, the Bondurant School's challenging race series is set to begin the weekend of September 25-27 and will feature its newly acquired fleet of purpose-built Formula Mazda open wheel race cars powered by 13B Mazda rotary engines. The championship will consist of an 18-race series, nine weekends with two races per weekend, and will take place exclusively at Firebird International Raceway's three renowned tracks. A race weekend will occur each month beginning in September and ending in May of 2010. Seats are limited, and discounts are being given for payment in advance. If you think you have what it takes to compete in a real racecar, test your skills in the Bob Bondurant Championship Race Series! 18 races, 9 weekends, 1 champion. Is it you?

Full details and rules, click here
or
Contact Lee or Mike at 800-842-RACE (7223).
Seats are going fast!