Dina Parise aka THE CHEF
Dina Parise
aka THE CHEF
Dina ‘The Chef’ Parise is a wife, a former professional skater for the ‘Ice Capades’ and one half of Parise Racing, one of the most dynamic two car Pro Modified Drag Racing teams on the circuit today. Parise Racing is a husband and wife team, with a passion for Drag Racing and a passion for giving back.
When others were beginning their driving careers, Dina was professional skater for the ‘Ice Capades’, touring the United States and Canada. Dina says that traveling racing can be compared to her former touring ‘showgirl’ days, if one can believe that. “When I toured with the ‘Ice Capades’ we did a show in a different city every week.” She says. “Each week we played a new venue, each venue had its own ‘locals’ that worked there, our cast and crew remained the same and we all traveled together. It’s the same thing with racing, only now I have tires in place of skates and a fire suit in place of sequin covered costumes. I guess I can just think of my ’63 Corvette Pro Mod as a really fast Zamboni!” She laughs.
Dina is proof that gender is no longer an issue in motorsports. She also is not ‘really’ a Chef, but earned that nickname along the way.
Dina began her career in racing when her husband Andrew decided to build his 1953 Pro Mod Corvette. At the time, he was racing a Blown 1967 Chevy Camaro .The car had a 540 ci motor with 1100 hp. Dina decided that cooking for the crew (that’s where the ‘Chef’ came from) was not enough. She stepped into the Camaro after a trip to Frank Hawley Drag Racing School. That car ran high 8second Et’s to low 9’s., at @ 150 MPH. It did not take long for her to want more. Anyone who knows her knows how competitive she is.
Dina now pilots the Parise Racing 2,400 HP 1963 Corvette Pro Mod. She is one of the few women competing in the ¼ mile Pro Mod class today. She is competing and winning against some of the best drivers around, including her husband! The fiercest competition you will see is Parise vs. Parise! Stay tuned!
For Parise Racing, it is not just about getting to the stripe first; it’s the road you take to get there. The Parise’s believe that when you are fortunate in your life, it is good to give back. Please visit the ‘our causes’ tab for more information. http://www.pariseracing.com/causes.php
Be sure to come by and check out this amazing ’63 Corvette and say hello to Dina, and also meet Bella the pug. Bella has her own ride too. A stroller complete with wheelie bars and a real Junior Dragster parachute! Don’t miss Bella’s blog too!
