The Lies

You’ve been lied to. There are dumb questions. You’ll find them on every automotive forum. Fortunately, dumb questions are harmless; so never be afraid to ask anything. However, dumb answers and bad advice lead to slow cars, blown engines, subscriptions to crappy magazines and thin wallets. Like a politician seeking election, there are some forum members that will say anything to gain popularity. Many profess to be experts when they really know very little. In fact, I can’t think of one real expert that’s not affiliated with a tuning shop or manufacturer that has the time to post on a forum on a regular basis. When it comes to the experts that are affiliated with a manufacturer or tuning shop, they are likely to be, at least, partially biased for obvious financial reasons. Real unbiased experts are talented, educated and experienced. They get paid for their advice and insight. That $8.99 you paid for this issue or $40 you paid for your sub, allows Hard Media to employ the experts.

The Experts

Becoming an expert doesn’t happen overnight. Of course, reading DSPORT will put you far ahead of the masses, but we can’t teach you everything in a single issue. At some point in your project build, you are likely to get in over your head. In these cases, you’ll need to seek an expert to ensure that your vehicle is optimized for performance and reliability.

How do you find the right expert to help you reach your tuning goals? One good method is to talk to the customers of the tuning shop that you are considering. Are the customers happy with their tuning experience? Have their project cars reached the goals set? Does the shop deliver performance or excuses?

It’s unfortunate, but there are still idiots, jackoffs and con men left in our industry. Some own tuning shops and some import or manufacture shoddy parts. More often than not, these are the same companies that would run an advertisement in DSPORT and not pay their bills. For 2012, we plan to blow the whistle on these crooks while highlighting the shops and manufacturers that do it right.

The 2012 Mission

Tech, tech and more tech. For 2012, prepare for knowledge. Over the next 13-issues, our mission is to turn you into a knowledgable and savvy consumer that will buy the right parts the first time. We’ll help you get the maximum performance for every dollar that you invest in your vehicle. Our magazine and DVD will also feature a complete season of the new-for-2012 IDRC Import Drag Racing Circuit and some other special events that are soon to be announced. Every 2012 issue of DSPORT will contain a premium. This premium may be a DVD, giant poster, special guide or calendar. By subscribing you’ll save over $100 off what you’d pay on the newsstand, plus your issue will be delivered to your home with all of the same premium items that you’d receive if you buy it at full price on the newsstand. Log onto dsportmag.com today to subscribe and check out our special gift subscritptions for the people that you care about.