David S. Wallens Contact

Hello, welcome to my bio. Since you're reading this page I assume you have a few minutes to kill, so here's my story.

I was born in a log cabin.

Okay, it really was a hospital on Long Island. I spent the first 18 years of my life on Long Island, and it's a pretty cool place. No matter where you went, you could always find something from one of the four major food groups: bagels, Chinese, White Castles and pizza.

I graduated from Harborfields High School in 1988, the learning institution that produced Mariah Carey.

I spent the next four years at the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, another neat place to visit. Georgia was a nice change of pace. No White Castles, but we had an excellent music scene. Athens is famous for producing R.E.M. and the B-52's, but so many other good bands came from that scene, including Roosevelt, 5-8, The Groove Trolls and many other bands you never heard.

Two days after graduation, I started at my first real job: Automod. Automod sells sports car equipment and is the place in Atlanta to outfit an MG, Miata, Z-car or whatever. The business is still around, although they have moved up near Spaghetti Junction.

While living in Atlanta I got hooked on autocross. At the time I had the car to have for D Stock — the Nissan Sentra SE-R — and I figured I was set. I got my butt handed to me on multiple occasions, and even if I didn't have two future national champions in my class I think the outcome would have been the same. Still, I had fun. I have been autocrossing ever since.

In 1994 I met Tim Suddard, and for some reason he hired me. I convinced my brother and our friend Paul to help me more to Florida — hey, want to spend Spring Break in Daytona? — and I was on my way. I started as the circulation guy for Grassroots Motorsports but eventually handed those duties off to Gabe. He is the man.

I became the managing editor of Grassroots Motorsports sometime around 1996 and have been there since. It's been fun to watch the magazine and our audience grow. We were at 60-something pages when I started at the magazine, while our latest issue topped 200. Amazing.

In early 2003 Classic Motorsports joined our family, presenting new challenges. Production came in-house early in 2004, giving us full editorial control as well as the opportunity to really give the magazine some direction. The readers seem to really dig the new magazine and we appreciate the feedback. My new title is editorial director, and as it suggests I spend much of my time directing the editorial.

As far as my personal life goes, I'm married to Michele and we recently had two additions to our family: puppies. She came home with two of them, and for some reason I said something along the line that it would be a shame to separate them.

So that's how Aimee and Paige entered our lives. They're from the same litter — Miniature Pincher and Corgi mixes — but are totally different. Paige has black hair and likes to bark at squirrels. Aimee (I didn't name them) is smaller and has reddish hair. She prefers to bark at things that don't move: dustpans, hats, leaves and the like. The other night she got into a fit regarding a basket that was sitting on the kitchen counter. Then she gave a towel the what-for.

Our parents live in South Carolina where they're active with the local chapter of the BMW CCA. They have a 323i that's been beefed up a bit with some Dinan pieces. My mom drives the drifter's dream, a Nissan 240SX. They didn't have cool cars while I lived at home, but I'm glad they're now having fun.

My main interest in cars, which is pretty good since I work for a car magazine. Right now we have five cars at the house: 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX, 2000 Honda Civic Si, 1992 Mazda Miata, 1992 Honda Civic Si and a 1971 Innocenti Mini Cooper. That last one is an Italian-built version of the original Mini Cooper. Call it the original pocket rocket.

That's about it for me. If you ever want to reach me, just drop me a line.

Thanks for spending a few minutes reading what may be the most boring bio on our site. If you haven't already, go check out Scott's, and J.G.'s. They're the funny guys.

Facts

  • Birthplace: Greenlawn, N.Y.
  • Typical dress: $15 Old Navy plaid shirt, low-top Old Skool Vans, $10 Old Navy shorts.
  • Favorite Bands: Iron Maiden, Suicidal Tendencies, Anthrax.
  • Favorite Movies: Akira, Fletch, Repo Man, The Terminator, Evil Dead trilogy.
  • Favorite TV Shows: South Park, Futurama, Family Guy, Law & Order.
  • Hobbies: BMX, slotcars, old cameras.
  • First Car Owned: 1982 Honda Accord.
  • Favorite Car Owned: 1992 Mazda Miata.
  • Daily Driver: Subaru WRX or Miata.
  • Wife's Daily Driver: 2000 Honda Civic Si.
  • Last Book Read: “If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor” by Bruce Campbell

Blatant Plugs

http://www.mattwallens.com My brother's Web page, full of Wallens family info. It also contains lots of info on the movie Fletch. The stories from the Athens years are also particularly amusing. “How We Got a Drunk Kid Arrested on Mother's Day” is probably my favorite.

http://www.stephenclose.com An old friend from school. Whenever I visit Atlanta, Steve, my brother and I can usually be found together eating at a Chinese buffet, wandering through Best Buy or watching copious amounts of Cops.

http://www.ebersol.com http://www.ebersol.com/RR Rob is another old friend, and he has turned into a regular contributor for GRM. He is an awesome graphic artist, serving clients like Coke, Georgia Pacific and other Fortune 500 companies. The first link goes to his graphics business, while the other one is for the race effort. He can be found driving a Spec Miata at Road Atlanta.

http://www.uga.edu Where I spent 1988 through 1992.

Daytona

It was fun

Wiiiiiiiiii

Finally got a Wii

Bye, guys

Bye-bye SCC

I voted

Go vote

I want candy

Oct. 31 is almost here.

Bouncing off the satellites

Gimme some jazz.

BMX!

BMX is fun

Bowling

Suckatude

Rain!

Rain, rain, rain

Never a dull moment around here

Exciting day at the office.