DRAG Sport Becomes DSPORT
It was time for someone to step up and fight back against the bully known as PRIMEDIA. We decided that the best weapon in our arsenal would be our publication. Taking DRAG Sport to a broader audience meant changing the format to a standard newsstand magazine and expanding the content to focus on street performance vehicles. To broaden the potential audience, the magazine
dropped “DRAG” from its title and became DSPORT. Depending on whom you ask, the first issue of DSPORT is either issue 13 (Vinny Ten, Jean Nguyen) or issue 14/15 (Erick Aguilar / Francine Dee). Issue 13 marked the beginning of the new editorial focus, and the page folios were changed from DRAG Sport to DSPORT, while the front cover logo remained DRAG Sport. By issue 14/15, there was no mistake that DSPORT was on the scene. DSPORT Strikes Back
In 2004 and 2005, DSPORT looked for new partners and avenues to grow its readership and continue its success. The June 2004 issue ( #18) was the first issue distributed by Curtis Circulation. Curtis Circulation, the nation’s largest newsstand magazine distributor, helped to nearly double the sales of DSPORT overnight. The January 2005 issue marked the first-ever DSPORT calendar. The 2005 Calendar was polybagged with the magazine, and sales for that issue increased 80-percent compared to the previous issue. DSPORT found polybag success once again seen with the August 2005 “Tuner Savings Guide.” The 2005 “Tuner Savings Guide” provided a coupon and discount booklet from some of the top manufacturers and tuners in the industry. As DSPORT continued to grow, PRIMEDIA titles continued to struggle. Circulation figures for competitive PRIMEDIA titles fell 20 to 35- percent. Once again, advertisers and manufacturers in the industry were forced to bear the burden with rising advertising costs from the PRIMEDIA titles. Instead of looking at ways to improve its products, PRIMEDIA blamed its lack of performance on the state of the import performance community. In reality, a large percentage of the readers who were loyal to Super Street, Import Tuner and Sport Compact Car found other magazines that better met their needs. By 2007, an already in**ed industry consolidated further when PRIMEDIA sold its entire Enthusiasts Media Group to Source Interlink Media. Meanwhile, DSPORT continued to brave the cold, scary world of publishing alone, increasing page counts and printing on the highest quality paper in the industry while its competitors cut staff, quality, and pages. Was providing the best magazine in the industry enough? Apparently not, DSPORT set its sights on producing the best DVD devoted to import tuning as well. DSPORT DVD issue #1 appeared in the fifth anniversary issue ( #57, September 2007). Since then, DSPORT has produced 31 more DVDs, each one filled with more racing action, technical information, feature cars, and top models. NHRA Call it Quits
Moving on to 2008, the NHRA called it quits on its NHRA Sport Compact racing series as both participant and spectator attendance was horrible in 2007, despite record-setting performances. Apparently, the import- performance community could care less if a GM “sport compact” product could set records. They’d rather see cars they would actually think about owning in competition. By the end of 2008, bailouts, TARP and a soon-to-be implemented stimulus plans would either cripple or save (depending who you ask) the US economy which really started to skid. Once again, small businesses felt the squeeze. Turbo, SCC and SORC Fold
By the time the January 2009 issue of DSPORT hit the stands, Turbo magazine was dead. In his Pub Note, Publisher Michael Ferrara predicted SCC would be next and by the following month the prediction was true. A few issues later, Source Interlink would put Michael Ferrara on legal notice for predicting that SORC would soon be bankrupt. Of course, it’s not illegal to tell the truth about a failing company and less than 60 days after the predication SORC would soon file bankruptcy, proving the prediction correct. To be sure that DSPORT was reaching every enthusiast possible; a massive newsstand expansion took place during a time when every other magazine was cutting copies. The $700,000 gamble paid off as DSPORT took over the newsstands and markets previously held by competitive titles. As 2009 came near its end, the import-performance community would lose one of its greatest talents with the passing of Shaun Carlson.
‘10, ‘11 and Beyond
Thanks to our readers and advertisers, DSPORT continues to succeed in a difficult environment. The passing of Turbo and SCC, two once great magazines, along the way shows how challenging the publishing industry can be. But, our readers can remain confident that DSPORT will not sell out to one of the media conglomerates. We will continue to provide you with the most reliable technical information, sickest cars, best advice, hottest girls, and highest-quality printing. DSPORT was engineered to serve its readers and the import-performance community. In doing so, DSPORT’s ultimate goal is to become the biggest automotive magazine in newsstand sales. To realize this goal, we will do whatever it takes. Full Story in DSPORT #100...
http://store.dsportmag.com/DSPORT-100_p_107.html
