Dave Vantine Biography

Born December 5, 1962 in Syracuse, New York, David Vantine grew up in a picture perfect world, literally. Dave is Grandson to Edward Vantine, Sr., who started Vantine Studios in 1937. Vantine turned a one-man photography business into a corporation with over seventy employees today called Vantine Imaging, which Dave now owns. As the 3rd generation owner of Vantine Imaging, 2009 marks Dave’s 25th year with the company.

Growing up, Dave attended Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, NH, a junior "prep school", then Northwood School in Lake Placid, NY (also a "prep school") for high school. Knowing he would live his life out in the northeast, he decided to head west and attend college at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ.

Within 70 years of family business, motorcycles became a great part of the family as well. By the time Dave was born, his father, Edward Jr. and Dave’s uncle, Paul Sr., owned and operated a Honda dealership in Hamilton, New York. Dave blames his love for motorcycles on them as he and his cousin, Paul Jr., hung around the shop as kids.
Naturally Dave grew up riding motorcycles and racing. He started with motocross and due to living in the northeast he also raced ice bikes on frozen lakes as well.

Drag racing started while attending a Dragbike USA event that was held on the front straight of Pocono's road course. Dave mentions a side note here about Pocono. For those veterans who raced an IDBA or Prostar event at the old Bristol Dragway thought the uphill right-hand turn in the shutoff was bad, the shutdown area at Pocono was a banked left-hand turn, kind of like tri-oval drag racing. Anyway, while sitting in the stands, Dave saw all this smoke off in the distance and went over to investigate. As it turned out there was a group of folks that decided to have their own drag race on an access road of the track with a “Pinks style” start and two guys waiving towels at the finish line determining the winners. Dave took his FJ1200 Yamaha and joined in the fun and did pretty well. From that point on, he was hooked.

Dave’s official drag racing career started at another Dragbike USA event at ESTA Safety Park in Cicero, NY in 1987. He remembers the event as quite an experience as he not only competed for the first time, he also for the first time saw Elmer Trett race. Racing a bone stock FJ1200 led to adding more aftermarket components that led to a roadracing slick; and soon the need for a car tire chassis arose. Dave turned to John Ganey, of PCW in Schenectady, NY, who specialized in Yamahas. John built Dave a Pro Gas bike utilizing Dave’s FJ engine. When Dave was ready to step up to a Top Gas bike, it was John who talked him into jumping straight to Pro Mod, and with sponsorship support from Orient Express, Dave’s professional career was launched. As life began, so it continues; picture perfect.

Other areas of interest:
Residence: Hamilton NY

Children’s Names (ages): Cole, age 4

Occupation: Owner of Vantine Imaging a National Photography Company catering to 400 colleges in the lower 48 states. I have a staff of 72 very talented people that allow me to get away and go racing without worry.

Home track: Lebanon Valley Dragway. Lebanon NY

Team Members: John Ganey, Jim Scott, Joe Taranto and Genie Muldoon

Interest outside of racing: I play tennis in the summer and snow ski in the winter.

Daily driver: 2007 GMC Denali

First motorcycle: 1970 Yamaha 60, it was red with the white pin strip around the tank, a four speed, all up.

Hero: Elmer Trett. Elmer set the bar for all motorcycle drag racers of my day. That torch is now carried by Larry McBride who is doing a fine job setting the gold standard for today.

If you are interested in being featured as person of the week, contact Dave Schnitz

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