Small Business Solutions - Ashley Van Dyke

Alex Fees: I'm Alex Fees on Small Business Television. We're coming to you from SEMA 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. SEMA, that's Specialty Equipment Market Association, and joining me here now at the Las Vegas Convention Center is Ashley Van Dyke. Ashley, good to see you again. Ashley Van Dyke: Good to see you again. Alex Fees: We first met two years ago. Ashley and I were just discussing off camera here, how to characterize her. She is a race car driver, fashion model, television host, what else? What doesn't cover it? Ashley Van Dyke: That's pretty much it. Alex Fees: Yeah, you have your own website, AshleyVanDyke.com. Ashley Van Dyke: AshleyVanDyke.com, I just launched the Video page there recently, a compilation of a lot of things including our interview two years ago. Alex Fees: Well, I'm honored to be there. Besides you and I, what else can people find there at AshleyVanDyke.com? Ashley Van Dyke: My full modeling portfolio, my racing galleries. I did two more rallies this year, just launched all the photos from that. I've been selling some ad space on there, which has been really cool. I was excited to do that, because you progress to getting to that level. It's very nice. I get good traffic on there. Alex Fees: Are you still racing? Ashley Van Dyke: Yes. Alex Fees: Still racing, still modeling, is there an order that all the stuff comes in Ashley? Ashley Van Dyke: Racing is always first, and I like modeling, more spokes modeling and product endorsements and things like that. That's one of the reasons I'm here is, actively seeking opportunities to do that. Alex Fees: What about that? In what capacity are you here at SEMA? What do you do at a convention like this? Ashley Van Dyke: I have some meetings and like I met with Polestar yesterday. They make spark plugs, really high-efficiency spark plugs. I was talking with GM and what I'm doing next here is putting together a Late Model team. I'm going to run 20 races at Irwindale, the TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale. Yeah, it's a Super Stock Late Models, and that's kind of my background as NASCAR. So I'm finding my way through all of the motorsports stuff that I've done, kind of, back to where it all started with me. It was the NASCAR. Alex Fees: Can I ask how old you are now? Ashley Van Dyke: 24. Alex Fees: 24 years old, take me back to 22, take me back to two years ago, after SEMA 2006, what has happened in the subsequent two years? Ashley Van Dyke: I did a series for SPEED channel called Setup. Alex Fees: Very cool! Ashley Van Dyke: It was a fun little six-episode series of Tommy Kendall. I've been doing, like last year, I was here for SEMA and I interviewed a bunch of people like you are, but I was running all over and I didn't get a chance to come in and sit down. Alex Fees: Did they get us here at SBTV? Ashley Van Dyke: No, I didn't get a chance to, so unlike every other year right now. Alex Fees: If it works, just kind of check in periodically. Ashley Van Dyke: We'll be more consistent, that's great. Alex Fees: Update us on what has been happening with you. So where are you these days? I mean, geographically, where you're located. Ashley Van Dyke: I'm in LA. I've been in LA for about a year and a half, came down from Seattle. I travel all the time. When I'm in LA, I'm working or I'm going to the gym, that's pretty much. Alex Fees: Is there spare time in the life of Ashley Van Dyke? Ashley Van Dyke: No, but it's all fun. I love everything I do. I'll be at the Phoenix NASCAR Race this weekend, and then the final NASCAR Race in Miami, next weekend; I'll be out there for that. I'm on a radio show every Thursday. KGKI Radio is the Racers Report out of Florida. So I call in from the West Coast and I'm on for half an hour and we talk NASCAR and stuff and we're going to be broadcasting from the PRI Show next month. Alex Fees: As you're getting the staple here at SEMA, how many years now at SEMA? Ashley Van Dyke: This is my third year in a row. Alex Fees: That's what I thought; your first year was my first year. Ashley Van Dyke: Oh, really? Alex Fees: What changes have you noticed here? What really jumps out and grabs you about SEMA? Ashley Van Dyke: This year I feel a little more quality control which is nice. A lot of people that come here just to hang out aren't here this year, so I'm able to connect better with the people that I want to talk to, and hopefully, they'll remember you more, because you only see half as many people as last year, you're more likely to remember. So I think the quality control factor this year, I'm using to my advantage. Alex Fees: That's good. So what can we expect in the future then from you? Ashley Van Dyke: Well, Irwindale is the big, big thing. I mean, it's really exciting, and like I said, we're actively seeking people that are interested and it keeps growing. It really does. It's coming together really well and I'm really, really excited. Alex Fees: Alright! Good deal. Ashley Van Dyke, Ashley, it's good to see you again. Please don't be a stranger next year, so we've got to interrupt that every other year -- Ashley Van Dyke: I know, I know. Alex Fees: Make it two years in a row then. Ashley Van Dyke: Thank you very much. Alex Fees: My pleasure! I'm Alex Fees on Small Business Television. This is Ashley Van Dyke with AshleyVanDyke.com, right? Ashley Van Dyke: Yes. Alex Fees: There is your free plug, okay? Ashley Van Dyke: Hmm. Alex Fees: You're watching SBTV.com. We're at SEMA 2008 in Las Vegas.