MY LOVE FOR AUTO RACING IMAGES
Racing buddies from left to right John Mahoney, Bob Laycock, Joe DeFabis, and Dick Jordan.
For most of my professional career, I have photographed weddings and portraits. During that time, auto racing images have always been one of my favorite subjects to photography. I would like to dedicate this page to three people. My father Ernie DeFabis took me to my very first Indy 500 in 1967. I was 12 years old and from that moment, I was hooked on auto racing. Dad continued to take me to race after race until the mid 1970’s and after that I purchased my own tickets and have had my E Penthouse seats ever since. 2023 will be my 56th in a row.
In 1972, I met Dick Jordan (DJ), we became good friends and he was my best man at Terri and I’s wedding in 2007. DJ’s passion for auto racing was second to none. DJ would always invite me on his racing trips and being a wedding photographer I attended races when I could. It is because of DJ and the opportunities he gave me, that I developed a skill for photographing racing cars and was fortunate to meet other amazing motorsports photographers and racing personalities.
Another friend of mine, John Mahoney, who is one of the premiere open wheel motorsports photographers has been a mentor ever since I can remember. John’s hard work and dedication to capturing not only the racing action but the personalities has contributed to my passion to create stunning, and memorable images.
I was not always interested in motorsports as a photographer. In 1975 and 1976 I had the fortune to be on a pit crew for Larry McCoy, this experience also drove my passion for motorsports photography continues to this day, and in retirement, I have the opportunity to continue photographing some of the greatest racing events in the world.