Biography: Growing up in the shadow of Grumman Aerospace in Bethpage, at the age of 11, I decided that the Briggs and Stratton engine on my father's favorite Sears lawnmower should be alternately used on my stingray bicycle and began my long love affair for motorized vehicles. It was around this time I would ride my motor bike on the abandoned Vanderbilt Motor Parkway. A few years later I started tuning my brothers Pontiac GTO and his friends 409 Impalas. Although my dad was not so happy that I was using my afternoons building mini bikes and Soap Box derby cars, I still spent plenty of time behind science and math books taking courses in mechanical drawing and playing the horn in high school band. During high school I worked at the typical 70's auto parts store turning wrenches and later attended college.

During this time I rebuilt plenty of small and big block Chevy engines, as well as a few 409's. While finishing my B.S. and M.S. degrees in the field of Medical Biology, I decided that Naval Aviation had higher horsepower vehicles and began training as a Naval Flight Officer at Pensacola Naval Air Station. Later on, I was accepted to medical school and attended residencies in medical imaging. I have published articles in medical sciences and automotive technologies.

As a long time Chevrolet Historian and Enthusiast, I realized that the same Long Island Motor (Vanderbilt) Parkway I rode on as a kid was also the old Vanderbilt Cup race track which Louis Chevrolet would race his Buick Marquette, almost winning the 1910 race.

I continue to do research into the Racing History of Louis Chevrolet and to complete a few Chevy projects, including but not limited to a Z-11 Nova and a turbocharged Corvair Powered Dune Buggy.

Articles submitted by Mark DeSantis:

Dick Harrell the other Mr. Chevrolet
History of Louis Chevrolet

Other Articles by Mark DeSantis:

"Switch Pitch your Turbo 400." Chevelle Report
"Synthetic Oil, Fact Or Friction?" Late Great Chevy Magazine, The Legend
"Ultimate Bypass Filter." Chevelle Report
"History of GM Engineer Richard L. Keinath"

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