HORSEPOWER & HEELS

A lot has been happening for our team lately. Namely, we dropped off the racecar in South Florida for its next steps toward completion. It has seemed like the list of roadblocks has been neverending, but I know that each step gets us one step closer, so I continue on relentlessly each day.

With my new job, I don't have any vacation time off yet, so even though South FL is quite the hike from my current N. AL residence, the earliest I could leave was Friday afternoon after work. When I came home to hook up to the trailer, I discovered that the trailer lights were not working. So Porkchop and Skippy tried for several hours to find the culprit wire that was shorting out the entire system. Finally, around 9pm they got the fix. That's 4 hours of roadtime lost, and it meant me driving straight through the night to stay in my time constraints. Thankfully, I was able to convince Porkchop to abandon his weekend plans and help me make the drive down. (what a nice guy!)

Our first stop was Jacksonville, FL to pick up Horsepower & Heels teammate Debbie. The plan had been for me to crash there for the night around 2am, but with my trailer nightmare, we arrived instead at 6:30am. A brief nap, and the three of us were on the road to South FL. About 20 minutes into the trip, we hit rain so hard we couldn't see 10 feet in front of the truck. After some tense moments, we were finally out of the storm and passing through Daytona Beach. It reminded me that its been several YEARS since I enjoyed a REAL vacation... and how crazy my racing life has become that all my regular vacation time is rationed throughout the year to allow me working my butt off from one racetrack to another. Somedays I long to leave this crazy obession behind for a nice trip to a cozy little tropical island.... but then I remember that the sacrifices I make are all for my absolute passion and well worth it.

So we made the drop off and got turned back around at 4pm towards our 3rd stop on the tour... my mother's house. Nevermind that Orlando is about an hour off-course, if that little 76 year old spitfire would've found out that her little one was in FL and didn't come see her, I would be a dead little driver. But first, I had two passengers in the truck about to throw me out the window if I didn't stop and get them food. So on the exit to Hwy 520, I see a sign for Olive Garden and decide that some Italian sounds good. Thinking that it would be just a few tenths of a mile off the interstate, I make the turn off and head toward where the sign pointed.

About 10 miles, 2 bridges over the Intercoastal, and a bunch of tight spots, we managed to find the Olive Garden and I get the trailer parked. Its packed, so the three of us sit at the bar as Debbie entertains us with stories about her past. Despite having less than 3 hours sleep, we manage to eat and make it to my mom's before 10pm. After a far too brief visit there, we still have another 2 1/2 hours back to Jacksonville. We arrive exhausted around 1:30am. That's more than 24 hours straight that Chop and I have been in a truck, and an impressive 14 hours for stir-crazy Debbie. (and she's gonna be my traveling partner to the races? Whew... better break her in easy while I can.)

Now I managed to post a life best sleep in record of nearly noon... normally, I can't sleep that long regardless of my level of sleep deprivation. So after a brief brunch...(can you still call it that at 1pm?) at my all time favorite (and sorely missed) restaurant, Bob Evans, we make the drive home.

We rolled into Grant at midnight Sunday night. I was also quickly assured that the next time I asked for a small "favor" and offered an exciting trip to FL in return, that the answer was definitely NO.

Weekly update to my "Around the Country" with Horsepower & Heels Blog.
Jun 30 Salem, AL 464 miles
Jul 7-9 Bristol, TN 604 miles
Jul 13-15 Jacksonville; Riviera Bch; Orlando, FL 1,671 miles
Jul 22 Birmingham, AL 216 miles
Jul 28 Auburn, AL 416 miles

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 5:55 PM | Permalink | Comments

After a rough Friday, my good friend TJ from T.A.R.E Racing stopped in and picked me up on his way to the NHRA Bristol race. (Really what this meant was he stopped in around 10:30pm, and proceeded to fall asleep while I drove the 4 hours to Bristol,hahaha... but I'm grateful for the ride!) We arrived at the track around 3:30am, and by 7am I was up and awake, and only a little groggy. I absolutely LOVE NHRA races, its my goal to be racing there in the next 2 years. I don't know if its seeing all the people that you follow on TV every race weekend, or just being in the midst of all that horsepower and seeing how the professionals run their operations, but I can't absorb enough from NHRA National events. Bristol is also my all-time favorite track, so attending this race made me very happy. Thunder Valley is something every drag racer or fan should experience in their lifetime... its absolutely beautiful and the people are super friendly.

I did learn of some disappointing news while there... I had actually interviewed with Don Schumacher at the Atlanta race back in April to drive the MOPAR/OAKLEY Funny Car after Gary Scelzi retires at the end of '07. I knew that it was an absolute long shot, but having the opportunity to speak with Don Schumacher and even be remotely considered for this type of opportunity is HUGE to me. Unfortunately, one of the OAKLEY reps this weekend broke the news to me that the field has been narrowed down now, and I am not in contention anymore. I'm sad, but I know that if I keep working, that another opportunity will come.

Weekly update to my "Around the Country" with Horsepower & Heels Blog.
Jun 30 Salem, AL 464 miles
July 7-9 Bristol, TN 604 miles

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 6:37 AM | Permalink | Comments

Its an on-going, but very true joke between fellow Horsepower & Heel gal pal Debbie and I, that every time she calls me during the week, I'm in the "Inspirational"; "Motivational"; "Betterment" or harshly titled "Self Help" sections of the bookstore, trying to read my way into success and a new, improved unstoppable attitude, all within the confines of my hour-long lunch break. Now, seeing how I do this nearly everyday (The clerks at Barnes & Nobles must be wondering how much can possibly be WRONG with me), that amounts to 5 hours of self-help reading a week.

I've read some great reads like Napoleon Hill's "Keys to Success", or Jeffrey Gitomer's Little Book series- "The Little Black Book of Connections", "The Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude", etc. and even the surprisingly motivational "Everything about me is fake... and I'm PERFECT" by Janice Dickerson (who was so real and convincing about the confidence she carries even in her biggest shortcomings). They all convey the same message... that positive attitude, confidence, and a strong definition of purpose is all that is needed to guarantee success. Easier said than done, but its something that I'm actively working towards. (There has to be a silver lining to this cloud somewhere, right?)

But climbing the ladder on my inspirational reads list, Mike Ashley is moving to the forefront. Talk about living the success model. He organizes his own team, is quickly a competitive force (no pun intended), and as I recently blogged, has already collected his 1st win. His interviews and speeches are unlike any others... he uses those exposure opportunities to thank those close to him and to motivate the dreams of others (myself included).

But what defines him in my eyes is that none of it is an act. He BELIEVES wholeheartedly in every single word of what he preaches. Just look at the roller coaster of adversity they overcame... Following the high of their first win, they endure 2 DNQ's in a row. But while most would wallow in that low, Mike and his team bounced right back into the winner's circle with a win this past weekend in Norwalk. For those that do not follow closely, that's quite a feat in itself, much less twice in a year and following 2 DNQ's.

His latest BLOG is again a source of inspiration for me, something that I needed right now in a time where things have been hard, and my car and racing have been a great challenge.

That team "Expects to Win". Its their mantra, and each member of that team believes in it, in the team, and most importantly, in themselves. And from now on, I will make that my purpose...

Because,
I am.
I can.
and I WILL.

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments

I'm excited! Another new movie to look forward to! (Because what motorsport maven can get her fill of action packed, hot car movies? And NO. I. Do. Not. Mean. the Fast and the Furious.)

I read over at Autoblog that the latest in movie reincarnations involves another Hot Rodder Hall-of-Fame movie... the Steve McQueen classic, BULLITT. And who else to play the legendary Lt. Frank Bullitt, than Brad Pitt.

I'm excited. Really, really excited. With the new Bullitt Mustang coming out, and its back-in-the-day rival, the Dodge Charger R/T also having its modern day reincarnation, I can't wait to see what Hollywood's special effects department can make of this already great story. And we get Brad Pitt, too? ::Sigh::

I must commend the Pitt-Jolie family for their excellent choice in high action thrillers... as if the whole Mr. & Mrs. Smith movie wasn't enough to seal my admiration of this dynamic duo, Angie plays one of my favorite characters, Sway, in my all time favorite movie, Gone in 60 Seconds.

One of my favorite quotes in the movie comes when Sway enters a garage full of exotics and proclaims:

Sway: Hello, ladies. I always was a sucker for a redhead.

(of the bright red Ferrari she was boosting). I guess I'm just a serious sucker for a hot little Mustang... preferrably dressed in black, and a little pink. Yep, mine would be the "girl" car, complete with matching Mustang OPI Nail polish in the console.

Or this little jem of a movie quote, that I took the liberty of slightly adlibbing:

Sway: What do you think is more exciting , having sex or *racing* cars?

Hmm, jury is still out on that one. Or maybe, Memphis said it best...

Memphis: Having sex or *racing* cars... Um, oo! Uh. How about having sex WHILE *racing* cars?

Hmmm......

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments