HORSEPOWER & HEELS

Ever wonder what it feels like to drive something with 2000 horsepower? Unless you are a drag racer that has experienced that sensation, its difficult to put into words what it feels like to go down the quarter mile and how "going in a straight line" is much easier than it looks.


As I was driving home from work today, I discovered a halfway comparable sensation to the feeling high horsepower cars have as they are on the brink of losing traction that the average driver can relate to: WIND.

Listen as I explain:

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 6:37 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 2:08 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

The government in Canada is passing a law that will ban the use of leaded fuel in Canada for competition use. This ban, if passed, will mean the end of drag racing in Canada. The proposed law is slated to go into effect on January 9, 2009.

Labels: Special Causes

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I will be live on-air with the El Break morning show this Sunday, January 27th on Phoenix, AZ radio station 95.1 Latino Vibe.

The show is produced by a group of hipster college and high school students where they talk about latino culture, politics, entertainment, sexuality, education, and much more. It is the only show of its kind in the state and one of the only ones in the country. The show is a biligual mix-- Spanglish: both English & Spanish, with my interview done in English (I'm a little rusty on mi español).

They have big brown muscles, big brown mouths and big brown boobs. But most importantly, they have big brains and huge hearts. The hot, hipster crew from "El Break" is the best shot in the arm of political activism for the local Latino community since Chicanos por la Causa. This is a modern day crop of activistas who have their own rough-around-the edges/cutting-edge AM radio show on Sundays at 95.1 FM Latino Vibe. Luis Avila, Nuvia Enriquez, Laura Suarez, Obed Hurtado and others aren't afraid to launch a hunger strike to support the DREAM Act one week, and then throw a blow-out rock en español bash the next, with free-flowing spiked horchata. You can catch their show on Sundays.

The show will air from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM mountain time.

Visit the show's myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/elbreak.

Don't live in Phoenix? You can listen online.

Labels: press

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 4:01 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

First off....


I actually started this post on January 1st, but it somehow didn't get finished until now. I said I was starting 2008 fresh and new, but what I didn't mention is that I'm moving... AGAIN. No, I'm not up and relocating to another city, I'm moving into a house here in Grant, and I'm REALLY excited about it!

Changes are good! I feel like 2008 may just be MY year!

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Recently, I've received a lot of different emails from folks wanting to know what path I've taken to come this far in racing and what I do to push ahead every day.


My answer? EVERYTHING.


Out of neccessity (and lack of financial means), I've had the task of learning to wear many different hats.

• Driver.
  Though this is my biggest dream, and my ultimate full time aspiration, I spend the least time wearing this hat (errr... helmet). In fact, when you consider that the whole driving experience lasts only 6 seconds, its probably such a marginal amount of time that some people question why I keep after it. I don't think its anything that can be put into words unless you've felt the adrenaline rush of driving before. Being in that seat, regardless of how short of a time, is such a release. Its empowering, its rewarding, its relaxing, and energizing all at the same time.


• Public Relations/Marketing.
  One of the most important things I've done for my career and the team is a strong focus on marketing/PR. My day job is marketing, so I feel this is my area of expertise, and work hard to make sure that I do my best in this area for Horsepower & Heels and for other racers who I help as a side business (gotta keep trying to find $$ to race!). The single biggest thing I've done that has helped is building my own brand of Horsepower & Heels and finding new ways to promote it to the media, corporate america, etc. I try to stay on top of all the new social mediums out there, staying connected and involved has helped tremendously. One of the biggest things I can offer potential marketing partners, is the network I've built of people who check out Horsepower & Heels on a regular basis. The other reason its so important is to stay updated and available for potential opportunites. I may have never had the chance to interview with Don Schumacher or be considered for a Top Fuel ride if I wasn't proactive with being available for these type opportunities.
  
• Mechanic.
  Racing has to be one of the most expensive hobbies there is. Racecars are not cheap. Parts are not cheap. Labor definitely is not cheap. So, to offset these cost, I do as much as I can possibly do myself before seeking out others. I am very lucky in that I've had some great teachers that have taught me much about the mechanics involved in the car I choose to race. I also have some great people who donate their time to help out however they can. But the general maintenance, and as much of the brute labor as I can muster, I do myself.


• Manager.
  So much goes into staying organized and keeping on track. From setting the schedules for races and promotional events, to keeping up on maintenance tasks, to deciding what to do next. Managing all the different hats at once could be a full time job to most.
  
• Event Planner.
  Racing is event after event of cosmic proportions. Working a full time job, and scheduling time off, reserving room accomodations, packing up a trailer full of necessities for a weekend, and coordinating crew and meet and greets in the area is quite a tedious task. Coordinating small details at the races is very important to see everything run smoothly.
  
• Salesperson.
  I'm definitely not one of those door-to-door types, but there are many sales aspects to running the team. Anything from the coordination and selling of apparel, to the pitch of sponsorship proposals.


• Designer.
  Unfortunately, I wish I was better at this item. I think of myself as a pretty creative individual, but my weakness is putting ideas in my head into action. But, with graphic design such an expensive art, I have to make due with what I can muster on my own. Everything from the website, to apparel ideas... the vision may or may not come out as I originally anticipated, but I make due with what I can muster!
  
• Truck Driver.
  Its not a very glamorous part of the job, but the fact is, the car must be transported, and there is no one else to do it! So, I haul around the car with a dually in an big enclosed trailer. Last year out, it was a 53' Gooseneck.... I caused many a stare at the truckstops when truckers saw me hop out of the driver's seat, usually hauling it across the country by myself.
  
• Purchasing/Merchandiser.
  Anything from deciding what brand/source to purchase supplies to arranging production on the e-store merchandise, I am left with the duties of purchasing agent.


• Cook.
  Another necessity that I'm not always that great at doing. In fact, there are a few "incidents" of me almost catching the trailer on fire trying to fire up a charcoal grill with lighter fluid (I had no clue they were Matchlight coals!). But, I usually pack up and plan out some good, track-friendly meals and snacks to keep the eating out expense to a minimum.
  
• Gopher.
  Run here, run there. A gopher's job is never done. Getting tickets, passing through tech, or any other "runner" tasks are done by yours truly.


• Historian.
  Keeping track of my own stats sometimes doesn't feel right... but this information would be clouds of dust if I didn't record it myself. How else would anyone know about the accomplishments I've made in my modest career? It also means keeping up with the racing industry in general to know what is happening all across the sport.
  
• Web Master.
  I taught myself to build a website back in 2001, and I've been learning ever since. It may not be the most glamourous or the most technically correct, but it serves its function and its filled with information and features. http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/ has been a tremendous asset all across the boards.
  
• Photographer/Videographer.
  It can be difficult to capture all the action in front of the lens when I'm usually the one behind it, but I try and capture as much of the action as possible. When I'm in the car, I try and hand off my camera equipment to someone to capture... with mixed results. I also process all the photographs after the race, edit/resize, and upload them for viewing.
  
• Agent.
  Most people have some sort of agent that acts between them and press/business/other things. That old line "have your agent call my agent?" Yep, that line comes directly to me.
  
• Spokesperson.
  I have the responsibility of being the active "face" for Horsepower & Heels. When you're also handling all of the other actions, you learn to really think things through before speaking. Its difficult to balance, because people can confuse some of the other hats you wear as what your are trying to portray as the "image" of Horsepower & Heels.
  
• Financier.
  This by far is the most difficult and limiting action for Horsepower & Heels. Unfortunately, I don't have much in the way of funding, and have to come up with a majority of the expenses myself. I work a full time job, run a side business, and try my best to find additional sources of income just to continue racing. I'm stretched about as thin as I can be financially, and I know that I'm at the limits of my financial abilities.
  
• Accountant.
  And finally.... the last hat that I can think of at the moment is probably the saddest. Its realizing that what you need in terms of budget to complete a year of racing far exceeds what's in your checking account. That's a hard reality... and one that has limited my racing in the past year. I've been eating lots of peanut butter sandwiches though, and hope to be back out strong this year!

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

There is a proposal out to build a $21 million motorsports facility in Heflin, AL on the AL/GA border off of I-20. Such a facility could potentially bring an NHRA National event to Alabama, which currently has no NHRA National event.

To help show your support for the track, please send an email (under 300 words) to:
Cleburne County News
news@cleburnenews.com

and to the city official
Steve Swafford
swafford@cleburnecounty.us
141 Davenport Drive
Heflin, AL 36264

The newspaper will be publishing letters of support to help push the plans through. Please take a moment to promote a positive growth in drag racing.

Labels: Special Causes

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 3:44 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

You may have noticed many updates and new features being added here on my blog, and on the homepage as well in the last few months. I'm on a constant mission to better this site and make it more accessible, useful, and easy to navigate.

I wanted to take a moment and explain some of these new features, let you know about some upcoming features, and point out a few that you may not have noticed...

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 9:19 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Another illegal street racing event ends in disaster. How many times should we be reminded that its dangerous, ILLEGAL, and not a smart thing to do? We have tracks for this now... many tracks offer "Grudge" nights that immitate the whole street scene, but without the inherent dangers it presents.

What's worse, is that because the media tends to classify these illegal activites as DRAG RACING, our very legal, much safer, sport suffers. These accidents and their improper classification by the media cast a bad light on the sport, and have ultimately led to potential sponsors backing away from the series.

Mitch Perkins, a reporter and photographer for Drag Coverage, said it best in a letter to the media orgazinations covering the accident:

Dear Sir, As a participant and media reporter for the "REAL"
world of drag Racing, I find it disturbing that this illegal activity of STREET
racing is referred to in news broadcasts as Drag Racing. While it is an
"acceleration contest" which is the definition of a drag race, it is being done
in a illegal, unsanctioned and very dangerous way by the participants.
True racers and fans of the legal sport of drag racing DO NOT condone or
support this activity. And to have the "Tease" about the story be stated
as "A day of fun gone bad" is a insult to the good, honest and law abiding
citizens who participate in the legally sanctioned sport of drag racing.
In the eyes of the general public, that type of reporting gives all
drag racers a very bad and disturbing image. I have been around the
sport since the late 70's and I can tell you that it is a safe, fun activity
enjoyed by thousands of people around the US and several other countries as
well. If some fools were driving like madmen around a neighborhood ,
sliding around the block making left turns' would you report that as Nascar
racing? I think not. So why would the fools who choose to undertake the type of
activities that led to that tragedy in B'Ham be referred to as Drag Racers?
I think in the interest of fair and truthfull reporting, it should be
called what it is Illegal Street Racing. I would even be so bold to ask
that a retraction of the way that story was presented would be the right thing
to do. I have always had the highest regard for WSFA and for the way news
is presented by your station, but things like this undermine that
respect.
Sincerely, Mitch Perkins
Dracoverage.Com Staff Photographer

Below is the footage of the crash, and the associated news broadcasts.

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

As a follow up to my Cultural reach-out, I read about the "Gimme Your Stuff" program from a friend's blog (Thanks, Chai!).

Basically, it allows you to be a cultural ambassador and trade packages with cool stuff from an ambassador in another country. Or, to quote their website:

Welcome to Gimme Your Stuff, the cultural exchange blog where you can swap
items of significance to your area with items from others around the world. A
conduit for many an international cuisine to change hands. A place where you can
trade a newspaper from South Africa, or a CD from Finland. A place where we take
no responsibility for anything anyone else does. A place where we are Changing
the world with other people’s stuff

So here is what a marketing consultant by day, professional female drag racer on weekends from Huntsville, AL can offer:

• Sweet Home Alabama -- The Movie
• Auburn Football gear-- War Eagle! (or Alabama-- if you twist my arm enough.)
• Horsepower & Heels decals & T-shirts
• Racing related items
• Clothing/Accessories from US retailors
• Southern Foods
• Any fashion magazine you'd ever want from the US (Elle, Cosmo, Marie Claire, Latina, US Weekly, Glamour, etc.)
• Alabama newspapers
• NASA related stuff... from the Huntsville Space Center
• Photo scrapbook from popular spots in the area
• Mixed CD of great local music
• any type of Alabama trinkets (or even any other states while I'm racing and traveling)
• AND--- I love shopping, so tell me what you're looking for, and I'll go out and try to find it!

What I'd love to get:

• Shot Glasses from international locations (I collect them)
• Clothing/Accessories that are trendy from your area
• Racecars or Automobile related items in your area
• Sweets/Foods
• Local celebrities/history
• Magazines
• A mixed CD of local music
• Any other interesting item... surprise me!

Can't wait to see who out there wants to exchange! Just leave me a comment if you're interested!

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Awhile back, we filmed a segment for Hispanics Today TV show. I've been getting a ton of email from people all over the world this morning saying they saw the segment, and I wanted to take a moment and say WELCOME to all the new faces here.

(I still haven't seen the segment myself, so if anyone happened to have recorded it and wouldn't mind sending me a copy, I'd be mucho grateful!)

I love meeting new people all across the world, and especially love the diversity this brings. All of us come from different backgrounds, different ways of life, different experiences. Learning about these differences is one of the most fun part of life! It saddens me seeing people being closed-minded about learning about other cultures. I have been raised as a proud American, but I am also proud of my Hispanic heritage as well.

I am 50% Puerto Rican and 50% Cuban, and proud of my island heritage. Though I've never visited Cuba, I do love my visits to Puerto Rico. I've even raced on the island back when I was in Drag Radial, and had a great time. Puerto Ricans love their drag racing too!

Its great to learn about others and their experiences, so I invite you to please post YOUR heritage and experiences in my comment section.

And WELCOME TO HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING!

Labels: press

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Today is a very dark day in drag racing.


Torco Race Fuels has been the single largest sponsor in NHRA Drag Racing over the last few years. Evan Knoll has a heart the size of Texas, and has given opportunities to so many different racers over the years that would never had a fighting chance otherwise. Walking around an NHRA or IHRA event, its hard NOT to find a car that doesn't have some form of Torco/Knoll sticker on in some fashion. Torco has even helped us here at Horsepower & Heels Racing with a fuel sponsorship.


But yesterday, his flagship team, Mike Ashley's Gotham City Funny Car operation, announced that they were seeking a title sponsor. Not only is Mike one of the most successful and the original teams of Evan's Torco empire, but Mike is also a very close personal friend of Evan's. His announcement was the most unexpected, shocking news that could've hit. And it started a firestorm of speculation.

Evan had been suffering from a head injury he sustained from a car wreck several years back, and had announced earlier on his myspace page, that he was seeking treatment to help with recurring problems. Though most knew of his accident, I do not think many knew of his ongoing struggles with it.


Today, Torco released their Official Statement, confirming the rumors that Torco Race Fuels and all their entities were pulling out of their team sponsorships for 2008. Torco CFO, Latrell, also shared more grave concern for Evan in his interview with Competition Plus, the Torco backed drag news site.


The fallout of this action is staggering. The short list of those affected include Mike Ashley, Melanie Troxel, Dale Creasy, Scotty Cannon, Matt Hagan, Matt & Rickie Smith, Clay Millican, Jessie Harris, Dave Connelly, Mick Snyder, Gary Densham and I'm sure a score of others that I'm missing. I do not recall a single event in motorsports quite this wide-spread.


But what is important is that someone who has championed the cause of drag racing and single handedly given birth to so many opportunities out of a love for the sport seems to be in serious medical condition. Prayers are with Evan Knoll for a speedy recovery. It seems that we do not have the full story of what is going on and it hitting so suddenly, but what is important is that we keep this man in our thoughts and prayers as gratitude for all he has done for the sport already.

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 4:08 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 12:05 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

This week, I'm starting my new workout plan for 2008, which I've titled Operation: Driver Weight. Why? Well, fighters train to get to their optimum "fighting weight" and my mission involves me getting to my lean, mean, muscular machine "Driver Weight".
With the possibility of getting to drive a top fuel dragster on the horizon, I am following the example set by nitro Funny Car driver, Mike Ashley, and how he approaches his training with a fit mind, body, and soul. I blogged earlier last year about how he approaches his driving, and its something I've vowed I would do to be the best I can possibly be as a driver. There is much discussion that follows women in the nitro classes as to whether they have the upper body strength required to handle these beasts. I want to make sure that I do what it takes to be successful, and that includes beefing up my exercise and training regiment to prepare for that opportunity.

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 9:34 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

The past year has been difficult without you, Papi. I miss you more than anything.

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post