HORSEPOWER & HEELS

Seems like everyone I talk to has been/is sick with this terrible FLU bug going around. I was fortunate (note sarcasm) enough to come down with it on Valentine's Day and was stuck in bed for 4 whole days. Its a persistent little bug too, everyone that's had it says it takes the better part of 3 weeks to get over the darn thing.

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 8:11 PM | Permalink | Comments

Nothing can be worse than a parent losing a child. Nothing is more unimaginable than losing two in the same instant.

Doug Herbert's two sons deaths in an automobile accident several weeks ago is a horrible tragedy, a tragedy that involved speed and the loss of two wonderful young boys. It is a theme that has sadly been present often lately in the news, and a very dangerous trend of taking racing to city streets with disastrous results.

One positive that can come out of this is the formation of the B.R.A.K.E.S. foundation (http://www.putonthebrakes.com/), the group that Doug Herbert has started in memory of his sons. B.R.A.K.E.S. stands for Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe. His hope is that teaching young kids the dangers of speeding on public streets and their responsibility of staying safe will make his son's deaths a meaningful lesson to prevent other parents' from experiencing similar losses.

Doug explains that even though he travels 330 mph down a dragstrip, he drives with caution and care on the highways and public roads. He has set his sights on winning the 2008 Powerade championship in Top Fuel "for his boys".

Labels: Special Causes

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments

Though its still no NASCAR, Drag Racing has been really seeing a re-emergence of mainstream popularity.

SPEED TV seems to really be pioneering this movement with its popular PINKS show aimed at showing some of the roots of the sport, street race style, but in a safer, LEGAL format at a race track.

Now, SPEED has again raised the bar with a new show aimed at the younger crowd, Drag Race High. (www.dragracehigh.com)

High school rivalries kick into overdrive as auto shop students turn a regular car into a drag race champion. This ain’t your daddy’s shop class! Students from rival Tennessee high schools strip their new rides down and turn them into a contender. Talking smack only gets you so far when your school’s reputation is on the line. Who’s got what it takes and who’s left behind?

I think the show will be great for the sport, showing kids to have pride in their work, while enforcing the importance of keeping it off the street and on a legal track surface. With as much negativity that illegal street racing has wrongfully put on the sport of legal Drag Racing, this is a much needed breath of fresh air. I think its great that the proper form of racing is being introduced to teens and is showing them how Drag Racing truly is such an exciting and competitive sport. Its teaching them discipline, motivating them to work hard at all they do, and encouraging friendly competition. I look forward to an even younger generation of racers entering our ranks soon!

The show airs on the SPEED Channel, check here for airtime schedule.

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 8:22 PM | Permalink | Comments

I've been seeing a lot of commentary on the subject of upper body strength and driving the nitro cars.... funny car especially. Seems that many question whether women, at a natural disadvantage in the upper body strength department with their male counterparts, are physically able to handle the demands of driving one of these "beasts".

In fact, earlier last year, when I had my dream interview with Don Schumacher about the possibility of piloting the Oakley Funny Car, one of the questions he asked was did I think I'd be able to "man-handle" the "beast" down the track, and that it was something he found concerning about women driving in funny car. It threw me off, and it was a question that never driving one, I couldn't guarantee the answer for, and coming from one of the most knowledgeable people in the industry, it rattled me. Sure, if desire could move mountains, I'd be able to steer one with my pinkie and my eyes closed, but would it be a real problem??

Being that I want to best prepare for any possible opportunities, I've beefed up my training regimine in the upper body section, just in case. But as an aspiring driver, its a question that I'd like to know the REAL answer to. There has been more than one woman to pilot a funny car, and none I would consider to be overly-built in that area of strength (re: none of them were amazons or anything like that). Yes, women do have less upper body strength than males by nature, but is it really a cause for concern as many imply, on their ability to control the cars at speed?

It was a question that was largely repeated last year for Ashley Force entering the Funny Car Gentleman's club. She had risen from the Top Alcohol Dragster ranks, and stories circulated about her inability to get the car down the track. That talk increased after her incident in Seattle. But was this more a case of a learning rookie driver or a direct result of lacking upper body strength?

Though I have never spoken to Ashley, nor do I know anyone with inside answers to any of these questions as it pertains to her, I do think we saw some truth to the struggles she had on episode #5 of Driving Force as she was getting her license. But, as I mentioned in my comparison then, I took it more to be the differences between men and women in how we approach learning something different. Women are more cautious, and use our "feel" a little more. Men, just strap in, hold on, and go about it with a more wild abandon. Melanie further backed up my feelings on it in her recent interview. Get us used to it a little more gradually, let us learn what it is we are feeling, and we're on even footing.

Perhaps Melanie Troxel will be the better indicator as the latest female to enter the funny car world. Melanie was already a respected driver in Top Fuel, and although she seems much smaller in person than her website lists her 5'9" 129lbs. frame, she definitely would be comparable in size to your average woman. Its too early to judge her driving at once race into the season, but her initial comments seems to disprove the myth of upper body strength being a major hurdle.

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments

Recently, Jaime from PNN's Cereals interviewed me for her Audio Webcast.

Labels: press

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments

Tim Charlet on Nitromater.com has been making some cool videos lately about our sport of drag racing. Imagine my surprise to see I was included in one of them!

Enjoy!

Labels: women in racing

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments

In honor of Valentine's Day, and since I am spending Valentine's Day sick in bed with the FLU, here's my thoughts about racing & relationships.

I've heard the horror stories... guys who are one more race or engine part away from certain divorce, and I've come to realize in my own life that racers are a special breed that "normal" people just don't understand. Long ago, I discovered that it was extremely difficult to date someone who doesn't race or have any interest in racing. They don't understand the amount of time, money, and devotion we as racers put into our sport. Sure, its cool the first couple of outings, but when you start skipping vacations to the beach in favor of sweating it out at a track all summer, they start to view you as a little unbalanced.

You want to be involved with someone who shares your interests. And in an interest like drag racing that plays such a significant part of your life, its even more important. You want to be with someone who will be there with you to support you, encourage you, motivate you, and work along side you. So, I vowed that any of my relationships would be with a person who also enjoyed the racetrack.

At first, I though the perfect match would be another racer. (Cue fantasy crush on Morgan Lucas) But I changed my outlook on that one. Why? Well, I found it to be too competitive. One driver always views their career more significant that the other. It hard to be supportive when you are both competing for the same goals. I'm sure that it can work for many, but for me, it just never seemed to work out that way.

I'm now convinced that perfect drag racing harmony will be with a crew member. Someone who loves the sport and who enjoys working along side their significant other. Someone who can apprecitate the will to win and can help acheive that goal. Someone who won't look at me funny for spending way more time than I should chasing a dream that sometimes seems impossible. Yes, I believe in a life happily-ever-after, 1/4 mile segments at a time.

Here's a few Drag Racing Sweeties that share the 1320 and their hearts.

Melanie Troxel & Tommy Johnson Jr.

They were Nitro sweethearts: her reigning in Top Fuel, him in Funny Car. Married on NYE 2003, it was life in the fast lane for both of them. They knew they'd contend with the possibility of bittersweet weekends... what happens when one does well but the other falters? But this year, the stakes...and possibly long nights on the couch, are raised when both Troxel and Johnson Jr. will battle it out in the Funny Car ranks head-to-head.


The daughter of Funny Car royalty and newest Force driving sensation, Ashley Force found her love on the crew of funny car rival, Mike Ashley's team. Danny Hood has since joined his fiance on the Force team, as Pappa Force continues to keep it "all in the family".







Married since 1999, Shelley Anderson, the daughter of Funny Car legend Brad Anderson, and Jay Payne, multiple TAD/TAFC champion make canvasing the 1/4 mile in Pro Mod a family affair. Jay and Shelley both compete in NHRA Pro Modified, with Jay also doing double duty in TAFC under the Valvoline banner. They have two young children who accompany the family operation.





Though not currently competing, Rhonda Hartman-Smith and John Smith were the first married couple to go head-to-head at an NHRA Professional event. Both served time behind the wheel of nitro burning top fuel dragsters, with Rhonda taking the bragging rights in their match up counts. They manage married life and parenthood at 300 mph.

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments

In December of last year, Horsepower & Heels Racing teamed up with Email Our Military and their Holiday Love program. We sent over holiday cards and some driver hero cards that went into packages for the service people overseas. It was something that seemed so simple, and yet we received emails from service persons thanking us for the cards and how much they were appreciated.



Well, the Valentine's Day program for Email Our Military is in full swing, and Horsepower & Heels Racing is excited to be helping coordinate a special tribute from the women in racing called "Kisses from Home". The program is calling out to all the women of motorsports asking them to "blow kisses" to our military as Valentine's cards.



I made some quick custom Valentine's cards that were cheap and easy, but really anything would do. Ideally, you could just take a snapshot of you blowing kisses and send them over like postcards with a quick note.





Its not too late! To get involved, just send them in one envelope to:



"Kisses from Home"

c/o eMail Our Military

8004 NW 154 Street, Suite 344

Miami Lakes, FL. 33016

Labels: Special Causes

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments

This weekend will kick off my Road Trips for 2008. And I'm excited, because its racing related-- I'm picking up my car from Florida!



Last year, I tracked the amount of miles I traveled on the weekends in a little game called Around the Country with Horsepower & Heels. Since I didn't do any racing last year, most of those miles were spectator miles or transporting the car around for more updates, more work, etc. I am still shocked that I traveled 25,846 miles in a year with no racing done, so 2008 should be an exciting year to watch.



I'll be tracking this year's travels on PNN.com again. Check in to see where I'm at "On the Road".

Labels: On the Road

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments

Its been a month since I started my new training regimen, Operation: Driver Weight, and I'm proud to report that I'm still going strong! According to statistics, only 64% of people are able to maintain their New Year's resolution through the first month. So right there, I've accomplished what 36% fail to do.... I've stuck with it through month one.

Not to say that the past month has been easy... its been up and down, but my determination to get fit and ready for anything that comes my way has not wained.

My weekly fitness schedule mainly started doing Body Pump 3 days a week, and doing a customized upper body ActivTrack workout the other 3 days. I rest on Sundays.

• Week one, I went a little too over zealous on Body Pump and tried a new class called Body Attack that really wasn't meant for beginners. It made me beyond sore, I couldn't walk hardly for 5 days.
  
• Week two, looked much better, as I got past the soreness and started back into the form and workout loads. I also started adding 20 minutes of cardio before each workout: usually running a mile on the treadmill and doing elliptical for the last 10 minutes.
• Week three, I started upping my weights in Body Pump and went for a change in diet (below). I would start out strong, but just fall flat on my face about half way through the workouts. My energy level was very low.... and I was frustrated.
  
• Week four, I stopped the diet and went back to my comfort foods. Energy was up, but I felt crappy for eating all that junk food.
  

One of my biggest problems even when I was an athlete in high school, was that I didn't eat properly. I joke that I'm an Adkin's Nightmare, but its true... I'm a carbohydrate junkie. I love bread, chocolate, potatoes, pasta... all the evil white carbs that everyone condemns so mightily. Back then, I could eat whatever I wanted and never gain weight. But that didn't mean it was healthy. Now, my metabolism has grown up, and I'm realizing that the nutritional portion of my diet really needs some attention. So I attempted to eat healthy...

First off, I cut out all sodas and sweet teas and went to water and hot green tea with splenda, which is supposed to be a natural appetite suppressant. I started off the day with a Slim Fast Chocolate protein shake for breakfast (I used to skip that meal before). Then I started bringing my lunch to work: Smart Ones Microwave meals (approx. 240 calories) and an apple. But as I found out, I was lacking severely in energy. I could hardly make it through the workouts. And, I was starving when I got home and would pig out on ice cream, and all the same comfort carbs.
Frustrated, I spoke to a friend, fellow racer Rod Houck, who recommended the Body for Life book. He guaranteed that I would benefit from reading it, so I bought the women's version of the book and went to work.

Now, I'm drinking my shake for breakfast, eating a low-fat granola bar for mid-morning snack, my Smart Ones lunch with apple and some low-fat string cheese, and another granola snack in the afternoon before heading to the gym. The effect has been good, steady energy and no cravings when I get home! There's more advice in the book that really helped also, and I highly recommend you read it if you are trying to make a change in your health.

Tonight, I upped my weight levels again in Body Pump, and had enough energy to check out the Body Groove class afterwards. I'm hoping that doubling up for the next few weeks will yield me some quick results before a couple of interviews (racing related) I have coming up soon.

Results: I've already seen a few inches drop off my waist area and legs (one pant size), and some muscle tone come back all over, especially in my arms and quads. I'm not looking at the scale on purpose... it can be discouraging in the first few months when fat converts to heavier muscle and the scale doesn't show the true results of all the hard work. I'll try and snap a progress picture and post it up later.

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 9:53 PM | Permalink | Comments

You might remember last year I told you about the great Vinny/Stangbangerz/PINKS story? Well, the air date is almost here. Check it out Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 9pm EST on the Speed Channel. Here's the preview:



We miss ya, guy!

Labels: Special Causes

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 2:08 PM | Permalink | Comments

Wow! The numbers are in for January, and http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/ broke the 10,000 unique visitor mark for the first time for the month of January. That means over 10,000 different people (13,052 to be exact) checked out the site in January...and I'm humbled by this. I know to many, that isn't a lot in terms of the larger sites out there, but considering that this is a site that I created in 2004 to share with others my personal racing dreams, it is very humbling to know that there are that many people out there who have visited the site this month.

But it does make me wonder.... and I'm curious: where do you all come from, and who are you? What brings you to HorsepowerandHeels.com, how did you hear about us, and what do you think about this website and what we're doing?

I'm very grateful for your readership, and I hope you continue to come back. I'd love to learn more about YOU and hear what brought you here to begin with and a little about who you are.... my comment section is open and ready (below) to hear from you!



And to get the conversation started, (because it seems most all of you 13,052 people are a bit shy and don't comment much) I'm giving away free Horsepower & Heels decals to the first 10 who post a comment.

Labels: press

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 2:59 PM | Permalink | Comments