HORSEPOWER & HEELS

I wasn't sure I really wanted to blog about what's been going on in my life lately, but something told me that it was important for me to share. I really wasn't expecting the outpouring of support that I've received since then, and for that I am humble and very grateful.

I've been struggling lately with the mental side of this all.... having spent the last 10 years of my life chasing my dream of professional drag racing with all that I have inside me. I made decisions to put off having a family, settling down, thinking that if I could just reach my dream that those things could wait. But after 10 years of passion and though I am normally a positive person who believes that my time will come, I am now wondering if my dream has come in the way of my reality. Although I am proud of what I've accomplished racing, I still haven't landed my big "Break", and I am wondering if this chase for a dream has cost me my chance at a normal family life? Will I ever reach my dream or will I regret the fight for what it cost me?

But after posting that on Wednesday, I realized what an important part of my life racing has been to me.... not for the sport or the speed, but for the PEOPLE. I have had the chance to meet so many wonderful people, and made so many great friends through drag racing. Seeing the outpouring of support and the many emails I've received from friends, and people whom I only *met* online through drag racing has really meant so much to me. Drag Racers are a huge family, and they are there when you need them most.

Its especially humbling to know how many of you have also dealt with someone who has gone through this experience. I know every case is different, but knowing how many others have dealt with this same issue makes me not feel so "weird" and so much like damaged goods.

I went to the doctor yesterday, and am very happy with her determination to not take any unnecessary drastic measures. She seems dedicated to trying to save my ability to bear children if at all possible, and for that I am grateful. She did take 2 biopsies yesterday, so now we are awaiting the results. I hate the waiting game, but for now, other than some soreness, everything is okay.

Thank you all for your words of support. I cannot begin to say how much it means to me.

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 8:25 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I got one of the scariest phone calls of my life last week. It was from my doctor, who found some cancerous cells in my recent test results. Unfortunately, the nurse that called wasn't able to tell me over the phone what was wrong, but her grave urgency to get me into the doctor left me absolutely panicked. My co-worker had to drive me to the doctors office, where he finally told me what was wrong.

I typically don't talk about my personal life and health matters on here, but I think I am going to open up this time about what has been going on and what life-altering decisions will have to be made in the coming days. If for nothing else, it is helping me to talk about it now.... my friends who had no idea are being really supportive right now, and that is much needed.

Some of you may know that I was raised by my paternal grandparents. They took me when I was just a few months old, and they raised me as their own. I called them Mami & Papi, so sometimes its a bit confusing when I am talking about my Dad or my DAD. Up until about 5 years ago, I also had a relationship with the maternal side of my family. My grandparents had always taken me for visits once a year and sometimes I got to see my Mother too. But when I grew into an adult, I realized that the relationship that I sought with my Mother was very one-sided. I would try to make arrangements to go out of my way to see her, and she would never call me back. The last time that happened was when I moved to Georgia, and that was the last time I ever spoke to that side of my family again. It hurts not to have contact, but the rejection of trying to have a relationship with someone who apparently didn't want mine was just too much. I have never heard another word from them. I found my cousin a few years back, and she communicates with me, which is great, but despite that I am openly available to contact via the web, phone, etc. I haven't heard a word. I figure it is just the way it will always be.

Why is all that important right now? Well, the problem with not having a relationship with your biological mother is that you don't know your full medical history. I have known very little about my Mother's medical situation other than that she had some sort of "female problem" that somewhere I heard might have led to a historectomy in her early 20's. Mami (my grandmother) thinks she had Cervical Cancer, which is what I have been diagnosed with. I've always tried to stay up on my tests to prevent that occuring with me, and they have removed 3 trouble spots over the last few years. Genetics playing such a big role, I am very scared right now about what the specialist will say at my appointment tomorrow.

What I will find out tomorrow is life-shaking. Because I have already had 3 other incidents of trouble spots removed, it is coming to the point that they can no longer remove the cells without permanently damaging my cervix, and leaving me unable to carry a child. Further, with my persistent history and genetic predisposition, they might recommend a more drastic approach to ensure it does not develop and spread.

The doctor looked at me as he was giving me the last test results and asked me "Was my family complete?" Of course not, I have not even begun. Its something I always thought I'd eventually get to experience, after I chased my dream of racing, and then could settle down and have a family. Now, I may not get that chance. I am beyond crushed.

Please keep me in your prayers.

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Godspeed all the fallen drag racers and thanks for the memories!

Labels: Special Causes

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 1:20 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

World Street Challenge 1 is in the books now, and I had a great time helping my fellow Horsepower & Heels gal pal Debbie with her inaugural race.

Watching her work her magic over the past 6 months on an event of this size was really incredible. Debbie is truly such a talented individual that I am really blessed to call her one of my best friends and a part of Horsepower & Heels.


Debbie has been involved with the World Ford Challenge since its inception 10 years ago, but when she had a vision to make it an even bigger, grandier event, I knew that the World Street Challenge was destined for success.


I arrived in St. Louis at Gateway International Raceway (de'ja'vu much?) late Friday night. There had already been a stir of controversy and action on Thursday and Friday night, so Debbie and I sat up chatting as I was filled in on the details. Debbie and the entire WSC crew had already been in St. Louis for a week preparing for the event, and it was obvious they were lacking in the sleep department.


Up early on Saturday, Debbie got to show me around the track and how she had set up the Vendor areas and the car show inside the circle track. Very cool to see it all come together. I set up stand helping Debbie in the ticket booth and getting the Jaigermeister stage up and running. It was really cool meeting DJ Freestyle and Demo Castellon of Timbaland fame, the celebrity DJs at the event. I had to do some scrambling for the Bikini Contest, because of the 19 pre-registered entrants, only 3 showed up. Debbie was threatening putting me up there in a bikini if we didn't find enough, so I'm glad the three girls finally went on. The crowd was a little harsh due to the lack of "Skin to Win", and I about died laughing when DJ Freestyle got the crowd cheering for Debbie to hit the stage too, but overall it was a good time.


Sunday, I helped with payout a bit before I hit the road. I did get to walk Flat Emmy around and she got to work on the Rockstar Pro Mod of Todd Amandus in the pits, working on the engine, warming up the car, and packing the parachutes. Overall, a great weekend!

Labels: At the Races, On the Road

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Labels: At the Races, On the Road, Special Causes, women in racing

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Its time to hit the road again!


This time, I'm headed to show support for my Horsepower & Heels partner in crime, Debbie Denny as she puts on her first race, the World Street Challenge at Gateway International Raceway in the St. Louis area.


Debbie has been one of the original crew who started the 10 year run of the World Ford Challenge 11 years ago. Her passion for the event and desire to grow the event into her vision of an all-encompassing, multi-event weekend has finally arrived in the inaugural World Street Challenge Event.


The World Street Challenge will be an entertainment venue combining the thrill of drag racing, all-out audio sound-offs, exquisite car show, a Bikini contest, and a Battle of the Bands competition. Basically, its the Auto-Enthusiast's dream weekend piled all together.


Poor Debbie has been a one-woman circus act with all the preparations, and I can promise her work will be one for the record books.


If you are in the St. Louis area, please check out this event! Plus, stop by and see us both! We'll have some Horsepower & Heels apparel for sale too!

Labels: At the Races, On the Road

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 1:36 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Piensa Mas Alla....Think Beyond

Recently, I was asked by the Palomita & Chucho Clothing Co. to design a special edition t-shirt to be auctioned off at an event in June benefitting education. Palomita and Chucho are fresh, fun brands that capture the nostalgia of Latin America, the bubbly soda us latinos drank with our school lunches, that salty candy that made our fingers all sticky, or that loveable mouse we watched on television before we were tucked into bed.

The t-shirt design was sent to me blank, with just the word "WOOPY" on the front of the shirt. Woopy is a fruit juice drink with a fun and playful attitude. This drink was launched in the 70’s and was the drink for the new generation. I wasn't really sure what to draw for WOOPY, so I had a Palomita champagne bottle popping with WOOPY. Not exactly a fruit juice, but maybe you could say it was our adult version now that we're all grown up. My drawing skills as you can see are lacking a bit, but hopefully it will do well at the event for this great cause.

The event, the 1st Annual Latino Fashion Show Auction benefitting the Palomita Education Fund, will be held on June 12th in San Francisco, CA. I'm not sure I'll be able to attend, but I think it will be a great event! If you are in that area, reserve your seat and help the cause!

June 12, 2008
Terra SF
511 Harrison Street,
San Francisco, CA

6:30pm
Pink Carpet Arrival
Cocktails & Silent Auction
7:30pm
Live Auction of Special Edition Tees designed by Latino Personalities followed by the Palomita & Chucho Fashion Show

For more information contact events@licenzing.com

Labels: Special Causes

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Labels: women in racing

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

The ebb and flow of the racing tide is about as predictable as the winning lotto numbers. The real competition in drag racing begins long before a car ever reaches the racetrack.

The past two years have been very difficult for me. I ended 2006 on an emotional high of finishing #2 in Pro 5.0 in my rookie season. I had so much momentum going for me, and was eager and excited to continue on by improving the car's performance and image with sponsor Brisk USA stepping in to help.

But then life happened, and a series of heartbreaking events that have put delay after delay, and road block after road block in my way, sidelining me for 2 years now. I try to stay focused and upbeat, but with time comes frustration and depression of not racing, and worse, not being able to keep my commitments to Brisk and Harland Sharp of a great season.

I won't give up.... I'm still working very hard and inching closer to getting the Horsepower & Heels car back out on track. I'm lacking just a few things, but it seems like time and labor is hard to come by now-a-days.... things that I am not able to do on my own, out of my control. That's the most difficult part of the whole deal... being helpless and forced to just sit and wait.

Motorsports marketing is one of the greatest forms of marketing available. I know that I will be able to make good on getting exposure for my great sponsors and telling their stories. I just hope that the damage that this delay has caused will not be permanent. As they say... this too shall pass. The lows of the racing rollercoaster.

I can't count the number of times I've been approached with opportunities: some to drive, others for sponsorship, etc. Everything from pro mod rides up to Top Fuel and Funny Car. Each and every time, I put an enormous amount of energy into each opportunity... offering assistance, marketing materials, interviews, phone call follow-ups, etc.

I'm hoping that pretty soon, the law of averages is bound to shake out a green GO light on one of these opportunities. And until then, I'll put every ounce of effort into every offer that comes my way.

But it still does not lessen the excitment, nor the disappointment that each trip on the emotional rollercoaster brings.

Labels: women in racing

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Mondays after race weekends are tough. Especially when you have to drive 6+ hours after a long weekend.

This past weekend, I drove up to St. Louis to attend the 28th Annual MidWest NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway with some friends. Though I had many times been to Gateway for the World Street (Ford) Challenge, I hadn't ever seen an NHRA race there.

Friday was nice and warm, with plenty of good racing. But Saturday, the temperature plummeted and the wind was fierce, delivering the chill straight through you. We looked like a bunch of shivering puppies. It is difficult to be at races when you have been sidelined like I have for so long now, but it definitely helps to network and motivates to keep the progress going on my car.

Elizabeth and Ashley hadn't ever attended a drag race before, so its neat seeing their reaction to their first Top Fuel encounters. The power of a nitro car cannot be appreciated or understood until you actually see, smell, and FEEL one in person. TV, HD or not, just doesn't do it justice. Ashley said they weren't too loud when they were doing burnouts (we were sitting at the 1/8th mile) but when they passed her under power, she hit the deck!

Its a long trip to St. Louis, and I'll be repeating this trip in just a few weeks for Debbie's race, the World Street Challenge.

Labels: At the Races, On the Road

Posted by Erica Ortiz at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post