Episode 3: Erica heads to Bristol, TN for the Fun Ford Weekend Thunder Valley Nationals to assist Outlaw 10.5 racer Dennis Lugo with crew duties while explaining a typical race weekend.
Godspeed Scott Kalitta
The most heartbreaking news you can possibly hear…. DHL Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta has passed away after a top end crash during the NHRA Lucas Oil SuperNationals in Englishtown, NJ during 4th round of qualifying today.Kalitta, the son of NHRA legend Connie Kalitta, was just 46 years old. He has been a staple in the nitro ranks for many years now, piloting a top fuel dragster as well as moving to funny car. He started his career in the 80’s, ironically with his first event being at Englishtown, NJ.
He is survived by wife Kathy, and sons Cory [14] and Colin [9], Palmetto, FL.
This year at the AC Delco NHRA Nationals in Gainesville, my good friends Frankie, Mikey, my sister Melanie and I were all VIP guest in the DHL pits. Watching Scott’s passion in that car was infectious. As he warmed up the car, you could see the adrenaline flowing in his eyes, and as he blipped the throttle, he would do this whole pumped up jump onto the throttle. (Think head-banger metal style energy). I wish I would’ve had that moment captured on video, it was such a cool and inspiring sight.The second driver fatally injured in nitro funny car in the past 2 years, he is another great talent that will be sorely missed.
Godspeed, Scott Kalitta
May you forever light the nitro candles in the skies above us.
Photos: Competition Plus, Melanie Ortiz
The secret is in the hair
Okay, this is about as RANDOM as random gets on my blog posts….
Last night, I had a dream that I was driving a nitro-burning flopper. No biggie, I have that dream pretty often. But this wasn’t just ANY dream. In my dream, I had a sudden realization. In a blaze of nitro-glory (ie: I was on fire through the lights), I realized something might not work for me in the future:
My long hair.
As long as I can remember, I’ve always had long hair. (minus that brief cut in 1st grade that wasn’t my idea, and left me emotionally scarred for life…. think mini-Fullet. LOL) Its always been at least shoulder length, but typically much longer.
Right now, its probably the longest its been in my life, almost 3/4 way down my back. I figure I might as well let it grow while I can still “get away” with pulling that look off.
But last night, my subconscious was telling me that I needed to look at something. Mainly, the fact that mile-long hair poking out of my helmet wasn’t going to work so well in a nitro flopper and would be promptly incincerated in my first nitro-blaze. Melanie, Ashley, Hillary…. all have relatively moderate lengthed hair. How would I tuck in 3 feet of the stuff under a helmet safely?
Oh the trauma! Long hair has been my staple, my identity, my whole LIFE! I’ve been jokingly nicknamed as the Pantene Girl. (wouldn’t they be a great sponsor?!? hint, hint!) Its one of my better features, I think.
The thought of cutting it off has Sampson effects on me! Will I lose my edge? My strength? Will I be rendered a disheveled wreck? WILL I BE PLAGUED WITH BAD HAIR DAYS?
Just another thing us women racers get to worry about over our male counterparts. LOL.
(Still waiting on an anatomically correct fire suit, and 300mph chip-proof nail polish.)
Horsepower & Heels TV: The Mustang
Episode 2: Watch the Horsepower & Heels team as they work on their new Twin Turbo Mustang Pro Mod.
The year of girl power
What a year its shaping up to be for women in Motorsports!
Danica Patrick started it off getting her first win for IRL in Japan. She became the first woman to do so for the league.
Then, Ashley Force grabs her first win in NHRA Funny Car at the Southern Nationals in Atlanta. Ashley became the first woman to ever win in NHRA Nitro Funny Car, making history in a win over her father.
She was followed close behind by Melanie Troxel also in Funny Car. Melanie became the first woman to win both in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories, in only her 8th start in the floppers.
And now Hillary Will, the lone Top Fuel lady for 2008 grabs her first win in T/F Dragster!
Congratulations ladies and thanks for representing us women and what we are capable of in Motorsports!
Read some of the buzz: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nhra/2008-06-04-women-drag-racing_N.htm
Meet Blanca
The past year, I have been missing a big part of my heart…..If you’ve known me any length of time, you know that I have a very special love of chihuahuas, so much so I consider them my babies. And, if you’re close to me, you’ll know that I’ve lost 2 babies in the past 3 years, something that was devastating to me.
So ever since last May, I’ve been waiting to find a new baby to bring home. And, I am happy to report that I finally found her!
She was born 3/23/08, and is 10 weeks old now. She’s all white with beautiful blue-gray eyes, something I rarely see in Chihuahuas. She’s got a sweet personality and is very snuggly, which I love. And she’s doing great already with potty training!I’m still not 100% decided on names yet…. in keeping with my Spanish name trend, I am thinking about Blanca Nieve Ortiz(white snow in spanish). I’d probably call her Blanquita…. because she is so small. But I’m not 100% decided. My American friends had a tough enough time remembering Chula’s name!
Anyone have any suggestions on names???
I’m absolutely in love with her and she’s exactly what I needed right now!