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Goodbye 2008

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Its that time again… another year over, a new one just begun.

2008 wasn’t very exciting for me personally or Horsepower & Heels, but it could have been way worse, and for that I’m thankful.

LOWS

  • The Big “C”— This is probably the hardest and scariest thing I’ve ever had to go through. You learn who in your life you can count on, and you learn what people around you and what YOU are about when you go through something like this. On the HIGH SIDE: Thankfully, after several stressful months and many shed tears, I’ve reached a stage that everything is at peace. No new developments, and that is great news!
  • Losing Scott Kalitta— It seems that every year is plagued with the loss of one of my favorite drivers. This year, after spending the Gator Nationals in the Kalitta pits, and watching his passionate warm-up of the funny car, we had to say goodbye to Scott Kalitta in Englishtown’s fatal accident.
  • Losing Steve Engel— Even harder when you lose a fellow Pro Mod driver.

HIGHS

  • My First TV Segment— My first TV feature with Hispanics Today TV Show. It was shot in late 2007, but didn’t air until early 2008. I learned a lot about TV production and the time it takes with this segment.
  • Made. Progress. on. Getting. The. Racecar. Done.– Its been a long, long road, but the car has finally made it into the final stages.
  • Watch ladies in racing make serious strides– Celebrating the success of Danica’s First Win and Ashley Force’s First Win
  • Participating in the Piensa Mas Alla fundraiser for the Palomita Education Fund– I am proud of my hispanic heritage, and very proud that I could help out with this cause. Advancement opportunities for Hispanics who want to think beyond the sociological borders is very important to me.
  • I Became a Mom Again— No, not like THAT. To my chihuahua baby, Blanca! The single most spoiled chihuahua in existance I think!
  • Attended my 10 Year HS Reunion— And was proud to be there, and not at all uncomfortable with what I’ve become in 10 years.
  • Joining up with the Dixie Derby Girls— I’m still in Fresh Meat training and have a TON to learn, but I really, really enjoy derby and the friends I am making.

I’m excited for 2009 and looking forward to a FINALLY tour with the racecar. Here’s to the memories of 2008 and a kick ass 2009!

‘Tis the season for GIVEAWAYS!

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To help get into the Holiday Gift Giving mood, here’s a little Horsepower & Heels sharing in the form of an online giveaway!

Horsepower & Heels
Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Giveaway
(Say that 3 times fast!)

We’re giving away a special Horsepower & Heels Gift Basket to 3 lucky winners!

How to Enter:

  1. Comment on this post with your favorite holiday car memory (1 entry)
  2. Post about the Giveaway on your own blog and send me a link. (2 additional entries)
  3. Refer your readers to comment and mention your name (1 additional entry per referral)

What You Win:

3 different winners will receive a Horsepower & Heels Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Gift Basket.

Deadline to Enter: All entries must be received by December 28th, 2008 11:59PM. Winners will be selected at random based on valid entries received by the deadline.

Good Luck!

All I want for Christmas

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Dearest Santa,

I’ve been a very, very good girl this year. I’ve been very patient while not racing, I haven’t complained very much through all the tough times, and I’ve gone out of my way to help elves in distress. I know that its been a tough year for us all, and I’m sure that’s probably also true of the North Pole. But I’m only asking for a few things this Christmas…. and I’ve even included links since I’m sure you’re not as Racing Saavy as my favorite reindeer Blitzen.

  1. A 28′ Enclosed Trailer— all aluminum, so the reindeer don’t have any problems pulling it, and so that my little F250 isn’t sucking down unbelieveable amounts of diesel on the roads this season.
  2. A sponsor for my Top Fuel Team. I’d really, really like to see my dream of running Top Fuel become reality. I know its a big thing to ask, but you’d be making the whole team happy! Consider it several birds, one stone.
  3. Stainless Steel Braided Hose and AN Fittings to finish off the fuel system and cooling system!
  4. A Fire Supression System for the racecar to keep me safe next season!
  5. My very own Drag Racing Christmas Tree to practice on!

 

Thanks Santa! And be careful out there! If you need a tune-up to the ole sleigh, let me know!

A million hearts just BROKE

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Congrats to NHRA Funny Car driver Ashley Force and Danny Hood, who tied the knot on December 13th in Lake Tahoe amidst a beautiful snowfall.

Guests included other drag racing families such as the Bernstein, Worsham and Wilkerson families.

It was snowing on my wedding day and my photographers said they didn’t care that we were going to go out and take pictures outside in the snow. I am glad they did that now but at the time I was freezing and I would have liked to have been in my firesuit. — Ashley Force-Hood

And what did the girl who is most comfortable in a 20 layer clutch-dust ridden firesuit and a helmet think of her billowy white wedding dress and formal attire?

It was kind of fun to wear a dress. I thought I might not like it as much as I did. I loved the dress I picked but I was kind of dreading being in a dress and heels all night. I was thinking this is going to stink and I am going to be so miserable and uncomfortable but I think that since it is your one day in your life that you do that you try and enjoy it. I snuck in and wore, not race boots but, Ugg boots kind of the same style. That made it a lot easier to take off the heels after a while and slip on those boots.” –Ashley Force-Hood

*Shhhh!*

 

That sound you hear is about a million hearts breaking across the Drag Racing nation, as the 2007 AOL Hottest Athlete of the Year is officially off the market now.

 

I wonder if she will now be Mrs. Ashley Force-Hood or if Danny will just be Mr. Ashley Force? Hmmm.

Congrats to the newlyweds from all of us here at Horsepower & Heels!

 

Photos: (top left) Flower girl and niece Autumn Hight, Ashley, and Danny. (bottom right) the Bridal party all bundled up and shivering for snowy wedding portraits

 

All Photos courtesy: NHRA.com

Well behaved women rarely make history

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Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History. — Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

In Memory of…
Bettie Page
April 22, 1923 — December 11, 2008

A woman who dared to be different in the Fifities era of Bobby Socks and Golly-Gee Suzie Homemaker status. She awoke the sexuality in a repressed and stuffy era, becoming the most legendary Pin-Up model of her time. She dared to escape the limitations that society placed on her as a woman. Some called her notorious, others revolutionary. Bettie Page helped to blur the lines and open the door to the world of women expressing their sensuality.

But she was definitely a woman of her own making. And that is what makes her legendary.

I was not trying to be shocking, or to be a pioneer. I wasn’t trying to change society, or to be ahead of my time. I didn’t think of myself as liberated, and I
don’t believe that I did anything important. I was just myself. I didn’t know any other way to be, or any other way to live. –Bettie Page

And for that… and all other women who haven’t been afraid to be anything else but themselves, we thank you.

Rest In Peace, Bettie Page.

Ford and the bailout

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You know, I’ve been openly accused of being extremely biased when it comes to my choice in auto brand loyalty, but I believe it to be with good reason.

The one thing during this whole shitacular economic struggle that really captured my attention is the seemingly dire situation of the Big 3- Ford, GM, and Chrysler. The entirety of our auto industry is falling to shambles? WHAT?!? As a racer, you can see where this is a mighty bit unsettling. (Well, unless you happen to be in the faded craze and downward spiraling world of sport compact racing, and then its probably cool for you).
Now, I’m not AT ALL educated enough to speak on the who and why and what of the auto industry’s ailments. I have my guesses which I’ll keep to myself this time, but one thing I really respect, is Ford’s commitment to keep the public involved and informed.

 

http://www.thefordstory.com/ — Say hello to Ford’s take on the current situation. A video answering the common questions, the plan, the progress, and even a detailed look at Ford’s economic footprint.
Now all of that is great and all– and I’m not even going to pretend like I understand the whole bailout or any of the business talk, but what I CAN speak to, is that its very evident that the engineers, the designers, and all the other Ford employees have a passion for what they do. Spending 2 days with the people behind the oval, seeing first hand the pride that each of the engineers and designers had for the product that was born there, and tested all across our great country.

 

Somewhere along the lines, people began to associate Foreign Cars as better quality, better produced. Why? Perhaps the Big 3 did go through a learning curve where they fell behind the 8 ball. But those who tout the foreign quality…. when was the last time you objectively drove an American Made car?

 

And there is one BIG thing that should be applauded here…. with GM and Chrysler in this situation, Ford really does deserve some big props for properly planning for this Recession and NOT needing the bailout.
In fact, I challenge ALL of you who currently swear by your foreign brands to take a ride in a Ford. We should reward and be PROUD of what our American company has done, and not lump them into this hand-out group. Operation Ford Motor is a movement covering the twitter and the rest of the web world right now to get the word out about what Ford has done to AVOID this whole situation and why they deserve our respect.