I regularly post different causes that I support, asking for help for things that are important to me, but none have ever hit quite so close to home as this one.

Dan Parker, a wonderful friend and mentor to me for over 10 years now, was seriously injured in a pro modified wreck on March 31, 2012  at Alabama International Raceway in Steele, AL.  Though his limbs and other physical injuries will heal with therapy, he has suffered a life-altering irreversible loss of his eye sight in both eyes.

This is heartbreaking news, as Dan is one of the most talented chassis builders/fabricators and tuners around.  Dan was the person who taught and helped me to cross over into the pro modified world, and I owe so much of my racing experience to him.   He is a great and generous man who has helped countless people.   Words cannot express how saddened I am that this happened.

I’m asking as a personal favor… Dan is going to need some help to get adjusted to all of this.   In addition to your continued thoughts and prayers, he’s really going to need some assistance at home with expenses, as he’ll be unable to return to the work he’s known his entire life.

I’ve been working on some new Horsepower & Heels merch, and I plan to donate some of the proceeds from that to him directly.   But in the mean time, here’s some other ways to help out below.   I’m sure him and his family would greatly appreciate it.

How to Help

Donations are being accepted via paypal at jduck72@live.com.   Any amount is appreciated.   Or, you can mail gift cards and other donations directly to  10692 Lee Rd 179  Salem, AL 36874

Golf Cart Raffle

His close friends and several businesses that he’s be associated with over the years have put together a special raffle for a custom EZ-GO golf cart worth over $4,000 complete with custom wheels/tires, custom lights, flip rear seat, and a body color of their choice.   Tickets for the raffle are $100, and all money goes directly to Dan to offset expenses in his time of need.   The raffle winner will be drawn July 2nd at Silver Dollar Raceway following the NWO race, right around Dan’s birthday.

How to Enter

You must send $100 entry as a donation/gift via paypal to jduck76@live.com (Josh Mack, Parker Chassis price checker).  Please include name, address, and phone number(s).     As each donation is received, a ticket number will be issued.

As eRacer X for the Dixie Derby Girls Flat Track Roller Derby team in Huntsville, AL, Erica is able to mix her two favorite passions.

While the Pro Mod was down for the rebuild, Erica needed another outlet to keep her active.   Roller derby was just the answer!  Follow some of her roller derby adventures on her blog, eRacer X Files.

These series of photos were featured in  GO Magazine on 4/12/12, by Huntsville Times photographer Eric Schultz.

eRacer X

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eRacer X (Erica Ortiz) poses in the shop in front of her 2008 Mustang Bullit.

Horsepower & Heels Racing has partnered with Race4Girls, a special organization designed to assist and promote women in motorsports.

Selected as one of the 20 Race4Girls drivers in 2012,  Erica Ortiz will help assist with the Race4Girls mission of bringing awareness and support to women involved in a wide variety of motorsports.

“Supporting Women in Motorsports has been a passion of mine for years, which is why I was so happy to find Race4Girls, an organization that gives great support, resources, encouragement and camaraderie to women out there competing on the track at a wide variety of levels.” — Horsepower & Heels driver, Erica Ortiz

Race4Girls provides support to female drivers by raising fan donations and awarding grants to drivers for much needed equipment and other expenses toward their racing endeavors.

Contributions can be made at www.race4girls.com. The organization requests a minimum five dollar donation. The contributions go in to a general fund from which drivers can request a grant. Registered drivers are required to earn points and “qualify” for a grant and can receive multiple grants during the racing season.

 “If one half of one percent of the race fans in the U.S. make a five dollar contribution, we will be able to provide funding for better equipment for 150 races or more.”  –Tracey Passantino, founder of Race4Girls

Race4Girls.com is the first website which offers speed enthusiasts a common place to show their financial support for women racecar drivers. Many drivers have offered fans an opportunity to help support a “fan car” but no organization has attempted to raise funds from fans to support a larger group of female drivers.    More details about how Race4Girls works can be found at www.race4girls.com.

Over the last few years of inactivity, my racing efforts have been spread across a few states.  The racecar resides in Orlando, the engine stuff have been sitting in Atlanta with Mr. Moody, and other components never left Alabama at the chassis shop.

As time has ticked on, its been difficult to remember where the car stands, but now that some renewed energy has come back for my racing program, I’ve started to regroup.

This one comes from mishimoto.com, a great company that makes all kinds of cool products from replacement/aluminum racing radiators, intercoolers, silcone hoses, thermostats and other cooling system products for a wide variety of makes and model vehicles.

Thanks to MishiMoto, you can win a gift certificate for $150 towards any purchase on their website!

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

1. Let’s be Facebook Friends!
   Like MishiMoto on Facebook, and be sure to Like Horsepower & Heels while you’re there too!
2. Tweet That!
   Follow @GoMishiMoto and don’t forget @HorsepowerHeels too! Retweet the contest details for extra credit!
3. Comment Here.
   Head over and check out the MishiMoto.com site (go ahead, we’re waiting…) and comment here with what catches your eye if that $150 gift certificate was yours.
4. You’ve got MAIL.
   Be sure to sign up for the MishiMoto newsletter for extra credit!

Contest will end at 11:59PM on Sunday, December 11th.   Winner will be chosen at random from entries. 

Race Support: Keeping them up to speed while serving overseas.

Lee McKinney, an old racing pal of mine, recently sent me an email about his current tour in Kabul, Afghanistan.   Lee has been a huge supporter of our military by organizing special “racing” support packages for those currently serving away from home.   He has been deployed to Baghdad and Bagram in the past, sending hundreds of special racing teams and sports memorabilia goodies that racers have donated to the support program in the past.

I’ve always tried to show my appreciation to our military by participating in these type of programs, like eMoM’s Holiday Love program in 2007, and again in 2008.   Helping Lee with this program means I get the added plus of getting some racing love to the guys along with my gratitude now too!

One of my closest friends just returned from Kabul after about 8 months, exactly where Lee is now, so this is even more personal to me.  I’ll be sending a few Horsepower & Heels T-shirts and stickers over, and would love to hear back from a few representing H&H in Kabul!

Racing companies and teams have contributed over 550 boxes of support to the program.  Past supporters include:  John Force Racing, Don Schumacher Racing, Mike Ashley, Danny Rowe, Kalitta Racing, Lucas Oil, Alan Johnson Racing, Moroso Motorsports Park, Atlanta Speedway/Dragway, Aronson Racing, Parise Racing, Hoosier Motorsports, Oakley/WileyX, Simpson Racing, Mechanix Wear, JEGS, O’Reillys, Advance Auto, NAPA Auto Parts, Penske Racing, Pete Berner Racing with Summit Racing and many, many more.

If you’d like to add your support, packages can be sent to:

Lee McKinney
USFORA NKC/J3
FP ATO Level 2 programs
APO AE 09356

DSN:449-0304

Picked up my new toy this weekend for the garage.    Because my entire family rides, I’ve been wanting a Harley Davidson for as long as I can remember.   My fiance Alex picked me up a mint 1972 Honda CB450 awhile back, but the charging systems on those aren’t too reliable, so I wasn’t able to ride it as much as I would have liked.   Plus, since he’s a master technician at Rocket Harley, it made a whole lot more sense for me to have a Harley.

So he’s been on the look out for a bike I’d like, and sure enough one came through I couldn’t pass up.   Its a 2001 Sportster 883, but with the 1200cc conversion.  Plenty fast, and the bike is just gorgeous!

We’ve already got a few upgrades picked out.    Changing the headlight, turn signals to the new LED style, and a new seat.   But overall, this bike is exactly what I wanted and looks great in the Horsepower & Heels stable.

Now off to find some custom Horsepower & Heels leathers for the winter rides!

Tim will get the Empire Cover for his Chevrolet Silverado SS pickup !    Be sure to send us some pics of your new cover, Tim! 

If you didn’t win, you can still get a cover for your vehicle over at Empire Covers.

Big thanks to them for this great contest, and keep a lookout for more contests coming!

Up until now, most of my working career has been based in the Marketing Communications/ Public Relations realm.   After I left Lugo Performance back in 2004, I had been working to pay the bills outside of the automotive industry.

My first  love and goal had always been in trying to be a full-time racer.   But my strengths in Public Relations and Marketing would also be a tremendous asset for a team PR position, something I could never quite get my foot in the door at the right time to pursue.

Last year, I decided I would try a different approach.  I decided to take a part time job at Advance Auto just to be around the automotive world again.   Although it didn’t do much in the “paying the bills” department, I really enjoyed the work and realized that my heart is really in the automotive industry.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the work I did as the Communications Director for the library (my current position).   PR is something I’m really good at, and I really enjoy doing that work too.  But when you’re a gearhead like me, the chance to get back in the automotive industry just is too hard to pass up.

Next week, I’ll start my new position as a Service Adviser at Woody Anderson Ford.   I’m really excited for this opportunity, and Woody Anderson is one of the largest dealerships in my area with a rich and exciting history.

I’m hoping this is just the start of an excellent and full career.   Who knows where it will lead me, and I can’t wait to find out!

It also can’t hurt to be around all those GT500, Roush and SMS Mustangs, either.  Just sayin’.

We’re glad to be back, and helping to kick off the relaunch of the new Horsepower & Heels Website is Empire Covers!

EmpireCovers.com specializes in both affordable high quality car covers and truck covers, and Horsepower & Heels has been given the opportunity to test out their Titan Car Cover on a 2005 Mustang GT.

The best part, Empire Covers wants to give all of you a chance to win your own cover too!

Here’s what you can do to boost your chances to win:

1. Let’s be Facebook friends.
   Like Empire Covers on Facebook!   [+2]
   And while you’re there, be sure to Like Horsepower & Heels too! [+1]
2. Tweet That.
   Follow @Empire_Covers [+2] and @HorsepowerHeels [+1]
   Retweet the contest posts on either to your followers [+1]
3. Blog this contest.
   Talk about this contest to readers on your own blog with a link back to this post!  [+5]
4. Subscribe.
   Subscribe to the Horsepower & Heels RSS Feed [+3] or the Horsepower & Heels e-newsletter (in the sidebar) [+4]
5. Comment here.
   Comment below with your name, vehicle (year/make/model)  and which cover you like from the Empire Cover Website.

Contest will end at 11:59PM on October 6.   Winner will be chosen at random from entries.