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.

I received a phone call of a possible driving opportunity that may be coming in the near future, but since its been a few years, my NHRA Advanced ET Competition license has expired and I will need to complete the licensing procedure all over again.

That means I need to find a car capable of running 7.50 or faster, and complete my 6 runs (one half pass, 3 moderate runs, and 2 full passes faster that 7.49).

That wouldn’t be a big deal normally, except that my own car isn’t running at the moment, and I can’t afford to go to a place like Frank Hawley’s just to get the license again.

So, I’ve put out a call to all my racing friends to see if someone would be willing to let me make a few passes to get my license again.  I can’t offer any cash right now to “rent” their car, but I can provide great crew slave labor and awesome PR help for their team!

So far a few people are checking for me, fingers crossed I find someone so I can get this key roadblock out of the way.  If you know of anyone or have a car you’d let me shoe, please send me a message!

Believe me, its not from lack of missing the sport of drag racing, and all things Horsepower & Heels that took me the better part of 8 years to create.   But, life happened.

When I finished my rookie season in Pro (2006), I was on top of the world and felt that I had momentum to carry me through all the dreams I had been working so hard to make reality.   I had made in-roads towards Top Fuel, had secured funding for an upgraded body for my pro chassis, and had upgraded some critical engine parts for the following season.

But then I learned that the business of drag racing was a bit more cut throat than I had imagined.  I made some costly mistakes.  I trusted people who led me the wrong direction.  And ultimately, I suffered in this economy with the rest of America.

For the first time in my racing career, I felt defeated.  Jaded almost, from all the roadblocks and hardships and dishonesty I encountered.    I let this negativity penetrate, and it resulted into several years away from the sport I love so much.

The website hadn’t been updated since 2009, I felt that it was the starting point for a reignite.  But working two jobs to stay afloat meant there wasn’t much time to devote, and wanting something completely different meant I had to learn from the beginning.

I listened to my friends and fans ask me over and over:  ”Where are you?”   “When was the car going to be done?”   “Are you racing?”  It should have fueled my desire to push forward as it always had, but instead, a small part of me died each time.

Every once in awhile during these jaded years, someone would call with a promising development.   Every time it seemed it was a dead end.   The effort and the money I spent chasing these dead ends started to add up.    Pretty soon, I was so jaded that I stopped even trying to validate these leads.     I had let the agonizing chase beat me.

I saw other ladies out there struggling too.   I friended some, thinking if I couldn’t help myself then at least I could help them not make the same mistakes.   I have always believed in Women in Motorsports.

But the truth that was always there during these years away from the sport:   I love drag racing, and everything I do to fill this gaping hole in my heart stops miserably short.   I wasn’t happy.  I knew I missed this community, this family, and everything that racing means beyond the finish line.   I knew that giving it up was something I let others dissuade me into believing was my only option.   But its not.

So I’m giving it a Round 2.   It may never be the dreams I had at 25, but I can find balance and with supportive family and friends, I will return!