Celebrating, promoting and supporting women in motorsports and Moto Enthusiasts

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Godspeed Scott Kalitta

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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

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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.)

The year of girl power

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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!

Meet Blanca

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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!

What matters

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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.

The Big “C”

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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.

Cervical Cancer is what I have been diagnosed with. I’ve always tried to stay up on my tests to prevent that occurring 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.

Horsepower & Heels Series debuts

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Grant, AL— The long awaited debut of the Horsepower & Heels Web TV series has arrived. Produced by citizen news station, PNN.com, the series follows Horsepower & Heels driver, Erica Ortiz and her crewmate Debbie Denny as they put together a Pro Modified drag car. …

Memorial Day Tribute

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Memorial Day is a time to remember our country’s heros who have fallen in war. They’ve all made the greatest sacrifice for our country and our freedoms, and with great respect we honor them today.

 

But I’d also like to honor the sport of Drag Racing’s fallen heros as well.

 

Darryl Russell
Eric Medlen
Jason Betwarda
Shelley Howard
Steve Grebeck
These are only a few that had a personal impact on me…. there are many more on that sad list of people who were doing what they loved.

 

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