Celebrating, promoting and supporting women in motorsports and Moto Enthusiasts

AIM HIGH: Extraordinary Stories of Hispanic and Latina Women

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Aim High Extraordinary Stories of Hispanic and Latina WomenHorsepower & Heels driver Erica Ortiz is featured in the first edition hardcover book, Aim High: Extraordinary Stories of Hispanic and Latina Women.

 Aim High: Extraordinary Stories of Hispanic and Latina Women is a book that offers hope and inspiration. Author Laura Contreras-Rowe traveled the country meeting and interviewing inspirational and amazing Hispanic and Latina women.   This book features 33 thought-provoking positive role models from all over the country and from different professional backgrounds to tell their story, delivering a powerful message that despite financial challenges, family obligations and horrific environment or events: a young Hispanic or Latina woman can succeed to astounding heights with courage and tenacity.

Horsepower & Heels driver Erica Ortiz had the honor of being recognized in the book.

May 2010 International Latino Book Awards
1st Place in Best Gift Book
2nd Place in Best Cover Design
Honorable Mention/3rd Place for The Mariposa Award for Best First Time Book

2010 IPPY-Independent Publishers Book Award
Gold/1st Place in Best Non-Fiction Multicultural Juvenile/Youth/Young Adult

Aim High: Extraordinary Stories of Hispanic and Latina Women

(Amazon Affiliate Link)

Publisher: Laura Contreras Rowe, Inc; 1st edition (2009)
ISBN-10: 0984246304
ISBN-13: 978-0984246304

Inspiration and feeling blessed

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Its easy to lose perspective when we get wrapped up in daily life.

Lately, I’ve been in the dumps about the state of my racing program and my extended sidelined status. I know that its been tough for a lot of folks with the current economic situation, and I should be working extra hard to make things happen. One step forward, two steps back it seems… its easy to start feeling sorry for yourself when you’ve experienced setback after setback.

Today I received an email through the websitewhich totally gave me a reality check and a swift kick in the backside. Talk about lighting a fire underneath me at a time I really need it most.

DEAR ERICA ORTIZ,
i am 12yrs old and i think youre great. about a month ago i had a tumor removed from my brain and now im going threw radiation treatments. i told my parents that if erica ortiz wouldnt ever give up, i wont give up either. thank you for all your inspiration! i was just wondering if i could get an autographed picture from you? if not, i will totally understand you are very busy. thanks again and take care of yourself. good bye.

JEFF

Wow. Talk about putting things in perspective.

I could never be too busy to reach out to a boy as brave as Jeff, and it is HIM who is inspiring me to stop feeling defeated and keep fighting.

Thank you, Jeff, for inspiring ME to succeed! Your photo and a Horsepower & Heels t-shirt are on its way, I’d be honored for you to wear it!

Pro Mod now an NHRA Professional category

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NHRA Pro Mod
Tom Compton and roger Burgess announce NHRA Pro Mod as a professional category

The long, hard fought battle has finally been won.

For 9 long years, Pro Mod racers have begged, pleaded, borrowed and stole to gain the acceptance of the NHRA as a professional category, only to be shunned aside as a mere exhibition class.

Popular across the country for the colorful, exciting, and out-of-control tendencies, Pro Mod drivers relegated themselves to limited exhibition status, a pay-to-run class that was considered the ugly step child of the NHRA. Often walked-on during their limited schedule appearances, the Pro Mod class endured zero coverage or respect from the NHRA, no TV time, no promotional acknowledgement, and were the first on the chopping block for rain delays, with qualifying scrubbed at the first sign of delay.

For years, Pro Mod supporters cries fell on deaf ears in the California home offices of NHRA. Many believed that they refused as a matter of principal after the ugly pro stock truck fiasco, some felt that factory supported hot rods feared the backlash from Pro Stock drivers. Most had finally accepted the cause as lost, that NHRA would never acknowledge or accept Pro Modified as a professional category, myself included.

But a surprising change of heart came courtesey of an announcement by Tom Compton of the NHRA at the awards banquet: as of 2010, Pro Modified is now a legitimate professional class.

The 2010 Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series

What does this mean for Pro Modified racers? A LOT. Now, the class is an official NHRA run series, complete with a centralized NHRA approved/controlled rulebook, a per race purse structure, and a championship points purse fund. NHRA media will now highlight the class in the National Dragster and NHRA.com, along with a seperate 30 minute ESPN TV program devoted to the class (tape delayed). The series is now eligible for contingency sponsors, will have access to their own hospitality area, a vendor trailer on the NHRA midway for t-shirt sales, and most importantly, will now be competing for the same coveted Wally trophy as NHRA Championship drivers.

This allows drivers to actively pursue sponsors, now having legitimate benefits to offer in terms of coverage and exposure, something that had been a tough sell in the previous architecture. For me, this means a complete revise to my marketing plans, and a renewed fight to find a partnership that would allow me to move up to the National stage.

There’s a lot more work to be done this off-season for many teams, and I suspect the NHRA will be surprised with the 1st year results.

The NHRA Get Screened Pro Mod Drag Racing Series Schedule

  • 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals March 11-14 Gainesville, Fla.
  • 23rd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals April 9 – 11 Houston
  • 14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals April 30 – May 2 St. Louis
  • 30th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals May 14-16 Commerce, Ga.
  • 41st annual United Association NHRA SuperNationals June 10-13 Englishtown, N.J.
  • 10th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals June 18-20 Bristol, Tenn.
  • 4th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals June 24-27 Norwalk, Ohio
  • 56th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Aug. 31 – Sept. 5 Indianapolis
  • 3rd annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals Sept. 16-19 Concord, N.C.
  • 10th annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals Oct. 28-31 Las Vegas

photo: Roger Richards

US Nationals history tarnished

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Ashley Force
Ashley Force takes home her 1st US Nationals win

The Big GO is to drag racing what the Daytona 500 and the Indy 500 are to our roundy-round companions in racing. It is the single biggest weekend of the season, and one where tradition and competition run second only to emotion of the participants.

One of the most memorable races of my life was the first US National event I ever attended in 2006. It was the first race I ever was entrenched with one of the professional teams to get a first hand view of what it takes for these teams to make professional racing a reality. The work, the expense, the sacrifice, and the dedication are all overwhelmingly apparent in each of these teams.
No exception, the 2009 “Big GO” was every bit the emotional flashpoint of the season as always. The NHRA’s decision to make Indy the Countdown reset race added to the drama and tension of the event. When teams are spending millions to try and win, there are always going to be tempers and accusations. But to see it on national TV, that is something that is usually reserved for closed trailor door s or behind the ropes.
The floundering economy has made it tough on everyone… racers and spectators alike. I’ve never wished that I had attended a race as much as I did while watching this year’s ESPN2 Telecast. Reasons are two-fold:

 

During the Semis, Tony Pedregon and John Force exchanged heated words and even shoves over Tony’s allegations that John Force took a dive to allow son-in-law Hight a spot in the 10-seed playoff berth, effectively knocking off his brother, Cruz from contention. Tony, a former Force d river, said he knew their practices over at JFR well and called Force a cheater for fixing the race. Cruz also made comments on-air from the starting line calling Force an outright cheater as well. [Watch the video of the altercation]
The NHRA does have a no-dive rule in place to prevent team orders. However, in the case of this race, where a team car matchup can result in critical championship-affecting results, it is assumed that driver intentions would be controversial at best when the outcome is deemed beneficial. I do not envy the NHRA , faced with a rule that is this tough to really police…. a seasoned veteran driver has a timely lapse in otherwise good reaction, coupled with an aborted run due to the car making a “move” to the wall, grants his teammate the win that he needs to push him into the countdown. How do you police for driver’s intent? Was it *really* an accidental slip at the tree by John Force and did the car *really* drive itself out of the groove? Only John Force can know with 100% certainty… which really means that the NHRA is powerless to enforce this rule without hard-proof as evidence.
Team orders occur in all forms of racing, and while fans are punished by this practice, its hardly something that can be policed or will be going away (Saved for eliminating multi-car teams, whichwould result in a massive drop in car count, and I’ll play the odds vs. losing cars any day). The debates are running rampant on the internet, but the point is mute. NHRA can’t prove it, and so they are powerless to repeal it as well.
The real tragedy in the weekend is the fact that the pushing match between John and Tony overshadowed a huge milestone: Ashley Force-Hood winning the hallowed US Nationals and becoming the first female in Funny Car to do so. In a time where nearly all the women of the sport save Ashley (and sometimes Erica Enders) have been sidelined (Hillary Will, Melanie Troxel, etc.)Ashley carries the torch for women and young girls everywhere who aspire to reach her level of success. Only 2 other women have done so in the history of the US National professional classes, which makes her story even more inspirational and important to women of our times.
I personally really wanted and needed to see her do well, as a reinforcement that the nitro dream IS possible, and at a time when the economy has all but shut down my dreams of EVER racing again. It is hard to stay positive and to continue to stay driven and determined when you see even established, successful women racers sidelined in an already tough arena to break into. I’m notgiving up, but seeing her achieve so much has renewed faith and hope in what has seemed like a bleek outlook.
So amuch deserved CONGRATS to AshleyForce-Hood, the 2009 US National Funny Car Champ!

Guest on Pit Crew Conversations Blog Talk Radio

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Today, I had the pleasure of being a guest on Parent Driven School‘s Pit Crew Conversation Blog Talk Radio Show.

Parent Driven Schools is an organization that believes parents are the solution to the education crisis in our country. The group gives parents the information, tools and resources they need to make sure their children receive an education that prepares them to succeed.

I’m a huge supporter of education and helping children acheive their dreams as Lifelong Learners, so I can really support what PDR is going for families and children out there. I was able to chat with the listeners about how I chose drag racing and what I do to continually learn and grow on an ongoing basis.

Listen to the show here: [Direct Link to Podcast]

In addition, a quote from one of my blog posts on what fueled my passion will be displayed in the California Auto Museum at Parent Driven School’s documentary premiere of “Creating Lifelong Learners” on Thursday, August 20th.

For more information on Parent Driven Schools, please visit http://www.parentdrivenschools.org/

Congrats Force girls

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You know, nitro Funny Car driver Ashley Force-Hood has been having a heckuva year. She’s won several events, led the points chase, been to a handful of finals…. Girl is on Fire. (not literally. That would be BAD.)

Love it.

 

Courtney Force scored a win

But there are 2 more Force girls out there racing worth the mention, and one looks to me to be making quite the splash too. Younger Force spawn Brittany and Courtney are both competing in Top Alcohol Dragster while they are attending college. Courtney is also all over the internets with a column in USA Today and participating in all sorts of cool Fiesta Movement shenanigans. (check out her twitter here or youtube antics here)

 

This past weekend in Seattle, both younger sisters made it to the semi-finals, having to face off against each other. With Courtney taking the win in that pairing, she would be the lone Force car left heading to the final rounds for that day.
Courtney Force defeated Chris Demke in that final to score her first TAD win, the lone Wally in the JFR pit for the day.
I’m a huge fan of all the Force girls, but something just stands out to me about Courtney, and I’m really excited to see her move up and join her dad and sister in the nitro categories. I *suspect* it may just be in a JFR dragster and not the typical flopper, but its just a hunch and would be cool to see. My fear is that her eventual move to funny car may be filling the seat of her retiring dad, and I don’t think I’m ready for that yet.
Where ever she ends up, she seems to have the whole package: trademark Force good looks, articulate, engaging, and royal drag racing blood to boot.
Congrats Courtney on the first of many wins!

Pro Mod is tougher than it appears

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The biggest lesson I’ve learned in the past few years of downtime is to fully appreciate how much it takes to build/race/maintain a racecar at this level of competition. The costs, the devotion, the hard work, and the risks are just mind-blowing. And it can all be gone in an instant.

Nowhere does logic pay off in this sport… you build a costly car that runs for mere seconds, you race for a purse that more often than not will never pay back the expenses, and even the most skilled driver gambles that a split second will not destroy all that hard work, or result in injury or worse.

Rick Stivers Crash (photo)This year at the NHRA Gateway race in St. Louis, a seasoned Fuel driver Melanie Troxel walked away from a crash in Raymond Commisso’s 5.8-second Pro Modified entry, an incident she attributed to her “inexperience. I just didn’t have enough laps.” She went on to say “these cars are a handful,” a sentiment that Rick Stivers would probably agree with given his own spectacular crash that same weekend in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge at the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals.

His 2006 Stratus hit the wall and flipped — what Stivers described as “all hell [breaking] loose – literally.” Both incidents illustrate that in a class of promods with tremendous power (Troxel’s car put out 2,500 hp), crashes are often simply beyond the driver’s control. Both Troxel and Stivers were wearing their seat belts and are lucky; their injuries could have and probably should have been severe.

Not surprisingly, the major factors in this class are the inherent danger, the expense of repairs, and how attractive these high class machines are to thieves. So what makes it worth all the risk?

The remark that I hear across the board is that Pro Mod is the most difficult class to navigate. The cars make a ton of power, and don’t have near the downforce of their bigger nitro brothers. They are a handful to drive, but they are the fastest true doorslammers in existance. Several nitro drivers such as Mike Ashley, Scotty Cannon, Matt Hagan and others have gotten their starts in Pro Mod. And several nitro pilots have also learned much like Melanie how much these cars are underestimated.

With cars now reaching 250mph with ease, these cars continue to put on a wild, fun-filled show that remains unrecognized by NHRA as a professional class. It only takes a quick look to the stands during Pro Mod to see that it is a class the fans really enjoy, a point further proven by the ADRL’s sell out successes outside NHRA confines. Speculation behind why the NHRA refuses to grant professional class status includes complications from the Pro Stock truck lawsuit, and competition to their own pro stock class, but when will the NHRA wise up and see what a fan pleaser it has in Pro Modified?

Top Gun to Top Fuel: Mixing my two favorite things

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Top GunMy parents may not have ever guessed that I’d grow up to be a total hopeless gearhead Drag Racer, but I think they had some idea that I wasn’t a “normal” little girl.

While most kids dreamed of growing up to become veterinarians and doctors, I was awe-inspired at the tender age of 6 by what would be a classic 80’s Hollywood movie… oh yes, wait for it…. Top Gun. [cue Danger Zone music] I very clearly remember watching it with my family one night, and even though I was a restless 6 year old, was absolutely transfixed by what I saw. My dad was a career Air Force officer, and had retired from the Air Force before I was born. Perhaps my love of aircraft and speed came subconsciously from him, but I don’t think they expected what came out of my 6 year old mouth after watching Maverick and the rest of the characters lighting up the sky in those F-14’s.
And no, it wasn’t the Volleyball scene, or a actually still relevant at the time and hot Tom Cruise, I had zero desire to be a Kelly McGillis lusting after some flyboy (though admittedly, I DO have a thing for men in flight suits as an adult). Top Gun was Navy, but whatever, I had decided at age six I wanted to be an Air Force Fighter Pilot.My dream was rather crushed when my dad told me (at the time) that women were not permitted by the military to be combat pilots (something that changed in 1993). It wasn’t because he didn’t want to encourage me, I’m pretty sure it was also his dream growing up, and his eyesight was the disqualifying factor for him, so he didn’t want me to be disappointed by the rule in place. Talk about a crushing blow… but instead of becoming an Ace Pilot, I later would settle on becoming a pilot of a different sorts… a drag racing pilot.

Maybe its not a screaming jet with supersonic speed and all kinds of fun G’s, but drag racing at 200mph is still pretty thrilling. (Here’s to hoping I get my chance in a Top Fuel Dragster and get to that 300mph thrill) And now the Air Force has figured out how to get the average person to merge these passions together with their latest recruitment tool: The Mustang X-1.

Designed by the same people responsible for the new gen KITT car (Galpin Autosports), this car has been totally redone for the USAF. On the exterior a radical lowered stance and low profile tires make for the aggressive aircraft-inspired theme complete with carbon fiber body, aerodynamic air intakes, and gull-wing doors. The flight cockpit interior completely replaces the Mustang interior with flight-stick, a touch-screen interfaced control system, and a single driver ejection seat center-mounted setup. GPS and nightvision technology is also found on the high-tech console.

At first, I was rather curious how they were “driving” via a flight-stick, but I read on to discover that there is a hidden regular motorized steering wheel that pops out for the “pilot” to steer with (slight disappointment that its not stick-driven, but whatever). The stick is actually a very nifty shifter for the manual transmission. I was also surprised that the car is only hopped up to 500 hp with cams and exhaust, which by my hotrodder standards does it zero justice… I mean why not twin turbos or something cool!

Alas, its a pretty cool recruitment tool if you ask me… they also have a Charger called the “Vapor”, but the X-1 is definitely the more radical of the two.

Now that I’m grown and have spent the last 10 years chasing my dream of drag racing, I wish I would have had the level of determination applied to pursuing my dream of being a fighter pilot. I had no way of knowing then, but CAN’T just means you have to try a little harder…. Its still on my “Bucket List” to ride in a supersonic jet at some point, to cross off both me and my dad’s dreams together. Or maybe I’ll land a Top Fuel/Air Force sponsor and get to combine both dreams at once. (Keep your fingers crossed folks!) Regardless, I feel pretty lucky to be participating in the land-version of high speed flight in drag racing, because as Goose and Maverick put it oh so well….

“I feel the need…. the need for SPEED!!”

 
 
 
 
Photos: USAF