Celebrating, promoting and supporting female racers and women in motorsports

Fun Ford Weekend Spring Break Shootout 2003

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The Fun Ford Weekend Spring Break Shootout event for the 2003 season was held at the Orlando Speed World Dragway.    This is the Fun Ford season opening event, and for Erica Ortiz, it is a hometown event held right in the Horsepower & Heels backyard.

Erica Ortiz entered her turbocharged Mustang in the Drag Radial class for the event.   But weather made the weekend a soggy one.   Erica would be able to get in a few good runs, advancing to Round 2 of eliminations after defeating Frank Provenza in Round 1.   Unfortunately, the event would be postponed due to rain delay and would be continued at the next race the Peach State Nationals in Commerce, GA.

Fun Ford Weekend Spring Break Shootout

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World Domination | MM&FF

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Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords‘World Domination’ covers the World Ford Challenge 5 in May 2002 and features Horsepower & Heels driver Erica Ortiz’s run in Wild Street.    Erica would qualify well in the 30 mile cruise around the St. Louis area and returning for her 3 back-to-back runs at Gateway International Raceway with a string of 9.40s and 9.50s.  But during eliminations, she would eventually fall in the semifinal round to Lovelace after a holeshot loss, running a best of 9.21 seconds.

World Domination

Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords
Written by: Paul Rosner
Published: October 2002

View article:  World Domination

Turning up the Heat | MM&FF

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Muscle Mustangs and Fast FordsHorsepower & Heels driver Erica Ortiz received lots of coverage for her 2002 Fun Ford Weekend Gainesville win in True Street.   ‘Turning up the Heat’ is the event recap for the Sunshine State Nationals event, and she is recognized for her top finish with a 9.48 second average in the true street class, after taking a 30 mile cruise through Gainesville, FL and returning for 3 immediate back-to-back passes, without the ability to open the hood or make any changes.

Turning up the Heat

Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords
Written by: Rod Short
Published: October 2002

View Article:  Turning Up the Heat

True Stories | MM&FF

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Horsepower & Heels driver Erica Ortiz took the top honors in the Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords article ‘True Stories’ as the 2002 Fun Ford Weekend True Street Sunshine State Nationals Champion in Gainesville, FL.

She drove her 1991 Mustang LX coupe to the fastest average of 9.48 seconds in the True Street class, after a 30 mile cruise and 3 back-to-back passes in the Florida heat.

True Stories

Muscle Mustangs and Fast FordsMuscle Mustangs and Fast Fords
Written by: Rod Short
Published:  October 2002

View Article:  True Stories – October 2002

NMRA Maple Grove 2002

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Erica Ortiz debuts a new paint scheme at the NMRA Maple Grove 2002 event in Reading, PA.  Her previously all-black Horsepower & Heels drag radial Mustang debuts a new, magenta-flamed paint job by Rick Doern.   The pink and black livery paid tribute to her pride in representing women in racing.

Popular magazine, Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords, shot the car for a featured spread, landing Erica the cover of the November issue in a feature entitled Beauty and the Beast.

NMRA Maple Grove 2002

Ortiz however had a difficult race weekend, battling tire spin throughout the event.  Her best performance time came during an early morning test session, where she ran a 9.51 @ 147 mph.

Plagued by tire spin and other slight technical problems, she qualified with an off-pace 10.7 @ 147 mph.   Unable to sort out the problems in time, Erica fell to competitor Ty Krean in Round #1 with a 9.70 @ 148 mph.

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Fun Ford Weekend Sunshine State Nationals 2002

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Erica Ortiz took her Horsepower & Heels Mustang to the Fun Ford Weekend Sunshine State Nationals event in Gainesville, FL  June, 2002.

She competed in the True Street class, a unique class that challenges street cars to a 30 mile road cruise before returning to the drag track for 3 back-to-back passes.  The key is, they have to complete the cruise and passes without servicing the car.   Each of those passes is then averaged for a final score.  The top score in each 9, 10, 11, and 12 second bracket was awarded a trophy, as well as the overall event winner with the fastest average.

Erica finished the passes, obtaining a 9.48 average at 150 mph. This took the top 9 second average category, and was also the over all True Street winner for the event.

2002 Fun Ford Weekend Sunshine State Nationals True Street Champion

The event marked Erica’s first victory in her drag racing career.

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NASCAR Cafe Car Show MMC

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The Modern Mustang Club Orlando and Tampa Bay chapters gathered in front of the NASCAR Cafe in Orlando for a fun-filled evening in the middle of Universal’s City Walk. With over 100 cars in attendance, the NASCAR Cafe Car Show was a huge success and treated tourists to a unique experience.

NASCAR CAFE CAR SHOW

Erica Ortiz drove in and displayed her Horsepower & Heels Mustang center-stage along with teammate Todd Amandus in front of the popular racing inspired restaurant.

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World Ford Challenge 5

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World Ford Challenge 5, May 2002

The World Ford Challenge (WFC), a long-standing independent annual race considered by many to be the Super Bowl of Ford Drag Racing, was held in St. Louis, Missouri in May 2002.   Minutes from the famed arches, Gateway International Raceway filled with hundreds of competitors for the chance to be the top dog in a wide variety of classes.

Wild Street

Horsepower & Heels Racing driver Erica Ortiz gets in the seat for some Wild Street action.   Wild Street is a unique class in which competitors must take their street-legal machines on a 30 mile road cruise before returning to the track for 3 back-to-back passes, without being able to lift the hood or service the car.  The 3 passes are then averaged, giving the competitor their qualifying position for heads-up eliminations.

Qualifying Results

After the 30 mile cruise, Erica averages 9.891 @ 151.56 for the #4 qualified position.   (Round 1:  10.60 | Round 2:  9.51 | Round 3:  9.48)

Average:  9.891 |  Top MPH:  151.56

Elimination Results

9.48 @ 150.02 W –  1st Round

9.597 @146.32 W  –  2nd Round

9.212 @ 149.78 L –  3rd Round

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NMRA Columbus 2002

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New Turbocharged Drag Radial Entry

After a great run with her Paxton Novi 2000 supercharged entry, racer Erica Ortiz and the Horsepower & Heels team switched power plants to a turbocharged combination.

NMRA Columbus 2002

The National Mustang Racer’s Association (NMRA) Columbus event was the debut of Erica’s new turbocharged drag radial combination.    Without time between swaps, Erica had the task of testing the new car straight off the trailer.    The car responded well, running a 9.73 @ 145.17mph, and performed consistently throughout the weekend. Qualifying #8, she took a first round exit to Peter Champani, another Drag Radial competitor.

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2001 Ford Power Festival | MM&FF

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2001 Ford Power FestHorsepower & Heels founder Erica Ortiz took on the EFI Renegade class at the 2001 Moroso Ford Power Festival.   Her black 1991 Mustang LX Coupe was equipped with a 306 cubic inch, Novi 2000 supercharged powerplant, and a Sundancer Performance AOD transmission.

Although Erica was out-powered and exited in the 1st round, she put together a string of consistent, low 10 second passes.  Her 2002 plans include some NMRA Drag Radial competition and FFW True Street events.

2001 Ford Power Festival

Muscle Mustangs and Fast FordsMuscle Mustangs and Fast Fords
Written by: Michael Johnson
Published: March 2002

View Article: 2001 Ford Power Festival