Celebrating, promoting and supporting women in motorsports and Moto Enthusiasts

Fun Ford Weekend Buckeye Nationals 2003

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Fun Ford Weekend Buckeye Nationals 2003 Norwalk, Ohio

After pulling into a muddy Norwalk racetrack Friday afternoon, Horsepower & Heels driver Erica Ortiz unloads the car to find a leaky head gasket.   The team had just replaced heads before the haul and the new sealant didn’t adhere properly.    Although she missed Round 1 qualifying, Erica had the car back to running late that night.

In the morning, Ortiz lined up for 2nd round qualifying. But after violent tire shake the first 660 ft, the best she could muster was a 10.03 @ 158 mph. She headed back to the trailer to ponder how to make the car hook, and improved in the 3rd round to qualify in the #3 spot with a 9.325 @ 159.55 mph.

In Eliminations, Erica took the win with a 9.23 @ 160.30 mph against Brad Hevwagen. But in the second round, Erica lost the hook and the round against Randy Haywood, after a close pair of 9.20’s from both.

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Fun Ford Weekend Old Dominion Nationals 2003

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After a disappointing finish in the previous race in Gainesville, the Horsepower & Heels Racing team had only 2 weeks to put together an entire new engine program for the Fun Ford Weekend Old Dominion Nationals event in Richmond, VA.

New Engine Combo

Friday’s test pass was the first time the new motor had ever been run. The maiden voyage first qualifying run on Friday yielded a 9.38 @ 158mph E.T., with driver Erica Ortiz peddling hard the bottom end of the track to maintain traction. This put Erica in the #4 spot for Saturday’s “Race within a Race” shootout event.    The race within a race, sponsored by Innovative Turbo Systems matched the top 8 qualifiers from Friday’s qualifying in a shoot out ladder during Saturday’s qualifications.

Race within a Race Drag Radial Shootout

Saturday morning, Erica was paired 1st round against rival racer Christina Eldert’s new coupe in a women’s racing battle. After all was said and done, Erica advanced to the 2nd round as the top female with a win on the tree and at the light.   But in the 2nd round, Erica spun hard off the line again and was defeated by Norris McKay, who went on to win the shootout event and the Innovative Turbo prize money.

Eliminations

With a final qualifying effort of 9.21 @ 158, Erica was #4 on Sunday’s ladder for eliminations. Her first round match up paired her with Alex Vretto. Unfortunately, Erica had problems on the line spooling up and lost on a hole shot, running a quicker 9.24 to Alex’s 9.44.

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Fun Ford Weekend Texas Thunder 2003

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Fun Ford Weekend Texas Thunder 2003, Baytown, TX

After a successful outing in Atlanta, Erica Ortiz would enter the Fun Ford Weekend Texas Thunder event #1 in points in the Drag Radial class. The Horsepower & Heels driver sought to maintain the points lead and improve on her string of runner up finishes.

The unbearable Baytown, Texas heat made tuning a difficult chore, but Erica gave it her best all weekend.

 

Fun Ford Weekend Peach State Nationals 03

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Fun Ford Weekend Peach State Nationals

April 2003- Commerce, GA

This race would be the finish to the previous rain-delayed FFW Spring Break Shootout event in Orlando,

Runner up, FFW Spring Break Shootout 2003

After qualifying #3 with a 9.003 @ 159mph, Erica makes history as the first female in a final round in the drag radial class for Orlando’s rain-delayed final against Chris Little. The car lost traction, and Erica runners-up with a 9.90 @ 159mph.

First woman in the 8’s in drag radial

Entering Atlanta eliminations on Sunday, Erica gets a lucky break with several competition bye runs. She ran the fastest lap of round 1 with an 8.90 @ 163 mph and becomes the first female in the 8’s on a drag radial!

Runner-up, FFW Peach State Nationals 2003

Again, she reaches the Atlanta finals to face Big Daddy in an all-Innovative turbo final round. Despite a hole shot by Erica, the car again lost traction, and she could not catch him, running a 9.40 @ 153mph.

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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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