Fun Ford Weekend Sunshine State Nationals 2002

June 7, 2002 // by Horsepower & Heels

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.

[imagebrowser id=28]

World Ford Challenge 5

May 18, 2002 // by Horsepower & Heels

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

[imagebrowser id=29]

NMRA Columbus 2002

May 3, 2002 // by Horsepower & Heels

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.

[imagebrowser id=30]