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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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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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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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