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Erica Ortiz

You are here: Home / Archives for Erica Ortiz

Throwback: Racecar Limo for Prom

May 28, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Today’s #TBT is a fun story from back in 2003.

Racecar LimoHorsepower and Prom Dresses

My little sister Lauren was going to her high school Prom, and wanted to make a cool entrance.   Rather than a played-out limo, I thought it would be way cooler to make a Horsepower & Heels style entrance- a RACECAR LIMO.   I decided to surprise her by picking her up and being her chauffeur in my Drag Radial foxbody coupe.   I mean, really, what would be more memorable than making an entrance in a 1600 horsepower turbocharged Drag Radial race car?

So, I put on my best chauffeur outfit: all-black with a little black drivers cap (not shown) and made the drive over to pick her up.   Still 100% streetable, I was even able to take advantage of the pin-removable door bars on the roll-cage to make it a little more “graceful” for her to get in and out in her gown.  She was pretty stoked!

A Powerful Entrance

We make the drive over to the high school, and I pull up to the entrance of the dance.   There were people arriving and trying to make their own entrances in limos, but a loud, flashy race car with a parachute hanging off the back quickly stole that show.   I revv’d it a little as we pulled up, threw it in park, and jumped out to open her door and help her exit.    By now, most of the guys in her class had abandoned their dates to come over and look.  Having heard the commotion from inside, a few were even coming out of the dance to check it out.    There were lots of “Whoas…” and “Way cools” being thrown around, and Lauren was smiling from ear-to-ear.

horsepower heels drag radial
Way cooler than a limo

I arrived a little early to pick her up, and was waiting in the parking lot.   The police officer assigned to the event walked over to me, and jokingly pulled out his citation book:

License to drive this thing and Insurance, ma’am,” he said with a laugh.   “You know, I could ticket you for having obstructed license plate, bald tires, exhaust…. but this is just too cool, so I’m going to let you slide.”

We chatted a little about what was done to the car, where I raced, and how many girls inside that dance were probably furious that their dates were still gawking at the cool race car outside.

After a little, Lauren made her way back outside to leave, to a growing crowd ready to watch her departure.    I did my best to make an exit without getting into any trouble with my new officer friend watching intently from the parking lot.

Man, I wish there was Youtube back then….  I am pretty sure my sister had the best entrance/exit of the night to Prom that year.

 

What fun ways have you incorporated your love for racing into normal day-to-day life?

Category: Horsepower & Heels BlogTag: Erica Ortiz, Horsepower & Heels

What could have been… Pro 5.0 Maverick

May 14, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Here’s a little-known Throwback Thursday fact for you!

Back in late 2004, just after I had made the decision to try and sell my beloved Drag Radial coupe off to chase my Pro 5.0/Pro Mod dreams, there was another path that almost came to fruition.   Before the Thunderbird, before even the radial car found a new home, there was another Ford that almost became my first Pro 5.0 race car.

Erica Ortiz Maverick1972 Pro 5.0 Maverick

Wanting to move up to the Pro 5.0 class and end my long run in Drag Radial to pursue faster time slips, I knew I needed to find a full tube chassis car on a very limited budget, hoping that I could transplant my build little 302-based turbocharged bullet into it for a rookie run at Pro 5.0.   A long-unfinished Pro Street project from back home at Lugo Performance sat untouched, but posed a perfect opportunity for a partnership.   Dennis made a few calls, and it was agreed that I could pick up the car and get to work on putting my engine/transmission combo in for a joint Pro 5.0 Maverick venture.

A trip down to Florida, and the car was brought back up to Parker Chassis to get down to work.  We started mocking up mid-plates and removing the sheet metal to send out for powder coating,  Unfortunately, early in the process, I received another phone call.  Apparently, the owner’s wife wasn’t too keen on having someone else racing the car, and they decided against continuing.  It put a damper on my spirits at the time, but it wasn’t too long afterwards that I got a message from good friend, Mike Herring — a lead on the Thunderbird that would give me my great start in Pro Mod.

But, had it come to fruition, this would have been the first Horsepower & Heels Pro 5.0 Race car, a 1972 Pro 5.0 Maverick.

What a difference in what Horsepower & Heels’ first Pro Mod could have been!

 

 

Category: UncategorizedTag: Erica Ortiz, Horsepower & Heels, Pro 5.0, Throwback

Girls Torque Collector Card: Erica Ortiz

May 6, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Girl Power Card- Erica Ortiz
Girl Power Collector Card- Erica Ortiz

Girls Torque, an Australian organization dedicated to helping girls succeed in motorsports, recently added Horsepower & Heels Racing driver, Erica Ortiz to its Girl Power Collector Card Series.   The collector card series features female racers and other women involved in motorsports.   Erica’s Girl Power card will be available in the Drag Racing box set, and features Erica’s photo and car rendering, with stats about her racing career and accomplishments.

Girl Power Drag Racing Box Set

The Girls Power Drag Racing Collector Card box set is the first of several to come, and can be purchased online at the Girls Torque website for AU$10 + shipping.    Each boxed set includes 34 cards from different drivers all across the world.

Girl Torque Racing Collector Cards

Category: In the NewsTag: Erica Ortiz, Girls Torque, Horsepower & Heels, Press

Speed Scene Live TV- Erica Ortiz returns

April 23, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Speed Scene Live Episode 577Erica Ortiz returns to Pro Mod

Horsepower and Heels Racing driver Erica Ortiz joins Scott “Lucky” Hudson, Diana-mite, Bruce Barker, Bob Beck and the rest of the Speed Scene Live TV crew on air to discuss her history in drag racing, the struggles that took her away for several years, her triumph over health issues, and her return to Pro Modified Racing and current rebuild efforts.

Listen to the archive of the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPwr_0B1Ifo&feature=youtu.be    (segment begins around 15:00 mark)

On Air:   April 21, 2015  Episode # 577speed scene

Category: Featured, In the NewsTag: Drag Racing, Erica Ortiz, Horsepower & Heels, Press, pro mod

Garage Area Racing- Driver of the Day

April 22, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

GarageAreaThe Podium- Driver of the Day

Horsepower and Heels Racing driver, Erica Ortiz was featured on Garage Area Racing’s Daily Podium as the Driver of the Day for April 22, 2015.

Visit Garage Area Racing.com

Published Online: April 22, 2015

Category: In the NewsTag: Erica Ortiz, Horsepower & Heels, Press, Women Racing

Inside Southwire- Erica Ortiz overcomes adversity

April 17, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Erica Ortiz Overcomes Adversity, Fights to Reclaim Racing Dream

Inside Southwire NewsletterSouthwire is the leading manufacturer of wire and cable used in the distribution and transmission of electricity in North America.   They are also the parent company to TRC, the company where Horsepower & Heels founder, Erica Ortiz, serves as Marketing Communications Manager.    Inside Southwire is the regular newsletter published for its over 7,000 employees spread out across its multiple locations in North America.   The newsletter discusses her racing career and her professional career path, along with the current drive to return to drag racing.

Read the article:  Inside Southwire_April2015

Published:  Inside Southwire, Vol. 1, Issue 3 – April 2015

Category: In the NewsTag: Erica Ortiz, Horsepower & Heels, Press

Clutchfunded SUCCESS

April 10, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Clutchfunded Campaign successClutchfunded Campaign a success at 112%

We DID IT!  Thanks to all the support of my family, friends and fans, our Clutchfunded campaign was a total success!  In just 30 days, 36 people contributed $3,350.00 to our Clutchfunded campaign, putting us at 112% of our goal of $3,000.    Over 1,100 people shared the campaign across social networks over the course of the 30-day program.     All of you are now part of the ReIgnite Team, and are a huge part of getting us back on the track.

Crowd funding for the Motorsports Community

This campaign was one of the first for a new crowd funding platform called Clutchfunded– the brainchild of another racing veteran, 25 year old Shannon McIntosh. Phase One of ClutchFunded’s long-term development includes a crowd funding platform to help connect racers with the ever-growing motor sport fan base. Following overwhelming response through a crowd funding initiative of her own, Shannon knew there was opportunity to create a unique approach for supporting race teams and drivers across the country.   Campaigns use an ‘All or Nothing’ funding model, meaning drivers/teams must meet or exceed the original goal before receiving their funds.   Contributors can choose from different racer-defined perks awarded for their donations.   If your sponsor is your biggest fan, why can’t your biggest fan be your sponsor?   The platform is open to racers, teams and other motorsport entities.  Check it out and set a goal for your season!

The Horsepower and Heels ReIgnite campaign was the first successful campaign on the new platform, and we are super proud of this achievement!   Thanks to everyone that made it possible!

Next up for Horsepower and Heels Project ReIgnite

What’s next?  Well, we get to start the build process.  I’ve been talking to several key folks to re-familiarize myself with current technologies that have evolved since the project was initially started.   Excessive Motorsports came on as a new sponsor, and they are helping us round up the last missing components for our engine program.  We’ve got a lot of work to do, and we’ll be keeping you informed on this blog, so be sure to subscribe for updates!

Join Ignite Team Elite and the ReIgnite Team

Its not too late to help!   Since the Clutchfunded campaign was such a success, we’ll be offering some of the same perks here on Horsepower & Heels for our fans who would like to join the ReIgnite team and Ignite Team Elite.  Keep an eye out this weekend for the Perk Pages to be added to the team home page.

Category: Horsepower & Heels BlogTag: Erica Ortiz, Horsepower & Heels, Ignite Team Elite, ReIgnite Team

StangTV.com – Mustang Girl Monday

April 6, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Mustang Girl Monday: Erica Ortiz Is Ready To Come Back To Racing

StangTV-April2015-MustangGirlMonday-EricaOrtizStangTV.com caught up with Horsepower & Heels driver Erica Ortiz to talk about her return to heads-up racing with her twin turbo Mustang project, and her history/background in the sport in an article posted by Courtney Barber.    The article is part of a weekly Mustang Girl Monday feature, organized by Team Mustang Girls.   It goes into detail about Erica’s Fun Ford Weekend and NMRA True Street and Drag Radial class racing successes , her journey into Pro 5.0 and Pro Modified, and what took her away from racing for several years.

Read the article:  http://www.stangtv.com/news/mustang-girl-monday-erica-ortiz-is-ready-to-come-back-to-racing/

StangTV

StangTV.com is an online Ford Mustang Magazine – the go-to source for news, rumors, tech articles and videos on America’s favorite pony car. Founded in 2006, StangTV.com has only one objective – to inform, educate, and entertain readers through daily updates on Late Model Ford Mustangs and other Fords.

Published:  April 6, 2015

Category: In the NewsTag: Drag Racing, Erica Ortiz, Press, Women Racing

Ford Racing Nation – Ortiz ready for Pro Mod return

March 31, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Erica Ortiz is ready for her return in Pro Mod!

Ford Racing Nation Erica OrtizErica Ortiz and the Horsepower & Heels Pro Mod Mustang comeback project is featured on the Ford Racing Nation website in an article written by Bridgett Davis.   The article discusses some of the history behind Erica’s previous racing experience and the hardships she endured when initially starting the Mustang project in 2007, and the current ReIgnite efforts to return to racing in 2015.

Read the article:  http://fordracingnation.com/features/general-news/715-erica-ortiz-is-ready-for-her-return-in-pro-mod

Ford Racing Nation

Ford Racing Nation is a popular online website community geared to racing enthusiasts who love the Blue Oval.

Published Online: March 30, 2015

Category: In the NewsTag: Erica Ortiz, Horsepower & Heels, Press

Sponsor Spotlight > Nitro Plate

March 30, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Nitro Plate High Performance Coatings

NitroPlate logoNitro Plate joined Horsepower & Heels in 2015 to deliver high performance coatings for the Pro Mod Mustang project.   In business since 1988, Nitro Plate has combined years of experience in high temperature coatings with their own enthusiasm for sportsman drag racing and hot rods to serve the racing industry.

Company Overview

NitroPlate is a registered trademark of Servitech Industries, Inc.  Founded in 1988, Servitech Industries has grown to become the largest independent applicator of SermaGard Coatings in North America.  They providing coating services to the O.E automotive, Heavy Truck, HVAC, Appliance, Building and various other industries.    In 2005, they recognized an opportunity to bring their knowledge and expertise to the performance and racing industry.  Being hot rodders and sportsman drag racers, it was a natural fit for the company.   They have built a stellar reputation and an extensive list of satisfied customers.

Coating Finishes

  •  Nitroplate Bright: NitroPlate Bright is a highly polished aluminum ceramic coating capable of withstanding 1300 degrees. It has excellent thermal properties. This cuts down on under hood heat, increases horsepower and helps in scavenging of the exhaust. Nitroplate Bright can also be used in areas such as intakes, rear end housings, control arms, and wheelie bars and steel wheels

  • Nitroplate Satin
    :  NitroPlate Satin has dull appearance that is ideal for intake manifolds to keep the original look. Nitroplate Satin is good to 1300 degrees also. It is resistant to staining from fuels, etc.
  • Nitroplate Cast Iron Gray:  Tired of your cast iron exhaust manifolds rusting? Check out Nitroplate Cast Iron. Perfect for exhaust manifolds. It has a temperature rating of 1800 degrees.
  • Nitroplate Satin Black
    :
     NitroPlate’s Satin Black finish is a high temperature ceramic material that is designed for customers who prefer a more stealth look.

  • Nitroplate Matte Black
    :
     NitroPlate’s Matte Black finish is a high temperature ceramic material used on stainless steel applications that is designed for customers who prefer a more stealth look. Perfect for headers and motorcycle exhaust pipes and heat shields.
  • Nitroplate Midnight Blue:  NitroPlate’s Midnight Blue finish is a low temperature ceramic material that is designed for customers who want a stealth look with a unique finish. Perfect for valve covers, intake manifolds and other aesthetic components

In Action

All of the exhaust components on the new Horsepower & Heels Twin Turbo Pro Mod Mustang will feature Nitroplate coating for a corrosion resistant finish, designed to meet thermal barrier protection needs.     Nitroplate reps can often be found at the racetrack, allowing you to drop off your parts for convenience.

Contact Information

Nitroplate
550 Brick Church Park Dr.
Nashville, TN 37207

Phone: 615-826-4914
Fax: 615-228-3846

http://www.nitroplate.com
8:00 AM till 5:00 PM CST Monday – Friday

Category: SponsorsTag: Erica Ortiz, Horsepower & Heels, Sponsors

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