Celebrating, promoting and supporting female racers and women in motorsports

You are here: Home / Archives for Erica Ortiz

On Two Wheels

//  by 

Erica's new motorcycle

Picked up my new toy this weekend for the Horsepower & Heels garage.

On two wheels and ready to ride

Because my entire family rides, I’ve been wanting a Harley Davidson for as long as I can remember.   My fiance Alex picked me up a mint 1972 Honda CB450 awhile back, but the charging systems on those aren’t too reliable, so I wasn’t able to ride it as much as I would have liked.   Plus, since he’s a master technician at Rocket Harley Davidson, it made a whole lot more sense for me to have a Harley.

So he’s been on the look out for a bike I’d like, and sure enough one came through I couldn’t pass up.   Its a 2001 Sportster 883, but with the 1200cc conversion.  Plenty fast, and the bike is just gorgeous!

We’ve already got a few upgrades picked out.    Changing the headlight, turn signals to the new LED style, and a new seat.   But overall, this bike is exactly what I wanted and looks great in the Horsepower & Heels stable.

Now off to find some custom Horsepower & Heels leathers for the winter rides!

Back in the Automotive Industry

//  by 

Its official, I’ve joined the Blue Oval Family Full-Time!

Woody Anderson FordUp until now, most of my working career has been based in the Marketing Communications/ Public Relations realm.   After I left Lugo Performance back in 2004, I had been working to pay the bills outside of the automotive industry.

My first  love and goal had always been in trying to be a full-time racer.   But my strengths in Public Relations and Marketing would also be a tremendous asset for a team PR position, something I could never quite get my foot in the door at the right time to pursue.

Last year, I decided I would try a different approach.  I decided to take a part time job at Advance Auto just to be around the automotive world again.   Although it didn’t do much in the “paying the bills” department, I really enjoyed the work and realized that my heart is really in the automotive industry.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the work I did as the Communications Director for the library (my current position).   PR is something I’m really good at, and I really enjoy doing that work too.  But when you’re a gearhead like me, the chance to get back in the automotive industry just is too hard to pass up.

Next week, I’ll start my new position as a Service Adviser at Woody Anderson Ford.   I’m really excited for this opportunity, and Woody Anderson is one of the largest dealerships in my area with a rich and exciting history.

I’m hoping this is just the start of an excellent and full career.   Who knows where it will lead me, and I can’t wait to find out!

It also can’t hurt to be around all those GT500, Roush and SMS Mustangs, either.  Just sayin’.

Have helmet, will travel

//  by 

Erica in a FiresuitAs is the case in the drag racing world, you always have to stay prepared.

Have helmet, will travel.

I received a phone call of a possible driving opportunity that may be coming in the near future, but since it’s been a few years, my NHRA Advanced ET Competition license has expired and I will need to complete the licensing procedure all over again.

That means I need to find a car capable of running 7.50 or faster, and complete my 6 runs (one half pass, 3 moderate runs, and 2 full passes faster that 7.49).

That wouldn’t be a big deal normally, except that my own car isn’t running at the moment, and I can’t afford a trip to a place like Frank Hawley’s just to get the license again.

So, I’ve put out a call to all my racing friends to see if someone would be willing to let me make a few passes to get my license again.  I can’t offer any cash right now to “rent” their car, but I can provide great crew slave labor and awesome PR help for their team!

So far a few people are checking for me, fingers crossed I find someone so I can get this key roadblock out of the way.  If you know of anyone or have a car you’d let me shoe, please send me a message!

I’ve got some ‘splainin to do

//  by 

For someone who has always been described as a “driven” individual, I really have some explaining to do on my absence from all things Horsepower & Heels the last few years.

Believe me, its not from lack of missing the sport of drag racing, and all things Horsepower & Heels that took me the better part of 8 years to create.   But, life happened.

When I finished my rookie season in Pro (2006), I was on top of the world and felt that I had momentum to carry me through all the dreams I had been working so hard to make reality.   I had made in-roads towards Top Fuel, had secured funding for an upgraded body for my pro chassis, and had upgraded some critical engine parts for the following season.

But then I learned that the business of drag racing was a bit more cut throat than I had imagined.  I made some costly mistakes.  I trusted people who led me the wrong direction.  And ultimately, I suffered in this economy with the rest of America.

For the first time in my racing career, I felt defeated.  Jaded almost, from all the roadblocks and hardships and dishonesty I encountered.    I let this negativity penetrate, and it resulted into several years away from the sport I love so much.

The website hadn’t been updated since 2009, I felt that it was the starting point for a reignite.  But working two jobs to stay afloat meant there wasn’t much time to devote, and wanting something completely different meant I had to learn from the beginning.

I listened to my friends and fans ask me over and over:  “Where are you?”   “When was the car going to be done?”   “Are you racing?”  It should have fueled my desire to push forward as it always had, but instead, a small part of me died each time.

Every once in awhile during these jaded years, someone would call with a promising development.   Every time it seemed it was a dead end.   The effort and the money I spent chasing these dead ends started to add up.    Pretty soon, I was so jaded that I stopped even trying to validate these leads.     I had let the agonizing chase beat me.

I saw other ladies out there struggling too.   I friended some, thinking if I couldn’t help myself then at least I could help them not make the same mistakes.   I have always believed in Women in Motorsports.

But the truth that was always there during these years away from the sport:   I love drag racing, and everything I do to fill this gaping hole in my heart stops miserably short.   I wasn’t happy.  I knew I missed this community, this family, and everything that racing means beyond the finish line.   I knew that giving it up was something I let others dissuade me into believing was my only option.   But its not.

So I’m giving it a Round 2.   It may never be the dreams I had at 25, but I can find balance and with supportive family and friends, I will return!

H&H Cold Hard Art Model

//  by 

This year for my birthday, my boyfriend Alex surprised me with one of the most unique and amazing gifts:   he commissioned Tom Patsis of Cold Hard Art to create a metal art sculpture of my 2007 Twin Turbo Mustang Pro Mod.

Tom took only the photos I have online here to create the model.   The attention to detail is stunning!  Everything is present:  the turbo impellers, the wheelie bars, the parachute and beadlock wheels.   It is one of the most impressive art pieces I’ve ever seen, and it looks exactly like my racecar!

He’s done other impressive models as well, and I’m quite honored to be one of the lucky subjects of his art!   I’m also quite honored to have a really smart, resourceful and thoughtful boyfriend who knows that car parts and racing art beat flowers hands-down!

 View Photos of the Build

Gearbox Magazine Feature

//  by 

Gearbox Magazine
Gearbox Magazine, Feb 2011

Check out this quick interview with Gearbox Magazine!

Gearbox is an online enthusiast magazine.   The interview discusses the Horsepower & Heels Mustang Build, difficulties in the tough economy and the impact on Erica Ortiz’s race career.

http://www.gearboxmagazine.com/erica-ortiz-2007-pro-mod-mustang/

Published Online: Feb 11, 2011

Behind the wheel of a Top Fuel dragster

//  by 

Every year, my company attends a week-long industry trade show in Las Vegas, and every year it falls on the same week as the NHRA race.    Unfortunately for me, something always prevents me from checking out the famed Strip, and I was determined NOT to let that happen this year.

Thanks to a little pre-planning on my air tickets, I was able to head out to the track on Friday of the NHRA event for qualifying.   This was made even better by a comp ticket and media parking pass by one of my clients that produces the ESPN2 coverage of the event.  (My company manufactures equipment found on those big TV trucks).

So Friday morning, I dropped off my suitcase at the airport for my redeye flight that night, and headed over to grab a rental car for the afternoon.    Words can not explain how excited I was to travel the 40 or so miles outside the lights of the Vegas Strip to the thunder and excitement of the Vegas DRAG strip.

Behind the wheel of a Top Fuel

When I arrived, I stopped into say hi to my friends at the Strasburg Top Fuel pits.   And then I was given a chance that put me on cloud 9…. I was asked to get behind the wheel of a top fuel dragster to steer the car to the starting line and back to the pit from the scales.

I know, I know… so what?   It wasn’t running or anything.  But let me tell you, for someone like me that wants SOOOO bad to be looking down that long body and out that cockpit, I was in heaven.    I was able to feel how it steers (or doesn’t, depending on how you look at it), I worked the handbrake while being towed around, and got to experience the smells and heat of that nitro engine fresh off a pass.  It was a dream come true, just short of being in a firesuit ready to make my OWN pass.

I think I look good in that seat, don’t you?

MD Radio Baynet

//  by 

Sometimes you just accidentally stumble upon a good PR interview.

That’s exactly what happened when Erica was in Las Vegas on business.  While at breakfast in the NASCAR cafe in the Sahara hotel and casino, she meets John Hunt from MD Radio The Baynet.

Here’s a shot of the impromptu remote MD station in the NASCAR cafe during the breakfast.