Horsepower & Heels Racing News

Thunder Road Driving Divas Segment

2009-03-02T10:21:00.004-06:00

Huntsville, AL-- If you missed Erica Ortiz on Houston's 1560AM The Game this past Sunday, you can listen to the "Driving Divas" segment via the podcast below. Erica had a great time chatting with the Thunder Road hosts Doug and Jeff Blue, and is looking forward to an in-studio visit soon.

Powered by Podbean.com

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACINGhttp://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbo.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES

CONTACT Horsepower & Heels Racing
email: press at horsepowerandheels.com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

Ortiz to Air on Houston's 1560AM The Game

2009-02-27T10:04:00.004-06:00

Huntsville, AL-- Horsepower & Heels driver, Erica Ortiz, will be live on-air with the "Thunder Road" morning show this Sunday, March 1st on Houston, TX's AM radio station 1560 "The Game".

The "Thunder Road" show is Houston’s ONLY place for all things motor sports and the best damn racing show around, featuring hosts Doug Johnson, a former Fun Ford Weekend competitor, and "Ya Boy Blue" (Jeffery Blue). Erica will join the well-known Houston personalities for their "Driving Divas" segment, a portion of the show dedicated to women in motorsports. Past guests include NHRA Pro Stock driver Erica Enders and Stock Car racer Kristen Bumbera.

The show will air this Sunday, March 1st from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM central standard time.

Ladies and gentlemen START YOUR RADIOS!!!!!!!!!!

Visit the show's webpage: http://thunderroadshow.blogspot.com/.

Don't live in Houston? The show is also available via web. You can listen online.

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbo.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES

CONTACT Horsepower & Heels Racing
email: press at horsepowerandheels.com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

Palomita Education Fund Online Auction

2008-10-15T08:40:00.003-05:00

Starting on October 15, 2008, the Palomita Education Fund will be auctioning off a number of fun and unique items to bid on to raise money for the cause.

Horsepower & Heels driver, Erica Ortiz, is one of the featured artists on the shirts. The shirts were part of the "Piensa Mas Alla" or Think Beyond fundraiser, an annual fashion show dedicated to raising awareness and support for the Palomita Education Fund. The auction will feature the limited edition designs, autographed by their celebrity creators.

"I think it is wonderful what this organization is doing for the hispanic youth. I'm very proud to be associated with Palomita Education." says Erica of the organization.

The auction site will run from 12pm October 15th, to 12pm on Friday, November 14th. You can view the designs and bid online at http://www.palomitaeducationfun.cmarket.com/

The Palomita Education Fund was founded in 2007 by Molly Robbins, a successful entrepreneur and Mexico City native. It is a non-profit organization that encourages and supports professional and leadership development in the Latino community.

The objectives of the organization are to:

Provide scholarships to Latinos planning to or currently enrolled in college
Encourage participation of the Latino community in higher education and professional growth
Promote a productive and high-quality life.

If you have questions regarding the Palomita Education Fund, items in the catalog, bidding, email communications, events or other general information, please contact manager@licenzing.com.

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING

http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
phone: 407.417.7933
email: press at horsepowerandheels.com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

Palomita Clothing Co.
email: events@licenzing.com
web: http://www.palomitaclothing.com/

'Piensa Mas Alla' Fundraiser a Success

2008-06-23T17:49:00.003-05:00

Grant, AL-- June 12th marked a very special night for the Beca Palomita Education program. The pink carpet fashion show/auction benefit event, held at the Terra San Francisco, featured a first-edition t-shirt collection, with designs by popular latino personalities.

Horsepower & Heels driver, Erica Ortiz, was among the designers who participated with her limited-edition design "WOOPY" shirt. The shirt was auctioned off for $300 to benefit the Palomita education fund.

"I am very proud of my latin heritage, and it is a great honor to be able to help such a great program like Beca Palomita Education. It is so important to be able to empower other young latinos to get the solid foundation they need to achieve heir dreams." -Erica Ortiz

About Beca Palomita

The purpose of the Palomita Education Fund is to award scholarships to assist Latino students in completing their undergraduate and graduate college education. These scholarships are available through a merit and need-based competition to high school seniors of Latino background entering undergraduate programs.

Mission

To empower Latinos through educational advancement, thus preparing them for personal and professional success and providing a high-quality life.

History

The Palomita Education Fund was founded in 2007 by Molly Robbins, a successful entrepreneur and Mexico City native. It is a non-profit organization that promotes professional and leadership development of Latinos. The central objective of the organization is to provide scholarships to Latinos planning to or currently enrolled in college, thus encouraging participation of Latinos in the educational and professional sectors and promoting a high-quality life. Palomita has initiated a charity fashion event in 2008, called Piensa Mas Alla or Think Beyond, from which all proceeds will go to the Palomita Education Fund.

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS

http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com

http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES

http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP

http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING

MOODY RACING ENGINES

http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS

http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES

CONTACT

Horsepower & Heels Racing

phone: 407.417.7933

email: press at horsepowerandheels.com

web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

Palomita Clothing Co.

email: events@licenzing.com

web: http://www.palomitaclothing.com/

Horsepower & Heels the Series Debut

2008-05-27T13:15:00.005-05:00

Grant, AL-- The long awaited debut of the Horsepower & Heels Web TV series has arrived. Produced by citizen news station, PNN.com, the series follows Horsepower & Heels driver, Erica Ortiz and her crewmate Debbie Denny as they put together a Pro Modified drag car.

Each mini-episode dives into a little more about the team and what it takes to propel a car from 0-200+mph in 6 seconds.

New episodes in the series will air semi-weekly on Mondays. Stay tuned for more from the Horsepower & Heels Series!

Episode 1: The Introduction
Meet the Horsepower & Heels team and learn about their goals for their race season.

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
office: 256.728.7886
email: press at horsepowerandheels.com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

Horsepower & Heels teams with Palomita

2008-05-16T09:56:00.005-05:00

Grant, AL-- Horsepower & Heels driver, Erica Ortiz, has partnered up with the Palomita Clothing Company to help improve the lives of Latinos through the Beca Palomita education fund.

Latin American culture is a very important part of driver Erica Ortiz's life. So when Palomita, a clothing company dedicated to nostalgic latino culture, asked Erica to participate in the First Annual Latino Fashion Show Auction Benefitting the Palomita Education Fund, Erica was excited to help out.

Given a blank template with only the word "WOOPY", Erica's job was to design a 1st edition t-shirt that would be auctioned off at the charity event along with designs by other Latino personalities. The designs will then be put into the Palomita collection, with all proceeds benefiting the Palomita Education Fund.

The Benefit event will be held on June 12th, 2008 at the Terra San Francisco with Pink Carpet arrival beginning at 6:30pm. Tickets to the event can be purchased at http://palomitaclothing.com/events.

Event Information
June 12, 2008
Terra SF
511 Harrison Street,
San Francisco, CA
6:30pm:
Pink Carpet Arrival
Cocktails & Silent Auction
7:30pm:
Live Auction of Special Edition Tees designed by Latino Personalities followed by the Palomita & Chucho Fashion Show

For more information contact events@licenzing.com

About Palomita
The Palomita™ and Chucho™ Clothing brands were created by Molly Robbins, “Molona” a native Mexican and an apparel industry veteran. Through her company, LicenZing LLC, Molona secured exclusive license rights to use the trademarks and vintage art of companies throughout Latin America. Palomita and Chucho are fresh, fun brands that captures the nostalgia of Latin American commercial heritage.

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
office: 256.728.7886

email: press at horsepowerandheels.com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

Palomita Clothing Co.
email: events@licenzing.com
web: http://www.palomitaclothing.com

NEW Ladies Slim-fit Tee

2008-04-07T16:44:00.002-05:00

NEW addition to the Horsepower & Heels apparel line!

Grant, AL-- The newest ladies item in the Horsepower & Heels E-Store is the Horsepower & Heels Logo Slim-Fit T-shirt. This 100% cotton jersey crew neck lightweight baby t-shirt comes in black or white color and features the stylish slim-fit longer length. Sizes available are S-XL.

The cost per shirt is $20 + shipping/handling, and can be bought online in the Horsepower & Heels E-Store(www.horsepowerandheels.com/estore/index.htm) or at select Horsepower & Heels racing events.

The Horsepower & Heels E-Store is a growing collection of fun Horsepower & Heels trademark racing-inspired merchandise. All proceeds go directly to the Horsepower & Heels Racing team and help support their racing efforts.

Stop by and show your support today!

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS

http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com

http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES

http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP

http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING

MOODY RACING ENGINES

http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS

http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES

CONTACT Horsepower & Heels Racing

office: 256.728.7886

email: press at horsepowerandheels.com

web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

NEW! Mens T-Shirt: Horsepower & Heels E-Store

2008-03-21T12:17:00.005-05:00

NEW addition to the Horsepower & Heels apparel line!

Grant, AL-- The long awaited release of the first-ever mens T-shirt in the Horsepower & Heels apparel line has arrived.

The Horsepower & Heels Silhouette shirt proudly displays the trademarked Horsepower & Heels logo on the front in white outline, while the back showcases the white silhouette of a Horsepower & Heels girl standing at the starting line with her helmet. The t-shirt is a high quality black cotton shirt and comes in sizes Small, Medium, Large, XL, and XXL. The cost per shirt is $20 + shipping/handling, and can be bought online in the Horsepower & Heels E-Store(http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/estore/index.htm) or at select Horsepower & Heels racing events.

The Horsepower & Heels E-Store is a growing collection of fun Horsepower & Heels trademark racing-inspired merchandise. All proceeds go directly to the Horsepower & Heels Racing team and help support their racing efforts.

Stop by and show your support today!

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES

CONTACT Horsepower & Heels Racing
office: 256.728.7886
email: press at horsepowerandheels.com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

Horsepower & Heels Feature with Hispanics Today available ONLINE

2008-03-20T12:08:00.001-05:00

Grant, AL-- If you missed Erica Ortiz and Debbie Denny of Horsepower & Heels on the popular national TV show, Hispanics Today back in November, you can now view the segment online.

Hispanics Today is an English-language television show that highlights the largest and fastest growing segment of the U.S. population- the Latino market The goal of Hispanics Today is to inspire, educate and address issues that affect the Hispanic community, while showcasing the growing, powerful impact and influence the Hispanic community has in the United States.

Hispanics Today.com has just added a show archive feature to the web with each individual segment from their broadcasts. The segment, entitled Erica Ortiz: Latina Drag Racer, can be viewed at http://www.hispanicstoday.com/story-description.php?video=21.

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING

http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES

CONTACT Horsepower & Heels Racing
office: 256.728.7886
email: press at horsepowerandheels.com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

Ortiz to air on Phoenix's 95.1KVIB Latino Vibe

2008-01-24T16:12:00.000-06:00

Horsepower & Heels driver, Erica Ortiz, will be live on-air with the "El Break" morning show this Sunday, January 27th on Phoenix, AZ FM radio station 95.1 Latino Vibe.

The "El Break" show is produced by a group of hipster latino college and high school students where they talk about latino culture, politics, entertainment, sexuality, education, and much more. The award winning show is the only show of its kind in the state and one of a select few in the country.

"El Break" is a biligual mix-- Spanglish: both English & Spanish, with Erica's interview aired in English. The local newspaper gives this description of the show:

They have big brown muscles, big brown mouths and big brown boobs. But most importantly, they have big brains and huge hearts. The hot, hipster crew from "El Break" is the best shot in the arm of political activism for the local Latino community since Chicanos por la Causa. This is a modern day crop of activistas who have their own rough-around-the edges/cutting-edge AM radio show on Sundays at 95.1 FM Latino Vibe. Luis Avila, Nuvia Enriquez, Laura Suarez, Obed Hurtado and others aren't afraid to launch a hunger strike to support the DREAM Act one week, and then throw a blow-out rock en español bash the next, with free-flowing spiked horchata. You can catch their show on Sundays.

The show will air from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM mountain time.

Visit the show's myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/elbreak.

Don't live in Phoenix? The show is also available via web. You can listen online.

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES

CONTACT Horsepower & Heels Racing
office: 256.728.7886
email: press at horsepowerandheels.com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

Ortiz featured on Latina Lista

2008-01-16T14:03:00.000-06:00

Horsepower & Heels driver Erica Ortiz has just been featured on Latina Lista's Hazlo (Do It) section --Revving for Career Success on the Fast-Track of Drag Car Racing

The article talks about Erica's career and the sacrifices she makes to achieve her dreams and her drive to stay on top. It also talks about her hispanic heritage and what that means to her.

NOTEWORTHY: View the article at http://www.latinalista.net/hazlo/2008/01/revving_for_career_success_on.html#more
Source: Latina Lista.net

Latina Lista is an online newsource with the latest reporting on breaking news, government legislation, justice issues, groundbreaking studies, Latina personalities and all that impacts the quality of life for Latinas/os in the United States — focusing on "Anything and Everything from a Latina Perspective".

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
office: 256.728.7886
email: press at horsepowerandheels.com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

Horsepower & Heels Featured on Hispanics Today TV

2007-11-27T11:56:00.001-06:00

Grant, AL-- Horsepower & Heels driver, Erica Ortiz and her teammate Debbie Denny are featured in a segment on the nationally syndicated television show, Hispanics Today. The show highlights the largest growing segment of the U.S. population- the Latino market- and their impact on American business, politics, and culture. Every week, Hispanics Today is broadcast to 165 stations across the United States and reaches 85% of the Hispanic population.

Hispanics Today showcases the growing Hispanic community and the influence it has in the United States. The show airs the week of November 30- December 2 and can be previewed at http://www.hispanicstoday.com/.

Brought to you by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the show can be viewed across the country. For station and show times in your area, please visit http://www.hispanicstoday.com/htinyourcity.html

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES

CONTACT Horsepower & Heels Racing
office: 256.728.7886
email: press at horsepowerandheels.com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

PNN Sponsors First All-Female Pro-Mod Drag Racing Video Series

2007-08-23T13:46:00.001-05:00

Viewers Follow Race Driver, Erica Ortiz and her Teammate, Debbie Denny, Behind the Scenes

Grant, AL-- Erica Ortiz and Debbie Denny, the women of drag racing and the engine that runs the all-female race team, Horsepower and Heels. Together with PNN.Com, the team is launching a first-of-its-kind, all female Drag Racing Web Video Series called Horsepower and Heels.

Burning rubber all across the country in her 2007 Pro-Mod Mustang, race driver Erica begs the question, “Who says Horsepower and Heels don’t mix?” Set to break more records and pave a way for her career, Erica, with the help of her teammate and marketer extraordinaire, Debbie, is determined to further her love for her career in drag racing while she races to reach the professional ranks of the NHRA.

“I am a girly-girl and a race driver. I’m an advertising professional by day — a drag racer and mechanic by weekend. I travel the country towing my racecar by myself… and encounter all kinds of people along the way,” said Erica Ortiz, driver for the Horsepower and Heels team. “I work on the car, I drive the car, I get dirty…. But I’m still very much into my dresses and my high heels.”

The weekly web-based TV Series will follow Erica and Debbie behind the scenes as they complete the car and race to get back on the track. The show will kick off in September and previews can be viewed at http://horsepowerandheels.pnn.com/2321-the-show .

Erica and the Horsepower and Heels team are sharing their stories through an online publishing website called PNN.com, The Personal News Network. PNN.com provides provide an easy interface packed with the power of marketing, PR and publishing support to aspiring authors who have extraordinary stories to share but no avenue to share them.

“PNN offers simple tools for authors to build their dream page sharing all their antics, stories, news etc. The mix of tools and services is what sets PNN apart from the rest, allowing users to share or read what they want when they want, instantly, and within a social context,” said PNN.com founder and CEO, Lauren Elliott. “We are thrilled to feature such a wonderful, inspirational author, such as Erica, and have the opportunity to bring a first-of-its-kind Web series following the team throughout their upcoming season.”

About PNN.com
PNN.com is a people driven network for stories and media. PNN.com enables people with no web-design experience to share stories and media on personal, customized web pages. Started in 2006 by Lauren Elliott, pioneer of the Edutainment Industry and co-creator of the hit game series, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, PNN.com empowers people to advance the ways in which they communicate. By putting simple-to-use technology in the hands of people with a story to tell, PNN.com enables a new form of storytelling that bridges traditional cultural, economic, and social boundaries. PNN.com's offices and recording studio are located in the scenic valley of Rohnert Park, California. Additional information about PNN is available at http://press.pnn.com/

About Horsepower and Heels
Erica Ortiz founded Horsepower and Heels in 2005, after racing for 9 years. Currently, Erica races in the Fun Ford Weekend, NOPI, and ADRL series in her 2007 Pro-Mod Mustang. This all-female team has made a mark on the world of racing, setting and breaking records at some of the most-respected races in the country. For the ’07–’08 season Erica and Debbie Denny, her team marketer, are launching a web TV series called “Horsepower and Heels,” which offers a behind-the-scenes peek at what a day in the life of an advertising professional by day, and race car driver by weekend is like. Read more about Erica and the Horsepower and Heels team online at http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

NOTEWORTHY: View the series preview now at http://horsepowerandheels.pnn.com/2321-the-show
Source:PNN.com

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.pnn.com/ -- PNN.com
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES
http://www.torcoracefuels.com/ -- TORCO RACE FUELS
http://www.coolfitwear.com/ -- COOL FIT WEAR
http://www.vfnfiberglass.com/ -- VFN FIBERGLASS
http://www.competitiondesigns.com/ -- COMPETITION DESIGNS
http://www.percysperformance.com/ -- PERCY'S PERFORMANCE
http://www.chassisengineering.com/ -- CHASSIS ENGINEERING

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
email: mailto:info@fullthrottlemarketanddesign.com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

Personal News Network
Press Contact: Julie Popp
Email: juliecpopp@yahoo.com

Marketing Contact: Jennifer Jacobson
Phone 415-867-4986
Email: jennifer@pnn.com

Erica Ortiz featured in May edition of LATINA magazine

2007-05-12T13:51:00.001-05:00

Salem, AL-- Horsepower & Heels driver, Erica Ortiz, is featured in the May 2007 edition of LATINA magazine. The magazine, which is the Hispanic woman's version of Cosmo, is written in English but dedicated to Hispanic American women, and is read by 2.2 million multi-cultural readers across the United States.

The article, entitled "Speed Racer", is featured in the Mujer on the Move column, which spotlights Hispanic women who are taking on different and challenging activities. It discusses what its like for Erica to drive a 200mph racecar, and the way she stumbled onto the sport of drag racing.

"I'm really excited that LATINA chose to feature me in their magazine. Its really an honor to be recognized outside the racing industry, especially in a magazine that focuses on my heritage." Erica says of the article.

You can pick up a copy of the May 07 LATINA issue to see Erica up close at your local newsstands/bookstores such as Books A Million, Barnes & Noble.

NOTEWORTHY: Check out Erica in the May issue of Hispanic Woman's magazine LATINA as their monthly "Mujer on the Move" (Woman on the Move) honoree

Source:LATINA MAGAZINE"Speed Racer" featuring Professional Drag Racer, Erica OrtizMujer on the Move, Page 56

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.parkerchassis.com/ -- PARKER CHASSIS & FABRICATION
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES
http://www.torcoracefuels.com/ -- TORCO RACE FUELS
http://www.coolfitwear.com/ -- COOL FIT WEAR
http://www.vfnfiberglass.com/ -- VFN FIBERGLASS
http://www.competitiondesigns.com/ -- COMPETITION DESIGNS
http://www.percysperformance.com/ -- PERCY'S PERFORMANCE
http://www.chassisengineering.com/ -- CHASSIS ENGINEERING

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
email: press [at] horsepowerandheels [dot] com
web: http://www.promodfullthrottle.com/

Horsepower & Heels Racing welcomes Torco Race Fuels!

2007-02-13T13:55:00.001-06:00

Salem, AL-- Horsepower & Heels Racing is proud to welcome Torco Race Fuels to the team for 2007. Torco Race Fuels is one of the biggest supporters of drag racing today, and is the largest independently owned race fuel manufacturer in the world.

"With everything that Evan Knoll does for our sport, I'm extremely honored to be working with Torco for 2007. I've always had great results running the Torco Mach 118 series, Torco Fuels flat out perform."

NOTEWORTHY: Erica will run Torco's Mach 118 racing fuel for the 2007 and beyond.

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.trickflow.com/ -- TRICK FLOW SPECIALTIES
http://www.harlandsharp.com/ -- HARLAND SHARP
http://www.parkerchassis.com/ -- PARKER CHASSIS & FABRICATION
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
MOODY RACING ENGINES
http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES
http://www.torcoracefuels.com/ -- TORCO RACE FUELS
http://www.coolfitwear.com/ -- COOL FIT WEAR
http://www.vfnfiberglass.com/ -- VFN FIBERGLASS
http://www.competitiondesigns.com/ -- COMPETITION DESIGNS

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
email: press [at] horsepowerandheels [dot] com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com/

Office: 256.728.7886

Ortiz to start 2007 with New Look, New Program

2007-01-23T13:58:00.001-06:00

Salem, AL-- Fresh off a stellar rookie season behind the wheel of a twin turbo PRO car, Erica Ortiz looks to keep the momentum rolling in 2007 with significant upgrades in her racing program. The 26 year-old made monumental progress in her first year running the Fun Ford Weekend Pro 5.0 class, finishing 2nd in the points chase with consistent 6 second, 200 mph performances.

For 2007, BRISK USA has stepped up to become a major sponsor of Horsepower & Heels racing, allowing the team to bring about some exciting improvements to the racing program. Starting with a drastic body change, the old steel roof & quarter '86 Thunderbird is nixed in favor of a sleeker 2007 Pro Mod fiberglass Mustang body by VFN Fiberglass out of Addison, IL. Parker Chassis will be handling the fabrication behind the transformation, along with the fabrication of a new turbo configuration.

The engine program will still remain at the hands of master Ford engine guru, Al Moody Sr. of Maybleton, GA. The stock block and cast crank 2006 engine combination, which shattered performance barriers as the fastest OEM 460 block configuration, will be set aside for a stronger & lighter aluminum block powerplant.

"The whole premise behind 2006 was to get my feet wet in the PRO ranks, and we did surprisingly well as a team with the parts and budget that we had available at the time. This year, thanks to the great relationship we were able to build with BRISK USA, we will be able to debut a new look, and a stronger engine program which we feel will make us a formidable competitor." Erica said of her 2007 plans.

Erica plans to campaign the car in the 5 race Fun Ford Weekend Pro 5.0 schedule, the ADRL Pro Nitrous category, as well as the NOPI Drag Racing league, where domestics have newly entered the mix of sport compacts traditionally associated with this venue. Her goal is to work up towards the NHRA Pro Modified events, where turbocharged combinations have recently been accepted into the fold.

NOTEWORTHY: Erica will campaign a 2007 VFN Mustang body with Brisk Spark Plugs as major sponsor

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING

http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK SPARK PLUGS
http://www.parkerchassis.com/ -- PARKER CHASSIS & FABRICATION
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
Moody Racing Engines
http://www.exileturbos.com/ -- EXILE TURBO SYSTEMS
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES
http://www.coolfitwear.com/ -- COOL FIT WEAR
http://www.vfnfiberglass.com/ -- VFN FIBERGLASS
http://www.competitiondesigns.com/ -- COMPETITION DESIGNS

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
email: press [at] horsepowerandheels [dot] com
web: http://www.promodfullthrottle.com/

Ortiz qualifies #23 in Tough Pro Street Field

2006-10-29T14:02:00.000-06:00

Orlando, FL-- The annual Orlando World Street Nationals are the pinnacle of the street-style racing scene. After a long hard year of racing, drivers make the haul to sunny Orlando to compete in what has become known as the Street Legal Superbowl of racing. Promoter and track owner Carl Weisinger best sums up the Nationals:

"Everybody who's anybody in fast doorslammer drag racing shows up in Orlando, and then a hard-core, hammer-down, wide-open drag race explodes into action. No jets, no circus acts, no throttle stops or delay boxes. No bracket racing, no boom-box contest, no bull, no test runs, no dragsters, no practice, and NO CRY BABIES!"

The Pro Street class is made up of a wide range of class competitors. Anything from a blown pro mod, to twin turbo charged Pro 5.0 cars meet in Orlando. Thus, the field is a tough battleground to enter, and Erica was thrilled to have achieved a qualified position into eliminations.

"Orlando is a tough field. We're out there competing with blown promods and other very different combinations. My goal entering the weekend was to make a strong showing and qualify for the field. Though not as strong as I would've liked, I was thrilled with the #23 position out of 67," Erica said of her qualifying efforts.

Qualifying with a 6.88 at only 177 mph, Erica had a chore getting the car into the field. The track got loose at the top end, and Erica was forced to pedal the car to try and make it in. The car did post a career best 1/8th mile ET of 4.37 @ 167 mph. But her big disappointment came with the waste of her first qualifying attempt:

"We've been having some transmission problems with the transbrake on the starting line. 1st round, the car rolled through the beams before locking down, and started the clock early. According to the incremental and our computer data, that pass was a 6.69 @ 205mph," Erica stated of her skewed 7.69 @ 205 posting in the first round.

Luck was just not on the Horsepower & Heels team's side for the weekend, as her 1st round exit was the result of a faulty ignition fuse that shut the car off shortly after its launch.

NOTEWORTHY: Erica qualifies #23 out of 67 Pro Street Entries before exiting 1st round with ignition problems

>>> View Event Photo Gallery <<<

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING
http://www.parkerchassis.com/ -- PARKER CHASSIS & FABRICATION
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK PLUGS
http://www.impactraceproducts.com/ -- IMPACT RACING PRODUCTS
Moody Racing Engines
Exile Turbo Systems
http://www.youngsperformance.com/ -- YOUNG'S PERFORMANCE
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES
http://www.bs3.com/ -- BIG STUFF 3
http://www.coolfitwear.com/ -- COOL FIT WEAR

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
email: press [at] horsepowerandheels [dot] com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com

Erica finished #2 in FFW Pro 5.0 Championship Points

2006-09-19T14:06:00.000-05:00

Ennis, TX-- 26 year-old Erica Ortiz has much to be proud of in her rookie Fun Ford Weekend Pro 5.0 season. Her Horsepower & Heels team has made tremendous strides in 2006, from the debut of the twin turbo powered Thunderbird in late April to Erica's record setting performances making her the fastest woman in Fun Ford history and gaining membership into the 6 second 200+ mph club. Attending only 5 of 10 FFW points events, Erica worked her way to solid performances, beginning with licensing pass in April and leading to a final round appearance in Norwalk, OH. Juggling a full time career in advertising while attending school at night, as well as offering web design services to earn spare racing money, Erica has had a full plate and worked hard to make her dream a reality this year.

Entering the final 2 events of the year, Ortiz stood at #3 in the Pro 5.0 points chase, trailing teammate John Gullett by only 1 point. With her crew having other commitments to test another car, Erica was determined to stay competitive, making the haul from her home in Salem, AL all the way to Topeka, KS for the 2nd Annual FFW Heartland Nationals by herself. Crewless for the weekend, she phoned good friend & tuner Dennis Lugo for help at the event. With an untested switch from the 76mm turbos to larger 88mm turbos, Erica & Dennis fought traction issues all weekend, managing a #3 qualified position with a 6.88 @ 203. Though not her fastest 1/4 mile performance, that pass did provide her career best 1/8th mile incrementals with a strong 4.44 ET. In eliminations, Erica would again face points leader David Schorr. Though she took the starting line advantage with a stealthy 0.008 reaction to his .103 light, she lost traction down track and the round.

From Topeka, Ortiz then loaded up the Horsepower & Heels Thunderbird and headed 8 hours south to Ennis, TX's Motorplex for the 16th Annual FFW Ford Mustang World Finals. Now in the #2 position in points, Erica was poised for a strong run in the final Fun Ford Weekend points event of the year. A series of parts failures plagued Erica's qualifying attempts, resulting in a #4 seeding for Sunday's eliminations. With no clear data, Erica entered eliminations against Dan Saitz. Unfortunately, her season ended with a transmission failure at the tree, and Saitz went on to take the win as the injured T-Bird was backed off the surface.

The World Finals is also the location for the year end Fun Ford Weekend Banquet, and Erica's disappointment was not long-lived as she soon discovered that she had runnered-up for the FFW Pro 5.0 Points Championship in her rookie season.

"I'm just a little girl with a big dream, " Erica said of her journey in a heartfelt acceptance.

"6 years ago, I stood on the starting line at the Spring Break Shootout watching Johnny Gullett, Doug Mangrum, and the rest of the Pro 5.0 guys piloting down the racetrack. I made a silent wish that one day my dream would come true... that I would be among them in my own car. I've come up through the Brackets, then stood on this stage 3 years ago in Radial, and now I'm so happy to finally stand among you all in PRO. My dream came true this year. But not in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that I'd be on this stage in my first season, I'm truly blessed."

Horsepower & Heels Crew Chief, Dan Parker, was also recognized as the series' coveted Crew Chief of the Year recipient. This honor came as a result of his hard work with Erica's PRO efforts, as well as his chassis tuning expertise on PRO 5.0 competitor John Gullett, and Outlaw 10.5 standouts Dan Millen and Dennis Lugo. Parker was able to fully maximize the potential of the low-budgeted operation, making the most out of the limited funding and surprising many with the performances out of the early 80's thunderbird. The Al Moody built powerplant proved to be the most impressive piece, utilizing a stock Ford block filled and cast crank to propel the T-bird into the 6's.

The Horsepower & Heels team are already hard at work on preparing for the 2007 season, with some tentative plans to build a more competitive car for FFW competition as well as the ADRL Pro Mod series. Rumored plans include a move to a 2005 Mustang chassis as well as a more comprehensive engine program. One thing is for sure, Ortiz has placed herself as 'one-to-watch' in 2007. Look for this little girl to be making big strides in the doorslammer arena as her determination makes each dream a coming reality.

NOTEWORTHY: Erica finishes #2 in points in her rookie season of Pro 5.0

>>> View Event Photo Gallery <<<

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING

http://www.parkerchassis.com/ -- PARKER CHASSIS & FABRICATION
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK PLUGS
http://www.impactraceproducts.com/ -- IMPACT RACING PRODUCTS
Moody Racing Engines
AMSOIL/Traxwest Lubricants
Exile Turbo Systems
http://www.youngsperformance.com/ -- YOUNG'S PERFORMANCE
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES
http://www.bs3.com/ -- BIG STUFF 3
http://www.coolfitwear.com/ -- COOL FIT WEAR

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
email: press [at] horsepowerandheels [dot] com
web: http://www.promodfullthrottle.com/

Erica Ortiz on the cover of August Tire Tracks Magazine

2006-08-16T14:39:00.000-05:00

Salem, AL-- The latest issue of Fun Ford Weekend's Tire Tracks publication just hit the newstands, and Horsepower & Heels' very own Erica Ortiz graces this month's cover, with a 2-page photo spread of the car launching in Norwalk, OH!

The issue highlights Erica's recent accomplishments at the 16th Annual Buckeye State Nationals, the race where she entered the 6 second E.T. zone at over 200mph, becoming the fastest woman in Fun Ford history. Complete race results and the Norwalk event recap written by Josh Bolger document Erica's trip to the finals, where she runnered-up to Pro 5.0 points leader, David Schorr with a stellar 6.88 @ 205 mph.

2006 marks Erica's debut to the Pro 5.0 class. Her rookie season began a few races after the FFW opener in Florida, starting with an uneventful showing at the Atlanta, GA event. The Horsepower & Heels team would work hard at the following race in Richmond, VA to earn some low 7 second timeslips. But their big break-through would come in Erica's 3rd outing with Fun Ford at their Norwalk, OH event.

Erica is battling to hold her ground in the Pro 5.0 points chase, currently in the number 3 position after attending only 4 of the 7 points events this season. Her next race takes her solo to the Heartland Nationals in Topeka, KS-- the second-to-the-last stop on the Fun Ford Tour.

EXCERPT FROM ARTICLE- High Times in O-HI-O:
"Ortiz's combo is reminiscent of Pro 5.0 of old. Her stock block big block and mid-eighties T-Bird is sort of the way Pro once was. Her performance in Norwalk was record setting, as she became the first woman in FFW history to win a round of competition, and then make a final round appearance (in Pro 5.0). Her accomplishments did not stop there; in the final round she gave Schorr a run for his money with a career best 6.88 at 205.19 MPH. That makes Ortiz the first women in FFW to break the six second 200 MPH barrier." - Josh Bolger, Tire Tracks Magazine

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
web: http://www.promodfullthrottle.com/

Cool Fit Wear joins Horsepower & Heels team

2006-08-16T14:12:00.000-05:00

Salem, AL-- Horsepower & Heels is very happy to announce the addition of http://www.coolfitwear.com/ to the Horsepower & Heels team.

Uncover the magic of Silver....

Essential EquipmentDesigned for women and their sport, SLVR combines the optimum blend of technology and materials to create garments of maximum comfort and superior performance.

Who says performance can’t be sexy? While there is a lot of technology in SLVR, the designer didn’t neglect fashion and fit. All styles provide the same innovative “skin friendly” performance.
The magic of SLVR is SilverSilver is known for its medicinal qualities, including burn treatment and the healing of skin. Those same qualities are what make SLVR unique. Actual silver is woven into our patented fabric creating a high-tech material that is soft, comfortable and eliminates odors before they start.

Moisture TransportThe fabric of SLVR is nylon/spandex/lycra which has been treated with a process that permanently changes this synthetic fabric into a cool, comfortable fabric that rapidly wicks and moves the moisture away from your body. You will stay dry and it will actually help regulate temperature. So when it’s hot, SLVR keeps you cool and comfortable. And when it’s cold, the same process keeps your skin dry, so you stay warm. Cotton holds moisture, rather than wicking it away -- making it heavy, uncomfortable and prone to bacteria and odor. SLVR efficiently removes moisture so bacteria and fungus never get the chance to form.

Performance that lasts -- The SLVR collection is engineered to perform as well in your washer as they are on your body. They are wrinkle and stain resistant. And their superior moisture control never washes out.

For more information or to order:
http://www.coolfitwear.com/

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
email: press [at] horsepowerandheels [dot] com
web: http://www.horsepowerandheels.com

Erica runs career best ET/mph in Bristol FFW

2006-08-06T14:43:00.000-05:00

Bristol, TN-- The Horsepower & Heels team entered the Fun Ford Weekend Thunder Valley Nationals with some hard work ahead of them. After a stellar performance in Norwalk, OH with a runner-up finish and the history-making initiation of Erica Ortiz into the 6 second, 200 mph clubs, the team was ready & working hard to build upon their progress. This process began promptly after their return from Ohio, pulling the motor for refreshing just 2 weeks shy of Bristol. After tearing it down and discovering no excessive wear or damage, the team opted to switch the cast crank in favor of a steel version for reliability and peace of mind.

There was still much to do as they pulled in the gates of Thunder Valley. Kevin & Dan worked on getting the driveline back together, while Erica unloaded and unpacked. Having arrived mid-afternoon on Friday, the team would not make the first call qualifying session. Teammate John Gullett would grab the pole with a 6.57. Back in the pits, the team buttoned up the car and went to the line for the 2nd session. This night session would prove to be the best conditions for performance, as the cool air and track temperature would aid the car’s performance. But as Erica cranked the car in the staging lanes, she quickly discovered that the Bruno was low on fluid and forced to back it off.

Saturday morning, the team went over the car again. Dan & Kevin changed the tires to a larger Goodyear slicks, and they made the call for 3rd round qualifying. Erica staged up, but the car moved hard right out of the gate past the 60’ and she was forced to abort. A broken wheelie bar and the change in tire size had the chassis tune up slightly off, so Dan adjusted it for the final session. Having not made a clean attempt, Erica knew how important the final session would be to the Sunday ladder. She entered the burnout, but something went amiss, and the throttle hung wide open as she fought to keep the car straight and in control while reaching for the power kill. After safely killing the engine, Dan backed her off, tore off the hood, and removed the culprit—a vacuum line tangled in the throttle cable. Erica quickly refired, and jumped to the starting line. Rattled, she staged and took off, but when the tires finally set down over 200 ft out, the car got loose and she lifted. This failed attempt secured her spot at the bottom of the ladder, facing #2 qualifier Chuck Samuels in eliminations.

An early morning 1/8th mile test attempt showed strong improvement, with the car making a clean, straight pass and running stronger than her previous incremental best 1/8th mile attempt. Knowing that Samuels had the performance advantage (he qualified with a 6.62), Erica knew she would have to cut a good light to try and outrun him. She staged first, and left ahead of Samuels, with a near perfect 0.008 light but it just wasn’t enough, as her new personal best of 6.85 @ 207 mph couldn’t compete with his 6.57 @ 217.

Though her early exit in eliminations was not what they had hoped for, the team is proud of their continued progress.

“We know that we come in here under-powered compared to these other cars, but we continue to improve with each outing, and even if we aren’t winning races yet, we’re proud of the advancements we’ve made thus far.” Erica says.

Erica entered the event #2 in points for the Pro 5.0 championship points chase, with John Gullett a close 3rd and Chuck Samuels in the #4 position. Her early exit may have caused her to lose some ground on the points fight, but Erica is not far out of the running. The team is working on some marketing partnerships that would enable them to finish out the remaining 2 events in the FFW season- Topeka, KS & the Dallas, TX world finals.

The Horsepower & Heels team will be back out next weekend, July 12th with the Automatic Pro Mods quick 8 event at Silver Dollar Raceway in Reynolds, GA.

NOTEWORTHY: Erica posts a career best 6.85 @ 207 mph.

>>> View Event Photo Gallery <<<

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
email: mailto:info@fullthrottlemarketanddesign.com
web: http://www.promodfullthrottle.com/

Erica joins 6 Second & 200 MPH Clubs with Runner-Up Finish

2006-07-10T14:47:00.000-05:00

Norwalk, OH-- Erica Ortiz & crew had one big goal for their journey to the 16th Annual Buckeye State Fun Ford Weekend Nationals in Norwalk, OH this past weekend: to get the Horsepower & Heels Thunderbird into the 6 second zone. With Norwalk marking the 3rd event in her rookie PRO 5.0 season, Erica was feeling comfortable behind the wheel and ready to step up.

"We made some changes to the transmission and sent the torque converter back the Chance Racing Converters to be tightened up. The looser setup had sufficed in getting Erica acclimated with the car and down the racetrack, but now we are ready to start stepping up the performance and shooting for the six second zone," crew chief Dan Parker said of the pre-race preparations to the Bruno/Lenco combination.

Fresh off a #3 qualified position at the earlier FFW Richmond event, Erica had wrapped up the necessary steps to secure her Advanced ET license, running a best of 7.30 @ 186 mph before departing early in eliminations. With the much needed changes to the car, the team was optimistic entering the first qualifying session Friday afternoon.

"We've been very focused to date on getting me the needed seat time and sorting out the typical new car bugs. Dan (Parker) has had his hands full sorting out both a new car and a new driver at the same time, but he's an excellent teacher and has made this transition very smooth for me. Now that we have the bugs worked out and quite a few runs beneath my belt, we're working hard to step up the performance," Erica said of her learning transition in the twin-turbocharged thunderbird.

Erica posted a pair of mid 7 second passes for the first two sessions of qualifying, plagued by a mysterious ignition misfire that worsened during the runs. The crew tore into the ignition system to try and determine the problem, replacing several components before heading to the starting line for a last minute test pass before the track shut down for the evening. But the problem was still there, and now was so severe the car would not even complete the burnout and was backed out.

That's when the Livernois Motorsports crew stepped in to help. Dan Millen phoned some employees from his nearby Detroit, MI based speedshop and had them round up a complete ignition system for the thunderbird and bring to the track all the components needed to eliminate any possible culprit in the misfire. Dan & Erica arrived at the track early Saturday morning,replacing and rewiring the ignition system with the all new components. After a few tries and some trouble-shooting help from Millen, Steve Petty, and Dennis Lugo, the car revved to life and was ready for the 3rd session.

Erica posted a new career best of 7.14 @ 193 mph in the session, moving into the #3 qualifier position, but all was not well. After viewing the data logs and some discussions, the team had a bunch of work to do before the final session.

"The misfire is gone, thankfully. It felt a lot cleaner and more powerful going down the track, but the shift light was lit the entire pass practically and we knew there was a problem with the transmission," Erica said of the run.

Dan determined that there had been a mix up with some internal parts on the torque converter, resulting in it being even looser than before.

"On the 2 passes prior, the car was so far down on power, it wasn't as apparent in the graphs how loose the converter really was acting. Now that we had a clean firing engine, it was entirely too loose." Dan said.

Dan, Pauly & Greg made quick work of pulling the trans and getting the converter out to Steve Petty, who luckily had the exact part the converter really needed to drastically tighten it up and was kind enough to swap it out for the team. The car was back together in no time, and a quick test fire in the pits confirmed the converter was indeed a large step in the correct direction. With the new converter set up, Dan was at square one again in terms of tune-up and chassis adjustments. With no data on how the car would respond to the change, he took a best guess and headed to the starting line for the final session.

The tighter converter immediately woke the 498cid motor, building more starting line boost than earlier runs. This added power proved too aggressive, as the car instantly went into tire shake and the run aborted. Erica would remain in the #3 qualified position for Sunday's eliminations.

With no more testing opportunities available and facing eliminations first thing in the morning, Dan Parker spent the rest of the evening analyzing the graphs and formulating a plan. Erica's 1st round opponent had qualified just ahead of her with a 6.99, a performance the team knew the thunderbird was capable of matching. Dan made several adjustments, and headed to the lanes for 1st round Sunday morning. Lined up, Erica was quick out of the gate, with the car matching its best 60' incremental & marking a new best 330'. She quickly nosed ahead of her competitor before running into trouble on the 1-2 shift.

"It left strong and straight, and I had a nose out on my opponent. But at the 1-2 shift, the turbos spiked the tires and the car went into tire shake. I didn't see him in my window, so I quickly peddled it and brought it back in the groove to try and salvage a run on the finish. Luckily, he was having problems too and my 7.50 run was enough to take the win." Erica proclaimed.
Thankful for their luck, the crew quickly returned to the pits to look at the data. Erica's first round win in PRO 5.0 competition put them into the finals against the #1 qualifier, a car they knew had the capabilities of running deep into the 6.60's. Dan made some changes and Erica & the crew crossed their fingers for the final round.

And what a climatic final it was, as Erica was strong out of the gate. Knowing the cars looked close, Dan & the crew held their breath in anticipation, as both cars hung the chutes and the scoreboard lit.

6.88 @ 205mph

A close loss to Schorr's 6.77 win light, but an estatic team as Erica accomplished the feat they had be hunting for all weekend. That pass marked the quickest & fastest for any female in Fun Ford Weekend history, and had everyone jumping for joy at her newly found memberships into the 6 second & 200 mph clubs. Erica could hardly contain her excitement.

[laughing] "You'd think I won the entire championship judging by my top end reations of that timeslip after the run," she joked. "But after all the hard work that my crew has put into this, I finally reached a long standing dream of mine, something I couldn't have done without everyone's help."

What makes this feat even more remarkable is the dedication and perserverance this team displayed to get there.

"Something that I'm really proud of for my team is what we have done with the limited resources available to me," Erica says. "I work full time in advertising, go to school at night full time,and run a small web design & marketing venture for extra cash to try advance in racing. I am blessed to have built wonderful relationships over the years with great people who have really helped me out whenever possible, but most of the expenses come from out of my pocket. To say that we are a low-buck team is a HUGE understatement."

Erica made the decision to move up to PRO 5.0 in late 2004, by selling her successful drag radial coupe in an effort to realize her dream of racing PRO 5.0 and perhaps one day, Pro Modified. She purchased the thunderbird with those proceeds, and spent most of 2005 rounding up parts. Updating the chassis and all turbo kit fabrication were handled in house, at Parker Chassis. Turbos were supplied by Rick Head, owner of newly formed Exile Turbo Systems. The 3 speed Lenco came courtesey of Bill George of Automotive Technicians, and the 498 ci powerplant was given to Erica from standout Ford engine guru Al Moody.

"Al Moody is a remarkable individual. He is the most innovative,intelligent, generous and sincere individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Words cannot express how much gratitude I have for his help and kind support," Erica proclaims.

Al pieced together a complete engine for Erica using a stock 460 4-bolt block filled with cement, a cast steel crank, aluminum rods,and a set of Super Cobra Jet heads, a combination that has surprised many with its performance.

"We know that we are pushing the limitations of this engine to the max. Its been a great starting piece for me, and it has surprised us all how well it has done. I've already begun rounding up some parts for Mr. Moody so he can put together a more competitive and stronger piece for us. I know it'll take some time, but I'm going to keep working hard to try and make a name for myself and find a way to get it done," she states.

The Horsepower & Heels team's next stop on the Fun Ford Series-- Thunder Valley in Bristol, TN coming the first weekend of August.

>>>Official FFW Event Wrap Up<<<

>>>View Event Photo Gallery<<<

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING

http://www.parkerchassis.com/ -- PARKER CHASSIS & FABRICATION
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK PLUGS
http://www.youngsperformance.com/ -- YOUNG'S PERFORMANCE
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES
http://www.bs3.com/ -- BIG STUFF 3
http://www.impactraceproducts.com/ -- IMPACT RACING PRODUCTS
Moody Racing Engines
AMSOIL
Exile Turbo Systems

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
web: http://www.promodfullthrottle.com/

NEW! Horsepower & Heels Boi-Beater Tanks

2006-07-06T14:52:00.000-05:00

Columbus, GA-- NEW to Horsepower & Heels apparel: ladies tank tops emblazoned with the Horsepower & Heels trademark: "Who says Horsepower & Heels don't mix?!?"

Now, show the boys in the pits the true meaning of "BOY-BEATER" with this popular style tank top. The ribbed cotton tanks come in black and heather gray with magenta logo, and are available in sizes S-M-L-XL. Shirts can be purchased in the Horsepower & Heels pits at race events or may be purchased online through paypal.

All proceeds from Horsepower & Heels apparel go toward Erica Ortiz's racing program. Help keep Erica on track and going faster-- order your Horsepower & Heels merchandise today!

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
web: http://www.promodfullthrottle.com/

#3 Qualifier in FFW Richmond Pro 5.0

2006-06-30T14:56:00.000-05:00

Petersburg, VA-- After making the long, rainy trek to the Richmond, VA area for the 8th Annual Fun Ford Weekend Old Dominion Nationals, the forecast wasn't looking good. Rain had cancelled Friday's qualifying session, and computers showed 60% chance of rain for the weekend. A tired Horsepower & Heels crew fought the conditions all the way up, arriving in the wee hours on Saturday morning. They headed to the track at daylight to unload and prepare.

Luck would be on Fun Ford's side, as the weather allowed a full weekend of racing. Since the 1st round of qualifying had been cancelled from the previous day, Erica jumped right into 2nd round qualifying. The Horsepower & Heels thunderbird clicked off a 7.54 after peddling at the 1/8th mile marker. Most cars in that lane were experiencing trouble at that spot, but Erica was able to salvage the run for the 7.54 pass.

In the final attempt, Erica was the first car out for the session. But when she tried to fire the motor, the mechanical fuel pump had lost its prime. After some quick thinking by Dan Parker and Josh Kuhn, the engine fired and Erica moved into the back of the Pro session. Unfortunately, the run would not count as she missed her call on the round's running order, but Erica fired off a 7.33 @ 184 nonetheless.

That would leave Erica in the #3 qualified position, set to face David Schorr 1st round of eliminations Sunday morning. David had not made it down the track in the qualifying sessions, but the Horsepower & Heels team knew that Schorr's team was a strong competitor, capable of mid 6 second runs. Dennis Lugo made some adjustments to the fuel map and helped bring up the starting line boost, while Dan & Erica prepared the car for eliminations.

Sunday morning, the team watched the morning test & tune run by the Schorr team, where they blasted a mid-6 second pass, and knew they didn't have the horsepower to run him down. Knowing it would require a good leave and a little luck down track for any hopes of a round win, Erica tried to stay sharp on the tree. But it wasn't her day, as her 7.30 @ 185 was no match for Schorr's 6.86 @ 206.

The team is now preparing for the Fun Ford Weekend Buckeye State Nationals in Norwalk, OH on July 6-9.

Photo by: Eric Burton

>>>Official FFW Event Wrap Up<<<

THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF HORSEPOWER & HEELS RACING

http://www.parkerchassis.com/ -- PARKER CHASSIS & FABRICATION
http://www.excessiveengineering.com/ -- EXCESSIVE ENGINEERING
http://www.briskusa.com/ -- BRISK PLUGS
http://www.youngsperformance.com/ -- YOUNG'S PERFORMANCE
http://www.hernonmfg.com/ -- HERNON HIGH PERFORMANCE SEALANTS & ADHESIVES
http://www.bs3.com/ -- BIG STUFF 3
http://www.impactraceproducts.com/ -- IMPACT RACING PRODUCTS
Moody Racing Engines
AMSOIL
Exile Turbo Systems

CONTACT
Horsepower & Heels Racing
web: http://www.promodfullthrottle.com/

Runner-up finish in Phenix City Quick 8

2006-06-04T14:59:00.000-05:00

Phenix City, AL-- Erica's local track, Phenix Motorsports Park, has a pretty strong Sunday program in place during the summer, which regularly includes Pro Mods & other variation Quick 8 programs. Feeling more confident after recent test sessions, the Horsepower & Heels team decided to enter the Sunday Quick 8. Erica was super consistent all day, and ended up in the final before a "brain malfunction" gave her opponent a hefty holeshot victory when both cars got loose. Still, Erica was pleased with her performance.

"It's been awhile since I've had some real-race experience. We've made so many single run test passes, and my focus has been trying to get the car down track. Now, I feel we've got a handle on the car, and I'm feeling much more comfortable behind the wheel, so its time to get to work on my job on the tree," she said.

Overall, the Horsepower & Heels team was very happy with their success, and are optimistic about the performance progress they are making. Look for more progress as the team turns the wick up even more to prepare for Fun Ford Weekend Richmond, VA later this month.