Please join us in welcoming Lea Ochs to Team Car Chix — Ms. September in the 2018 Car Chix Calendar. Lea Ochs placed in the top 12 of the 2017 Women of Motorsports Contest (Read: Record Breaking Women of Motorsports Contest Takes Over the Internet), earning her spot as Ms. September in the Crank It Media sponsored month of the 2018 Car Chix Calendar.
LEA OCHS BIO
PROFESSION: REALTOR®
YOUR VEHICLES (in photo): 1978 Ford Fairmont Wagon
MOTOR/SPECS:
440cid lsx built by Gary Ochs/Ochs Performance
Machine work by Metroplex Machine/Rick Caudle
Frankenstein Brodix Br7 heads and Frankenstein ported Mast 4500 intake
DaVinci Carburetor
Nitrous Express billet crossbar plate and Nitrous outlet fogger
RACING CLASS/TEAM/DIVISION: We mostly race no-prep events in the True Street/Outlaw Street classes
HOMETOWN: Fairview, Texas
HOMETRACK: North Star Dragway, Denton TX
PERSONAL WEBSITE/FANPAGE: www.facebook.com/LeadSledLea
Instagram and Snapchat: TheLeaOchs
CLUBS/AFFLIATIONS/SPONSORS: Ochs Performance, MetroPlex Machine, NTX Clear Bra, DaVinci
Performance Carburetors, Frankenstein Engine Dynamics, Santhuff’s Suspension Specialties, Scott’s Tire
Motorsports, Nitrous Outlet, Nitrous Express
ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ACHIEVEMENTS:
10/15 – Street Car Takeover – Street class Runner Up
3/17 – Doomsday No-Prep winner – True Street/Outlaw Street combined class
4/17 – Texas True Street Shootout – True Street Runner Up
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
Became the first female to win a no-prep event in the true street/outlaw street combined class. First
female to win a no-prep event on a small tire and in a door slammer car.
Featured in Car Craft Magazine and Drag Illustrated
FAVORITE QUOTE/SAYING: Rule #76 No excuses, play like a champion. – Vince Vaughn, Wedding Crashers
No Hero $hit – Shannon Morgan
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS: I grew up in a car family. We spent
weekends at the drag strip watching my step-dad (I call him pops) race. My first car was a 1972 nova with a
shift kit. It wasn’t fast, but I cruised around the streets of Lawton, Ok chirping the tires and looking for
races. As we got older, three of my six brothers built their own cars and bikes and took over my stepdad’s
role behind the wheel. After a few years of following my brothers around and supporting them, my husband
and I decided to build a car. In 2012, the original Lead Sled project began. My husband also grew up with a
passion for cars. I call him my mechanical genius… there doesn’t seem to be a problem he can’t solve. Our
combined passion for performance and the origination of the Lead Sled led to the creation of Ochs
Performance.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED WITH AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS: My mom’s water broke at
the drag strip when she was pregnant with me. My dad was racing and he took home the first place win that
day!
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS: We’re so blessed to have met so many
amazing people because of the sport. We’re like one big, extended family. Even though we’re all
competitive, we support and encourage each other. Spending time with our friends at the track is
something we both look forward to. I love the feeling of adrenaline and excitement on race day. Racing is an
escape… I love that I can climb in the driver’s seat and forget about everything else. The thing I love the
most is that my husband and I do this together, as a team.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST CAR/RACING/MOTORSPORTS RELATED MEMORY: Winning Doomsday in March 2017
at our home track, North Star Dragway. That’s where I became the first female to win a no-prep event in the
true street/outlaw street combined class. We were surrounded by so many friends and family and we
celebrated that victory as a team. Winning is always fun and rewarding, but it’s even better when we’re
surrounded by so many people who love and support us. The Doomsday race series is promoted by our
good friends Michael Hollis and Barrett Green… to take that win at one of their races and at our home track
made it so incredibly special.
I remember my first pass in the original Lead Sled. I was learning the car and my brother was in the passenger seat. It was a motor only pass. At the end of the track… I yelled over the sound of the motor “my shift light never came on!” He yelled back “you didn’t get fast enough!” We hot lapped and made another pass after that… we still tell that story and laugh. Such a great memory.
WHAT IS YOUR WORST CAR/RACING/MOTORSPORTS RELATED MEMORY: I wrecked the Lead Sled in May
2017 at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis during Shannon Morgan’s Redemption No-Prep race. I was competing
in the True Street Class on Friday and my opponent and I were the third cars down the track. It was slippery
and I got greedy. I lost traction mid-way down the track and hit the wall at 100+mph. It totaled the car… and
sent me to the ER. I’m so very fortunate to have walked away with only a concussion and a bone contusion
in my right arm. My mom gave me a guardian angel and it stays pinned to the floor near my shifter… she
had her work cut out for her on that day! Cars can be replaced… my safety equipment did it’s job and saved
me from what could have been a much more tragic outcome.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR NEXT SEASON: We’ll be back with the new Lead Sled (The Resurrection) and
are just hoping to have a successful first season with the new set-up.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR REACHING YOUR GOALS: *secret*
ANY BIG MODS OR BUILDS GOING ON DURING THE OFF SEASON: We are re-building after the wreck in May.
It is a completely new car, so we had to start over. New cage, new motor, and we’re switching from nitrous
to turbo for the new set-up.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: We love to hunt and travel. Everything my husband and I
do, we do as a team.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP SONGS FOR WHEN YOU ARE DOING CARS THINGS / RACING:
I have a play list that I listen to when I’m getting ready to race… a couple of my favorites from that list are
Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne and Low Rider by War.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BLOGS, WEBSITES OR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES THAT YOU FOLLOW:
National No-Prep Racing Association, NX Gonzo Video, 1320 Video, Max Cackle Photos.com, World-Wide LS Owners
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE CAR CHIX COMMUNITY: God blessed me with an
incredible husband and I am extremely grateful. He does everything in his power to make all my dreams
come true and encourages me to reach for the stars. We’re blessed with an amazing support group of
friends, family and fellow racers… we really couldn’t ask for more! I’m proud and honored to represent No-Prep racing and Team Texas in the 2018 Women of Motorsports calendar.
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PHOTO CREDITS FOR SUBMITTED PHOTOS: Chris Graves, Max Cackle Photos.com
