DARTMOUTH, NS – Organizers for the new Heart of a Champion Hot Rod Classics Vintage Race Car Series are excited to announce that driver registration is now open for the 2020 season. The announcement coincides with a new website launch for Heart of a Champion (HOAC) which includes a section for the new racing series.

Besides the online Driver Registration application form, which includes the car number reservation request, racers will find building rules and procedures for the new series. Organizers have had competitors from all over the Maritimes express interest in the Hot Rod Classics and are excited to move into this next phase of development. Racers can now finalize plans to revamp or build vintage cars for the 2020 season. Heart of a Champion’s growth is due to the support of its thousands of followers on social media and the support of Steele Mazda, a sponsor since Heart of a Champion’s inception in 2017.

“We’re thrilled to see the phenomenal growth of Heart of a Champion,” said Patrick Lawrence, general manager at Steele Mazda. “We’re looking forward to the next chapter as the Hot Rod Classics get on track in 2020. Heart of a Champion values align perfectly with our ‘Family Matters’ motto at Steele Mazda.”

Vintage motorsports enthusiasts of all genres will want to visit the new robust mobile-friendly website (HeartofaChampion.ca) to learn more about the organization, view an archive of the popular Saturday Salutes and a historic track database, and to join the new Checkered Flag Club. The Club, currently offering free membership, has been formed for vintage motorsports fans so they can show their enthusiasm for one of the fastest-growing types of motorsports in North America.

The Hot Rod Classics Vintage Race Car Series is the first of its kind in eastern Canada and expects to run five events in 2020; its schedule will be finalized in collaboration with those of regional race tracks. The series will showcase race cars from 1980 or older giving veteran fans an opportunity to relive memories and at the same time provide a platform where newer fans can experience race cars of a bygone era. The competition will be spirited with no intentional contact, in keeping with the fun philosophy intended for the series and its participants.

The Hot Rod Classics section of the new website can be accessed directly by visiting HotRodClassics.ca.

Heart of a Champion has also launched a YouTube channel to complement its website and Facebook presence. The channel includes videos showcasing HOAC’s two vintage race cars as well as numerous vintage Maritime motorsports events. Fans will find a link to the HOAC YouTube channel on the new website.

Heart of a Champion was founded in 2017 to help preserve Maritime motorsports heritage. Organizers used a 1967 vintage stock car they had restored to rekindle memories with veteran fans and to educate new fans, showing the car at motorsports events throughout the Maritimes. At the same time, they launched a basic website and a Facebook page, using it to share vintage racing photos, stories, and a weekly ‘Saturday Salute’ to someone who has helped build racing in our region – someone with the Heart of a Champion

In 2018 they acquired a vintage open wheel modified race car. In 2019 they used it to garner interest in the potential for a vintage race car series in the region and in July announced their intent to form the HOAC Hot Rod Classics Vintage Race Car Series, to debut in 2020. This past October, HOAC announced an affiliation with the IWK Foundation as an awareness and fundraising partner.

Since its inception in the summer of 2017, HOAC’s social media following has flourished to over 6,100 – clearly demonstrating an interest in and passion for Maritime motorsports heritage.

About Steele Mazda

Steele Mazda is a full-service new and used Mazda dealership located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Their sales team is eager to discuss your driving needs, wants, and budget. They will happily guide you through the buying process with sleek and affordable options for your new or previously owned vehicle, from the test drive to the loan approval process. The Steele Mazda service department welcomes customers from throughout HRM, keeping your ride healthy by handling oil changes, tire rotations, and any other repair or maintenance work you may require. Steele Mazda prides itself with its exceptional customer service; test drive us today! For more information, please call 902-462-6600, stop by our store at 15 Lansing Drive in Dartmouth or visit www.steelemazda.ca.

About Heart of a Champion

Heart of a Champion is dedicated to preserving Maritime motorsports heritage by rekindling memories for veteran fans and educating new fans about the people and events that have helped shape motorsports in the region. To accomplish this, they use static and interactive mediums and in 2020 will launch the region’s first-ever vintage race car series, the Hot Rod Classics. To learn more please visit www.heartofachampion.ca or www.hotrodclassics.ca.