DARTMOUTH, NS – Organizers for Heart of a Champion are proud to announce a pledge of $7,378.56 to the Nova Scotia Remembers Legacy Society, an organization being formed to benefit the families and communities affected by the tragic events in and around Portapique on April 18 & 19.
The funds were raised through donations received and in the sale of a commemorative Nova Scotia tartan ribbon decal, with hundreds of orders received from all over Canada and the United States. The decal was conceived, designed, and made in Nova Scotia.
Colchester County Councillor Tom Taggart, whose district includes Portapique, directed Heart of a Champion volunteers to the Nova Scotia Remembers Legacy Society for the donation.
“Our community and the Nova Scotia Remembers Legacy Society is truly grateful for this donation,” said Taggart, “but more importantly are appreciative for the love and compassion shown by the Heart of a Champion group and its followers for fundraising in support of the families and communities affected by this tragedy.”
Heart of a Champion wishes to thank all those who purchased the ribbons, those who volunteered their time, and longtime sponsor, Steele Mazda for its unwavering support of such initiatives.
“Steele Mazda is proud to partner with such a community-minded organization like Heart of a Champion,” said Patrick Lawrence, General Manager of Steele Mazda. “It’s very heartwarming to see the success of their Tartan Ribbon campaign in support of the families affected by this tragedy.”
The Nova Scotia Remembers Legacy Society is being formed as a non-profit society and will focus on four areas to benefit families and communities affected by the tragedy: 1) Coordinated Wellness, Emotional, and Grief Support; 2) Community Development; 3) Education Support; and 4) Memorials. For more information, or to make a donation, please visit novascotiaremembers.ca.
Heart of a Champion is the most followed motorsports preservation organization in Canada. Since its launch in mid-2017, its social media following has flourished to over 8,200 with a monthly reach averaging 200,000 – clearly demonstrating an interest in and passion for Maritime motorsports heritage.
Besides its social media presence, Heart of a Champion is launching the Hot Rod Classics Vintage Race Car Series – scheduled to debut July 18 at Riverside International Speedway as part of the legendary IWK 250 Super Weekend. It is the first of five events planned for 2020 as the series visits all three Maritime provinces; race dates can be found at hotrodclassics.ca.
Several cars are already registered for the series ranging from restored originals to custom-built replicas. Building rules and procedures can be found online at hotrodclassics.ca.
The Hot Rod Classics series will showcase race cars from 1980 or older – some original, some rebuilt, and some newly built – allowing veteran fans to relive precious memories and at the same time providing a forum where newer fans can experience race cars of a bygone era. Vintage car racing is presently the fastest-growing division in North American motorsports.
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 website and a Facebook page, using it to share vintage racing photos, stories, and a weekly ‘Saturday Salute’ to someone who has helped build motorsports in our region – someone with the Heart of a Champion.
In 2018 the group acquired a vintage open wheel modified race car. In 2018 they used it to garner interest in the potential for a vintage race car series in the region and last July announced their intent to form the HOAC Hot Rod Classics Vintage Race Car Series. In the fall of 2019, HOAC announced its affiliation with the IWK Foundation as an awareness and fundraising partner – and launched a robust website in support of its efforts and as a repository documenting Maritime motorsports history.
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 keeps your ride healthy by handling oil changes, tire rotations, and any other repair or maintenance work you may require. Steele Mazda prides itself on its exceptional customer service; test drive them today. For more information, please call 902-462-6600, stop by the 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. Fans can also follow Heart of a Champion on Facebook and YouTube.
