Hot Rod Classics Closing Spectacular Season Saturday in Sydney October 16, 2023 Regional DARTMOUTH, NS – The Hot Rod Classics Vintage Race Car Series will put a period on its fourth season this Saturday at Bud’s Speedway in Sydney, as part of the Caper Memorial. The Jeff Landry Auto Body Monster Mash Hot Rod Classic presented by Anchor Toyota, County Mazda, Vantage Motors, and Steele Volkswagen is the eighth and final ‘hot rod’ race of the year – boasting visits to seven tracks in the three Maritime Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. It’s been a year of spectacular growth for the vintage series…with new cars, new sponsors, new drivers, and record-breaking support for its charity of choice – the IWK Foundation. New cars included Donny Young’s ’55 Chev, Patty Lawrence’s ’79 Pinto – re-dressed from #134 to #U2 to further celebrate the lineage of the original Tour-Type Modified, Jeff Ainslie’s ’64 Nova – a Bobby Allison throwback, and two “come from away” cars with Brad Melendy’s ‘Pink Panther’ ’74 Charger from Newfoundland and Doug Fisher’s ’73 Nova from Ontario. Both Melendy and Fischer made multiple starts with the series during personal vacation time in the Maritimes. New sponsors for the Hot Rod Classics Powered by Conrad Bros. include County Mazda and Vantage Motors as part of the Steele Auto Group dealership collaboration supporting this Saturday’s event. Management at both stores is excited to be involved. “This is a great opportunity to promote our store to automotive enthusiasts,” said Nick Marchand, General Manager at County Mazda in New Glasgow. “It’s a bonus that we are also supporting fundraising efforts for the IWK Foundation through the Hot Rod Classics.” “We’re happy to partner with the Hot Rod Classics,” said Graham Parlee, General Manager of Vantage (VW) Motors in Truro. “Their focus aligns with ours in sales, service, and in giving back.” New drivers, ironically, are two legendary motorsports veterans. Frank Fraser wheeled Chris Dingle’s ’68 Camaro at Petty International Raceway a couple of weeks ago; despite limited practice and no heat races (due to weather), Fraser thrilled the crowd and his fellow competitors by winning the feature. In July, North American short track superstar Jr. Hanley (a native of Nova Scotia) was the honourary pace car driver for the IWK 250 at Riverside International Speedway – piloting a replica of his famous #72, a vintage race car built by Fraser for Stacey Clements, a regular competitor on the Hot Rod Classics tour. Both Fraser and Hanley are members of the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame; Hanley is also a member of the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame. Having these legends in Hot Rod Classics race cars goes straight to the heart of the series foundation: to provide a real-time platform for newer race fans to learn about Maritime stock car racing history and for veteran fans to relive glory days and meaningful memories. Mission accomplished, in spades, in both cases. With all of the positive momentum, the series has been able to eclipse its 2023 fundraising goal for the IWK Foundation, surpassing the $10,000 target after just its sixth event. Funds have been raised through merchandise sales, driver initiatives, and outright donations. 100% of the revenue generated from merchandise sales this year goes directly to the IWK Foundation thanks to the generosity of Steele Volkswagen and M & R Automotive. With official Hot Rods Classics merchandise still available, fans at Bud’s Speedway can add to the fundraising total by visiting the series hauler in the pit area. The Caper Memorial at Bud’s Speedway this Saturday is the last chance this year to see the Hot Rod Classics race cars in action. Other divisions on the card include Sportsman, Street Stock, Mini Stock, V6 Thunder, Hobby Stock, and Bandolero. Pits open at 9 a.m., the grandstand opens at Noon, and racing starts at 2. Please visit the track’s website or Facebook page to confirm event details. About Hot Rod Classics The Hot Rod Classics Vintage Race Car Series was formed in 2019 by organizers of Heart of a Champion, a group formed in 2017 to help preserve Maritime motorsports now with over 36,000 followers worldwide on social media. The series debuted in 2020 and showcases vintage-style race cars from bygone eras with gentleman-style racing among its competitors. It provides a real-time platform for newer race fans to learn about Maritime stock car racing history and for veteran fans to relive glory days and meaningful memories. To learn more please visit www.heartofachampion.ca or www.hotrodclassics.ca or follow Heart of a Champion on Facebook.
