2025 Flamboro Speedway - OSCAAR Hot Rod Series

Now in its thirty-fifth year, the Ontario Stock Car Association of Asphalt Racers (OSCAAR) is responsible for sanctioning two divisions: Modified and Hot Rod.

On November 1, 2022, it was announced that OSCAAR had merged with the United Racing Series. The relationship increases OSCAAR’s resources and allows the United Racing Series to expand its brand and footprint in motorsports.

Ten races are on the 2025 OSCAAR Hot Rod schedule.

May 31 - Flamboro Speedway
June 14 - Sauble Speedway
June 28 - Delaware Speedway
July 12 - Full Throttle Speedway
July 26 - Peterborough Speedway
August 16 - Sauble Speedway
September 20 - Brighton Speedway
September 27 - Delaware Speedway
October 4 - Flamboro Speedway
October 10 - Peterborough Speedway

The cars competing in the championship are constructed to specifications and rules common to most stock car series. What makes the Hot Rod division unique are the makes and models that compete in the division. The cars must be North American, have a steel body and have been produced between 1949 and 1984. No convertibles or front-wheel-drive vehicles can participate in this series. Changes to the rules in the off-season included the addition of pick-up trucks and an increase in the eligible year range from 1974 to 1984. The Hot Rods must have a stock roof, grill, tail and the rest of the body panels can be fabricated from 22-gauge sheet steel but must retain a stock appearance. Many other rules governing this class are for safety and to keep the costs down.

The OSCAAR Hot Rod series began its 2025 campaign on May 31st at Flamboro Speedway. The event, titled the Bill Zardo Memorial, was scheduled to be a forty-six-lap contest around the 1/3-mile semi-banked asphalt oval.

Unfortunately, an incident, while competitors were working lap 3, resulted in a red flag. The race was shortened to thirty laps.

Thirteen OSCAAR Hot Rods line up on Flamboro Speedway’s front straight for round one of the championship. Starting the forty-six lap Bill Zardo Memorial on the pole is Thomas Wunsch in the No. 47T 1974 Chevrolet Camaro. Beside Wunsch is the No. 2 1966 Pontiac Beaumont, driven by Tyler Hawn. In the second row are the No. 26M 1982 Monte Carlo of Dave McMahon and Trevor Thompson driving a 1971 Camaro.

Tyler Hawn has four OSCAAR Hot Rod championships and is campaigning for his fifth. During the off-season, he replaced last year’s Monte Carlo sheet metal with the original 1966 Pontiac Beaumont bodywork. Hawn finished second in the first heat race and was gridded second for the feature. At the drop of the green flag, he jumped into the lead, and despite a race stoppage and pressure from Thomas Wunsch, Hawn went on to win.

Last season, Thomas Wunsch drove the No. 47T 1965 Chevrolet Chevy II. An engine issue prevented him from starting last year’s opening round. During the off-season, the team obtained Amanda Balson’s championship-winning 1974 Chevrolet Camaro. The decision to change cars proved to be a good choice. Wunsch won his heat race and started on the pole. In the feature, he pressured Tyler Hawn and finished second by a margin of 0.142 seconds.

Rob Bromley returned for another season in the familiar No. 6 1972 Dodge Challenger. Bromley competed in the second heat race and finished in third place. He started the feature in the fifth spot. A pass on Dave McMahon and Trevor Thompson allowed Bromley to move into third place. His position in the race was safe until late in the contest when he was challenged by Dalen Martin and Jason Parker. Bromley held on to finish third.

Dalen Martin dominated the first heat race until the final lap. The driver of the No. 26 1971 Ford Mach 1 Mustang had a comfortable lead when he appeared to be slowed by an ignition problem. Martin crossed the finish line in fifth place. He lined up eighth for the feature. He spent much of the race behind the No. 8 1969 Chevrolet Camaro of Jason Parker. Once past Parker, Martin chased down Rob Bromley. Unable to make a pass, he finished fourth.

During the off-season, brothers Billy and Lane Zardo rebuilt their grandfather’s 1970 Dodge Charger Daytona. The Dodge was the last car raced by their grandfather, Bill Zardo. Lane had the honour of driving the Dodge. After finishing second in the qualifier, he started the memorial race in the sixth spot. The car was running competitively when a rad hose failed. Zardo slid in his coolant and hit the wall, which caused the Dodge to land on its roof.

It was a difficult event for Steve Book. The engine failed in Book’s 1960 Studebaker Hawk. However, he brought a 1974 Chevrolet Camaro, which was scheduled to be driven by Kevin Gallant. Gallant surrendered the seat. Book drove the Camaro in the heat race and finished third. In the feature, his luck went from bad to worse. Working lap 3, Book slid on Lane Zardo’s coolant and rolled over the back of Drew Richardson’s Camaro. His race was over.

The top three finishers at Flamboro Speedway for round one of the 2025 OSCAAR Hot Rod Series. The winner of the Bill Zardo Memorial, Tyler Hawn, stands in the center. On the left is the runner-up, Thomas Wunsch. Wunsch challenged the winner, Hawn, for the entire thirty laps and it appeared that he might grab the lead on many occasions. Third-place finisher Rob Bromley came under pressure late in the contest.

FINISH	START	DRIVER	CAR	LAPS	RETIREMENTS
1	2	Tyler Hawn	1966 Pontiac Beaumont	30	-
2	1	Thomas Wunsch	1974 Chevrolet Camaro	30	-
3	5	Rob Bromley	1972 Dodge Challenger	30	-
4	8	Dalen Martin	1971 Ford Mach 1 Mustang	30	-
5	7	Jason Parker	1969 Chevrolet Camaro	30	-
6	3	Dave McMahon	1982 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS	30	-
7	4	Trevor Thompson	1971 Chevrolet Camaro	30	-
8	9	Brian Wilson	1970 Chevrolet Camaro	30	-
9	10	Matt Spry	1973 Dodge Duster	6	Did Not Finish
10	6	Lane Zardo	1970 Dodge Charger Daytona	2	Did Not Finish
11	12	Drew Richardson	1977 Chevrolet Camaro	2	Did Not Finish
12	13	Steve Book	1974 Chevrolet Camaro	2	Did Not Finish
13	11	Adrian Foster	1969 Chevrolet Chevelle	2	Did Not Finish

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