Killarney vintage club sets wheels in motion on latest fundraising restoration project
A soon-to be-restored 1982 Toyota Starlet was the star of the show in sunny Killarney last Sunday morning, when members of the Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club gathered to reveal details of their latest fundraising restoration project.
After Covid19 had halted their progress for over two years, club members were thrilled to welcome the project’s sponsors and benefiting charities to their Lewis Road headquarters on Sunday, where details of the exciting restoration project were announced.
The club’s volunteers have been working on the car since last October and, similar to other restoration projects in the past, they will be raffling the fully restored Starlet at the end of year. Proceeds from the €10 ticket sales will be going to four chosen charities this time around, namely Cuan Mhuire, the Killarney branch of the Irish Kidney Association, Killarney Valley AC and cancer support charity, Recovery Haven Kerry.
Speaking at the event on Sunday, club PRO Tom Leslie revealed the project’s main sponsors – Kelliher’s Toyota Kerry and Lee Strand – without whom the entire restoration simply could not happen. He also gave a special mention to a number of other sponsors who have come on board to support the initiative, including Tricel, Paul Fitzgerald Builder Providers, O’Callaghan Coach Holidays, Humphrey Kerins Crash Repair, Castleisland Tyre Centre, O’Sullivan Darcy Engineering, Torc Engineering, Fred Cronin Tralee and Smart Loans.
Tom explained that the support of such reputable Kerry companies has been hugely appreciated and he thanked them for their overwhelming generosity in every aspect of the project. Their commitment and help, he said, means that even more money can be raised for this year’s chosen charities – the primary aim of the project.
For the coming weeks and months, the club’s members will continue to work on the car at its premises at Upper Lewis Road (beside the Ross Café) which is provided to the club by Kerry Mental Health Association. Once the restoration is complete, an official launch will take place at Kelliher’s Toyota in Tralee at the end of May, after which the raffle tickets will go on sale. Anyone interested in helping with the project can contact the club through their Facebook page or just pop in and meet members at their Lewis Road premises every Thursday night
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Kerry Motorsport News 