OWNERS of more than 140 classic cars have signed up to take part in a motor show organised to raise money to get vital medical treatment for a motor car enthusiast.
Members of Kerry Motor Club are organising a static car show in Tralee town centre to raise funds for club member James Quinlan, who faces a very difficult medical journey in New York.
Mr Quinlan, from Waterville, suffered a major brain haemorrhage on December 19, 2021, and remains in the intensive care unit in a Manhattan Hospital.
The Kelliher classic collection will also be on showHis friends in the Kerry motorsport community are running a series of events over the coming weeks including the car show at the Brandon Car Park in Tralee on February 13.
So far over 140 cars have been confirmed for the event.
These include several rally cars, like a Ford Focus World Rally Car, the Ford Escort Mk2 that won the Killarney Historic Rally in the hands of Rob Duggan and BMW E30 M3 rally car.
One of the highlights in the rally car display will be a replica of the Fiat 131 Abarth that Michelle Mouton drove on the 1980 Monte Carlo Rally.
A Porsche 911 RSR rally car and an Audi quattro will also be on show alongside a very rare Fiat Spyder.
A single seater Formula 3 racing will also be on show on the day.
There are over 60 classic and vintage cars entered, including a 1950s Riley Elf that has been in the same family since new and another rare car, a 1965 Ford Mustang, entered by James’ aunt Norah.
Another classic car in position at the Kilgarvan Motor MuseumSeveral rally-derived road cars will also go on show, including a Lancia Stratos, a Subaru Legacy in the late Bertie Fisher’s colours and an Opel Manta 400 in Dealer Team Opel Ireland livery.
Local car dealers are also supporting the event and the latest offerings from Ford, Hyundai and Toyota will be exhibited by Kerry Motor Works, Adam’s of Tralee, and Kelliher’s Garage.
The county’s Toyota dealer is also bringing a selection of its own classic collection.
The Mitchell family from Kilgarvan Motor Museum will show off some of its show pieces and fans can also expect to see a classic Volkswagen Camper and a Morris Minor from the 1960s.
The Quinlan family estimate that it will cost more than €250,000, possibly as much as four times that figure, to get James the treatment he needs.
A GoFundMe campaign launched over Christmas raised €80,000 but more funds are urgently needed.
Kerry Motor Club’s John Liston is a close friend of the Quinlan family.
“We set out to raise funds for our friend and fellow car enthusiast, James, but it now looks like we are about to create one of the biggest, if not biggest car shows ever seen in Kerry,” he said.
“We are very grateful to those who have supported so far and extend our thanks,”
Additional side events, like a 5k walk and raffles will run alongside the main show.
