New Project launched

Crowds flocked to the Greystone Centre at North West Regional College last Thursday evening to support Limavady Custom Cruisers as it commenced its latest project - safely modifying a Skyline.

William Semple, Club Chair said “there was a real buzz about the workshops and car park where exhibitors were showcasing vehicles from various motorsport disciplines and cars were entered into a Show and Shine competition.  A key attraction was the locally based SATS Cosworth Supra, driven by Mark Luney, European Drift Champion Holder and 2011 British Drift Championship runner-up.  We are indebted to people and businesses associated with motor vehicles and motor sport who have given freely of their time and knowledge over the years and we look forward to continued partnership with them.

 

Rosemary Savage, Club Treasurer and DPP member said “we were all very encouraged at the support shown by the local community.  This particular project is in its infancy, club members will be involved in making the decisions, learning how to project manage and along the way gain more knowledge in particular about road safety.    

She continued “Greg Hyndman and Jonny Mullan, two club members, told the assembled crowd how they had benefitted from club membership, participated in the first project build and the excitement of being involved in the development and raffling of the car, club activities, meeting new people and learning at first hand the horrific consequences of having a crash and the impact it has on those concerned and their families.  Jonny informed everyone present that he had completed his Advanced Driving Test which had improved his driving abilities and they encouraged other young drivers to join the club.” 

Inspector Stephen Haslett continued “unique across Northern Ireland, no young person was involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision in the Borough last year.  The club will continue to work hard to maintain what has been achieved and everyone is welcome to become involved.  Similar to the last project, we will modify a car legally and safely and through an innovative education programme work to change attitudes to use of the road and improve driving skills."

Skyline Launch Night...

The schedule for our launch night THURSDAY 13th OCTOBER is as follows: 

7.30 pm       Event starts with walk around stands & chance to buy raffle tickets

7.50 pm      Show and Shine – judging

8.00 pm      Welcome - Insp Stephen Haslett

8.10 pm      An update on LCC – who we are and how we got here with members Gregg Hyndman and Jonny Mullan 

8.20 pm      Mark Luney – European Drift Champion and 2011 British Drift Championship runner-up

8.30 pm       Prizes - Show and Shine, road safety quiz and Raffle draw

8.35 pm       Demo in carpark

Skyline Owners Club visit

On 29^th September LCC had the Skyline owners club come to talk us about Skylines. As you can imagine we heard them before we seen them. They brought 2 skylines with them including a R33 GTR and a R33 GTST. We then continued to discuss what we should do to our project car including essential modifications needed to enable the car to perform as we wish. This included engine modifications as well as suspension modifications. This visit allowed us all to see what is possible to achieve with the R33 GTST.

Cruisers geared up for Skyline launch

A group of young drivers from Limavady are breaking the mould when it comes to safe driving and modifying their cars.  The Limavady Custom Cruisers, based at North West Regional College’s Greystone Centre, are celebrating their fourth year with the launch of a major new modification project, the Skyline project, on Thursday 13^th October at 7.30pm.

Established in 2007 as a partnership between the College, Limavady District Policing Partnership and the PSNI Road Policing Team, the Limavady Custom Cruisers have proven that over the past four years, they have made a significant impact on the reduction of 16 – 25 years olds killed or seriously injured on the roads in the borough.  In 2010, no young person was killed as a result of road traffic collisions, which was a marked difference to 2006, before the Custom Cruisers project began, when some 20 young people were either fatally wounded or injured in RTCs.

The aim of the group, which meets every Thursday night during term-time, is to show young drivers how to ‘do it safely’ – either modifying their cars to legal and safe requirements, or giving them additional skills to be better drivers.  Motor Vehicle Lecturers at the College, the PSNI Roads Policing Team, and the Limavady DPP bring in guest speakers ranging from Rally Drivers to experts in car music systems to educate the young students how to enjoy their cars safely.

The club hasn’t only had an impact on the numbers involved in collisions. The first modification project (RSylv), in which a Nissan Sylvia was transformed by the club, concluded with a raffle of the adapted car and raised £26,000 for the Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit at Musgrave Hospital.

The new Skyline project will take on board the ideas of the members of the group, allowing them to work in the College’s state of the art motor vehicle workshop, and would not be possible without the many sponsors who donate equipment or their time to support the project.

William Semple, Club Chairman said “The RSylv project was very successful, with many young adult males participating on a weekly basis, not only learning how to modify a car legally and safely but also learning about motor sport, meeting celebrities from the various motor sport disciplines and improving their driving skills and knowledge.”

Mark Luney, European Drift Champion and runner-up in the 2011 British Drift Championship has confirmed that he will attend the launch of the new project and the club welcomes anyone who would like to get involved in the project over the coming months.

Inspector Stephen Haslett added, “Police will continue to engage directly with young road users in an effort to maintain the dramatic reduction in death and serious injury achieved in the Limavady Borough since the RSylv project.  We have listened and responded using innovative methods of learning and I look forward to engaging with a new generation of young drivers”.

Rosemary Savage of the Limavady DPP said “the District Policing Project continues to be involved with LCC and its appropriate engagement with young drivers.  Everyone is welcome to attend and to participate in the project so that together we can change attitudes, improve knowledge and driving skills.”