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WATCH: Christmas cars light up Jersey's roads for charity

WATCH: Christmas cars light up Jersey's roads for charity

Wednesday 08 December 2021

WATCH: Christmas cars light up Jersey's roads for charity

Wednesday 08 December 2021


Drivers keen to spread some charity cheer over the festive period have put their cars through a magical makeover that will light up Jersey's streets - and maybe even bring a dusting of snow.

The 'Xmas Cars - Jersey' team is currently raising money for Jersey Hospice Care and Jersey Cancer Relief - and is inviting islanders to turn their vehicles into moving light shows with them.

The idea for magic motors started in 2019  with one set of Christmas lights and "an old banger destined for the scrapyard", as Andy Muir, founder and organiser of the 'Xmas Cars' initiative explained.

Soon after this, "one set turned into multiple" and "the following year it happened again but used 300 meters of lights, which is enough to decorate the Condor Liberation which is 100 metres long."

Video: A look at this year's handiwork from the group.

Even though he had decided to give it a rest this year, he was watching another auction when something caught his eye.

As soon as he saw another "old banger", he found himself pushing 'place bid', and has gone on to decorate the car using 2,500 LEDs with RGB strips and a snow machine for the roof.

Putting the lights onto the vehicle "can be easy and hard depending what's involved", Andy explained.

Car.jpg

Pictured: A Christmas car in the making.

Going into further depth about the mechanics of his Christmas car creation, he added: "Every one use[s] low energy LED lights powered by a 240 volt inverter.

"My vehicle has two 1500w - one just to power the snow machine with an additional auxiliary battery. When parked up, the system powers up using timer relays, plus the car has internet connection so it can be monitored remotely and [I can] activate the snow flurry over the Cloud."

Others have also put great effort into decorating their vehicles, with one employing 15,000LED lights and a motorcycle towing Santa in a trailer sitting in front of a lit fireplace (pictured top), whilst another has welded up a bracket to mount a real tree to their spare wheel carrier.

Christmas_cars_2.jpg

Pictured: Santa has wheels this year.

All the 'Xmas Cars' progress is shared on Facebook, serving as inspiration for others who may wish to get involved.

Andy said he had seen more than 15 vehicles taking up the idea across the island, with nine specifically involved with the page. "Anyone is welcome to join in," he added, noting that it was all for charity.

Once schedules are worked out, the group will be organising a drive through the parishes.

The group is fundraising by putting QR codes in the windows of their cars, which people can scan and be redirected to the JustGiving donation pages.

However, you can donate directly to Xmas Cars' fundraising appeal for Jersey Cancer Relief by CLICKING HERE and Jersey Hospice Care by CLICKING HERE.

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