Hello to all – first off please let me introduce myself, my name is Nigel Karl and I am the founder of KIC – Kids In Cars.
What are kids in cars you ask? Well it all started three years ago
I am the lucky one who gets to drive the PlaceMakers shadow car around Auckland – over the years I have been asked to attend many events to not only to display the car, but to talk to kids – both young and old about driver awareness and safety.
Three years ago I received a call for one of my fellow work colleagues from PlaceMakers National Office, at that time she was also doing volunteer work for an organisation called Camp quality – an organisation that I had never heard of before.
This was explained to me that Quality is a non-profit organisation that supports and helps young children and their families – who are living with cancer.
I was asked if I could bring the PlaceMakers shadow car out the camp, which was being held at Swanson. Of course I said “yes.”
Well the day arrived and I had managed to rally up five cars – The start of KIC.
Well after a fun day of taking the kids for runs through the boon docks of Henderson – the old mind went into overdrive – what and how can I do this better. So basically immediately I started planning the 2006 event
Man was I in for a shock – I first off asked John Green from camp quality if this was ok with him and Camp quality – the reply was an immediate “YES” the kids had a huge blast.
The planning had well and truly started – the amount of Joe public that wanted to apart of the PlaceMakers / Camp Quality 2007 track day was mind blowing.
The day arrived January 7th 2006 – well my heart was in my hand – nervous as hell – the cars started turning up at the track from 8.00 am on the Friday – we weren’t to sure being a Friday want the turn out would be.
We managed to get 68 cars and four trucks for the kids’ rides.
Camp Quality and all the kids arrived at around 9.00 am – the kids where all told that they were going to pick onions at a farm in Pukekohe.
When the all disembarked off the buses I had to explain to them that all these cars and trucks where for them to have some fun in.
The look on their faces said it all.
Well the day was a huge success – at the end of the day we had to get the children and their companions back to the pick up point, this is where their families were waiting for them to take them home.
If you could have seen the look on their families faces when this huge convoy of cars and trucks coming off the Manukau off-ramp and into the event center – of course under Police escort…
Well after a well earned rest I then decided to work on the 2007 track day – I was sure that I could do this bigger and better.
After 10 months of planning the 2007 event was on
Dammmmm.
200 cars – 265 trucks – on track entertainment – food stalls – raffles – auctions – special celebrity drivers – show cars – race cars – vintage cars – exotic cars – police cars –
The 2007 event was a massive event – we had the children’s parents and siblings there as well, it was the parents that had complained form the last event that they weren’t invited – we had over 2000 people attend the event – and the real cream on the cake was that we raised over $10.000.00 for Camp Quality.
I now have a full time committee of 10 personal helping with the organisation for the 2008 event, which is looking to be one of the biggest yet, 350 cars, 400+ trucks and a huge amount of entertainment track side for the kids and their families.
we have now been running for 5 years and are looking forward to the 2009 event - so come on all - pack up your picnic hamper - the wife and kids and get on down to pukekohe on the 4th January 2009.
THE BIRTH OF K.I.C.
