Parking a dream at North Beach

A RANGE of spectacular car stunts dominated North Beach yesterday. Hundreds of people witnessed highly specialised driving skills at the Sporting Bears Motor Club's second Dream Rides day, which raised money for local children's charities.

Top stunt display and precision driver Paul Swift, the five times national autotest champion, demonstrated his technique on both two and four wheels.

World record attempts were made at parallel parking and J-turning into the tightest space and highest number of doughnuts (a manoeuvre which rotates the back or front end of the car around the opposite end), in 10 seconds.

Paul's father Russ was unable to participate in the event after he broke his arm a few weeks ago changing a wheel.

Both have appeared on BBC's Top Gear, teaching grannies to turn doughnuts. Paul has also appeared in the programme's car football match.

Islanders and visitors were able to sit in a car as the stunts were performed, which included parallel parking between two cars - but only if they made a donation.

'It's fantastic - it's the first time we have been at the North Beach. We are trying to raise as much as we can with the rides,' said Mr Swift.

'We have parking manoeuvres, a dance routine like the one in the James Bond film and we are trying to break a few world records.'

The efforts were appreciated by all ages - especially the precision parking between cars at speed.

'It was perfect - I like the thrills and the spills and fast cars and anything fast,' said Veronica Oliveira, 34, a Brazilian on holiday and business in the island from Windsor.

IT consultant Tim McNally, 42, also from Windsor, said: 'It's interesting. With the place only being 35mph it's good to see them release some energy.'

Younger generations loved it.

'I think it's quite good but they need to tighten the gap up a bit more,' said self-confessed petrol head Jordan Le Page, 12.

He had been for a dream ride in his favourite car - a Caterham - which he also races on one of his X-Box games.

'It was fantastic, fast and stuck to the road like glue,' he said.

'Compared to the X-Box it was more fun, more fresh air. It's better to live it for real.

'My pop, Robin Roussel, used to drive a Lotus 7, the earlier model, in 1959.

Mr Roussel thought the event, which included many classic, sports, custom and super cars, was brilliant.

'It's nice to see all the different cars here.

'Guernsey is not the kind of place where you can drive a lot of these cars and it's nice to show them off,' he said.

Islanders also had the chance to ride in the Lt-Governor's Dailmer - albeit minus Sir Fabian Malbon himself.

This year all money raised at the event will go to Help A Guernsey Child, The You Can Do It Foundation and The Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation.

'We are trying to raise as much money as we can for the children's charities and to have some fun with the cars,' said event organiser Jan Wright.

The club is made up of volunteers driving their classic and sports cars for charity.