The Avon Tyres/TCC Group MSA British Hillclimb Championship arrives in Cumbria on Saturday when the Barbon Manor Estate, near Kirkby Lonsdale, will host the latest round of the series. Current leader Trevor Willis will be the man to beat in his OMS 28 but he’s only one of a number of potential winners and as always at Barbon, the weather could be the deciding factor.

When it’s dry, it’s fast, really fast, and if it stays dry it could pave the way for the first ever sub-twenty seconds time up the 1 in 12 gradient being set. Willis is only one of a number of drivers capable of beating the current record of 20.08 seconds set by Jos Goodyear in 2015 but his closest championship rival, Wallace Menzies, will have to improve on his last outing. That came at Doune where the he escaped a high-speed spin in front of his home crowd so the ‘Flying Scotsman’ will be more determined than ever to make up some lost time.

The event, organised by Liverpool Motor Club in conjunction with Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club, is also a round of a number of regional championships so expect some fierce competition right through the field. There’s a huge variety of cars competing for honours in over twenty different classes and easy access to the paddock allows spectators that rare opportunity to chat to the drivers and inspect the cars at close quarters.

The meeting always attracts a strong contingent of local drivers and favourite to grab bragging rights will be Kendal’s Jim MacDiarmid, a regular class winner, in his OMS CF04. One driver who won’t be aiming to set fastest time is Arnside’s John Mansfield as at 750cc, his Austin Seven Ulster is the smallest car competing. He’s contesting Class 6A for pre-1987 Road Going Classic Cars and faces competition from some with three times his engine capacity.

Others to watch out for include Peter Speakman from Broughton-in-Furness in his Fisher Alpha Special and Carnforth’s Duncan Robb-Cummings in his MG Midget.

The high-speed action gets underway about 09.30hours with non-stop racing, lunch break aside, to around 17.00hours. Admission for adults is £8 with free entry for accompanied under fourteens and there’s no charge for parking!