THE Westmorland Motor Club will be continuing with its long standing annual tradition as the Percy Duff Barbon Hill Climb returns on July 31.

Held at Barbon Manor, the event will be at 9.30am and racing will begin at midday.

The Westmorland Motor Club is one of the oldest motor sport organisations in the country.

Founded in 1910 as a motorcycle club, the club has been organising trials, scrambles and other off-road events throughout its history.

The first event held by the club was a hill climb and many of these were held around the area until racing on the public highway was banned in 1925.

Events took place on Shap, Orton Scar, Brigsteer Brow, Kirkstone Pass and the Greyhound among others.

The drive to Barbon Manor has been used for motorcycle hill climbs since 1960.

Percy Duff MBE and his wife, Margaret, were instrumental in the inauguration of the event, to celebrate the club’s Golden Jubilee and Percy remained at the helm of this much loved event for 50 years. The club named the event in his honour after 40 years of service.

Their son Mike Duff said: “The event is a round in the prestigious National Hill Climb Championship and will feature some of the top riders in Hill Climb, Road Racing and Super-Moto.”

For information westmorlandmotorclub.co.uk