ONE of the area's most popular motor sport events will be held for the 49th time on Saturday (August 1).

The Percy Duff Barbon Motorcycle Hill Climb, run by the Westmorland Motor Club, will take place in the beautiful parkland setting of Barbon Manor at Barbon near Kirkby Lonsdale.

This year sees the return of the 15-time TT Races winner John McGuinness from Morecambe. Also competing will be the Kendal-based D3 KTM racing team run and raced by Holme’s Neil Crayston.

Riders come from all over the country to take part in this event and usually among the crowd is the odd star of the motorcycle world with both Michael Rutter and Steve Plater attending in recent years. There is the possibility of Stuart Easton of the Hydrex Honda team being at Barbon this year. He is third in the British Superbike Championship, so autograph hunters should take their books - you just never know at Barbon

The meeting also sees the world famous Purple Helmets motorbike display team who will perform zany tricks and wild manoeuvres all carried out at over 100mph.

On display will be the Kawasaki World Superbike’s from Paul Bird Motorsport from Penrith. The meeting will also have one of John McGuinness’s HM Plant TT bikes on display alongside the usual vintage and local vintage club bikes.

New on the programme for this year sees a fastest rider shoot-out at the end, for the fastest ten riders, culminating in a top three shoot-out.

Gates open at 9am. Entrance is £8 for adults with children free and other concessions. Free parking, a mile from Devil's Bridge, will be signed from Junction 36 of the M6.

* The Westmorland Gazette apologises for publishing a preview article in this week's paper which wrongly stated that the Hill Climb on August 1 was taking place last weekend, and which contained material from a press release relating to a previous hill climb.