Racers roar through Cumbria after successful call to action

Cumbria roared into life this weekend as a racing event returned to the county.

The Percy Duff Barbon Hill Climb took place on Saturday, June 22 in what was the 56th edition of the spectacle.

Organised by the Westmorland Motor Club, the team behind the event initially feared that the race would not go ahead due to a lack of entries.

Read more: Barbon hill climb event gets green light after appeal | The Westmorland Gazette

However, following a plea on social media, the club's call to action ensured that the hill climb would turn Cumbria into a race track for yet another year.

Over 70 riders were involved in the races, including motorcycling legend John McGuinness MBE.

John McGuiness was one of the stand out participants on the day (Image: Bill Patten)

With 23 TT wins, McGuinness is the third most successful TT racer of all time, only topped by Joey Dunlop and his nephew, Michael Dunlop, who boast 26 and 25 wins respectively.

John Holt, a special guest for the event, was also in attendance, having previously taken part in the race six decades ago.

Holt competed on a Honda CBR and a DMW Hornet as part of the classic racing portion, and later handed out trophies to the day’s winners.

The event saw an array of vehicles and classes take part (Image: Bill Patten)

Kentdale First Aid Events, who helped manage the hill climb, commented: "The sun has been shining all day, which drew a good crowd of spectators, and everyone completed the course without incident."

A spokesperson from Bridge House Classic Car and Bike Events added: "[It was a] fantastic afternoon here at Barbon Hill Climb.

"After last year's near wash out, it was great to see the sun shinning brightly."

The day was the 56th edition of the race, with hopes that it still has a healthy future ahead of it (Image: Bill Patten)

The Westmorland Motor Club was originally set up in 1910 and is kept alive by a team of dedicated volunteers.

It was through that loyalty to the cause that the team made the event possible, with their campaign on social media eventually resulting in more participants than the year previous.