IT'S been described as much a part of the British Summer as Wimbledon and Ascot.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual celebration of a bygone era in motoring, attracting over 150,000 spectators for the the three-day carnival.

And now Lancashire could have its very own 'Goodwood of the North' if one motorsport enthusiast has his own way.

Former single seater champion and stock car driver John Walker is hosting the North West Festival of Motoring at his picturesque home, Wyreside Hall, on the edge of the Trough of Bowland.

The event, which takes place on Sunday, has evolved from the highly succesful 'Concours d'Elegance' meeting which Mr Walker started two years ago.

"We've taken a leaf out of Goodwood's book and created a more inter-active feel to this year's festival by introducing a motorsport element to add to the static displays," explained Walker.

With the co-operation of several local motor clubs, Walker is introducing a rally car stage, with timed-to-the-minute demo runs, a production car trial, and an autotest.

"The introduction of the rally stage should add speed, spectacle and sound to the day," said Walker.

"We've 23 acres of land surrounding the hall, and it's the ideal setting for this type of competition. The driveway snakes uphill, across a bridge and through a wood before going onto the lawn of the house.

"Similarly, we found the right spot for the production car trial, which consists of specially-prepared open-topped cars negotiating timed, steep inclines, right in front of the house."

Kart racing provided a teenage Walker with his first experience of competitive motorsport, before he graduated to single seater racing.

He went on to win the Northern Formula Ford 2000 Championship three years running from 1980 before retiring at 32, having been unable to achieve his aim of becoming a professional racing driver.

Unable to keep away from the sport, Walker returned to karting in 1994 to become British Champion, going on to pursue a long-standing interest in stock cars before finally hanging up his helmet for good in 1999.

"It was when I retired that I began to think about what I could do with Wyreside Hall as a venue,"he said,

"The way Lord March and his team at Goodwood started out, and built on their success, year on year, inspired me.

"

l THE Northern Festival of Motoring is at Wyreside Hall, Dolphinholme on Sunday, August 14. The Hall will be signposted from junction 33 of the M6. For further information, visit: www.speedfestnorthwest.co.uk.