Around 30,000 people are expected to flock to a picturesque corner of West Yorkshire for a “three-day entertainment extravaganza” next month.

The Yorkshire Motorsport Festival will include the North of England’s first ever closed-road Hillclimb event, on the steep and twisty Wolfstones Edge, near Holmfirth, south Kirklees.

There’ll also be vintage stock cars, rally cars and supercar displays, plus a truck, tractor and plant machinery show.

But organisers say it’s “not just for motorheads” as a range of family entertainment will also be laid on.

A fun fair, fashion shows and lots of live music will broaden the event’s appeal, while there are even plans for an artificial beach for children.

With the festival having a fiercely proud local theme, visitors can enjoy a Yorkshire-made shopping village and over 40 Yorkshire-based artisan food and drink vendors.

The special guest at the event will be Sarah Crabtree, from the popular UKTV television show Bangers & Cash, pictured below with Roger Brereton, secretary of David Brown Tractor Club Ltd.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Sarah Crabtree, from Banger and Cash, with Roger Brereton, Secretary of David Brown Tractor Club, with the last tractor to roll off the David Brown Production line

The celebrity presenter, from Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire, told the Telegraph & Argus the event would be a “sociable” occasion that would “bring people from all walks of life together.”

Speaking at the press launch event yesterday, she said: “In the classic car community, there’s quite a north-south divide.

“This event will be fantastic and will put Yorkshire on the map. I’d encourage people to come and see what Yorkshire is all about. Get yourselves booked into the campsites and make the most of it - we are lovely people.”

Sarah said the motorsport action would be thrilling in its own right, but said she was most looking forward to socialising and having a laugh with like-minded people on the huge showground site.

Ian Jordan, commercial director of the event, said: “There’s not a hotel around here that’s not booked up that weekend and many local pubs are booked out in terms of meals. Ticket sales are good. Over the three days, we’re expecting 30,000 people.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for people to enjoy a family event. It’s not just about the cars - it’s not just about motorheads. We’ve got music each evening, including an Abba tribute, there’s a fashion show and artisan food through the day.”

And there are even plans for drivers taking part in the hillclimb to play a game of cricket at nearby Upperthong Cricket Club - a short walk from the Wolfstones hillclimb - on the Thursday evening.

Since Prime Minster Boris Johnson confirmed the latest step of the roadmap for lockdown easing, the event has seen a boost in interest.

“It’s all about confidence for the traders, exhibitors and visitors,” said Mr Jordan.

“It’s been an incredibly difficult time to plan an event but - now there’s more clarity - we’re getting a real surge in interest,” he added.

While the Goodwood Festival, in West Sussex, has a wonderful reputation among southern motor enthusiasts, Mr Jordan said there were hopes that a successful inaugural Yorkshire Motorsport Festival could be the first step to “establishing it as THE northern event.”

Three time Harewood hillclimbing champion Sarah Bosworth, pictured below, will be among the competitors on the hillclimb, and was at the launch event alongside the Ford Anglia she'll be driving.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Sheffield's Sarah Bosworth will compete in this Ford Anglia

She said: "This is the first closed road event I've done. With it being the first event of its kind in this region, it's going to be huge."

She said that, as a new event, the hillclimb had added interest and excitement, with competitors usually walking the course during the morning to familiarise themselves with the challenges ahead.

The Sheffield-based driver added: "The festival has lots of variety. It's going to be great for families to come along and see all these great cars."

Jack Dixon, of Towndoor Limited, one of the event sponsors, was among those at the press launch event.

With a broad smile on his face, he fired up a beautifully-restored Formula 1 stock car from the 1970s and declared: "It makes a great sound."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Stuart Bamforth's lovingly-restored World Final winnign stock car will be among the vehicles taking part in the upcoming festival

The No.3 car was the one in which the late Stuart Bamforth, who lived right next to the event showground, won the 1976 World Championship at White City, Manchester, beating the likes of Silsden's Frankie Wainman Senior, who finished third.

Mr Dixon said: "Sadly, Stuart died in 2002 and the car was restored in 2003."

The stock car will be on display during the event and will be raced in the hillclimb, driven by Stuart's youngest son Ben.

Mr Dixon said the location of the event's base, between the villages of Upperthong and Wilshaw, was very fitting, adding: "It's really nice that this is happening so close to the house where Stu lived."

Another major attraction will come courtesy of a legendary local company, which has found a place in local folklore.

Around 20 David Brown tractors, spanning the period from 1939 to 1988, will be on display during the festival - including a 1594 that was the last off the production line at the company's factory in Meltham, near Holmfirth, on March 11, 1988.

Roger Brereton, secretary of David Brown Tractor Club Ltd, said: "We've got a stand at the festival and we'll have around 20 tractors on display. It was a fantastic local business and it's history is phenomenal - including its heyday in Meltham."

Mr Brereton recalled how, on one event involving restored and preserved David Brown tractors, the club's members had driven into Meltham to be greeted by a quite remarkable reception.

"There were people waving and cheering as we came into Meltham - people who had probably worked at the factory. It shows just what high regard it's held in."

Speaking more widely about the festival, Mr Brereton added: "It's a great Yorkshire-based event and a lot of the people involved are proud Yorkshiremen."

Set within scenic countryside made famous by the Last of the Summer Wine sitcom, the event will take place from June 25-27.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: