CLASSIC motorbike racing returns to Oulton Park on Saturday.

Racing bikes may have much simpler than modern machines back in the 1960s and 70s but they were still incredibly quick and just as spectacular as their newer counterparts.

To prove it, the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club brings historic bikes along to take part in 16 races and two parades at the Little Budworth circuit.

Andy Molnar, from Preston, started racing a Norton Dominator in 1983 but soon switched to sidecars where he won three Vintage Motor Cycle titles with his wife, Kim, as a passenger. The duo stopped racing 10 years ago but since then Andy has restricted himself to occasional solo outings - his last time out, at Oulton Park on May 6, he took a double Junior win on a 350cc T3 Manx.

This weekend he is loaning the winning bike on to Steve Tomes, as he competes on a lower specification machine.

'I wish I could say that I'll be keeping an eye on my assets,' said Molnar, 'but the truth is that Steve will be so far ahead of me, I won't have the chance!'

Stuart Melling, an electronics engineer from Wigan, started racing in 1998 after his best friend got him into the sport. In 2000 Stuart won the Ain-tree Classic 125 Championship but he now campaigns on a 750cc Rob North Rocket 3 and has already shown potential with a pair of second places at Oulton - victory is the only thing he will be happy with this weekend!

Mike Copnall, from Whitchurch, comes from a racing family - his grandfather raced in the 1930s and 40s and now Mike has been competing on bikes for 13 years.

On Oulton Park, the 31-year-old says: 'Although it's my local track I've only had the opportunity to race there three times but it's my favourite circuit.' Tickets for the meeting cost £12 per adult per day, with children aged 12 and under admitted free. Parking and paddock access are also free.

Racing drivers Colin Turkington and Rob Collard, who were competing in the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park last weekend, were happy to lend their support to Cheshire County Council's 'Set the Pace' campaign.

The anti-speeding campaign led by the Road Safety Unit and supported by police asks motorists and passengers to make a personal written commitment to drive or encourage others to drive at an appropriate speed for the environment and road conditions and always within the legal speed limit.

Promoting the campaign at Oulton Park was PC Nobby Clark and Ian Dunbar of Cheshire Fire Service, who said: 'Colin and Rob's support really helped push the campaign. Our mission is to reduce road deaths here in Cheshire, something we all feel very passionate about.'

Turkington said: 'Whilst out on track we have to consider the safety of ourselves and other competitors, but on the open road there are far more hazards to take into account.

'I am more than happy to support this worthwhile campaign in promoting safer driving and lowering speed. RAC, as an organisation, are very proactive in making our roads safer and I'll certainly be keeping a closer eye on my speedometer from now on.'