The gorgeous gal from Prestatyn is the face of this weekend’s Llangollen Motorbike Show and she has been busy helping distribute information about the Heather and Hillforts project.

The 20-year-old has been on the Horseshoe Pass with the Heather and Hillforts Project’s Moorland Field Officer, Nick Critchley to meet bikers and encourage them to sign up to the campaign to promote responsible off-roading on two wheels and four.

The former Miss Prestatyn, who was third in the Miss Wales competition, also took time out to see some of the preservation work that has been done on footpaths which cross the heather moorland – and some of the damage that has been done by illegal off-roading.

Lauren will be at the show at the Royal International Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8, where one of her duties will be to help judge this year’s Biker Babe competition.

She said: “This wonderful landscape is part of our heritage and is something which has to be preserved.

“The Motorbike Show can play a part in that by helping people to enjoy off-roading legitimately and that’s why we’re happy to have the Heather and Hillforts campaign at the show.”

Also part of the Heather and Hillforts stand at the show will be national organisation Tread Lightly which aims to promote responsible off-roading and whose Project Manager is Mark Margetts.

He said: “We want to engage and find a way of getting on together. Treadlightly has been going in the USA for 25 years and is a highly respected, credible and positive organisation.

“The popular conception of off-roaders might be of young kids on old bikes tearing round the place but it couldn’t be further from the truth – the majority act responsibly and this just happens to be their hobby.

“We want to encourage responsible off-roading and encourage people to act legally, join a responsible user group or club, and use legal routes.”

Nick Critchley added: “We want to send out a positive message that there are places where people can enjoy off-roading and we will have information about those routes and places that can be used.

“We support Tread Lightly in what they aim to achieve and to direct our message at off-roaders and help them find out how to do what they do legally.

“We will be at the show with merchandise and information about the Heather and Hillforts campaign and the importance of the landscape of our moorlands both from an ecological and an historical perspective.

“The people who are riding their bikes and driving their 4x4s illegally are ruining this magnificent countryside for everyone else.”

The campaign, catchphrase is ‘don’t leave home without it’ and led by Denbighshire Countryside Services, encourages farmers, ramblers and others who enjoy the county’s wide open spaces to carry a special telephone number with them – or even key it into their mobile phones – to report the vandals.

Nick Critchley said: “We want the legitimate off-roaders to join us in this and report those they know are acting illegally because they are giving all off-roaders a bad name.

“But ideally we want prosecution to be a last resort for those who refuse to get the message – we would much sooner persuade people and ifnrom them and that’s what we hope to do at the Motorbike Show.”

Denbighshire County Council’s Heather and Hillforts Project covers the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Horseshoe Pass and Llantysilio Mountains, part of the Ruabon/Llantysilio Mountains and Minera Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

The campaign to protect them is backed by North Wales Police, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales.

They are appealing for the public’s help in catching and convicting the offenders who are liable to be fined up to £20,000 and can have their vehicles seized and crushed.

That Police telephone number – 0845 6071002 or 0845 6071001 for Welsh language callers - means that anyone seeing illegal off-roaders tearing up the landscape can immediately report them.

A survey analysing the value of the UK motorcycle industry has revealed that the sport and leisure sector has a total turnover of almost £500 million. 

The GVA is estimated to be approximately 50% of turnover at £238 million, while the sector also provides tax contributions of almost £100 million proving a valuable asset to UK PLC. The motorcycle sport and leisure sector covers a wide range of activities enjoyed by, and involving the participation of, large numbers of motorcyclists and non-riders alike.

Motorcycle activities taking place in the UK are extensive and the largest events include: the British MotoGP; the UK round of the World Superbikes Championship; the 12 round British Superbikes Championship which takes place at tracks across the UK; and the Isle of Man TT Races.

The off-road racing sector is on a smaller scale but still attract many riders, support teams and spectators on a regular basis across the UK. Off-road activities include: motocross, enduro, trials, speedway, grasstrack, supercross, and supermoto events.

The British round of the Moto GP is well attended and attracts international visitors. At a recent Moto GP for example, there were almost 120,000 visitors over the whole weekend and the gross expenditure associated with the event totalled £16.6 million of which 88% was spend within 25 miles of Donnington Park, where the event was held.

The motorcycle leisure industry analysis focuses on the income generated from organised tour activities. The activities of motorcycle tour operators involve the provision of organised tours both within the UK and, more commonly, to overseas destinations.  The sector is dominated by a large number of small and family businesses, many of which employ additional riders on a part-time basis to provide support during the tours.  The tour providers offer a range of services to motorcyclists including expedition guides and support teams, bike hire/freight, hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation, food and drink, etc.

The sector is experiencing significant levels of growth and many motorcyclists are reported to have been inspired by the Long Way Round and Long Way Down television series, which involved substantial motorcycle tours across Europe, Asia, America and Africa.

Steve Kenward, MCI's CEO commented on the findings " The motorcycle sport and leisure sector involves riders and non-riders and there are plenty of opportunities for UK businesses to capitalize on the bike pound. Now , is the best time of year to be out and about enjoying life on two-wheels and for the spectators and pillion riders who want to take control of their own machines , now is a good time to consider shifting up a gear. Take advantage of the free one-hour taster sessions that are taking place at venues all across the country by simply going online and making a booking at a time that suits you."

For more information or to book a place go to www.geton.co.uk

Retired farmer Frank Pottenger can boast almost as many nuts, bolts and metal plates in his body as his classic motorcycle – one of only three ever built.

While most 79-year-old pensioners might be content with a sedate retirement, Frank is still riding his Triumph Daytona 500cc motocross bike, built by legendary motorcycle rider and engineer the late Eric Cheney.

“I’ve had a long career on motorcycles and must have broken every single bone in my body at some time or other and have metal plates and screws all over the place!” said Frank, of Froncysyllte.

The Triumph Daytona, built for him by Cheney 28-years ago and one of only three of its type, is in absolute pristine condition and will be one of the stars on display at the Llangollen Motorcycle Show at the Royal International Pavilion on August 7th and 8th. Frank, whose son Gary and grandsons Ross and Ryan have now taken over the competitive duties, still gives riding demonstrations at shows, sometimes alongside former Triumph works rider John Giles – who is 83!

Cheney, who died aged 76 in 2002, was a legend in the motorcycle racing world and all top British enduro riders used his machines and even film star Steve McQueen.

“I started riding in 1953 and I’m still riding,” said Frank. “The youngsters cannot believe I can still chuck a 500cc about.”

In his heyday Frank was Salop scramble champion and was a regular competitor, picking up quite a few other titles.

“My brother-in-law bought a Cheney Triumph and I rang Eric and asked if he had enough bits left to build me one. He rang back and said ‘yes’. It had nine inches travel on front and back suspension,” said Frank who can remember starting his scrambling on a rigid BSA which had no suspension.

His brother-in-law’s machine was sold on and has disappeared, as has the third model built by Cheney which went onto the Continent. Frank paid £1,200 for his bike 28 years ago and with all the bits chromed and nickel plated – “almost too nice to ride” – he estimates it is worth anything between £4,500 and £5,000 today, although he would never sell it.

In fact he used to make enough winnings in a year to buy a new bike every year. “In theory I could but I spent it mainly on women!” said Frank.

These days Frank lives on top of the hill in Froncysyllte in a beautiful home he built out of a pigsty and runs a business renting out classic Jaguar wedding cars. He has two of the Mark II (Inspector Morse) Jags, two Mark IX’s (9’s) and some XJS convertibles, which will also be on display at the Llangollen show.

At this year’s show, the third staged by Xuberance Events, there will be a special award,   given in memory of well-known and popular Llangollen motorcyclist Victor Jones, who died recently, aged just 59.

Victor, of Pengwern, who used to ride a classic 1964 Matchless 650cc and was a huge fan of classic bikes, gave up his job in the building industry to care for his brother Frank when he started to suffer from impaired vision.

At Victor’s funeral, about 30 motorcycles provided a biker escort for the cortege to Pentre Bychan crematorium which was packed out with more than 300 mourners, many of them biker friends.

Organiser David Green explained: “Victor’s bike was the first bike to arrive at the first ever Motorbike Show and I thought it would be a fitting tribute to honour his memory in this way.”

One of the highlights of this year’s event will be the popular Biker Babe competition and biker fans can vote for their favourite on the event’s website,  www.themotorcycleshow.co.uk and it’s not yet too late for aspiring biker babes to enter.

Among the displays at the show will be beautiful old bikes from the collection of Llangollen Motor Museum proprietor Gwilym Owen.

There’ll also be motorbike displays, expert advice clinics, a club corner, a live action arena as well as a custom bike show.

Motor cycling legend Carl Fogarty will be roaring into North Wales next month - and is looking forward to meeting a local hero.

Four times World Superbike Champion, multiple TT winner and arguably Britain's best ever motor cycle racer, Carl Fogarty MBE, is the star attraction at the Motorbike Show in Llangollen.

The increasingly popular bike fest, organised by Xuberance Events, is being held at the Royal International Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8.