THE winner of this year's Red Marley Hill Climb will be awarded the Vale-Onslow Memorial Trophy - a tribute to the motorbike legend who founded the event.

The scrambling showpiece is one of the most popular motorcycling events in Worcestershire and this year has attracted 130 riders and hundreds of classic bikes.

The top motorcyclist will receive a trophy in memory of industry legend Len Vale-Onslow MBE, who died in April last year, weeks after his final appearance at the event.

Long-time family friend Jim Pratt, who took the 103-year-old - who he called "Dad" - to the "Freak" Motorcycle Hill Climb, staged in Great Witley, in 2004, was touched by the gesture.

"Last year, the commentator at Red Marley spotted the car as we drove in and when he announced it everyone started cheering and applauding. Dad was an icon," said Mr Pratt, of Albert Park Road, Malvern.

"People were asking him to sign pictures and autographs - it was really something.

"Dad founded the hillclimb in 1927 and he was Mr Red Marley. It's a great, great thing to have the trophy named after him.

"It shows exactly how much everyone thought of him."

Event organiser Tom Cook decided to name the trophy after Mr Vale-Onslow to ensure his influence on the event, and the motorcycle industry, was not forgotten.

"We all knew Len very well up here and it was lovely to see him back last year," he said.

"Unfortunately we lost him soon after and we want the trophy to go on and on in his name."

A classic bike trial will be held at Walsgrove Farm, Great Witley, on Sunday, March 27 and the Red Marley Hill Climb will take place at the same venue on Bank Holiday Monday, March 28.

Len Vale-Onslow, who opened his first garage in Hallow and retired back to the village, left a lasting legacy with his Super Onslow Specials, hill climbs and place in the Guinness Book of World Records.