Furness TT fans and thousands of others from all over the world who converge on Douglas for the annual TT festival will have their own 'Fan Park' at next years event.

A new complex is planned for Nobles Park, adjacent to the TT grandstand. It will open every day until late in the evening for a fortnight, from the start of practice week on Saturday, May 30 to the end of race week on Saturday, June13 to entertain and cater for the fans.

Live bands will be performing every day, with Glastonbury Festival winners 'She Drew the Gun' being just one of the headline bands.

Big screen coverage and videos of the racing are planned, along with on stage interviews and chat shows with many of the established stars and stars of yesteryear.

Manx Radio will be broadcasting their programmes from there too, conducting live interviews with competitors and visitors.

Many of the top teams have already agreed to display their machines with their riders and answer the many questions that no doubt they will be faced with from the fans.

It should be a selfie and autograph hunters paradise, where they can meet and chat to their TT heroes.

Catering facilities will be available, along with the all important bars and many trade stands selling motorcycle-related clothing and accessories.

At the close of each day's racing, the award and prizegiving presentations to race winners and finishers will take place within the facility and not at the Villa Marina on Douglas promenade, where they have taken place for as long as I can remember. Admission is free

It is great for the fans, who no longer have to trek down in to Douglas for meals and refreshments then be faced with the long uphill walk back to the campsites.

But I`m not sure the hotels, takeaways and bars in Douglas who rely on the influx of race fans to boost their incomes will be too pleased with the new arrangements.

*Furness motorcycle speed hill climb fans are catered for better than ever next year.

The Marshalls North West group are holding two events at Hoghton Tower near Preston on Sunday, April 5 and Sunday, July 26.

The Barbon Hill Climb ran from 1950 until 2011 and was then revived in May this year by members of the Westmorland Motor Club, who are planning to hold another event there in May 2020 and Ian Sherrard, who organises the Leighton Hall event near Carnforth, has confirmed their meeting will again take place in September.

If you’re prepared to travel a little further afield, similar events are planned for Aske Hall near Richmond in June, Olivers Mount, Scarborough, another at Catterick, and I hear plans are afoot to revive the Saltburn Hill Climb in North Yokshire too.

I’ll update you on this page as dates are confirmed.

* TT legend John McGuinness could be switching from Norton to Ducati in 2020.

It's a well-known fact he was not happy with Norton when he returned to the TT last year after an 18-month lay-off, following his horrendous crash at the North West 200.

Machine failures and lack of testing didn't produce the results he was hoping for.

The highly successful Ducati team, run by Paul Bird from his base in Penrith, have won the prestigious BSB series seven times and are keen to have John join them next year.

They are to be provided with full factory-supported Ducati V Four machines. The Pair are no strangers, as Paul sponsored John back in the 1990s when he won his first TT.

It all depends, of course, if Norton will release him from his present contract.... watch this space.

* Former TT Star, and now TV presenter and holder of many bizarre world records, Guy Martin is to attempt that now epic jump to freedom over a 12ft barbed wire fence that Steve McQueen made famous in the classic film 'The Great Escape'.

Being an accomplished Motocross rider, McQueen wanted to do the jump himself, but the movie moguls did not want their prize asset getting injured, so it was done by a stunt double.

It's being screened on Channel 4 on Sunday night at 9pm.

* The South Cumbria Section of the Vintage MCC are holding their next monthly meeting at the Ulverston Sports and Leisure Centre on Priory Road next Tuesday at 8pm.

If you have an interest in, or own a vintage machine of more than 25 years old, you'd be made most welcome.