20,000 bikers arrived in Barrow on Saturday (June 8) to celebrate the life of Hairy Biker Dave Myers.

The Barrow-born TV presenter and chef lost his battle with cancer in February.

Almost 200,000 fans greeted the riders' convoy arrived from London in Dave's hometown. 

The day was not only a history making day for Barrow, but was also a spectacular show of camaraderie from the biking community. 

READ MORE: Barrow's worst disasters of the last century captured by the Sankeys

So much so, fellow Hair Biker and Dave's best friend Si King, asked if Dave Day can happen every year.

Furness has always has always enjoyed a long history with motorcycling and many local riders have enjoyed major successes in the TT and Manx Grand Prix.

Riders Alan Shepherd, Eddie Crooks, Frank Whiteway. Nigel Barton, Alistair Howarth, Mark Flynn, Dan Stewart have all mastered the famous winding roads.

(Image: Sankey online archive) Barrow man Les Trotter, who has had a column in the Mail, has enjoyed a lifelong hobby of racing motorcycles and with much success.

He has competed in many competitions and won the 1976 Manx Grand Prix.

The Walney race ace gained the biggest accolade an amateur motorcycle rider can claim by winning the Senior Manx Grand Prix by a mere 1.49 seconds.Furness has had many motorcycle clubs over the years including the Furness Vintage Japanese Club.

The group is dedicated to people interested in vintage Japanese motorcycles over 15 years old in the South Lakeland area.

Photographs housed in the Sankey online archive, taken by local photographers the Sankeys, show just how far back motorcycle clubs go in Furness. 

(Image: Sankey online archive) Images from the 1920s show the first and second reliability trials of Furness Motor Sporting Club.

A reliability trial is actually a historic term that dates back to the early years of the 20th century when cycling equipment was less reliable.

They were a true test of the skill and determination of rider, and passenger in some cases with the side car being a much more popular add on of the bikes of the past.

Solos and sidecars ride would ride for over six hours, sometimes in the dark with the main aim to just to finish.

Images from 1926 also show the fun events Barrow Motor Club Gymkhana held such as 'Motorcycle Hockey', 'Motorcycle Football' 'Duck Apple',  'Egg and Spoon'.

(Image: Sankey online archive) Fantastic images are also included in our gallery of the Motor Trials at Walney in 1924 with a police officer giving one motorbike a push start. 

Motorcycling history goes even further back in Sankey archives with Simpsons Motor Dealers pictures on Duke St in 1918 who were expert motor and  cycle engineers.

Anyone wanting to use the Sankey photos in a book, online or in an exhibition needs to ask permission to use the photos from Cumbria Archives and there may be a charge.

Downloading images for personal use is OK. The full details on copyright are here: https://www.sankeyphotoarchive.uk/contact/.