A SPECIAL event to mark 50 years to the day that Knockhill Racing Circuit opened for the first time is set to take place in September.

The iconic West Fife venue, Scotland's national motorsport centre, will celebrate five decades to the day that it first welcomed racing on September 22, and bosses are set to mark the occasion with a 50th anniversary bike festival.

In 1974, the purpose-built venue opened its doors and changed motorsport in Scotland, and hosted its first bike meeting on September 22 - despite the circuit not having had its final top surface of tarmac laid.

To mark the landmark occasion, a two-day event will see a wide variety of two-wheel action take place, including 50 and 100 lap endurance races, a sidecar festival, Mini Motos, Super Moto and 'Rewind' bikes from the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

In addition, Knockhill are planning to recreate the opening ceremony that took place in 1974, and is set to feature some special guests and other surprises.

Stuart Gray, director of events at Knockhill, told Press Sport: "All the riders who took part in that first event, on September 22 1974, are being invited back as our guests.

"We're going to recreate the opening ceremony and I'm sourcing the two bikes that were originally used. We're going to put special invited guests on the bikes, who were here at that first meeting, to recreate the opening ceremony.

"I'd like it to be that that was 50 years ago, we're recreating the opening, but it's almost the opening of the next 50 years, the next chapter of the venue."

The 50th anniversary bike festival is part of a series of events that Knockhill are hosting to mark their special year.

At their Bennetts British Superbike Championship round, in June, the hosted a 'super prix', featuring grand prix bikes from down the years, alongside notable riders, whilst they are also bringing Lotus cars driven by the legendary Jim Clark, a former British Saloon Car Championship title winner, to rounds 19, 20 and 21 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) next month.

For more details and ticket information, visit www.knockhill.com.