With the launch of our new In Gear section in The Westmorland Gazette and online at www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk, we thought we'd kick start the motoring season with a look at some interesting web sites. As the world of autos attracts a variety of people, we have cruised the information highway for an assortment of sites, some from a less travelled road.

The need for speed is dear to the hearts of British motor racing fans, and the F1 season, among others, is only a few weeks away. Visit www.bmrc.co.uk for The British Motor Racing Circuits comprehensive site that includes a map of all circuits, the full calendar of events and more. It isn't fancy, but it will get you there.

If you want to join a club, start by visiting the British Automobile Racing Club site at www.barc.net. You can shop for information, cars and a catalogue full of automotive goodies. You can also find out about becoming a volunteer marshal.

You can't talk about motors in Britain without talking Silverstone and there has been a lot of press given to them especially with the F1 race being a stop and go affair. Their site at is at www.silverstonemotorsport.co.uk, however, www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk came up faster in the search engine results but appears to be an old site as it was not updated. This does not bode well for the home of motor racing! Try a visit to www.itv-f1.com or racing-live.com for F1, IRL, Moto GP, WRC and Rally links and current information.

Shifting gears, a search for umbrella sites to make searching easier turned up www.topcarsites.net. They link to a great number of sites, including www.streetracersonline.com a hardcore site featuring sections on Racer's Wrecks, Ugliest Mods and more. You can also keep yourself ahead of the pack with computer wallpaper images from many of the sites with which they are linked. Their pop-ups are as annoying as a tail-gater.

Piston-heads.com has transformed itself into www.etracksonline.co.uk. It features links to motor racing tracks around the globe, lots of news from Moscow to Sweden to San Jose!

Their site is packed with track stats.

If racing is an art form to you, then visit www.drawingfromthebest.com for a motor sport artist's online gallery and shop. This site features the works of motor sport and portrait artist Brian Casey. It features a gallery and a Flash section for your computer chair viewing pleasure.

If your are in need of road information www.rac.com and www.theaa.com are must pit stops while surfing and excellent sites to mark as favourites on your pc or mobile phone, if you have WAP access.

Selling and buying cars is a pastime for some, a job for others, and a necessary part of life for many of us. Sites like www.fish4cars.co.uk, www.whatcar.com, www.autotrader.co.uk , www.ebaymotors.co.uk and many more make specific sites can help you choose, buy and sell cars online.

If you are just getting started, or have to do your driving test over again, visit The Driving Standards Agency at www.driving-tests.co.uk If you are in, or are wanting to get into the automotive business, then perhaps a visit to the Department of Trade and Industry automotive section at http://www.dti.gov.uk/sectors_automotive.html may help you shift careers.

If you are into cars you have to be into accessories, and a visit to www.gbdriver.co.uk may be the beginning a great trip. The accessories available today redefine the world of car fashion. Headlight tint kits and under car LED bars were the top sellers last check.

n Coming to thisis: The Westmorland Gazette launches In Gear, our new weekly motoring section coming to the site soon.