13th April, 2009
Grimley, West Country Challenge
The Grand Prix Midget Club season commenced at the Grimley
Raceway on a warm Easter Monday afternoon. The main race of
the afternoon was for the West Country Cup which turned out
to be an absolute classic. Marc de Land (15) battled fellow
newcomer Leon Retchless (99) at the head of the field however,
the chasing pack led by Philip Retchless (9) who challenged
and took over the lead. The remaining cars then started to
stack up behind the Cheetah and at one point a lenth of a
straight only separated 1st to 12th as cars battled side by
side for at least 10 laps. Regrettably such close racing was
going to end in tears and within a lap Retchless (99) and
Dorrell (26) both got to close to the rumble strips and sustained
damage. All cars managed to swerve and avoid the mayhem however,
the field was now spread out. Retchless (9) now came under
huge pressure from Daniel Pooley (32) and Jonathan Pooley
(31). As the laps ticked away it was Philip Retchless to hold
on to claim the first title of 2009 only half a car length
from 31 and 32 running behind in a close third.
Heat one was a less close affair as Mr Chairman Allen Herbert
(76) jumped Retchless (9) at the start and never looked back.
The rest of the field went through the motions of trying to
catch 76 however, was unable to do anything about the lead
he had managed to pull out on the early laps of the race.
Heat two saw a maiden race win for 2009 rookie driver Marc
de Land. Feeling very comfortable in his new machine the Brummy
gardener pulled out a good lead and finished the race a full
length of a straight from Neil Clarke (77).
