12th July, 2009
Aldershot, Southern Championship
Bilby shines in the sun
A beautiful day greeted the drivers for the Southern Championship
at Aldershot, where the racing was to be as hot as the weather.
The first heat saw the red grade drivers spaced apart to
enable them a clean getaway. This they did with Gordon Pooley
33 takeing the win from fellow red Marc deLand 15. Leon Retchles
99 was the early leader but was only able to manage 7th at
the end, one place better than dad Phill 9 who was docked
2 places for contact with the 23 car.
Dispite a slippy track the racing was equally as furious
in heat 2. Leon 99 held on for 3rd place but was unable to
stop Marc 15 and Jonathan Pooley 31 from passing him for 1st
and 2nd. The racing being so close only 7 tenths of a second
seperating the fastest laps of each driver.
20 laps for the Southern Championship saw Leon 99 again leading
with Alan Herbert 76 and Cliff Bunn 23 following. Around the
half way point Alan's throttle broke leaving him out of the
race and momentarily holding up the 23 car. This enabled Andrew
Bilby 16 to move in front taking the lead a few laps later
and going on to win the Southern Championship, with Leon 99
holding on for 2nd place. Jonathan 31 was catching the lead
pair but had to turn off the stereo and air conditioning as
his battery was going flat, being lucky to hang on to 3rd
at the finish. The action didn't end there, just as the chequered
flag was being waved Neil Clarke 77 and Marc deLand 15 had
a coming together in turns 3 and 4, the clash saw Marc's car
fly through the air and not stopping until he hit the pit
gate, thankfully Marc being okay.
