LIKE father, like son! Mitch Godden is keeping the family name up in lights in Southern Centre Grasstrack racing.

When the Salisbury Motor Cycle and Light Car Club staged the Southern Centre Auto Cycle Union Grasstrack Championships at Finkley Manor Farm on Sunday, young Mitch was in electrifying form.

His father, Don, was a top national rider and engine builder and, on one of his own 500cc Godden machines, Mitch left the oppostion standing in the 500cc event.

He won all of his heats in style before powering home in the final when main rival Mark Dimmer pulled out with engine trouble, letting Mark Giles through into second place.

During the day seven riders turned in a clean sheet by winning all their heats.

Lee Pitman had looked the dominant force in the 250cc event until grounding his machine on the second bend after making a strong start in the final.

That allowed Ashley Denham through to take the lead and win from Keith Strudwick and Mark Netherwood.

Two riders in the 350cc event turned in a full card before the final - Dave Rumsey and Terry Giles impressively setting up a final showdown which Rumsey shaded. Giles was second and Netherwood third.

The 500cc sidecar event was decided from the heats and Mike Read, partnered by Mark Thorpe, won all four to take the title from Ricky Neale and Kevin Jones.

Toby Golder, a young rider from Chinnor, won all three of his heats in the 500cc solo junior event and completed the day by taking the chequered flag in the final from Kevin Francis and Mark Chilman. Young Cornishman Kenny Hammill, with his passenger John Richards, caught the eye with some poweful combination work in the heats of the 1000cc sidecar event but they only managed fourth in the final, won by Duncan Tolehurst and John Hiscock.

Salisbury will again be running their popular Hangover meeting on January 9 when the proceeds will go to the Salisbury Hospice Trust. The meeting is in memory of Mike Lane, who was chairman of the club for many years.

Chandler's Ford teenager Glen Phillips was an impressive fifth in the National Grand Slam meeting at Folkestone, won by Jeremy Doncaster.

Phillips, just 16, underlined his potential by beating former British Masters champion Steve Schofield three times. He picked up three second places in his heats before taking fifth in the final.

During his best season so far, Phillips finished fourth in the British 350cc Championship and 16th in the British Masters.

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