Chip off the (engine) block

By Gavin Staindl
PAKENHAM youngster Mitch Garrad has a shelf full of trophies, but one trophy in particular stands out – not because of the size or colour but because of what it symbolises.
Mitch, 13, last week finished the eight-round junior motorkhana championships as clear winner and in doing so became one of the state’s youngest drivers to clinch the championship.
But when Mitch was awarded the perpetual trophy with his name inscribed as this year’s winner, he couldn’t help but notice another name.
Also inscribed on the trophy is a four-time winner from the 1980s – Glenda Fish, who is Mitch’s mother.
Mitch, by his own admission, was born to race – he had no other choice.
Even at the ripe age of one week, Mitch was experiencing the addictive feeling of car racing.
Sitting in the back seat of a car supported by Glenda and husband Ray Garrad (also a motorkhana driver) Mitch’s grandma, Glad Fish, showed the newborn what it was like to compete in a low-key event.
“I’m probably born to be a racer,” Mitch said.
Motorkhana racing is a timed event that requires drivers to steer their cars around flags in a certain pattern in the quickest time and for the majority of the year Mitch, who turned 13 last fortnight, has come up against rivals as old as 17 and won.
“It just comes natural to me,” Mitch said.
“I hardly had any idea of what I was doing when I first started and all I was doing was just trying to get around corners.
“But in the last few events I’ve been learning handbrake turns and getting a lot better.”
After driving his first car at the age of 10, Mitch has since taken off and for the last half of the season was driving solo.
With a combined score of 30, 12 more than his nearest competitor, Mitch was declared the state’s best motorkhana junior.
“It (driving) all takes a bit of skill,” Mitch said.
“You need to remember where to go while negotiating the handbrake and steering … but it’s good to know I’m one of the best juniors in Victoria.”
While Mitch is aiming at taking out next year’s Australian Motorkhana Championships, he is also set on beating his mum.
With a teasing grin, Glenda said Mitch’s challenge was to have his name inscribed on the trophy just as many times as she did.
Will he get it, Mitch was asked? “Yeah, of course.”