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Hi Ginge, and thanks, Jono. Yes, swapping vowel sounds, with punishment as 'the rod'. Perhaps it doesn't translate across the Atlantic? :))

Hi mattrom, many thanks for replying so promptly. I have similar issues with some such clues that appear in the Times & Telegraph as while they may "work" in the SE of England they certainly don't in almost all of the rest of the UK.
I hope you don't think I was being specifically critical, I just wanted to ensure I wasn't missing anything else and didn't want to just disregard it.
Back shortly with the result.

My many thanks to the 9 of you supplying clues, particularly the very industrious paul, and I'll take this opportunity to reiterate the welcome louweed.
Chrise was quick off the mark, as usual, and first to acknowledge the "great" work of literature with geeker, BBM2 & paul using Beat referenced definitions which I'm sure would have provided penny drop moments on solving with the answer not known in advance. Paul's Toad & Heron (a great name for a boozer, well spotted fiery), Honda, tourer (biggest chuckle, hope Sally appreciated "it"), hot rod, fiery's spin (anagrind) & hitchhiker and mattrom's horne(d) toad anagrams being nicely specific to the answer.
It hadn't occurred to me that the answer would lend itself to (well) hidden clues and I was genuinely impressed to see totally different scenarios provided by geeker, fiery and aristo.
Touches I really like are BBM2's Percy (Shaw's) cats eye's and paul's &lit @ 6 as thar was exactly how the work was first received.
I'm feeling guilty at not considering mattrom's Spoonerism further because it's well written with a typically good surface but while it may "sound right" to some of you I'm afraid it doesn't to me, sorry mattrom.
2 clues just missing out are jono @ 10; I feel "a lot" would have to give "a (l)oad and fiery @ 24; "sustaining" rather than "to sustain" would lose the superfluous "to".
Bronze goes to louweed @ 18 and there's lot's to like, "is paramount" a particularly good position locator with star sign = hero & ad but I feel the surface is just a tad strained.
Silver and just losing out is BBM2 @ 8 with another definition (referencing the 17th hole at St Andrews - also topical) that would definitely require the light bulb to flash
However, this week's winner is jono @ 25 with his subtractive anagram

Like a tramp - down-to-earth, drifting losing the way at first

Your prize ...

https://youtube.com/shorts/UEO8R-bfaQg?feature=share

... I imagine was not envisaged by many, possibly any, of you. Until the next time, cheers.

Well done, Jono! Thanks, Ginge, for the detailed summation. I (perversely, perhaps) set myself the task of a non-anagram clue, knowing that homophones are always fraught. Thanks for giving it due consideration.
I liked the clip :)

Well done Jon! Definitely not a bum clue….
Cheers Ginge for setting. The difficulty in expanding the definitions was offset by the anagram potential! Thanks for the multiple mentions - makes it all worthwhile.
Agree about Mattrom’s lovely horned toad.

Many thanks Ginge for your very considered adjudication. I’m honoured to prevail with such an impressive selection of clues. You were right to pull me up on “a lot”.
Loved the clip, not what I was expecting!
Cheers all, see you next week, by which time the temperature in London may well have exceeded 40 degrees and my mind may well have melted… 😓

Congratulations, jono, and thanks to the redoubtable Ginger One.

Congrats jono and thanks ginge - liked the clip!

Congratulations Jono
Cheers Ginge for hosting and the numerous mentions, much appreciated

Ginge - thanks for the great clip!