Pick Meup Issue 29 Puzzle 9

[sandy10]

8a:immediately,not giving the matter any thought (3,2,4) ?U?O?H???
9a:handed over money(4,2) ???D?P
15a:encompass(7) ???L?D?
16a:imrove(7) ?S?????
18a:fungal disease(8,4) A?H???I?????
24a:lopsided(5) ?S???
1d:junior motor-racing? (2-7) ?O???T???
6d:silly(5) ???N?
14d:freeloader(9) ?????N???
17d:protection from attack(7) ???E?C

many thanks in advance

[factor-fiction]

I've seen a lot of these in Crosswords section this week.
I remember:
out of hand
include
askew
inane
scrounger
defence (if a letter is missing)

[factor-fiction]

paid up

[Baldric]

18, ATHLETES FOOT

[factor-fiction]

Go Karting