Not in the Race...
because not the dosh for the entry fee and an ADF fit. But pushed an Auster down the "roo route" anyway with a bag of commem. mail to help pay the bills.
Left before the race started and landed DWN early Jan 1970.
With a big 50 on the tail, got signed in at a few places as Air Race 50.!
Which was kinda handy as fees were waived and my tight budget needed all the help it could get, Landed DWN with abt 3$ worth of Portuguese escudos from Timor in the pocket and borrowed $50 to make it home.
During the trip I got some pics of BP Air Race aircraft and back in Oz picked up copies of the BP booklet and the aerodrome diagrams.
In Bankstown I recovered my pair of spare mags that I had loaned to G-ARGT in Rangoon. Hadnt been returned and the Auster J1/N was abandoned there and later sold.
From KL to Singapore I flew along with ARGT and the RAF chaps on board took some air to air pics of G-AOHF. Never did get a copy. Due late arvo and Cbs up ahead I peeled off and went to Malacca instead.
Was that all nearly 50 years ago...good grief.!
Need another go,, someplace ..Adventure before Dementia and all that.