The trip home from the end of the 1970 World Cup Rally as remembered by Bill Price.
British Leyland hired a Caledonian Bristol Britannia to transport spares/wheels/tyres and service personnel to Rio.
After the last drop-off in Lima the aircraft, sometimes called “Brownings Bomber” returned to UK.
After the finish in Mexico City the crews and mechanics were due to travel home in the Britannia.
However, inboard to USA the aircraft suffered a bird-strike damaging the wind-screen and was diverted to Montreal.
All those due to fly were now booked on a Brannif DC8 to Montreal to connect with the Britannia which was having a new windscreen fitted.
A long flight home but a chance for the team to recover some sleep. Ran out of milk on the flight so chief mechanic, Doug Watts was obliged to have brandy on his corn flakes !!
At London it was straight into a London Hotel for lunch with Lord Stokes – pity we only came second !!
Bill Price
Doug Watts was my grandfather – and this sounds pretty typical!