Having stopped short of Coolangatta at a cattle station at Goolawindi (apologies that I can't get this name right) M telephoned on Friday morning and left a message of my instructions for that day! I was to purchase 6 AA batteries (for his radio), 1 pair of size 11 RJ Williams boots, get his video/DVD repaired and be at Coolangatta airfield by 11.30. He had also left a message that he needed his spare prop. from the Albatros but that was being dealt with by the race organisers.
Earlier in the week M's boots had become something of a cause celebre. The Kai Tak team had approached me in a conspiratorial manner and asked the size of M's feet. They were plotting a new boot ceremony for M at Saturday night's dinner where they would present him with new boots to replace his much-loved and utterly falling apart pair, worn for the entire race. Spare shoes, even flipflops, would have added unnecessary weight to G-KIRK's load. I passed on the boot request to the Kai Tak team and prepared my story - inadequate time for shopping / you should try shopping with a two year old / why should I do your shopping anyway? I'm not your slave etc.
G-KIRK (the other one - two years old) and I failed miserably to get M's video recorder fixed, but got to Coolangatta airport on time. M had already arrived and was enjoying himself relating his latest adventure to assembled journalists, reporters and photographers. G-KIRK's propellor was the focus of attention. While crossing the mountains West of Coolangatta, M became aware that the propellor was vibrating rather alarmingly. He was unable to safely land on the mountains and a subsequent 40 mile stretch of woodland meant that he had to persevere carefully until quite close enought to Coolangatta. At this point he decided to struggle on to the airfield. I am not a pilot but as a frequent passenger am aware of the necessity to be aware at all stages of a field/safe area in which to land in an emergency. I also vividly remember a trip with M when we had a similar sort of emergency over the Cairngorms in Scotland and no suitable precautionary landing area and so no choice other than to struggle on - not my favourite memory.
After landing he found that two prop. bolts had sheared and had caused the prop. to crack. Luckily, the only major spare part that M had taken along on the race was a spare fine pitch propellor. This was for two reasons: as a spare part should his prop. be damaged and also as a contingency should he find difficulty in getting G-KIRK to lift when carrying a full load of fuel in the hot climates encountered. The Campbell team had kindly carried the spare in their Albatros. G-KIRK's progress would have been even slower with the extra weight.
Instead of lunch at Coolangatta we sped around arranging the propellor change. Finding replacement bolts proved difficult and resulted in our visiting a number of hangars on the airfield many of which contained fascinating airoplanes and people. As is always the case, appropriate bolts were found in the bottom of someone's gash box; bolts with little prospect of finding a home but being kept "just in case". Thank you.
Aware that headwinds forecast for the following day meant that they might not reach Sydney for the flypast, M and G-KIRK pressed on from Coolangatta at 15.00hrs heading as far down the coast as they could get.
They reached Coffs Harbour Aeroclub at sunset. After a barbecue he met old flyers who saw the race in 1934. He stayed in the bunkhouse of the club overnight and was able to leave early next morning (Saturday, 07/04/01) for Sydney harbour. Again I get the impression that M's race has involved more fun than that of anyone else.
KK (M's wife)