I thought my experiences regarding the late Philip Young and the late Hywel 'the mac' Thomas a founder member of Port Talbot Motor Club may be of interest to you.


I serviced for Keith Billows and Hywel Thomas in a group four Escort on the 1980 Himalayan rally. The car normally had a BDA engine but because of the lower grade petrol in India a two litre Pinto engine was installed for the event.
Hywel made notes about the special stages traveling in a taxi two weeks before the start.
Another UK competitor was Philip Young driving a Morris Minor previously owned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

One day the rally paused in a strictly Muslim town where women were modestly dressed.
I accompanied Philip's girlfriend to do some food shopping. She asked me why some men were staring at her. I pretended not to know why but the reason was obvious. She was vert good looking and wasn't wearing a bra so her nipples were pushing prominently through her tee shirt and her breasts bounced with each step.
I think she was unselfconscious about her boobs.

Soon afterwards Keith and Hywel retired due to an engine problem. I wanted to carry on and completed the route in the service van of some hard drinking Australian competitors.

Members of the opposition political party were opposed to the event and attacked cars smashing windscreens at several points along the route. The cars went into a sports stadium with police guard for protection where improvised mesh windscreens were made.
Some of the Indian competitors were in antiquated Hindustan Ambassador cars based on UK 1950's Morris Oxfords.

It was a high profile event and the awards were presented at a hotel in Delhi by the prime minister Mrs Gandhi. As she gave Philip Young his 15th place award he kissed her on the face and she looked horrified.

The rally was won by the famous Shakhar Mehta and Lofty Drews in an Opel Ascona 400.

MalP