At the start of the 1969 season I called in to Ken's factory to collect the engines. Ken said one needed running in so I offered to run it in, all engines were assembled tight and given a short run to loosen them up then boxed up.The test house was situated at the end of the factory being a small room just big enough for two people. The engine was readied and fuelled up and when Ken first flicked the prop over the engine was too tight for the prop to bounce back but after three or four flicks the engine was running. I then took over the running for the next hour. Over the years I spent many hours running engines in and on the way home my ears would be ringing but after a hour or so it would clear but on this occasion despite even using ear protection I developed a hissing noise in my ears which has stayed with me ever since.

In 1969 we also had the advantage of the crash helmets demonstrated to us when Lyndon was racing at the Elliott's Automation rally. Lyndon was refuelling his racer when he was hit by a model gliding in fast, Lyndon was hit on the head and the spinner went through the helmet and knocked him out and he was taken to hospital. Lyndon returned latter that afternoon with no ill affects but the doctor said the helmet probably saved his life.