Castrol Six Hour

For the similarly named New Zealand event, see Castrol Six Hour (New Zealand).

The Castrol Six Hour was a motorcycle race for production motorcycles, held in Australia from 1970 through to 1987.

History

The race was run by the Willoughby District Motorcycle Club and held at Amaroo Park until 1983, when it was moved to Oran Park for 1984 until the final race in 1987. At the time it was the biggest and most prestigious bike meeting in Australia, enjoying huge support from not only Castrol and much of the motorcycle trade, but also was a great hit with the motorcycle community who saw it as a real test of the motorcycles they might wish to buy. It also had considerable television coverage and either contributed to or was the result of a motorcycle sales boom. The 6 Hour was so important to the industry, Honda designed the CB 1100R(B), to win the race. The first model had no fairing and is totally hand made.

Originally the race was called the Castrol 1000 in recognition of the prize money on offer from Castrol. $1000 was a considerable sum in 1970 as can be seen by the fact that the eventual winning bike in the first race, a Triumph Bonneville 650, could be purchased for around $1,150.00 at the time.

At first the race was for 3 classes, Unlimited, 500 cc and 250 cc. The race continued in that format until 1975, when the 250 cc class was dropped for "rider safety". Then in 1978 the 500 cc class was dropped and a 750 cc class introduced. For 1983 The maximum capacity was limited to 1000 cc, probably to comply with the ACCA regulations and in 1987 a 250 cc class was reintroduced.

The first race was run on Sunday, October 18, 1970, when 68 riders lined up for the Le Mans start.

The end came partly because of Castrol pulling out of road racing to concentrate its efforts on initially the Mr Motocross Series and then V8 Supercars, and partly because of controversy that had dogged the event since the start over eligibility of bikes or components. Also races for production bikes were losing support as more people moved to the new Superbikes. The move to Oran Park was also not popular with many fans.

There have been attempts to revive the idea of a six-hour endurance race, including one at Phillip Island, one at Eastern Creek and two at Oran Park in the 1990s and early 2000s but none met with the success of the original six hour.

Star riders

Many famous names competed in the event, such as Mike (the bike) Hailwood (UK), Wes Cooley (USA), John Kocinski (USA), Ken Blake, Robert Holden and Graeme Crosby (NZ Kawasaki). Winners of the event include a virtual "who's who" of Australian motorcycle racing during the 1970s and 1980s, including Rob Phillis (Mick Hone Suzuki), Andrew Johnson (Syndicate Kawasaki Z1R, Team Yamaha), Warren Willing (Team Yamaha), Wayne Gardner (Team Honda), Gregg Hansford (Team Kawasaki), Michael Dowson, Malcolm Campbell (Team Honda) and Kevin Magee (TZ750) Kevin Magee, Michael Cole (Team Honda), Malcolm Campbell (Team Honda). A host a privateers contested the 6 hour putting them on even (horsepower) footing with factory backed racers. The best of these was David Brewer (Uncle Dons Cycles), David Shaw (Bayside Kawasaki), these two in particular harassed the factory riders whilst on similar machinery regularly taking top 5 positions.

Results

Year Position Riders Manufacturer Motorcycle Laps
1970
1st Len Atlee, Brian Hindle Triumph Bonneville 650 312
2nd C Brown, R Jackson Honda CB750 308
3rd D Burgess, Joe Eastmure Suzuki T20-250 303
1971
1st Brian Hindle, Clive Knight Honda CB750 333
2nd Tony Hatton, Paul Spooner YamahaXS650330
3rd Max Robinson, B Gault Honda CB750 328
1972
1st Mike Steele, Dave Burgess Kawasaki H2 750 334
2nd G Thomas, M Robinson Honda CB750 332
3rd Ken Blake, J Curley Ducati GT750 330
1973
1st Ken Blake Kawasaki Z1B 900 342
2nd Warren Willing, John Boote Kawasaki H2 750 341
3rd Tony Hatton BMW R75 340
1974
1st Ken Blake, Len Atlee Kawasaki Z1 900 344
2nd John Warrian Kawasaki Z1 900 336
3rd K Chevell, B Mayes Kawasaki Z1 900 334
1975
1st Gregg Hansford, Murray Sayle Kawasaki Z1 900 335
2nd Ken Blake BMWR90S331
3rd Roger Heyes, S Crymble Kawasaki Z1 900 329
1976
1st Jim Budd, Roger Heyes Kawasaki Z1B 350
2nd Ken Blake, Tony Hatton BMWR90S349
3rd Dan Oakhill, Ross Pink Ducati900SS348
1977
1st Ken Blake, Joe Eastmure BMWR100S356
2nd Jim Budd, Neil Chivas Kawasaki Z1B 900 356
3rd Alan Hales, Dave Burgess KawasakiZ650353
1978
1st Roger Heyes, Jim Budd YamahaXS1100354
2nd John Warrian, Terry Kelly Ducati 900SS 353
3rd Mick Cole, Dennis Neil Honda CBX1000 353
1979
1st Alan Hales, Neill Chivas SuzukiGS1000360
2nd Greg Pretty, Jim Budd Yamaha XS1100 357
3rd Len Atlee, Gary Coleman Yamaha XS1100 357
1980
1st Andrew Johnson, Wayne Gardner HondaCB1100R322
2nd Neil Chivas, John Pace Suzuki GSX1100322
3rd Roger Heyes, Dennis Neil Honda CB1100R 318
1981
1st Dave Petersen, Neville Hiscock Suzuki GSX1100 314
2nd Roger Heyes, Malcolm Campbell Suzuki GSX1100 313
3rd Ron Boulden, Stephen Gall Yamaha XS1100 312
1982
1st Wayne Gardner, Wayne Clarke Honda CB1100R 367
2nd John Pace, Peter Byers Honda CB1100R 367
3rd Alan Blanco, Geoff French Honda CB1100R 367
1983
1st Malcolm Campbell, Rod Cox HondaVF750F372
2nd Rob Phillis, G French Honda VF750F 372
3rd R Heyes, Robert Holden Suzuki GSX1000S 372
1984
1st Richard Scott, Michael Dowson YamahaRZ500260
2nd Wayne Gardner, John Pace HondaVF1000260
3rd Neil Chivas, Robert Holden Suzuki Katana 750 256
1985
1st Richard Scott, Paul Feeney YamahaFZ750238
2nd Len Willing, Iain Pero KawasakiGPz900R238
3rd Michael Dowson, Kevin Magee Yamaha FZ750 238
1986
1st Michael Dowson, Kevin Magee Yamaha FZ750 270
2nd Robert Holden, Brent Jones Suzuki GSXR750 270
3rd Richard Scott, Rod Cox Yamaha FZ750 269
1987
1st Kevin Magee, Michael Dowson YamahaFZR1000269
2nd Peter Byers, James Knight Yamaha FZR1000 266
3rd Robert Holden, Aaron Slight Suzuki GSX-R750H 265

External links

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