Castrol Six Hour

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

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

VenueAmaroo Park
LocationAnnangrove, New South Wales
33°39′3″S 150°56′1″E
Corporate sponsorCastrol
First race1970
Last race1987
Duration6 hours
Most wins (rider)Ken Blake, Michael Dowson (3)
Most wins (manufacturer)Kawasaki, Yamaha (5)
Circuit information
Length1.94 km (1.21 mi)
Turns10

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. The main character of the race being the bikes had to be stock and were rigorously inspected to ensure they were.[1] 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, 18 October 1970, when 68 riders lined up for the Le Mans start. Thirteen riders dropped their machines in the first four laps.[2]

The 1972 race ended in controversy with Joe Eastmure initially being declared winner on a 315 cc Suzuki 350. Two hours later Kawasaki 750 riders Mike Steele and Dave Burgess, who had crashed four minutes before the finish, were declared winners. A protest was lodged against them on the grounds that they had returned to the circuit without making a pit stop for a safety inspection.[3] Eastmure's bike was later disqualified for not having a horn. He returned in 1973 riding the same bike (with horn) and placed outright sixth, winning the 500 cc class.[4]

In the 1974 race BMW R90 riders Bryan Hindle and Clive Knight were initially declared winners. Kawasaki Z1-900 riders Len Atlee and Ken Blake were declared winners after a recount. Another Kawasaki was disqualified for petrol tank modifications. Two BMW teams would have placed second and third, but were disqualified for suspension modifications. Yamaha RD-350 riders Barry Lemon/David Robbins won the 500 cc class with 333 laps, followed by Kawasaki H1-500 riders Peter Stronach and Jeff Sim (331 laps) and Honda CB-500 riders Lynton Carle and Otto Muller (330 laps). 250cc class winners (subject to the outcome of protests) were Lee Roebuck/Jeff Parkin (Yamaha RD-250) 326 laps, followed by Vaughan Coburn/Ron Burke (Suzuki GT-250) 326 laps and Terry Brown/Paul Grayden (Yamaha RD-250) 325 laps.[5] Kawasaki 750 rider Warren Willing was disqualified For alleged gearbox irregularities.[6]

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 (Mentor Motorcycles-Honda), Warren Willing (Team Yamaha), Wayne Gardner (Team Honda), Gregg Hansford (Team Kawasaki), Michael Dowson, Malcolm Campbell (Team Honda) and Kevin Magee (TZ750), 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.

Results
Year Position Riders Manufacturer Motorcycle Laps
1970
1stLen Atlee, Brian HindleTriumphBonneville 650312
2ndC Brown, R JacksonHondaCB750308
3rdD Burgess, Joe EastmureSuzukiT20-250303
1971
1stBrian Hindle, Clive KnightHondaCB750333
2ndTony Hatton, Paul SpoonerYamahaXS650330
3rdMax Robinson, B GaultHondaCB750328
1972
1stMike Steele, Dave BurgessKawasakiH2 750334
2ndG Thomas, M RobinsonHondaCB750332
3rdKen Blake, J CurleyDucatiGT750330
1973
1stKen BlakeKawasakiZ1B 900342
2ndWarren Willing, John BooteKawasakiH2 750341
3rdTony HattonBMWR75340
1974
1stKen Blake, Len AtleeKawasakiZ1 900344
2ndJohn WarrianKawasakiZ1 900336
3rdK Chevell, B MayesKawasakiZ1 900334
1975
1stGregg Hansford, Murray SayleKawasakiZ1 900335
2ndKen BlakeBMWR90S331
3rdRoger Heyes, S CrymbleKawasakiZ1 900329
1976
1stJim Budd, Roger HeyesKawasakiZ1B350
2ndKen Blake, Tony HattonBMWR90S349
3rdDan Oakhill, Ross PinkDucati900SS348
1977
1stKen Blake, Joe EastmureBMWR100S356
2ndJim Budd, Neil ChivasKawasakiZ1B 900356
3rdAlan Hales, Dave BurgessKawasakiZ650353
1978
1stRoger Heyes, Jim BuddYamahaXS1100354
2ndJohn Warrian, Terry KellyDucati900SS353
3rdMick Cole, Dennis NeilHondaCBX1000353
1979
1stAlan Hales, Neill ChivasSuzukiGS1000360
2ndGreg Pretty, Jim BuddYamahaXS1100357
3rdLen Atlee, Gary ColemanYamahaXS1100357
1980
1stAndrew Johnson, Wayne GardnerHondaCB1100R322
2ndNeil Chivas, John PaceSuzukiGSX1100322
3rdRoger Heyes, Dennis NeilHondaCB1100R318
1981
1stDave Petersen, Neville HiscockSuzukiGSX1100314
2ndRoger Heyes, Malcolm CampbellSuzukiGSX1100313
3rdRon Boulden, Stephen GallYamahaXS1100312
1982
1stWayne Gardner, Wayne ClarkeHondaCB1100R367
2ndJohn Pace, Peter ByersHondaCB1100R367
3rdAlan Blanco, Geoff FrenchHondaCB1100R367
1983
1stMalcolm Campbell, Rod CoxHondaVF750F372
2ndRob Phillis, G FrenchHondaVF750F372
3rdR Heyes, Robert HoldenSuzukiGSX1000S372
1984
1stRichard Scott, Michael DowsonYamahaRZ500260
2ndWayne Gardner, John PaceHondaVF1000260
3rdNeil Chivas, Robert HoldenSuzukiKatana 750256
1985
1stRichard Scott, Paul FeeneyYamahaFZ750238
2ndLen Willing, Iain PeroKawasakiGPz900R238
3rdMichael Dowson, Kevin MageeYamahaFZ750238
1986
1stMichael Dowson, Kevin MageeYamahaFZ750270
2ndRobert Holden, Brent JonesSuzukiGSXR750270
3rdRichard Scott, Rod CoxYamahaFZ750269
1987
1stKevin Magee, Michael DowsonYamahaFZR1000269
2ndPeter Byers, James KnightYamahaFZR1000266
3rdRobert Holden, Aaron SlightSuzukiGSX-R750H265

References
  1. Phil Hall. "Six hours a year". Motorcycle News. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  2. The Biz (Fairfield, NSW), 22 October 1970, p.3.
  3. Canberra Times, 17 October 1972, p.20: "Doubt on winner at Amaroo,"
  4. Canberra Times, 15 October 1973, p. 14, "Six-Hour win to Victorian."
  5. Canberra Times, 24 October 1974, p. 22, "Motor-cycle race has new winner."
  6. Canberra Times, 15 October 1975, p. 28, "Forced to rebuild machine."
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