The Castrol Six Hour was a motorcycle race

Motorcycle racing

Motorcycle sport is a broad field that encompasses all sporting aspects of motorcycling. The disciplines are not all "races" or timed-speed events, as several disciplines test a competitor's various riding skills.-Motorcycle racing:...

 for production motorcycles, held in Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

 from 1970 through to 1987.

History

The race was run by the Willoughby District Motorcycle Club and held at Amaroo Park

Amaroo Park

Amaroo Park was a motor racing circuit located in Annangrove, New South Wales, in the present-day western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. It opened in 1967, hosting its first motorcycle meeting on 26 February with a 30 lap production race won by Larry Simons on a BSA Spitfire in heavy rain. The...

 until 1983, when it was moved to Oran Park

Oran Park Raceway

Oran Park Raceway was a motor racing circuit at Narellan in southwestern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia which was operational from 1962 to 2010....

 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

Castrol

Castrol is a brand of industrial and automotive lubricants which is applied to a large range of oils, greases and similar products for most lubrication applications...

 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

Television

Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...

 coverage and either contributed to or was the result of a motorcycle sales boom.

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

Triumph Bonneville T120

The Triumph Bonneville T120 is a British motorcycle that was designed and built by Triumph Engineering between 1959 and 1975, when the engine size was increased to .-Development:...

, 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

Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is a motor racing racing circuit on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. The circuit was opened in 1956.-Road circuit:...

, one at Eastern Creek

Eastern Creek Raceway

Eastern Creek International Raceway is a motorsports circuit located on Brabham Drive, Eastern Creek , New South Wales, Australia, adjacent to the Western Sydney International Dragway. It was built and is owned by the New South Wales Government and is operated by the...

 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 Hailwood

Mike Hailwood

Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood, MBE, GM was a British Grand Prix motorcycle road racer regarded by many as one of the greatest racers of all time. He was known as "Mike The Bike" because of his natural riding ability...

, Wes Cooley, John Kocinski

John Kocinski

John Kocinski is a retired Grand Prix motorcycle road racer whose successes include winning the 1990 250cc World Championship, and the 1997 Superbike World Championship title.-Early years:...

, Ken Blake, Robert Holden, Graeme Crosby

Graeme Crosby

Graeme Crosby is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from New Zealand. A supremely versatile rider, Crosby holds the distinction of having won the Daytona 200, the Imola 200, the Suzuka 8 Hours, and the Isle of Man TT....

, Rob Phillis

Rob Phillis

Rob Phillis is a retired motorcycle road racer from Australia. He began his motorcycling career competing in dirt bike and motocross events before crossing over to road racing in 1974. He won the Australian Superbike title several times...

 and lists winners such as Gregg Hansford

Gregg Hansford

Gregg Hansford was an Australian motorcycle and touring car racer.-Racing career:Hansford began racing motorcycles in Australia, winning the 1973 500cc Unlimited title, as well as competing in the New Zealand Marlboro Series in 1975/76 and 1977/78 on Team Kawasaki 750s. He also won one leg of the...

, Michael Dowson, Kevin Magee and Wayne Gardner

Wayne Gardner

Wayne Michael Gardner OAM is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and touring car racer. His most notable achievement was winning the 1987 500 cc Motorcycle World Championship, becoming the first Australian to win motorcycling's premier class...

.

Results

Year	Position	Riders	Manufacturer	Motorcycle	Laps
1970
	1st	Len Atlee, Brian Hindle	Triumph	Bonneville 650	312
	2nd	C Brown, R Jackson	Honda Honda is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...	CB750	308
	3rd	D Burgess, Joe Eastmure	Suzuki Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...	T20-250	303
1971
	1st	Brian Hindle, Clive Knight	Honda	CB750	333
	2nd	Tony Hatton, Paul Spooner	Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...	XS650	330
	3rd	Max Robinson, B Gault	Honda	CB750	328
1972
	1st	Mike Steele, Dave Burgess	Kawasaki Kawasaki Heavy Industries is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....	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 Gregg Hansford Gregg Hansford was an Australian motorcycle and touring car racer.-Racing career:Hansford began racing motorcycles in Australia, winning the 1973 500cc Unlimited title, as well as competing in the New Zealand Marlboro Series in 1975/76 and 1977/78 on Team Kawasaki 750s. He also won one leg of the... , Murray Sayle	Kawasaki	Z1 900	335
	2nd	Ken Blake	BMW	R90S	331
	3rd	Roger Heyes, S Crymble	Kawasaki	Z1 900	329
1976
	1st	Jim Budd, Roger Heyes	Kawasaki	Z1B	350
	2nd	Ken Blake, Tony Hatton	BMW	R90S	349
	3rd	Dan Oakhill, Ross Pink	Ducati	900SS	348
1977
	1st	Ken Blake, Joe Eastmure	BMW	R100S	356
	2nd	Jim Budd, Neil Chivas	Kawasaki	Z1B 900	356
	3rd	Alan Hales, Dave Burgess	Kawasaki	Z650	353
1978
	1st	Roger Heyes, Jim Budd	Yamaha	XS1100	354
	2nd	John Warrian, Terry Kelly	Ducati	900SS	353
	3rd	Mick Cole, Dennis Neil	Honda	CBX1000	353
1979
	1st	Alan Hales, Neill Chivas	Suzuki	GS1000	360
	2nd	Greg Pretty, Jim Budd	Yamaha	XS1100	357
	3rd	Len Atlee, Gary Coleman	Yamaha	XS1100	357
1980
	1st	Andrew Johnson, Wayne Gardner Wayne Gardner Wayne Michael Gardner OAM is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and touring car racer. His most notable achievement was winning the 1987 500 cc Motorcycle World Championship, becoming the first Australian to win motorcycling's premier class...	Honda	CB1100R	322
	2nd	Neil Chivas, John Pace	Suzuki	GSX1100	322
	3rd	Roger Heyes, Dennis Neil	Honda	CB1100R	318
1981
	1st	Dave Petersen, Neville Hiscock Neville Hiscock Neville Hiscock was a New Zealand motorcycle racer in the 1970s and 1980s. He raced competitively in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa....	Suzuki	GSX1100	314
	2nd	Roger Heyes, Malcolm Campbell	Suzuki	GSX1100	313
	3rd	Ron Boulden, Stephen Gall	Yamaha	XS1100	312
1982
	1st	Wayne Gardner Wayne Gardner Wayne Michael Gardner OAM is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and touring car racer. His most notable achievement was winning the 1987 500 cc Motorcycle World Championship, becoming the first Australian to win motorcycling's premier class... , 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	Honda	VF750F	372
	2nd	Rob Phillis Rob Phillis Rob Phillis is a retired motorcycle road racer from Australia. He began his motorcycling career competing in dirt bike and motocross events before crossing over to road racing in 1974. He won the Australian Superbike title several times... , G French	Honda	VF750F	372
	3rd	R Heyes, Robert Holden Robert Holden (motorcyclist) Robert Holden was a motorcycle road racer from New Zealand.He was the most successful of all Ducati Supermono racers. In 1994 Holden placed second in the Isle of Man TT, then returned to the 1995 Isle of Man TT to win the singles title. Holden also won in Ireland's North West 200 Supermono class...	Suzuki	GSX1000S	372
1984
	1st	Richard Scott, Michael Dowson	Yamaha	RZ500	260
	2nd	Wayne Gardner Wayne Gardner Wayne Michael Gardner OAM is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and touring car racer. His most notable achievement was winning the 1987 500 cc Motorcycle World Championship, becoming the first Australian to win motorcycling's premier class... , John Pace	Honda	VF1000	260
	3rd	Neil Chivas, Robert Holden	Suzuki	Katana 750	256
1985
	1st	Richard Scott, Paul Feeney	Yamaha	FZ750	238
	2nd	Len Willing, Iain Pero	Kawasaki	GPz900R	238
	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	Yamaha	FZR1000	269
	2nd	Peter Byers, James Knight	Yamaha	FZR1000	266
	3rd	Robert Holden, Aaron Slight Aaron Slight Aaron Tony Slight is a former professional motorcycle road racer who has recently dabbled in car racing and now fronts the AA Torque Show....	Suzuki	GSX-R750H	265

External links

• http://www.halltech.com.au/kennyb/kbbio.htm Ken Blake 1945 - 1981
• http://www.castrol6hour.com.au
• http://buddmotorsport.com.au/castrol-6-hour-race/ Jim Budd 1950 to 2001