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. The main character of the race being the bikes had to be stock and were rigorously inspected to ensure they were. 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.The Biz (Fairfield, NSW), 22 October 1970, p.3.

Honda 750s filled nine of the top ten places in 1971. Tony Hatton and Paul Spooner came second on a Yamaha 650. The heavy and powerful Hondas were all expected to stop for tyre changes. Hatton and Spooner moved up in the placings as each Honda stopped to change tyres. They realised too late that Brian Hindle and Clive Knight were planning to finish the race without changing tyres. Despite Haton's and Spooner's efforts, they were unable to catch the Honda. Yamaha subsequently advertised that its 650 was quicker than nine out of ten superbikes.

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.Canberra Times, 17 October 1972, p.20: "Doubt on winner at Amaroo," 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.Canberra Times, 15 October 1973, p. 14, "Six-Hour win to Victorian."

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.Canberra Times, 24 October 1974, p. 22, "Motor-cycle race has new winner." Kawasaki 750 rider Warren Willing was disqualified For alleged gearbox irregularities.Canberra Times, 15 October 1975, p. 28, "Forced to rebuild machine."

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 YearPositionRidersManufacturerMotorcycleLaps 19701st Len Atlee, Brian Hindle Triumph Bonneville 650 3122nd C Brown, R Jackson Honda CB750 3083rd D Burgess, Joe Eastmure Suzuki T20-250 303 19711st Brian Hindle, Clive Knight Honda CB750 3332nd Tony Hatton, Paul Spooner YamahaXS6503303rd Max Robinson, B Gault Honda CB750 328 19721st Ross Hedley, Les Kenny Kawasaki H2 750 3342nd G Thomas, M Robinson Honda CB750 3323rd Ken Blake, J Curley Ducati GT750 330 19731st Ken Blake Kawasaki Z1B 900 3422nd Warren Willing, John Boote Kawasaki H2 750 3413rd Tony Hatton BMW R75 340 19741st Ken Blake, Len Atlee Kawasaki Z1 900 3442nd John Warrian Kawasaki Z1 900 3363rd K Chevell, B Mayes Kawasaki Z1 900 334 19751st Gregg Hansford, Murray Sayle Kawasaki Z1 900 3352nd Ken Blake BMWR90S3313rd Roger Heyes, S Crymble Kawasaki Z1 900 329 19761st Jim Budd, Roger Heyes Kawasaki Z1B 3502nd Ken Blake, Tony Hatton BMWR90S3493rd Dan Oakhill, Ross Pink Ducati900SS348 19771st Ken Blake, Joe Eastmure BMWR100S3562nd Jim Budd, Neil Chivas Kawasaki Z1B 900 3563rd Alan Hales, Dave Burgess KawasakiZ650353 19781st Roger Heyes, Jim Budd YamahaXS11003542nd John Warrian, Terry Kelly Ducati 900SS 3533rd Mick Cole, Dennis Neil Honda CBX1000 353 19791st Alan Hales, Neill Chivas SuzukiGS10003602nd Greg Pretty, Jim Budd Yamaha XS1100 3573rd Len Atlee, Gary Coleman Yamaha XS1100 357 19801st Andrew Johnson, Wayne Gardner HondaCB1100R3222nd Neil Chivas, John Pace Suzuki GSX11003223rd Roger Heyes, Dennis Neil Honda CB1100R 318 19811st Dave Petersen, Neville Hiscock Suzuki GSX1100 3142nd Roger Heyes, Malcolm Campbell Suzuki GSX1100 3133rd Ron Boulden, Stephen Gall Yamaha XS1100 312 19821st Wayne Gardner, Wayne Clarke Honda CB1100R 3672nd John Pace, Peter Byers Honda CB1100R 3673rd Alan Blanco, Geoff French Honda CB1100R 367 19831st Malcolm Campbell, Rod Cox HondaVF750F3722nd Rob Phillis, G French Honda VF750F 3723rd R Heyes, Robert Holden Suzuki GSX1000S 372 19841st Richard Scott, Michael Dowson YamahaRZ5002602nd Wayne Gardner, John Pace HondaVF10002603rd Neil Chivas, Robert Holden Suzuki Katana 750 256 19851st Richard Scott, Paul Feeney YamahaFZ7502382nd Len Willing, Iain Pero KawasakiGPz900R2383rd Michael Dowson, Kevin Magee Yamaha FZ750 238 19861st Michael Dowson, Kevin Magee Yamaha FZ750 2702nd Robert Holden, Brent Jones Suzuki GSXR750 2703rd Richard Scott, Rod Cox Yamaha FZ750 269 19871st Kevin Magee, Michael Dowson YamahaFZR10002692nd Peter Byers, James Knight Yamaha FZR1000 2663rd Robert Holden, Aaron Slight Suzuki GSX-R750H 265

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