$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.

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

They realised too late that Brian Hindle and Clive Knight were planning to finish the race without changing tyres.

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.

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.