1977: Unstoppable Lampkin
Having won his first SSDT in 1976, Martin Lampkin went to the event one year later with exactly the same mind-set: to win. The victory looked an easy one, such was the winning margin, but on the Tuesday his 348cc Bultaco had suffered from electrical problems. As he arrived at Laggan Locks his engine died as the ignition contact points had closed. They required immediate attention from Lampkin, who soon had the machine running again. The hard-luck story of the week belonged to third-placed Nigel Birkett. His Suzuki had been knocked over in the car park earlier in the week by a spectator, and on the final inspection at the close of the event the scrutineers spotted a split fuel tank; with it came a five mark penalty. Heavy rain at the back-end of the six days had certainly made it an event to remember, with only 190 finishers.