I always read about the tourneys in the 80's like the "such and such" cup or other with Rickson winning them. But I don't think a lot of it documented. The Pan ams and Mundials were started in the 90's by the IBJJF/CBJJ and they're well documented (winners) on the IBJJF website.
http://www.ibjjf.org/results.htm