Mike Burgmann

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Mike Burgmann (June 3, 1947 – October 5, 1986) was a Sydney accountant and racing car driver who was involved in an accident at the Bathurst 1000 race held at the Mount Panorama Circuit in New South Wales in 1986. Burgmann made his first Bathurst start in 1983 in an ex-Kevin Bartlett Chevrolet Camaro with Tony Longhurst, then in a Mazda RX7 for the 1984 race. With the advent of Group A regulations in 1985, he bought a VK Commodore to compete in the 1985 and 1986 races. Burgmann died when he lost control of his race car while travelling at 268 km/h over the second hump on Conrod Straight, before colliding with a tyre barrier at the base of the Bridgestone Bridge. This was the first, and to date only fatality, to occur as a result of a racing accident during the Bathurst 1000 race. A chicane towards the end of Conrod Straight, named The Chase, has since been constructed in order to reduce the speed of race cars as they reach the end of the straight.

Since that time 1967 Formula One World champion Denny Hulme died of a heart attack while behind the wheel, Don Watson was killed during practice and Mark Porter died after an accident during a support race.