Mike Burgmann facts for kids

Michael Trevor Burgmann (born June 3, 1947 – died October 5, 1986) was an Australian accountant from Sydney who also loved racing cars. He was involved in a sad accident during the 1986 James Hardie 1000 race at the famous Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst. At the time, Michael was the accountant for the Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC). This club organized the Bathurst 1000 race and owned Amaroo Park in Sydney.

Michael Burgmann's Racing Journey

Michael Burgmann started his racing journey mostly in the "AMSCAR Series" at Amaroo Park in 1983. He also raced in some rounds of the ATCC and the Australian Endurance Championship.

His first time racing at Bathurst was in 1983. He drove a Chevrolet Camaro with another new racer, Tony Longhurst. They started the race in 21st place. However, their car had many problems, and they couldn't finish enough laps to be officially counted.

In 1984, Michael continued to race regularly in the AMSCAR series. The 1984 James Hardie 1000 went much better for him. He switched to a Mazda RX-7 and shared the driving with experienced racer Bob Stevens. They started in 39th place. Even though they weren't the fastest, they drove steadily without big problems. This helped them finish in a great 8th place! They were only 10 laps behind the winning car.

In 1985, racing rules changed from local "Group C" to international "Group A" rules. The Mazda RX-7 was no longer competitive. So, Michael bought a Holden VK Commodore to race in the 1985 and 1986 Bathurst 1000 races. In 1985, his car had engine trouble and couldn't finish the race. This was a common issue for many cars that year.

The 1986 Race and a Tragic Accident

For the 1986 race, Michael's team upgraded their Holden Commodore to the faster SS Group A version. He shared the car with Mal Rose for the endurance races. At Bathurst, Michael qualified his car in 27th place.

He had a good start to the race, gaining almost 10 spots quickly. But on lap 3, his car's windscreen broke. On lap 5, Michael was trying to pass his friend Garry Willmington's Jaguar XJS. They were on a part of the track called Conrod Straight, going over a hump at more than 260 kilometers per hour (about 160 mph).

As cars went over this hump at high speed, the front of the car would lift slightly. Michael's car moved a bit to the right. He tried to steer it back, but the car hit the tire barrier near a curved bridge. The front of the car was badly damaged.

Sadly, Michael Burgmann passed away at Bathurst Hospital. He was the first driver to die while competing in the Bathurst 1000 race.

Making the Track Safer: Michael's Legacy

After the 1986 race, important safety upgrades were made to the Mount Panorama Circuit. These changes were needed to meet international racing standards.

• The Chase was Added: A new section called "The Chase" was built on Conrod Straight. This removed the dangerous second hump and made the straight shorter. Before 1987, Conrod Straight was 2 kilometers long. International rules said that race tracks couldn't have a straight longer than 1.5 kilometers. Now, cars approach the bridge about 100 km/h (60 mph) slower than before.
• New Pit Lane: Before Michael's death, he was also a big supporter of upgrading the old pit lane at Mount Panorama. The old pits were very basic. After the 1986 race, they were torn down. A brand new, modern pit complex was built. This new area had wider pit bays, a new press area, and more room for all the race cars.

On the day before the 1987 James Hardie 1000 race, a special plaque was placed on the wall where Michael's car crashed. His wife, Gaye, was there for the ceremony. The plaque says:

In memory of Mike Burgmann who was tragically killed at this spot on 5 October 1986

Michael Burgmann left behind his wife, Gaye, and their four young children. His legacy lives on through the improved safety of the Bathurst track.

Michael Burgmann's Career Results

Here are some of Michael Burgmann's racing results:

Bathurst 1000 Race Results

Here are Michael Burgmann's results from the Bathurst 1000 races:

Year	Team	Co-drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class pos.
1983	Dreamworld	Tony Longhurst	Chevrolet Camaro Z28	A	121	DNF	DNF
1984	Michael Burgmann	Bob Stevens	Mazda RX-7	Group C	153	8th	8th
1985	Michael Burgmann	Bob Stevens	Holden VK Commodore	C	93	DNF	DNF
1986	Michael Burgmann	Mal Rose	Holden VK Commodore SS Group A	C	5	DNF	DNF