Mike Burgmann

[Nick Short]

Since starting to collect Aussie models, I've also been trying to get hold of as much info about Aussie cars and motorsport as possible. I've just got the video of Bathurst highlights 1986-92 and would like to know what happened to Mike Burgmann. How did he lose it on Conrod like that, and is it correct that he died? After showing the wrecked car, the commentators don't mention him again for the rest of the race, which seems odd if it was a fatal crash. Can anyone enlighten me?

[Dale Robertson]

Yes sadly he was dead on arrival at hospital and one cause bantered around at the time was as cars came over the last hump side by side they used become unsettled in a cross wind near the old jps bridge and his car got a wheel in the grass and
slid headfirst into the bank. A tragic accident.

[burge05]

This is true and if i remember correctly the engine ended up where the driver normally is and the driver was on the back seat. In the video if you remember he infact jumped the fence and hit a solid object the other side, unsure what it was. A Sad day in motorsport anyway.

[Jed]

Here's a quote from an interview with Dick Johnson in Issue # 1 of "Australian Muscle Car" magazine .. (feature article focusing on the Tru-Blu XD)..

>>>> (quote)
AMC : "What kind of top speed were you reaching on Con-Rod Straight in Tru-Blu?"

DJ : "Well, we used to go straight down back then (before The Chase was added) and it was about 170 mph (280 km/h). At that sort of speed, mate, the aerodynamics were terrible. It was pretty scary stuff, I can tell you. Over that last hump, if you were close beside another car you'd create a vacuum between the two cars and if you both got off the ground at the same time they'd suck together. I did it with Bill O'Brien once and that's also what happened to Mike Burgmann " (killed on Con-Rod in 1986)
>>>>

I don't know if I'm infringing any copyright laws here, but this may help to answer your question...

Keep The Shiny Side Up!!

Ed. C.

[rusky26]

I just looked the incident up in a book. The book said" Burgmann was dicing with Gary Willmington on lap 6 and became airborne on the second hump and didn't land straight for some reason ". Most probably the reason mentioned by Jed. By the way, I am NOT implying Gary Willmington was in anyway at fault !!
But I can remember watching the race live and channel 7 showed the aftermath of the accident with Burmann just lying on top the bank near the JPS bridge - most likely already dead. And channel 7 did mention his passing later in the program , if my memory is correct

[XR8]

All above comments are pretty much correct on the incident.
I will check my copy of the 1986 race to see if I can add anything.
I can remember later in the day, around lunchtime, the commentators actually announced that Mike had died from the
crash.. If you get to see the footage, you will understand why.

Ed :)

[Senator1]

You're all correct, however i also heard that his windscreen blew in & the sudden gush of air at such high speed somehow choked him & caused a black out.

[BATHURSTFAN]

Also because the Bathusrt track is a public road the Police investigated the death (they would have anyhow) and I believe that police pressure was one of the reasons Conrod had the chase put in.

Is that correct?

Glenn

[Nick Short]

Thanks guys - it sounds plausible, and the Chase did go in for the following race. I've just finished watching the video, and in the 1992 race Denny Hulme goes off Conrod in an M3. Again I've been told that he died, but the commentators don't even mention him again for the rest of the race, and it didn't seem like a bad accident. He even brakes to a halt on the side of the track. I'm not trying to be morbid, I'm just confused and would expect the commentators to at least have mentioned it more than just in passing.

[terrine]

hello nick
from memory i think denny hulme actually had a heart attack

[Dale Robertson]

Thats right, he passed away doing what he loved.

[Nick Short]

Thanks - I guess that clears up half the mystery. The other half is why your commentators say "Yes, that looks like a bad accident" and then forget it ever happened for the rest of the race, even though as it turns out, the accident was fatal. On the Bathurst '86-92 video, unfortunate editing means that immediately after Mike Burgmann's crash there's a shot of Allan Moffat laughing his head off with the Duke of Edinburgh, but editing apart, there's no further mention of Burgmann at all, even at the end. Same with Denny Hulme. I remember our own Murray Walker speaking in sombre tones for the whole San Marino weekend in '94, after Ratzenburger's crash, and after Senna went off he didn't want to speak at all, his heart wasn't in it.

[Martin Thomas]

I recently got the full set on D.V.D. and was pretty dissapointed with the editing and such. You just cant beat a full day in front of the telly watching the whole race change because of a simple incident. (unless youre there of course!) I guess its also easy for us to take the modern coverage for granted. If you want to see some great footage, get a hold of Super speedway, magnificent..

[BATHURSTFAN]

I agree, the compilation Bathurst sets aren't the best.

I would like to see ALL the years re- released individually on DVD. Min 3hrs each. Foxtel have a 3 hr highlight package of that years race after Bathurst each year (usually the following Tuesday) which is just great.