October 5, 1986 is the day Bathurst changed forever and tragedy occurred during the Great race through a loss of life.
Sydney privateer Mike Burgmann was the first fatality in the Bathurst 1000 and as a result contributed to the shortening of Conrod Straight ahead of the 1987 edition through the construction of the Caltex Chase to avoid a similar incident occurring again.
Burgmann was starting his fourth Bathurst 1000 and was a late starter in motorsport, but a friendship was struck with Ivan Stibbard, then-General Manager of the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club.
The connection came when the ARDC shared premises with the Parramatta Club of which Burgmann was an ex-president.
Stibbard’s friendship resulted in he introducing Burgmann to long-time racer and preparer Bob Stevens, who used his experience to guide the motorsport novice from Escort to Camaro.
Burgmann contested Sydney rounds of the 1983 Australian Endurance Championship in the Camaro, though the Oran Park round ended in disaster when a stub axle broke resulting in a rollover.
He made his maiden Bathurst appearance later that year alongside fellow rookie and future touring car star Tony Longhurst on the recommendation of Dick Johnson.
The duo failed to complete enough laps to be counted as finishers, but Burgmann was eager to build on his debut.
A Mazda RX-7 was constructed for the final year of Group C and Burgmann finished 11th in the AEC including his best Bathurst result of eighth.
Burgmann joined many top privateers in choosing a Holden Commodore when Group A was introduced for 1985 and it was in this car he’d lose his life.
After enlisting Stevens to co-drive alongside him for the previous two campaigns, Burgmann recruited another young driver to join in Production Car racer Mal Rose. The pair’s rivalry pushed Burgmann to improve and this was proven when he was six-seconds a lap faster at Bathurst.
For the 1986 event, Burgmann qualified 27th and made a great start to his stint by climbing 10 positions where he was battling good friend Garry Willmington driving a Jaguar XJS.
On lap 5, Burgmann attempted a pass on Willmington while approaching the second hump on Conrod Straight, but the front of the Commodore became airborne and moved slightly to the left.
Burgmann attempted to recover by turning the wheel to the right as the Commodore gripped sending it in the tyre wall below the curved pedestrian bridge near the end of Conrod Straight.
The brutal results of the impact were clearly displayed for those in attendance at the track and watching on Network Seven’s coverage.
The 39-year-old was pronounced dead at Bathurst hospital marking the first fatality in the Bathurst 1000.
Burgmann was the ARDC’s accountant and was a key champion for the future Mount Panorama facility upgrades ahead of it hosting a round of the 1987 World Touring Car Championship.
The world class facilities included a new pit building, increased concrete walls and the Caltex Chase complex, which was a deviation designed to slow competitors on Conrod Straight.
On the eve of the 1987 event, a plaque was unveiled to commemorate Burgmann positioned on the wall where the incident occurred.
Burgmann’s fatality wasn’t the last at the event, six years later 1967 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship winner Denny Hulme passed away following a heart attack while behind the wheel of a BMW M3, Don Watson was killed in a practice crash at The Chase in 1994 and Mark Porter lost his life during a Development Series race in 2006.