Has anyone ever died while racing in Bathurst 1000?

Question

Heard all the myths (hit the wall, heart attack, inferno), but just wondering if any of them were true.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Fifteen people have died while racing at Bathurst altogether, going back to the forties. Nobody died when racing there pre-war.Only three of these deaths occurred during the 1000 and only two of the deaths in the 1000 were racing related. The others were either motorcycle racers or drivers in other classes. There have also been two spectator deaths when they were struck by debris from a crashing car. I can recall one rider going straight on at skyline in the late '70s, running off the track and hitting the fence. He flew through the air straight into the large gum tree that is there. I'm pretty sure that it was Ron Toombs, but I was usually pretty messed up when I went to Bathurst for Easter so I'm not sure.

Source(s):

My unreliable memory, family folklore.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks to everyone (except dayle) for your answers. Hard picking the best!

Answer 2

Yes
In nearly 45 years of racing, three drivers have died while competing in the Bathurst 1000.

In 1986, Sydney accountant and privateer entrant Mike Burgmann became the first fatality in the race's history when his car (Holden VK Commodore), travelling at 268 km/h (167 mph), struck the tyre barrier at the base of recently constructed Bridgestone Bridge on the high-speed straight known as Conrod Straight. "The Chase", a large three-corner chicane, added in 1987 to the straight was dedicated to Burgmann with a plaque embedded in the concrete barriers.

In 1992, former Formula One world champion Denny Hulme, after complaining of blurred vision, suffered a heart attack at the wheel of his BMW M3 whilst travelling along Conrod Straight. After veering into the wall on the left side of the track, he managed to bring the car to a relatively controlled stop on the opposite side of the course. When marshals reached the scene they found Hulme still strapped in, dead.

In 1994, Melbourne privateer entrant Don Watson died during practice when his car (Holden VP Commodore) left the circuit and hit a barrier on Conrod Straight.

Additionally the 2006 event was marred by the death of New Zealand driver Mark Porter in a Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series support race on the Friday of the meeting. Porter had been scheduled to compete in the 1000 as a driver for the Brad Jones Racing team.

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathurst_10…

Answer 3

In nearly 45 years of racing, three drivers have died while competing in the Bathurst 1000.
In 1986, Sydney accountant and privateer entrant Mike Burgmann became the first fatality in the race's history when his car (Holden VK Commodore), travelling at 268 km/h (167 mph), struck the tyre barrier at the base of recently constructed Bridgestone Bridge on the high-speed straight known as Conrod Straight. "The Chase", a large three-corner chicane, added in 1987 to the straight was dedicated to Burgmann with a plaque embedded in the concrete barriers.
In 1992, former Formula One world champion Denny Hulme, after complaining of blurred vision, suffered a heart attack at the wheel of his BMW M3 whilst travelling along Conrod Straight. After veering into the wall on the left side of the track, he managed to bring the car to a relatively controlled stop on the opposite side of the course. When marshals reached the scene they found Hulme still strapped in, dead.
In 1994, Melbourne privateer entrant Don Watson died during practice when his car (Holden VP Commodore) left the circuit and hit a barrier on Conrod Straight.
Additionally the 2006 event was marred by the death of New Zealand driver Mark Porter in a Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series support race on the Friday of the meeting. Porter had been scheduled to compete in the 1000 as a driver for the Brad Jones Racing team.

Answer 4

First two answers came from the Wikipedia.org page for the Bathurst 1000. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathurst_10…
They are both correct. Denny Hulme died after suffering a heart attack going down Conrod straight. One of the more unusal deaths at the mountain, but tragic none the less.

Answer 5

yea there true there was also a guy in like the 50s or 60s who went straight over the edge of the mountain near mcphillamy park
he was on a motorbike it wasnt in the btahurst 1000 but it was on the track

Answer 6

It's a shame when deaths become reguarded as myths within a normal persons lifetime of 70 odd years.

As others have said the only readily available source on this is Wiki which I can empathise with you could be a myth.