Sad day at Buttonwillow 4/8

[S.Lang]

I went up to Buttonwillow Saturday to race in the 3-hour enduro in a friend's E30 M3. It was a BMW CR/NASA weekend. I got to the track around 4:00, hoping to see my buddies in the BMW club race at 4:15. As I drove by the track before exiting the 5, I noticed the track was cold, which was strange since there should have been a race group out there before the BMW race started. When I pulled in, I ran into a couple of BMW CR buddies, who looked very downcast.

Turns out in the race before the BMW CR, two Factory 5 Cobras got into each other coming out of the esses (#13, clockwise). One of the Cobras overturned, then flipped and barrell-rolled toward the corner worker stand. By all accounts it was a very violent, horrific crash, witnessed by at least two of the BMW CR guys. The medics worked on the driver for 10-15 minutes, then took him away in an ambulance.

R.I.P. Dan Lawson - http://www.factoryfive.com/table/wha...danlawson.html

After the incident, during the BMW CR driver's meeting, the question went out as to whether they should race. It was heading towards a "no", then someone mentioned that Dan would most likely have wanted the races to go on. That seemed to turn the tide a little in the meeting, and the vote went out to continue with the event. I was proud of everyone for making that call and felt it was the best way to honor a lost fellow racer, even though at the time it wasn't 100% sure he had passed on. I can say for sure that if anything ever happens to me, I would want the races to go on.

Although this wasn't a club race, and isn't technically BMW-specific, I wanted to post this here to remind everyone:

1. Live each day like it's your last, because it could be.

2. Please, please, if you drive on track regularly, re-assess your safety equipment. Check your belts, your fire system, window net, helmet, suit, etc. And for God's sake, get a HANS or some kind of other head and neck restraint. Run old tires just ONE WEEKEND and take the money saved to buy a HANS!

Ralph Warren made a great point last weekend. A HANS is the ONLY piece of racing equipment you'll ever buy, that won't wear out.

[maranelloman]

Holy cow...

R.I.P.

[Joshh]

I wish his family the best.

[Will ZCPM3]

my prayers go out to his family

R.I.P

[Seth Thomas]

R. I. P

[B.Watts]

R. I. P.

[M3 Pete]

wow, surprised to hear about a death at bw, as I assumed it was a pretty safe track, with very few hard objects to hit. Rollovers and car impacts are another issue.

I'm sorry to hear about this. Condolences to all involved.

[FFCobra]

Dan Lawson was very well liked in the Factory Five community. He was the leaders of the Factory Five Challenge Series and touched many lives.

I was trying to post a link to FFCobra.com so that those of you that want to express your condolences to the family and friends of Dan could do so, but this site won't let me post a link. Maybe one of you guys could do it?

Just go to the front page of FFCobra.com and click on the picture of Dan.

- Bill

[benaj]

Condolences to all family and friends.

Here is the link:
http://www.ffcobra.com/cgi-bin/ultim...1;t=071674;p=1

ben

[JMT]

R.I.P

James

[jdholder]

It was indeed a sad afternoon on Saturday. My prayers are with Dan's family in this most terrible time.

There was a somber mood over the whole track as it went back hot after Dan was transported and the wreckage removed. We were the first Race after the crash (there was a DE right before us) and I felt a chill go through my bones as I exited the esses on the warmup lap. How many times have I dropped two wheels off there and lived to tell about it? How many times have I been closely following a competitor who did the same? I was so thankful for our group and did not fault at all those BMW competitors who voiced their desire not to race during the impromtu drivers meeting just prior to our race. I don't know the final count, nor does it matter, but I think the desire to be on track with our friends convinced just about everybody to race on Saturday afternoon.

I am also thankful that our race was relatively uneventful, save for Carl Lagoni having engine trouble and spinning off. I was relieved to hear on the Evosport radio that he did not roll and was ok.

This weekend was especially challenging because California has had quite a bit of rain. Anyone who has been to Buttonwillow knows that when it rains, the runoff areas turn to a sticky gumbo mud. If you go off sideways, your chance of a rollover is greatly enhanced. I am not saying this is what happened to Dan Lawson, as I know he was hit, but it may have increase the severity of the incident.

Again, my prayers are with Dan's family. Rest in Peace Dan.

[sunir]

OMG that is terrible news ...RIP and my best wishes to friends and family...

[krisko]

R. I. P.

[Murph]

Well put Jon.

In the 3 years I've been doing this I've never before been at the track when something like this has happened. It something you hear about, but it somehow doesn't quite seem as real until you see it in front of you.

My thoughts & prayers go out to Dan and his family, and also to the driver of the other FFR involved in the accident. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it must be to not second guess yourself into oblivion after being involved in something like this. I don't ever want to know, either.

[Vince S.]

It was indeed a very sad day. RIP.

I was at the track supporting Ralph for the club race. I was also running in HPDE 3. There were a few offs in my group but nothing to that extent. There might have been another incident in the TT group but I am not sure. The Cobras were parked behind the BMW club racers.

[jayhudson]

There have been too many of these type threads in the last months. It is truley a sad day when we lose a brother. Even though I didn't know him, I feel the sadness.

Godspeed Dan and may He wrap his arms around your family and friends.

Jay

[CSLBILL]

how important safey is. I was at BW over the weekend and saw the Cobra which did not look like a car, all the body panels where off. I believe that I ran with him in my group a couple of session before.

We also had our last TT session after the CCA race, and I was considering not running due to what happen...

After the incident, I decided that I am buying a HANS. I am planning on Club Racing next year, so this would be a good investment for time trials that I am doing this year.

It's always a great loss that one of collegues passes away. I always enjoy the time we spend together at the track, and always says a pray for all my fellow racers before each session.

Many blessings to his family.

[S.Lang]

A fellow BMW Club Racer, Maury Gentile, has taken it upon himself to collect donated funds to be sent to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in memory of Dan Lawson, on behalf of the BMW racers. This is the charity the Lawson Family has decided Dan would have loved to support more.

If interested, please PM or email me and I will get Maury's mailing address to you.

Thanks.

Scott Lang

[JClark]

There have been too many of these type threads in the last months. It is truley a sad day when we lose a brother. Even though I didn't know him, I feel the sadness.

Godspeed Dan and may He wrap his arms around your family and friends.

Jay

You're right, these stories are becoming far too common.
R.I.P, condolences and prayers for Dan's friends and family.

[xlifelessdaysx]

thats horrible news..
rip

[94is]

I found out about this last night at the cca meeting and from a friend who was racing with NASA that weekend. It is so sad. I went off sideways at magic mountain in the rain in January, and I realized after that I could have rolled the car. I have always been told that I need to be prepared to total my car if I plan on tracking it, but nobody is ever prepared for something like this to happen.
RIP

[Kevinlpl]

Very sad. My deepest sympathy to his family and friends. God will not forget him and he will be resurrected to life.
We are participating in a very dangerous sport. Plan for life, prepare for death.

[beem3]

This was my first track event, and it was pretty scary compared to your normal autocross. There were a few crashes in addition to Dan Lawson's accident. The track can be a dangerous place, even for race professionals. This was 1 of 2 deaths for the entire history at Buttonwillow according to the NASA professionals. Be safe everyone.

[marsfire]

wow, sad news...

actually i wrecked my car in that exact same location, coming out of the esses CW. That wall just doesnt seem like its there, or it seems quite far away. and you build up a LOT of speed coming out of the turns...

always be careful guys, and realize what you are risking every time you go out there!

[LUTFY]

May God bless his soul. R.I.P.