MVZ944T wrote:Buttonwillow certainly has its hazards, but virtually all tracks do. I think the worst thing about BW is the soil is so soft that if you get sideways your chances of rolling are greater than if the soil was firmer. Particularly at speed. All those names in the parking area are there for a reason. As far as bus stop claiming the two lives last year, in my opinion, that was caused by pure stupidity, not by that section of the track being hazardous.
Bottom line in my opinion is you can (and should) be able to learn something from most any track, so while I like some better than others, I try to drive as many as I can.
What is the reason for those names on the plaques in the parking area at Buttonwillow? When we first got there I thought it meant something that we don't like to think about, but there are WAY too many plaques to signify fatalities at that track. If you walked all around the parking area, there are at least 25-30 of those memorial plaques and near each one was a freshly planted tree. I think those have to be some sort of sponsor a tree program in memory of a racer who has passed away, not necessarily from racing. At least that is what I told myself to feel better about going onto the track. Anyone know exactly what the story is on those plaques at BW?