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Lily Coyner, a long-time fixture in the TrackDaz paddock, died unexpectedly on January 10, 2026. The motorcycle community has organized a memorial fundraiser at buttonwillow raceway Park to honor her service and raise money for additional Airfence safety barriers in her name. The event serves both as a tribute and as a practical effort to improve on-track safety.
Coyner was a familiar presence at TrackDaz events for more than two decades. She did not race, but she supported riders and teams in many hands-on ways. She managed registration and greeted arriving competitors. She handled questions and complaints, sold merchandise, rented generators and served as the contact point for emergency notifications. Riders and staff frequently cited her dedication and steady presence as central to paddock operations.
How the fundraiser will work
Organizers say proceeds will be dedicated to purchasing and installing additional Airfence barriers around the circuit. Fundraising methods include on-site donations at the Buttonwillow event and contributions collected through paddock fundraising activities. Event coordinators will also accept monetary gifts earmarked specifically for the safety-barrier fund.
The effort is framed as a lasting tribute that converts community grief into a measurable safety improvement. Organizers have emphasized that funds will be used exclusively for barrier acquisition and installation and that installations will bear Coyner’s name to acknowledge her years of service.
Those funds will be used exclusively for barrier acquisition and installation and the installations will bear Coyner’s name to acknowledge her years of service. Organizers coordinated with Buttonwillow Raceway Park and the Roadracing World Action Fund to hold the memorial drive within an already scheduled TrackDaz weekend. Buttonwillow has committed to donate all gate fees collected during the event and has indicated it may contribute additional items or experiences to be offered as prizes.
TrackDaz and partner organizations will operate raffles and sales throughout the weekend to supplement donations and broaden community participation. The campaign is intended both as a celebration of Lily’s life and as a focused safety initiative: proceeds are earmarked for further Airfence installations at Buttonwillow. Airfence units are foam-based barriers that absorb impact and reduce injury risk when a rider contacts track edges or hard obstacles. Organizers say adding more units around the paddock and high-speed areas can make a measurable difference to rider safety.
Why airfence matters
Organizers say adding more units around the paddock and high-speed areas can make a measurable difference to rider safety. The improvements aim to reduce the energy transferred to riders in low- and high-speed excursions. They also provide a visible, immediate layer of protection without altering the circuit layout.
Practical impact on rider safety
Airfence functions as an energy-absorbing barrier. On impact, the material deforms and dissipates kinetic energy, lowering peak forces on riders. That mechanism reduces the likelihood of severe injury when crashes occur near run-off zones or tight corners.
Manufacturers conduct controlled crash tests to assess performance. Circuit incident reports and technical reviews complement those tests by showing where barriers intercept likely trajectories. Together, these sources guide where additional sections deliver the greatest safety gains.
Installation is relatively straightforward. Adding units at identified high-risk points is a direct route to enhanced protection. This approach preserves existing track configurations while targeting proven danger zones.
Officials say the deployed barriers will carry the name recognition linked to the recent fundraising campaign. Further assessments of on-track incidents will determine whether the new installations reduce injury rates and recovery times.
Further assessments of on-track incidents will determine whether the new installations reduce injury rates and recovery times. When operators add more Airfence they focus on locations flagged by incident reports and marshal observations. The strategy aims for an immediate protective effect for riders and a longer-term drop in serious injuries from collisions with trackside hard points. Funds raised during the memorial weekend will be used to procure and place these barriers at Buttonwillow.
Community responsibility
Track-day operators, clubs and circuits frequently depend on community-led campaigns to fund incremental safety upgrades. This fundraiser is organised and run by riders, volunteers and fans who contribute financially and with labour and promotion. Such grassroots efforts supplement formal safety programmes and track management plans by delivering targeted, timely improvements.
Honoring lily and getting involved
Organizers are calling on the motorcycling community to attend, donate and show support for a fundraiser to acquire and install Airfence at the circuit.
The weekend event will feature raffles, merchandise sales and on-site activities to raise money and acknowledge Lily’s contributions to TrackDaz. Buttonwillow has donated gate receipts to establish a baseline fund. Organizers expect additional donations and raffle proceeds to increase the total available for Airfence procurement and installation.
Registration is open for the Buttonwillow circuit weekend scheduled for February 14-15 via the TrackDaz registration portal. Signing up and attending will both demonstrate community solidarity and directly increase funds for safety upgrades. Those unable to attend are encouraged to donate or share details about the fundraiser to broaden its reach.
Logistics and contact
Volunteers will staff information and sales booths throughout the weekend. Raffle draws and merchandise sales will be held at specified intervals to maximize fundraising. Exact meeting points and timetables will be posted on the TrackDaz registration page and at the circuit entrance.
For media or organisational enquiries, contact TrackDaz through the channels listed on its official registration portal. Organisers ask that individuals and groups wishing to bring display items or sponsor specific raffle prizes notify organisers in advance to coordinate logistics.
TrackDaz will coordinate with BRP and the Roadracing World Action Fund on financial handling and the practical steps to purchase and install additional Airfence at the circuit. The Roadracing World Action Fund will monitor the fund to ensure donations are used for their stated purpose. TrackDaz’s normal registration channels remain in place for event sign-up, and organisers will issue updates during the lead-up to the weekend.
The community is seeking to convert grief into a lasting safety legacy in memory of Lily. Organisers, racers, fans and circuit management are pooling resources and expertise to improve track safety for participants who follow in her footsteps. Those wishing to bring display items or sponsor specific raffle prizes were asked to notify organisers in advance to coordinate logistics.