Mark Williams

July 21, 1949 - February 28, 2020

At 12:14pm today, my dad Mark Williams died. He died surround by his wife, my mom and Aunt Jerilynne and Uncle Date by his side. I am grateful they were able to be there for my mom. While I am super sad to no longer physically have my dad here, my sister Angelina Williams and my mom are at peace that he is no longer suffering. My love for my dad is strong and I have no regrets about the time I got to spend with him, the last two months were so hard on him and it was hard to watch his health decline. I had to put my feelings aside of me wanting him to physically be here and really look at him and understand that he quality of life was depleting.

Others may disagree or not understand and that is their right, I can't control what others believe or feel. I just know watching my dad not be able to enjoy the things he use to enjoy was hard.

He was of sound mind, and I will forever be grateful that on Monday Feb 24th, I was able to be there and reassure him that we did not think that he had given up. He was tired, his body was tired. I am glad he was able to tell the Dr's himself what his wishes were and he wanted to just go home.

He had an infection on both of his lungs, and than ended up with an infection in his gallbladder.

He no longer could do speedway which he loved doing the videography for.

He no longer could walk on the pier and take pictures of the surfers, which he also loved to do.

He no longer could get to Chelsea's softball games and takes pictures which brought him such joy. The two of them were super close. She adore her Grandpa, he could do no wrong which drove me crazy.

He had Constrictive Pericarditis which usually people with congestive heart failure end up getting towards the end of their disease.

His condition is rare and he could have had it for a long time with just two years ago when he first had his 1st drainage it just caught up with him. His heart was fine so anytime he went to the ER they weren't really sure what to do.

In the end, love and support is what my dad needed and that is what my family needed. I will forever have peace in my heart knowing that I support my dad and was there for him the way he needed me to be.

Love people and spend time with them when they are healthy ... don't wait to be reminded that life is short. Enjoy life and live it. Work on not having any regrets.

Peace. - Angelina and Heather Williams

My Family would like to take this time to Thank every one of you who wrote a nice comment, messaged us, called us and text us. My dad would be so surprised by how many comments there was about him. It truly made us smile and my Daughter Chelsea loved reading them all. The service for my dad will be on Friday March 13th starting at 12:00. Please follow the link for more info and Thank you again. Angelina Williams (Mark-Williams-9068379)

Motorcycle racing and surfing lost one of its most dedicated and talented producers when videographer Mark Williams passed. He and his company Xtreme Speedway Action were well known and respected in the art of capturing and editing action sports. Part work, part love it was a passion that shined. When watching his productions that he sold via the internet or on Facebook one knew it was the work of a master craftsman.

Who was Mark Williams? I’m not sure I know cause Mark was a private person but I can share what I learned after a friendship of 40+ years.

A native Californian Mark grew up in the San Gabriel Valley with his younger sister Linda. A baseball pitcher, excellent Ultimate Frisbee Golf player and passionate surfer Mark graduated from Arcadia High School and enlisted in the Navy in 1968. Once his military obligation was completed he went to college at Long Beach State. In October of 1971 Mark got married and he and his new bride Elizabeth moved to Orange County. They were married for 48 years and had two daughters, Heather and Angelina.

Mark Williams always enjoyed video and movie production. In his early years he was a camera operator and editor. Car Shows, celebrity shoots, one was even with Superstar Michael Jackson. It was clear that production would be Mark’s life’s work.

Mark and I both had the good fortune to meet the owner of Video General, Edward Lapple. Smart as a whip and a cutting edge producer/editor, Ed had all the toys and knew how to use them. While I only did a handful of production with him, Mark worked with Ed on a few hundred video projects. It made him, and me the video editors that we are. That was an amazing time in an industry that was still in it’s yearly days of development.

My company RAZ Video shot the Speedway Motorcycle races at the Costa Mesa Fairgrounds for over 20 years. At the conclusion of every season RAZ would do a multi camera production and Ed Lapple and Mark Williams would help me. We all had a passion for the brakeless action but the productions were a labor of love and never generated any real money. So RAZ accepted a lucrative long term contract to do the video production at the new Irwindale Speedway facility and it became impossible to continue at Costa Mesa as NASCAR also raced on Saturday nights. FYI, Mark Williams took over and a wonderful 15 year Costa Mesa Speedway commitment began. Working with his daughter Angelina and Hugh Randolph they met Ken McKinney and for the next 13 years he and Mark shot every Saturday night.

When Mark realized he would die he sold his Xtreme Speedway Action company to Ken McKinney. “I plan to continue to shoot all the Saturday night races at Costa Mesa and expand to other tracks” Ken told me. “I loved Mark and plan to make him proud of what I have done with his company.”

So what happened, how did Mark die your asking. After all Mark was shy of 71 years old. It was Pericarditis effusion and Mark was diagnosed with it about two and a half years ago. This condition called Pericarditis, leads to the effusion. As it becomes inflamed, more fluid is produced. This leads to fever, muscle aches, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In the end it can and in this case did kill.

The health transition was difficult as Mark truly loved Speedway. However this last 2019 season he was not able to get on to the camera platform by himself so we would have to help him. It broke his heart when he had to say no to a multi camera production I was doing at Industry. He really wanted to continue to shoot Speedway and surfing but the body failed. Sometimes life sucks.

The saying is; if people talk about you then you're not dead so Mark Williams still lives. His daughter Angelina and her daughter Chelsea are avid Speedway fans. Then there are the hundred’s that know Mark and the thousands that have seen and enjoyed his work. A special page has been set up on SpeedwayBikes.com. The Mark Williams, Facebook page is still active and one can leave comments there as well as see hundreds of pictures.

Hugh Randolph and Mark Williams favorite saying was “Everything always works out” Still, we would rather have you here, and will miss you terribly.

Come join in celebrating the life of Mark Williams at the Westminster Memorial Park Mortuary in Westminster, CA on Friday March 13th starting at 12:00. Please follow the link for more info (Mark-Williams-9068379).

Howie Zechner

Mark started xtremespeedwayaction many years ago and provided wonderful speedway racing videos from around Southern California focusing on the world famous Costa Mesa track.

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-I'm just learning about this on the 29th day of February. You were one of my biggest fans! I guess you saw a bit of you in me! You the videographer pro, me a cell phone jockey! You always had time for me. I think everyone of these pictures I posted taken by you. You would also send them to me! You encouraged me, never ever did you point out any faults I might not be able to hide from the pro! I'm sorry not to learn of your declining health. Dang it! I got to busy! Please understand as you look down. You know I can use your professional guidance.
Rest in Peace. Prayers to all your love ones. Godspeed Bro! - Daniel Patten

-So sorry to hear of the loss of your dear friend, many prayers go out to his family & friends, may God give you all great strength at this fragile time, he has entered eternal life with our God almighty, May he rest in peace. - Julia White Harris

- What a nice tribute to a lost friend. 💔 Looking through the photos you can tell he though a lot of you. Snapping all the fun lil shots of you. May he RIP! - Mary Lee Fitzgerald

-Sad about the passing of videographer Mark Williams. He and I worked on many Speedway projects and promotions. Mark was a regular at the Costa Mesa races on Saturday night. His contribution to the sport will not be forgotten. - Howie Zechner

-It’s with great sadness I say goodbye And Godspeed to Mark Williams. He and I shot speedway races at Costa Mesa for the last 12 years. He was a good friend. A cantankerous soul and old beach guy that marched to his own drum. It’s not gonna be the same without him. He sold me Xtreme Speedway Action last November and laughed when I gave him the money. Haha. Anyway the last few shows I produced were surprises for us both and he was proud of what I put together. Last week I promised him I would continue to do my best to do something positive with what he started and I only helped him with. It was fun. Now I want to make it something more. Be on my shoulder Mark. I’ll need you sometimes. - Ken McKinney

-I am so sad to hear that Mark has passed... not only was he talented behind the lens, he was a sweet man and I have enjoyed his posts over the last couple of years since we met at the Bold As Love debut 2 years ago. RIP Mark. - Mike Prestridge

-It's with a heavy heart that I found out that a friend and local photographer/videographer of surfing and racing Mark Williams has passed on.
I appreciated his eye for catching some of the most memorable experiences in my life and I'm sure has captured some great moments for some of you out there that were fortunate to find yourself in front of his lens. He was so giving of his time and talent, only taking payment of a McKinnon Shapes & Designs hoodie that I was stoked that he wore with pride. Gonna miss our conversations on racing and the surf. Thank you Mark for being your generous, loving and talented self.
Rest in peace my friend. - Rocky McKinnon

-Sad day, So sorry to hear one of Sugars and my favorite photographers passed away. We love and miss you already so much Mark Williams. - Ryan Rustan

-Rest in peace mark 😥 I remember you would always say "you got something on your shirt" and I would fall for it almost Every time prayers go out to your family. - Gabriel Price

-Rest in Peace Mark Williams and thank you for documenting so many memories! - Tom Rezvan

-RIP Mark. You will be missed and so loved. - McCandless Michele

-Really sorry to hear this. Its sad. - Scott Autrey

-Man no words prayers for all who loved him. - Keith Schroeder

-Love ya Bratha..... - Bob Tocco

-Very sad to read legendary Speedway videographer Mark Williams passed away earlier today. Personally Mark helped our race programs so much from his race videos, interviews and sponsorship. Mark gave to the sport of speedway more than he could ever get back. This is extremely sad news. My best wishes to his family and my thanks to Mark for all he did. His speedway legacy of quality race videos on YouTube will be a constant reminder of this great ambassador for our sport. - Steve Evans

-It deeply saddens me about the loss of Mark Williams he was a great day wonderful photographer and a good friend rest in peace buddy see you on the other side Godspeed. - Scott Talkington

-I'm so sorry for your loss prayers to your family. - Jerie Hamilton

-RIP Mark. - Linda Hedden

-Wow, this is like gut punch. Mark was a very dear friend to me and many others in the Frisbee world. Our friendship goes back to the heady high days of the United Flyers of Sonoma. So sorry to hear of his passing. Please post any memorial information so his friends can help celebrate a life well lived. RIP Mark. - Kevin Skippy Jammer Givens

-Struggling this morning to process the sad news of the passing of our friend Mark Williams. As a true and loyal friend Jaleen and I will miss him dearly. As one of Costa Mesa Speedway’s biggest supporters and videographer the loss to the sport is devastating. Over the decades there have been a hand full of people who assured Speedway’s success and Mark was among the very best.

Costa Mesa Speedway looks forward to honoring and remembering Mark at our May 30th event.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Godspeed Mark Williams. Gone but, not forgotten. - Costa Mesa Speedway

God Love You Mark Amen Love Papa Joe Sr. - Joe Donaldson

I loved working with Mark, he was never one for griping, he was always about making it better. - Edward Lapple

Howie that was well said. Mark is my Uncle and he was a wonderful man. - Dawn Thomas

Prayers - Jimmy Gentile

Rest in peace Mark Williams. - Don Emde

RIP Mark, may God bless you and your family. Mouse. Dennis Gildehaus