Cees Van der Velden passed away

[spn#43]

Goodbye Cees, you will be missed.

[corin_huke]

This is an article recently posted on the F1 Boat website (www.f1boat.com) about Cees - http://www.f1boat.com/06/press_release/lausanne_dec28.html

[Ron Hill]

Hi Ron:

This is sad. Cees was probably the finest rough water tunnel boat driver
in the world. At least in the late '70s / early '80s.

Pass this on if you will.

Fred

I'll add, always a a gentleman!!!!

[Ron Hill]

-----Original Message-----
From: Press@f1boatphotos.com (Press@f1boatphotos.com) [mailto:Press@f1boatphotos.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 1:00 PM
To: sdesouza@jgr18.com (sdesouza@jgr18.com)
Subject: From F1 Powerboat Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - 27th of December, 2006 - We have to annouce
that Cees Van der Velden passed away this afternoon at 17:10.

The F1 family is grateful to Cees for his choice to spend with us the
last days of his working life as commissioner in Abu Dhabi and
Sharjah.

We are extremely proud to have had the oppurtunity to share with him
many important moments of his Life as driver, world champion,
technician and official.

Cees will be forever an example of dedication to our sport.

All the F1 members are closed to his family and friends.

Philippe Stiernon
F1 Press Officer


Thanks, Steve...

[NERSTROM]

It was with sadness that I read about the loss of Cees.
It is difficult to put into words the admiration and friendship I felt for Cees. We raced as teammates and as competitors but always seemed to get along. Unlike many in our sport, CVDV gave back much more than he ever took. He took the idea of the safety cell, made it a priority, and developed a standard which can be credited with saving many in our sport. He used his skills to teach new drivers and served the UIM to promote power boat racing right up to the end.

We have not only lost a great driver but a great friend in power boat racing. May Cees and his family be in our prayers.

Jim

[Miss BK]

one last interview with Cees:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_2IRm8jtt4&mode=related&search=

[tthibodaux]

:( From the entire Thibodaux family, we have lost one of our own, I was happy to know Cees all of my childhood, this is truly saddness to my heart.