Tribute to a mate.

I just found out via the internet that a good mate of mine was killed on the weekend, John or Crossy as he was know in the power boat racing world was killed on the weekend at Yarrawonga.
I have known John for 40 years and John is the guy who sold me my sanding machine a few years ago so that i could start my own sanding buisness, I have just been googling for new videos of John as i knew he was contesting the World Grand Prix Championships at Lake Mulwala near Yarrawonga in Victoria's northeast over the weekend when i came accross the sad news.
one of the powerboat racing forums said that when news of his passing was released, there most users online record was doubled in just 10 minutes of the news being released. John was considered one of the greatest B.A.D (Blown Alcohol Displacement) Boat racers in the world and the tributes have been comming in thick and fast from all over the world.
He will be sadsley missed in the boat racing community
R.I.P mate.
there is already a tribute video on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eGmLEyI2Is
John winning the Iron Nuts sheild in the Bundy Thunder 08
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFAIC...x=0&playnext=1
Johns first time drive of TUFF N NUFF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ftPS...eature=related
John comming from the back to beat Librty R.I.P Brian another of the sports greats killed over easter at taree. earlier this year
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWDEWFfFcM8

press release
Grand Prix Power boat driver killed at Mulwala
The powerboat community is mourning the death of one of its leading racers, who has died after a high-speed powerboat crash at the World Grand Prix Championships at Lake Mulwala near Yarrawonga in Victoria's northeast yesterday.

Shortly after 11am, on Sunday morning, 47 year old John Cross from Mount Martha, south of Melbourne was driving the B.A.D. boat Rival in the final of the Marj Watson event.

John spun out on the first corner and when he recovered he was at the back of the field. Over the next four laps he drove very, very hard and eventually made it to third. The crash occurred as Rival crossed the finish line.

His boat became airborne, flipped twice and crashed into the water, in front of a horrified crowd of 5,000 fans.

In the accident John was thrown clear and his parachute deployed. He came out of the boat ‘clean’ but obviously Rival was running very fast in the 120 – 130 MPH region.

The boat sunk immediately and John was floating on the water face down, but his helmet had been ripped off.

Crash crews attended very quickly and he was transferred to shore where he was worked on by the bank for quite some time before being placed in an ambulance.

He was taken to the Yarrawonga Hospital but died about 3pm while being transferred to an air ambulance to be flown to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y28...logo_cross.gif
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y28...ohn20Cross.jpg

barnsey i am really sorry to hear of your loss. He sounded like a great man and friend.

I saw that on the news. So sorry for your loss, but he looked like he lived the life he wanted right to the end. RIP

Don

that`s tuff buddy .. so many of my friends have gone .. it seems i`m one of only a few left ..

Just found out from his family that the boat broke a prop blade as he was crossing the line, it made the boad turn over at over 130mph.
thank you for your thoughts and best wishes. I never knew he had so many freinds and followers, i was visitingf a powerboat forum and they say that the most users on line record was broken and doubled with news of johns death, I just spoke to his brother and the family are taking it hard, john leaves behind a lovley young wife and three young children.
barnsey

Sorry to hear about your friend, barnsey. Another man who knew the risks of his sport, and still chose to enjoy the competition, the people, and the thrills. Always a shame when someone dies in such a manner, but he was able to do what he loved to do and I would imagine lived a full life with few regrets!!! Different forms of racing have taken a number of my friends over the years and these are the things I always try to tell myself when it happens---it does bring back a lot of memories of watching someone enjoying a sport they loved!

Sorry to hear about John, Barnsey. From the information you have posted he obviously lived life to it's fullest, pedal to the metal, full tilt. It doesn't makei it any easier, but he left this part of life doing what he loved. Our sympathies to you and his family.

:( :( :(.....

Sorry to hear of your loss.

barnsey,its terrible to hear about your mate losing his life like that...At least he died doing what he loved..if thats any consolation..Condolences to his family too..

Barnsey, I think I remember them saying on the news that he had been seriously injured in some previous accident years ago, but came back and started racing again. Is that true or did I hear that wrong?

Don

his first accident was in his work van, he had a head on collision with a car, the van caught fire and he was dragged out by a passing truck driver he suffered a very badley broken leg and serious burns, he spent about six months in hospital, when he got out of hospital he took up sprintcar racing, like the world of outlaw series, he was involved in an on track accident at newcastle speedway, the tailshaft..........propshaft broke and speared through his leg and the car caught fire, he was dragged out of the burning sprinter by one the track marshalls and spent more time in hostptal, when he was younger he was a real talent on a motocross bike and dominated most races he entered. he had more trophy's than you could imagine, so many that they were boxed up and stored in spare bedrooms and under the house. when he recovered from his sprint car accident he returned to boat racing.
the weekend he died he had qualified 1st for the marge watson memorial final in the B.A.D Boat (blown alcohol displacement) RIVAL, and also qualified his own six litre class boat MISCREANT on pole 3 in the final for the six litre class.
as long as i have known John he has always looked at ways to go faster, he just didn't seem to have any fear. he always set the bench mark for other driver to chase. all the top teams were always getting him to test and race there boats, judging by the comments posted all over the web, i think his funeral will be well attended by all the race teams and his many fans.
youtube is starting to post tribute videos and other race teams are starting to put tributes on there websites.
this one from TUFF E NUFF Racing.
http://www.tuffenuffracing.com/header.html
they have a few memorable videos posted on there site. click on home when you get there to take you to the tribute.
cheers barnsey

That's right, now I remember what the news story said.........it was about the van wreck and him being badly burned. Looks like he went on to still do all the things he wanted. Good for him. :):)

Don

Sorry to hear of your loss.

REGS

well almost twelve months has past and i still think about him every time i hear a blown engine.
Take a ride onboard with him in his B.A.D boat Rival.......572 cubic inches of blown injected donovan.
this still sends shivers up my spine R.I.P Crossy
Onboard Rival John "crossy" Cross - YouTube

Barnsey - sorry to hear about your loss.

Ah ... but the good thing is you ARE still thinking of a lost friend that has touched your life & will forever be part of you.

REGS

Sorry to hear. RIP.

thanks guys for your comments and well wishes, its been almost twelve months and its always good to remember friends how they were.
the reason i dragged up this old thread was because i was surfing YouTube and came across a new video that someone had posted, so i thought i would share it with you guys, I had never seen it before and loved it so much that i thought you guys might enjoy it too :) It just gives an insight as to what it takes to drive one of these boats, unlike on a drag strip where you get to know the bumps in the track and adjust your driving to it, the water can be very unpredictable,
I know my mate will be up there racing with all the other greats who have been lost over the years.
I loved watching this video so much that i have been watching it for hours.
the ride on board with John going full noise in the boat was awesome, 572 cubic inches of blown injected alcohol fueled Donovan gets the heart pumping. this boat had upwards of 2000hp, and to get a chance to tag along for a ride through watching this video was awesome. I hope you guys enjoyed watching it as much as me.
Onboard Rival John "crossy" Cross - YouTube
cheers barnsey

Wow that was cool. The view in front is all up and down jarring, yet he keeps very tight to the course. Thanks for sharing.