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.