Riga, Latvia 2003.
Dear Gerrit,
Many thanks for your invitation on celebrating the 25th Anniversary of European BMX. I am very proud and happy that I know you personaly as pioneer of BMX in Europe and you know me,
Janis Silins and other BMX pioneers from Latvia. We have lot of things happened in Latvian BMX since your last visit. As you maybe know, our BMX rider Ivo Lakucs was the member of Latvian Track-cycling team in Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and took 8th place in Olympic Sprint. He became the Elite BMX Europen Champion this year, even two rounds before the end of EC. We have already two years (2002, 2003) of practice in organizing a EC round in Valmiera city, the native city of Ivo LAKUCS and Arturs MATISONS (European leader of Junior BMX riders this year). I am happy you are still into BMX.
My best regards to your wife Mieke and your sons Peter and Nico. I will do all possible to be there in Dessel - Belgium on 27./28.09.2003 to meet you all, but I am not sure now. I will try to come together with Janis Silins and maybe, some former riders as Gundars Osis or our nowadays riders as Ivo Lakucs, Janis Vanags, Arturs Matisons or others. I am not sure, but we will try. I think we must meet there.
Best regards
Aldons Vrublevskis
Latvian BMX Federation, President
Latvian Olympic Committee, Secretary General
Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame
European Challenge Cup / E.C.C. events - Slagharen , Holland
Mr. H. Bemboom (owner PP Slagharen) and Mr. G. Does (BMX organisation)
Organisation: Ponypark Slagharen with owner/director Mr. H. Bemboom taking care of all facilities and promoter/organiser Mr. Gerrit Does taking care of the sport technical part of the organisation as well as marketing, publicity, public relations (TV) and so on.
Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame
Among others responsible for the organisation of:
- Indoor BMX de Bercy - Palais Omni Sport - Paris, France
Mr. Didier Coste was responsible within the Lariviere Organisation ("Chef Redaction" of the Edition Lariviere group)
Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame
As you can read from the History of BMX, Gerrit Does discovered BMX in the USA in 1974 and imported the sport in Europe, more specific Holland in the first place.
Louis Vrijdag has been instrumental getting the sport organised in Holland together with Gerrit Does in the early days.
Gerrit Does has been instrumental getting an international organisation of the the ground called the I.BMX.F. , now integrated into the UCI. Louis Vrijdag was instrumental integrating I.BMX.F. into the UCI which took about 6 years to realise all together.
Re: 25th years of BMX.
Dear Gerrit,
Many thanks for your invitation to take part in the 25th Anniversary at Dessel. Also many thanks for promoting and developing the good traditions of BMX. At last we also reach step by step one of our goals - organise a Rounds of European Elite and Junior Championship. Now we look for organising the final Rounds of EEC in 2005. But that is not so simply. When businees takes over the real sport then all things stands to difficult uprise. Sometimes we start to forget about democracy within an oganisation. All things that are happening now in UEC are not understable. So we all look forward to the Convention in Vallet which looks to be very "hot". I hope that during this meeting democracy will come back. After these reflections, it is really nice that we have people who look for good tradition establishing and I hope that we can find good people to continue pushing and promoting these traditions further more. I will do all what I can in participating in a positive way during this meeting, but now I am not sure therefore this is school time for me.
Best wishes to Your Family.
Your friend in BMX - Janis Silins (2004)
Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame
Together with René Nicolas, Alain Kuligowski introduced and started organising BMX in France.
Among others responsible for the organisation of:
- Indoor BMX de Bercy - Palais Omni Sport - Paris, France
In the beginning, Mr. Alain Kuligowski was responsible within the Lariviere Organisation. Later on this was taken over by Mr. Didier Coste (both men were "Chef Redaction" of the Edition Lariviere group).
Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame
Indoor de TOURS - Tours, France
Mrs. Morain and Masse (original founders), Mr. Perraquin
The fundament for this prestigious event was laid down by 5 clubs from the region d'Indre-et-Loire. In 1984 the Rochecorbon BMX clubs organised the first event with 200 entree and around 2000 spectators.
In February 1986 four clubs organised the French National Indoor Championship Superclass. Main sponsor was Credit Agricole 'd Indre-et-Loire.
The 3rd Indoor de Tours was organised in March of 1987 and for the first time foreign riders were allowed to compete. A new concept was introduced, "Le Trophée des As". In this open class riders of 16 year and older were able to compete against each other.
In 1989, the 5th indoor in Tours had grown to almost 800 entries and more then 6000 spectators came to watch the racing. It was for the first time also that the original BMX organisation AFB, worked together with the French cycling federation, the FFC.
The 6th Indoor de Tours in 1990 did hold the 1st. leg of the I.BMX.F. European Championship Superclass and also included the 3rd. round for the French National Indoor Championship title. Around 1300 entries and 7000 spectators.
Up and till this year (2001), this prestigious event has been organised 17 times now. This is truly unique for Europe. This top event with an average even now of over 1000 entries, draws a lot of interest from outside BMX people. On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, many people from the city of TOURS come to the hall to see spectacular BMX racing.
It is very special that an organisation last this long.
It has everything to do with the enthusiasm and love for the sport put into this by the original founders of the organisation Mr. Morain and Masse and also by the present president of the organising committee Mr. Perraquin and his staff.
All 3 organisations and named organisers are true Hall of Fame members and unique in their kind. Proud to have them as nominees.
Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame
Indoor de TOURS - Tours, France
Mrs. Morain and Masse (original founders), Mr. Perraquin
The fundament for this prestigious event was laid down by 5 clubs from the region d'Indre-et-Loire. In 1984 the Rochecorbon BMX clubs organised the first event with 200 entree and around 2000 spectators.
In February 1986 four clubs organised the French National Indoor Championship Superclass. Main sponsor was Credit Agricole 'd Indre-et-Loire.
The 3rd Indoor de Tours was organised in March of 1987 and for the first time foreign riders were allowed to compete. A new concept was introduced, "Le Trophée des As". In this open class riders of 16 year and older were able to compete against each other.
In 1989, the 5th indoor in Tours had grown to almost 800 entries and more then 6000 spectators came to watch the racing. It was for the first time also that the original BMX organisation AFB, worked together with the French cycling federation, the FFC.
The 6th Indoor de Tours in 1990 did hold the 1st. leg of the I.BMX.F. European Championship Superclass and also included the 3rd. round for the French National Indoor Championship title. Around 1300 entries and 7000 spectators.
Up and till this year (2001), this prestigious event has been organised 17 times now. This is truly unique for Europe. This top event with an average even now of over 1000 entries, draws a lot of interest from outside BMX people. On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, many people from the city of TOURS come to the hall to see spectacular BMX racing.
It is very special that an organisation last this long.
It has everything to do with the enthusiasm and love for the sport put into this by the original founders of the organisation Mr. Morain and Masse and also by the present president of the organising committee Mr. Perraquin and his staff.
All 3 organisations and named organisers are true Hall of Fame members and unique in their kind. Proud to have them as nominees.
Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame
Together with Alain Kuligowski, René Nicolas introduced and started organising BMX in France.
Up and till today René Nicolas is involved in BMX (works for FFC).
Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame
Indoor de TOURS - Tours, France
Mrs. Morain and Masse (original founders), Mr. Perraquin
The fundament for this prestigious event was laid down by 5 clubs from the region d'Indre-et-Loire. In 1984 the Rochecorbon BMX clubs organised the first event with 200 entree and around 2000 spectators.
In February 1986 four clubs organised the French National Indoor Championship Superclass. Main sponsor was Credit Agricole 'd Indre-et-Loire.
The 3rd Indoor de Tours was organised in March of 1987 and for the first time foreign riders were allowed to compete. A new concept was introduced, "Le Trophée des As". In this open class riders of 16 year and older were able to compete against each other.
In 1989, the 5th indoor in Tours had grown to almost 800 entries and more then 6000 spectators came to watch the racing. It was for the first time also that the original BMX organisation AFB, worked together with the French cycling federation, the FFC.
The 6th Indoor de Tours in 1990 did hold the 1st. leg of the I.BMX.F. European Championship Superclass and also included the 3rd. round for the French National Indoor Championship title. Around 1300 entries and 7000 spectators.
Up and till this year (2001), this prestigious event has been organised 17 times now. This is truly unique for Europe. This top event with an average even now of over 1000 entries, draws a lot of interest from outside BMX people. On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, many people from the city of TOURS come to the hall to see spectacular BMX racing.
It is very special that an organisation last this long.
It has everything to do with the enthusiasm and love for the sport put into this by the original founders of the organisation Mr. Morain and Masse and also by the present president of the organising committee Mr. Perraquin and his staff.
All 3 organisations and named organisers are true Hall of Fame members and unique in their kind. Proud to have them as nominees.
2012 Olympic Champion
2008 Olympic Champion
2010 World Champion
2008 World Champion
2014 European Champion
2013 European Champion
2008 European Champion
2010 Supercross World Cup
Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame
As you can read from the History of BMX, Gerrit Does discovered BMX in the USA in 1974 and imported the sport in Europe, more specific Holland in the first place.
Louis Vrijdag has been instrumental getting the sport organised in Holland together with Gerrit Does in the early days.
Gerrit Does has been instrumental getting an international organisation of the the ground called the I.BMX.F. , now integrated into the UCI. Louis Vrijdag was instrumental integrating I.BMX.F. into the UCI which took about 6 years to realise all together.
Gerrit has been involved in BMX up and till 1998 (since 1974 meaning 25 years of involvement) and Louis Vrijdag up and till 1999 (since 1978 meaning 21 years of involvement) working for the KNWU (National Cycling Fed.) and the UCI (president BMX committee UCI). Both men have been crucial for National and International developments up and till the '90s.
Four still active manufacturers of BMX bikes and parts have been inducted into the European BMX Hall of Fames in the year 2003. All of them were pioneers in their fields in international European BMX. They were trend setters and instrumental in developing BMX equipment from the early days on up till now. They helped initiating the sport and its products within the European market and on.
