A TRUE Corvetter passes

[Hib Halverson]

I am sad to report that my friend, Jim Van Dorn, has died.

My God, what a shock and a loss.

Jim was known to many in the Corvette hobby as a friend, one of the earliest members of the original ZR-1 Registry, organizer of a number of ZR-1 events in the early years of that part of the hobby, a Corvette service shop owner with a big heart and a willing hand to help any Corvetter in need, the original “Pirate” of “Pirate Racing, outspoken commentator of all things Vette both on the Internet and in print, the guy who put on those great BBQ’s during NCM event weekends, an absolute authority on the C4 ZR-1, Father of three wonderful kids and generally, a damn fine individual.

I was honored to have been his friend for more than 20 years.

In one of life’s cruel ironies, at age 59, Jim died in his sleep, during night of 13-14 May, on the eve of the National Corvette Museum's "C4 Gathering" weekend. Twenty years ago, he organized the “Legend Lives” event at the NCM which began the tradition of a weekend event for C4 ZR-1 owners. Over two decades, what Jim started grew into a three-day event for all C4 enthusiasts, jointly sponsored by the ZR-1 Net and Grand Sport Registries.

My friend, Jim Van Dorn, will be greatly missed by his children, Jim Jr., Erin and Kristen and by all of us in the Corvette hobby who greatly valued his friendship.

Let’s all take a moment...







….then raise our glasses–raise ‘em real high, people–to “The old Pirate”, Jim Van Dorn.


Indeed, the Legend lives”, Van Dorn, and you had a part in keeping it alive!

[GOLDCYLON]

Oh no. I am sad to hear of this

[DDSLT5]

That's horrible news - he was still a young man! Jim was such a friendly and kind man - sorry to hear this news.

[tomcat]

All, when I started my search for my ZR1 2005 he gave me the true 411 on 90 & 91's. He told me I was a "Real Driver" when I e-mailed him I drove my ZR1 TO Antioch & Los Angles California & Los Vegas Nevada & Seattle Washington more than once from Vancouver Washington (Portland Oregon).

Manfred E......

91 #906

[Meanmyz]

It is a shock to hear of this. Jim's name was synonymous with the ZR-1, from the enthusiast side, when reading about the ZR-1 in the early days. It is truly sad to hear this.

Godspeed JVD.

[Kevin]

Saddened to the core to hear this. We lost a great guy in Jim, hopefully there will be a gathering at his place this weekend to commerate his life. I have one of his pirate racing stickers. I think this is a great time to put it on the car.

[93 ZR1 Barcelona]

I just saw that bad news on an email sent from BG.


We have lost one of the great ones in our family.


I will never forget during my life that summer of 2008 when I first met Jim, with my brother Toni in our fist trip from Spain to Bowling Green. He did us an unforgettable couple of days, just for us, he left all his duties in the shop, stayed with us on the Assembly Plant, on the Museum that was still on expansion....a true wonderful days.


And on my later travels to the USA I always passed by Bowling Green to salute him and talk a while about the Corvettes and the ZR-1. And will also never forget the Gathering bbq's of the Thursdays in his shop.


Jim, my friend, will never forget you. Wherever you are now, here we will keep the legend alive !!


Pirate forever.

[Corvettes White]

Our best wishes to his family and frends.

[EuroPete]

My friend Ramon (93 ZR1 Barcelona) explained way better than I could ever do who JVD was. Jim was a generous & warm human being. He had that gift of getting people together, he was a real 'gatherer'.

Founding member, he's made the legend live for the last 20+ years. Here's my humble tribute to his Corvette 'sanctuary'. Pics speak louder than words to describe his Corvette passion.

See you on the other side bro.

[PhillipsLT5]

I do not know what to say, shocking