Jaap van der Kooy, an entrepreneur and Dakar Rally veteran who competed on a bike for nearly two decades, has passed away.

Born on February 14, 1951, van der Kooy ran the Leiden-based Hendo snack bar chain which he took over from founders Henk van der Vlugt and Do Witteman. Under his watch, the chain expanded to eight locations. Founded in 1998, Hendo specializes in making food such as stuffed eggs and spare ribs.

He made 17 starts in the Dakar Rally, 15 of which came during the original Paris–Dakar days. His success was fairly limited, only reaching the finish once in 2000 when he finished 69th. One of his retirements was a dramatic crash in 2003 that landed him in the ICU in Cairo, only to return the following year.

The Dutchman entered the South American Dakar twice in 2009 and 2011, retiring from the latter with a mechanical issue.

“Jaap was not only a great guy, but a source of inspiration and one of the pioneers who motivated and guided our team,” reads a statement from fellow Dutch outfit Firemen Dakarteam. “His passion, perseverance, and camaraderie made him an indispensable friend and an icon in our world.

“His loss leaves a great void, but the memories of his enthusiasm and tireless spirit will remain with us forever.

“We wish his family, friends and all acquaintances much strength in this difficult time. We share in your grief and stand with you.”

Featured image credit: Jaap van der Kooy via Noppennieuws