BOB OLTHOFF
1937 – 2004
R I P
Bob Olthoff, well known in international motor
sport circles and the winningest race car driver
in South African track racing history, passed away
in North Carolina, USA, after a brief but fierce
fight against cancer.
Beloved husband, father, and friend of so many in
South Africa and in his adopted country, he passed
away Sunday morning, April 18th, at Rowan Regional
Medical Center in Salisbury, NC.
Bob, his wife Baby and son Dennis emigrated to the
USA in 1997. Together they opened the Southeastern
distributorship for Superformance, the US distributors
of replica sports cars manufactured by Jim Price’s
Hi-Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Born in Pretoria, he attended Krugersdorp High School.
He began racing early and achieved considerable success
in his native South Africa. His skill caught the
attention of local promoters and he was encouraged
to move to Europe. He successfully raced the MGA
and Austin-Healy in both Europe and the United States
and landed a spot developing and racing the legendary
Cobras with the John Willment team.
After the Cobras won the World Manufacturers Championship,
Bob returned to South Africa with a stable of Willment
cars including two Cobras and a Holman-Moody prepared
427 Galaxie, with which he won the Saloon Car Championship.
He won the Sports Car Championship in 1966 and 1967,
the Formula 5000 Championship in 1970, and set the
South African land speed record at 178 mph on a closed
public road in a McLaren-Elva that Bob personally
owned, developed, and drove.
In his long and successful career, Bob earned over
140 victories making him the most successful racer
in South African history. His skills were not limited
to the tracks. He also enjoyed considerable success
as an off-road racer and in airplane racing with
his Tiger Moth and other aircraft.
Bob and Dennis, a talented and successful race
driver in his own right, have successfully raced
the Superformance machines throughout the United
States, adding considerably to their string of
victories. Not only did his expertise in technical
development and driving contribute considerably
in establishing Superformance in the United States,
but Bob was a friend and mentor to many who wanted
to own and skillfully drive a high performance
sports car.
Bob is survived by his wife Baby of Mt. Ulla, their
son Dennis Olthoff of Salisbury and wife Alison
and son Emery, and their daughter Cheryl Pogson
of Hermanus, South African and her husband Merlin
and children Kaylyn and Aiden.
The memorial service will be Wednesday, April 21,
2004 at 11:00 AM at Tyatira Presbyterian Church,
220 White Road, Mill Bridge, NC.
