RIP Bobby Olthoff

[Pierre Martins]

Bob Olthoff, well known in international motor sport circles and the South African race car driver that won the most races in 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 in 1937, 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 Ford 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.

[zefarelly]

RIP Bob

I had a very prompt and helpful email from him late last year whilst researching information about the Wilment Cortina GT's (he drove for them) he seemd like a true Gent

My condolances to his family and freinds

[Andrew Kitson]

This is very sad. I had the pleasure of being introduced to Bob by Jack Sears at the Goodwood Revival last year. Jack acquired his famous old Willment Galaxie back from Bob in the early 90s. Bob was loving the sights and sounds around him at Goodwood, a great enthusiast and a true gent. Condolences to family and friends.