17 November 2005

This bit of news for the website…….., not the kind that we would like to send you often, but inevitably something none of us can escape.

During mid afternoon I received a call from Clarry Taylor, informing me of the passing of Fritz le Roux. Fritz or Frikkie as he was known by some, lost the battle against cancer after nine years. I am not sure that too many people outside of his family knew of his condition, but during the last eleven months, the disease started to take its toll and affected Fritz’s quality of life increasingly negative.

I have known Fritz since 1949, we went to school together at Hottentots Holland High in Somerset West. After leaving school, he was a year my senior, we lost contact and again in 1957 our paths crossed as he was also involved in the GSM-saga.

Somewhere in London, Fritz met up with Willie Meissner, Bob van Niekerk and Verster de Wit and he was the person to provide a venue for the trio to build the original models of the Dart in his flat.

After returning to South Africa, and GSM became a reality, no longer a dream, Fritz became a prominent member of the “production team” Not only as an employee working at anything from welding to fiberglass molding and assembling but also successfully driving the first cars on race tracks with Willie and Bob. Fritz was Tony Kotze’s co-driver in the first Dart ever to be entered in the 9 hour race at Grand Central in Johannesburg.

Fritz moved on after his stint at GSM and joined the South African Airways. There he quickly made his mark, and soon was to be placed in charge of Jumbo’s and that was possibly where Fritz spent the bulk of his working career.

It was not in his nature to slow down and retire, and even after hurting his back, which put paid to his pilot career, he bought and renovated houses into his 70th years. Fritz always had a project or two that kept him busy.

Our condolences to Gabby and his family……..We are all poorer loosing such a friend. May he rest in peace.
Piet van Niekerk