Convention centre sees Cobra arrive to much fanfare
The second grandchild recently showed up at her matric farewell with a car her late grandfather built two decades ago.
The Alberton Record first reported about the Cobra – a self-built vehicle by the late Tommie Prinsloo – in 2022. It had then transported Tommie’s grandson, JP Schroeder, to his matric farewell.
The Cobra did it again this year.
Juanique Schroeder, granddaughter to Tommie, rocked the Gallagher Convention Centre by arriving with the Cobra.
Tommie started building the vehicle two decades ago and kept modifying and maintaining it over the years.
Dubbed the ‘Cobra’ by its builder, it is navy blue, with two white stripes on the middle of its bonnet and boot.
In SA township lingo, the vehicle is called a ‘Slahla’ – loosely translating to cars without tops or convertibles.
Asked why she took the Cobra to her dance, Juanique said, “I have always known that my grandfather’s car would be there for every milestone in my life, so to me, it was just a given that the car would be my matric dance car.
As with my brother, this car is more to us than just a roaring machine of pure strength; it’s a symbol of my grandfather’s dream and handy work.”
Juanique added, “This car holds so much weight in our family, and now more than ever with grandfather’s passing, within that car, his heart still roars just as loudly as he lived.”
Tommie died this year on May 7 at 69.
Paul Schroeder, who helped Tommie build the car, drove daughter Juanique to her dance on October 12 in the Cobra.
Besides taking two grandchildren to their dances, the Cobra has driven to the Mother City (Cape Town) four times and raced for Team Cobra, winning the domestic series four times at Kyalami and Zwartkops.
The Cobra is a lifelong legacy Tommie left to all his loved ones. It has created memories, impressed passersby, and keeps roaring, to much fanfare.
RIP Tommie; your Cobra is in good hands.
