Thread: Veda Orr

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Does anyone have photos, data, bio about Veda Orr?

And more importantly, is she still alive? I know her car is "missing" last I heard they are trying to figure out where it is to bring it to the january most significant 75 deuces expo...

This lady kicked butt!

I have a few of the SCTA news letters she wrote and she had a book out ... a Clymer book ... I have one of those also.

She indeed was a lady who did things most woman had no interest in and was a true pioneer. She was a adult & very active before WWII ... over 65 year ago ... so she would be late 80's early 90's if she is still alive.

Her husband Karl was real big in the Hot Rod world and owned a Speed Shop ... before WWII.

Unfortunately, Karl Orr passed away in 1988, and Veda passed away in 1989.

Mick

Originally Posted by lurker mick

Unfortunately, Karl Orr passed away in 1988, and Veda passed away in 1989.

Mick

When two people are very very close, when one dies the other usually follows very shortly after, as though they do not want to be apart. Have you noticed?

The thing is, if I am accepted at the Grand national roadster show Jan 07, and since they ask you to create an exhibit for you car, I want to use mine to talk about women and roadsters. I thaught that I would display some old adds of the 30's & 40's showing women wanting or dreaming about roadsters, then also honor and talk about Veda Orr and maybe a few more female pionners if I can find any and then maybe end it with a few photos of me and the roadster at local current events or something. I figured it would be a different angle and might interest some of the visitors (especially the wives & girlfriends LOL)

I'll probably add at the end WARNING: DRIVING A ROADSTER WILL MAKE YOU STERILE, MESS UP YOUR HAIR AND BREAK YOUR NAILS - OCCASIONAL RUN OF EYELINER ALSO REPORTED

cause otherwise they'll all go:

"Honey! I want a roadster!"

PS: I am REALLY bummed out that Veda passed away.

I hope both of them are driving hotrods down the streets of gold in heaven and enjoying all the beautiful scenery. Blessings to them and their loved ones they left behind.

Not sure if it would help, but I believe the Orr's last speed shop was in Mint Canyon just north of Soledad Canyon Rd. in the North Oaks area of the Saugus/Newhall area.
Saugus/Newhall are still known as Saugus/Newhall, but they are located in what is now named Santa Clarita Valley.
There's a town of Santa Clarita as well, but it's a modern developer influenced deal.

The Orr's were nice folks, very helpful and when I met them I didn't know who they were.
It was nice to have a local speed shop and not have to run over the hill into San Fernando Valley and further for that elusive gotta have it part.

I used to crew on and help with building the cars at Saugus Speedway - also known as Bonelli Stadium - and the guy running the show (Bill Foster who owned Foster Mufflers) told me who the Orr's were.

More than a few guys were surprised when Mrs. Orr told them what they needed or how to do it.
There weren't many gals involved in racing of any kind in the era when the Orr's raced.

If I remember right, the little speed shop only lasted a couple of years - circa 1963-64 or so - and maybe into 65.
I heard that the Orr's had retired and maybe they did, but with Saugus Speedway nearby as well as San Fernando Dragstrip not too far away I'll bet they were still involved in racing albeit in a small way.

Do you guys know the names of any other women that raced or that were out there doing it (may it be racing cars, working on cars or even actively cruising/driving 32 roadsters etc...).

I was able to locate some footage of 50's gals taking off on the strip at meets and also working on their hotrods but I need to gather more photos, footage and data for my exhibit (if I get in that is, but I need to be prepared as I will not find out until about 2 weeks before the show). Each cars is asked to put together an exhibit of some kind. So mine will be to talk about women and roadsters

CAN ANYONE HELP?

http://ca.geocities.com/womeninnasca...sofracing.html

http://ca.geocities.com/womeninnascar/

http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byiss...acerslist.html