by Jane Smith

Well Pete, I guess you are looking down on us right now
and smiling that warm smile of your's. You see how many
people love you and respect you. You didn't want to
leave us but God needed you more and now you are Guardian
Angel to so many.

I knew your name long before I knew you the man. For
years, I watched you race and I never missed a Busch
race when you were in it. And then one day, I got to
know the "Great" Pete Orr.

Sometimes we see people in the wrong light because we
think of them not as people but Gods. You were so
well known that I expected you to be a snob but you
weren't. You were warm, open, honest and caring. No
snob in you.

Many times Pete and I would run into each other at
different tracks. Once at Sunshine when he was helping
Chad Pierce in the SARA Late Model series. And at St.
Augustine when he was crew chief for Travis in his
ASA car. Little did we know then that Pete was sick.

My favorite memory of Pete will always be of a night
at New Smyrna when the races were called and he was
with the McLeods. Somehow Alex talked Darwin into
letting him drive the Gator and drive is exactly what
he did including Pete. Pete got into that Gator with
this little boy behind the wheel and never once
hesitated. That night I saw Pete Orr for the first
time as the wonderful person he was.

Yes, Pete was a great racer, he could build a car and
set it up but more than that, Pete was a great human
being. He gave without question, he loved his wife
and you could see that love, he adored his children
and was very proud of them.

In my son's room is an old poster of Pete Orr and David
Russell and the Horsen Around #30 and #36 cars. That
poster has always meant alot to my son because Pete
and David signed it but now it means even more to him.
That is his friend Pete, the man who told him he could
drive good when he was 8 years old.

My heart like everyones is very, very sad right now.
But Pete will never be gone because so many hold him
in their hearts. As long as someone remembers a
person, they never die and Pete Orr will never die.

You can be sure that there will be many a driver with
a Guardian Angel on their shoulder for many years to
come all because of Pete Orr. He gave so much, he
taught us so much and he will always be part of us.
We treasure the minutes, the hours, the days, and
the years he shared with us.

For much more on the life and accomplishments of Pete Orr,including photos and interviews, click here!



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