A queen and her chariot attend Iola '10
Rachel Veitch, 91, of Orlando, Fla., felt like a queen at the 2010 Iola Old Car Show.
"I am so well cared for," she stated.
From July 8-11, she and her 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente were featured in the Teamed to Learn tent.
"Chariot," as she affectionately calls her car, and Veitch have been together for over 558,000 miles.
Veitch purchased the car for $3,289 in 1964 and it has been her only car for the past 45 years. Every repair, fill up and mile has been meticulously documented. Google her name for more information.
Her story on growingbolder.com attracted the attention of Scott Krause, manager for Uptown Ford Lincoln Mercury in Milwaukee. He met her on a trip to Florida and noted she had driven to the Iola Old Car Show in 1999. He wanted to know what it would take for her to come again. Her reply was, "Why don't you ask me?"
Krause - no relation to Iola's Chet Krause - offered to fly down to Florida and drive up with her. Her reply was, "You would just slow me down." So they compromised. Uptown Motors flew Chariot to Milwaukee and Veitch drove to Iola '10 escorted by Krause in another car.
"She's very independent," Krause observed.
"This car is my fifth child," Veitch stated. "But she has behaved better than the other four."
Only a month away from 92 years old, Veitch still volunteers for the Orlando Police Department and teaches a class in parliamentary law.
She has nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
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