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Winter Issue 2013

Millers at Milwaukee – Vintage Indy Car Event Set For July 12-13, 2013!

Harry A. Miller Club NewsPhotos courtesy of David Newhardt

The Harry A. Miller Club

The famous Milwaukee Mile Track will once again be the site of the

annual Millers at Milwaukee event – one week later than our usual date. Our 19th annual vintage car meet will feature the same historic Indy Champ cars, roadsters and laydowns that you enjoy each year, as well as many of the Vanderbilt Cup era cars that participated last year. Vintage race cars designed by Miller, Duesenberg, Mercer, Alfa Romeo, Kurtis, and Bugatti will take their place on the oval track this July for a weekend exhibition.

We have also arranged for a special guest display of vintage boardtrack motorcycle racers. A local member of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, along with a number of fellow racers, will bring their vintage motorcycles dating from 1912 to 1930 to exhibit and share their unique history. Some of the riders will come from as far as North Carolina and California.

The Miller Club is also pleased to announce a joint promotion of our Millers at Milwaukee event with the Milwaukee IndyFest event - scheduled for June 14-15, 2013. Andretti Sports Marketing is sponsoring Milwaukee IndyFest at the Milwaukee Mile. We have arranged to have

the Miller Club provide a display of vintage Indy cars and promotional information on site during IndyFest weekend. We will include their event information on our website and in our newsletter, and Mecum Auctions will provide a web link to the IndyFest website. “We are extremely pleased to be working with Andretti Sports Marketing so that we can share the history of vintage Indy car racing and the Harry Miller Club,” stated Dana Mecum. “We feel

it will be a great benefit to our club as well as Milwaukee IndyFest.”

Our 2012 Millers at Milwaukee event was extremely successful, and featured 59

spectacular cars! We expect to reach that 60 car limit

this year, so please complete your entry application early! You can request an entry brochure by e-mail at harrymillerclub@sbcglobal.net, or go to our website at www.harrymillerclub.com.

The Crowne Plaza Milwaukee West Hotel will again be the host for our lodging and banquet. Located just a few minutes from the Milwaukee Mile at 10499 Innovation Drive, Wauwatosa, this beautiful facility offers free parking, a free shuttle to the track, and rates of only $114 per night for double occupancy. A block of rooms has been set aside for our event, so please indicate you are with the Millers at Milwaukee – Harry Miller Club group. Call 414-475-9500 to reserve your room, before the deadline of June 11, 2013. Rooms are limited, so make your reservation as soon as possible.

Additional information regarding entry fees and requirements can be found on the back cover of this issue.

Written by Lenore Heinzelmann

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Winter Issue 2013

The Harry A. Miller Club has been blessed to have

held their yearly event at the historic Milwaukee Mile race track since 1995. The Club is looking forward to holding its 19th Millers at Milwaukee meet at the esteemed oval this July 12-13, 2013. This event is just a small chapter of the Mile’s 110 year history, with over 250 open wheel races enjoyed by fans from around the world.

The track started its motor sports life on September 11, 1903 when William Jones of Racine, WI won a five-mile event held on the one-mile dirt oval. Located

within the approximately 200 acres of the Wisconsin State Fair Park, the track is actually surrounded by the city of West Allis and was completed in 1891. It was originally intended for horse racing.

During the pre-World War I era, racing was quite different from today’s 100, 200 or 500-mile races we see throughout the country. This was a time of five, ten or twenty-five mile-timed runs, or match racing as the automobile was still in its infancy. As the cars became more dependable, manufacturers and automobile dealers used endurance races to promote their product. Thus, in 1907 and 1908,

24-hour endurance tests were held at the Wisconsin oval.

The venerable track has seen many colorful characters over the years. One of the first was Barney Oldfield. Oldfield, a racing pioneer, was seen in a variety of cars at the track. He first appeared at the track in 1905 in the Peerless Green Dragon. Soon after, the man known for a having an unlit cigar in his mouth while racing was seen in a French-built Darraq, the legendary Blitzen Benz and later the famous Golden Submarine built by famed race car designer, Harry A. Miller, a native of

Menomonie, WI. Bob Burman and Ralph DePalma were also some of the “big names” to appear at the track.

The track today has a similar look as it did in the past. The biggest change is the open modern grandstands with improved sightlines and amenities. The three previous grandstands were all covered, and varied slightly to the untrained eye. In 1914 the original grandstand burned to the ground.

The first 100-mile race wasn’t seen until 1915 when Louis Disbrow drove the “Jay-Eye-See” Special to Victory. The J.I. Case Co. of nearby Racine, WI financed the vehicle, which was

built by Lewis Strang. Shortly after World War I, the

board track era took off. The clean, beautiful semi-banked speed palaces were the fad of the roaring twenties as the fairgrounds fell out of favor to the national sanctioning bodies. However, J. Alex Sloan’s IMCA group were frequent visitors to the track in addition to promoters such as Huff Dorward, Ernie Moross and Ward Beam. It was during this time in the 1920’s that many local drivers stepped up to the forefront and became the drivers to beat. Drivers such as Artie Brach, Frank Brisko,

Carl and Tudy Marchese, Stag Nowicki, Johnny Sawyer, Porter Short, and George Young were some of the headliners.

In 1929, Tom Marchese promoted his first race at the track with the invitation of Fair Park President Ralph Ammon. Mr. Ammon was hoping that Tom’s brother Carl (who finished fourth in the Indianapolis 500 that year) would participate in the event and in return some of the other nationally known drivers would appear. Dirt track star Gus Schrader of Cedar Rapids, IA won the 50-Mile event.

Milwaukee favorite Rex Mays was the first to break the 90-mph barrier in 1934 with a lap of 39.47

seconds (91.21 mph). A 100-mile race in 1937 was scheduled for 100 miles and Mays took the checkered flag on what everyone thought was the completion of the 100th lap. But a review of manual scoring records showed that a scorer’s error caused the race to end prematurely after the 96th lap.

There was no Indianapolis 500 in 1942 due to the outbreak of War World II. However, the fairgrounds held the “Victory Sweepstakes” on Memorial Day, which was won by Joie Chitwood. Nonetheless by July 31, all racing had ceased in support of the war

effort. No racing was held at the track from 1943 to 1945. In 1946, Tom Marchese and Wisconsin Auto Racing, Inc. won exclusive promoting rights to the track.

The one-mile oval was one of many fairground tracks in the early 1950’s. The “big cars” would be seen at DuQuoin, Springfield, Syracuse and the Indiana Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. In 1954, Milwaukee separated itself by paving the track. At the time only the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway in South Carolina were the only paved tracks holding nationally sanctioned races. An interesting note is Chuck Stevenson of Garden Grove, CA

The Milwaukee Mile Holds a Rich History

1962 Len Sutton slams into the wall. - Steve Zautke CollectionThe grandstand which burned down in 1914. - Steve Zautke collection

Friends of Harry Miller Club: $100-$200•Name Listed in Miller Event Program •Name Listed in one line Miller Club Newsletter

“HOME OF “OFFY DAVE” philreillycompany.comTel. (415) 924.9022

Offenhauser • Sunbeam • Meyer-Drake • Miller • Peugeot •Duesenberg • Sparks Thorne

Miller •Meyer-Drake • Offenhauser

Sunb

eam

• Pe

ugeo

t Duesenberg • Sparks Thorne

won the last championship car race held on the dirt and won the inaugural race on the newly paved track.

In 1956, the United States Auto Club (USAC) filled the void left with the departure of the American Automobile Association (AAA) as a national sanctioning body. With the formation of USAC, the growth of auto racing started to increase as the decade of the 1950’s ended.

As the 1960’s began, the era which is considered to be the modern “golden age of racing” began. The sport increased in popularity and that was certainly the case at the Milwaukee Mile. Attendance boomed in the 1960’s. Drivers such as Rodger Ward, Tony Bettenhausen and later, A.J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones became household names. These drivers were regularly seen at the Milwaukee Mile whether in an Indy car, stock car, sprint car or midget.

Winning drivers such as Rodger Ward, Tony Bettenhausen, Johnny Thomson, A.J. Foyt, Lloyd Ruby, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Joe Leonard, Gordon Johncock, Mike Mosley, Johnny Rutherford, Tom Sneva, Rick Mears and Michael Andretti are just some of the drivers to have won Indy car races three or more times at the historic Milwaukee Mile. Until 1983, the Milwaukee Mile held two Indy car races.

One of the most famous races held at Milwaukee occurred in 1965 when A.J. Foyt won the pole in his Meskowski dirt car after his Lotus was unavailable. Foyt led the early part of the race, however Gordon Johncock in his rear-engine Gerhardt won the historic event - with Foyt coming in second.

Colorful characters were also prevalent during the 1950’s and

1960’s such as Johnny Boyd, Jimmy Bryan, Jim Hurtubise, Eddie Sachs, one-legged Bill Schindler, and local driver, Myron Fohr who lived only minutes from the track. Chicago area drivers

such as the “Tinley Park Express” Tony Bettenhausen, Paul Russo, Indy 500 winner Pat Flaherty

and Emil Andres also thrilled the Milwaukee Mile partisans.

The drivers that have competed at the track are the ultimate “who’s who in auto racing.” The Milwaukee Mile’s first fifty years of history included drivers Barney Oldfield, Ralph DePalma, Wilbur Shaw, Rex Mays, Frank Brisko, Tony Willman, Mauri Rose, Ted Horn, Johnnie Parsons, Tony Bettenhausen, Sam Hanks, Rodger Ward and A.J. Foyt .

The variety of famous race cars is also impressive, from Harry Miller’s Golden Submarine, the Blitzen-Benz, Poison Lil, beautiful Kurtis and Watson roadsters. These are the types of cars you can see at the 19th annual Millers at Milwaukee -Vintage Indy Car Event at The Milwaukee Mile this July 12-13, 2013.

Harry A. Miller Club News

Written by Steve Zautke

Harry A. Miller Club News

The 1923 running of the Indianapolis 500 was spectacular in many ways.

Louis Meyer, a relatively unknown relief driver, had taken the checkered flag at speeds near 100 miles an hour for every lap. Meyer crept all the way from ninth place and took home the coveted trophy and $30,000 purse. His car – the supercharged Miller Special. In fact, nine of the top ten finishers that day were built by Harry Miller. This was the most dominant showing of one car manufacturer in the history of the Indianapolis 500, and would be the peak of Harry Miller’s career.

A native of Wisconsin, Miller was one of the most visionary designers in the history of auto racing. His designs and those of his highly skilled engineering teams compiled by far the longest string of victories, and formed the first dynasty in racing history.

Miller was born in 1875 in Menomonie, WI. He left school at the age of thirteen to take a job in a local machine shop. He moved to Los Angeles in 1895, where he worked in a bicycle shop and built custom racing parts for

factory bicycles. He returned to Menomonie for a short time, working in a foundry and in his spare time experimented with motorcycles and boats powered by outboard marine engines. He worked in the same shop as outboard motor inventor Ole Evinrude.

During the early 1900’s Miller moved around the country working as a mechanic. In 1908 he was a riding mechanic during the Vanderbilt Cup Races on Long Island. The car he rode in was a failure, and he never stepped into the cockpit of a race car competitively again. He turned his full attention to engineering and design. In 1911

he went to Indianapolis for the first time and talked to anyone who would listen about the Master Carburetor he had designed. It was so popular that it dominated the market until 1921.

In 1917 Barney Oldfield commissioned Miller to build a new race car. Oldfield had been driving a Delage but was interested in something different. Miller was back in Los Angeles, and they came up with a unique engine that was designed to peak at 4,000 rpm, very high for the time. The most fascinating attribute of the car was the design of the car. Affectionately known as the “Golden Submarine,” it was the most

aerodynamic and streamlined car in the U.S. The Miller Carburetor Company

included engineers Fred Offenhauser and eventually Leo Goosen. In 1920 they worked on the Miller 183 engine that had a cylinder displacement of less than 183 cubic inches, or 3 liters. Driver Tommy Milton put up the funds for this project. This engine brought together the best features of other manufactured engines, including Duesenberg, and Peugeot. Completed in 1922, it was an immediate success. Miller engines went on to win ten races, including the Indy 500. Jimmy Murphy, won the 500 in

a Duesenberg car powered by a Miller 183, with an average speed of 94.5 mph.

In 1923 Indianapolis 500 officials shaved the size of the cylinder displacement and went to single-seaters to keep up with the current designs of racing technology. This prompted the design of the Miller 122 engine, which proved to be one of the most successful Miller engines of all time. Tommy Milton won the 1923 Indy 500 in a Miller 122. In 1923, Miller cars won nine races with average speeds above 100 mph.

The year 1926 ushered in another new formula for Indy racing: the 91.5 cubic inch or 1.5 liter engine. Miller and his team would build engines that powered almost all the cars in the 1926 field. His front-wheel-drive design was also completed that year, allowing drivers to take corners faster. In all, Miller 91s won thirty-eight races during the formula’s brief history from 1926 to 1929.

During the 30s, Miller continued to experiment with engine design and even became involved with the controversial

Preston Tucker. Their projects either did not get off the ground or ended in disaster.

Miller died of a heart attack in 1943, at the age of 68. Although he had fallen on hard times, his accomplishments were many. Fred Offenhauser continued to make fine racing engines that were dominant from the 1930s through the 1970s. Harry Miller’s innovations in racing engines and car design have become an indelible part of American racing history.

Built For Speed – The Checkered Career of Race Car Designer Harry A. Miller

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Written by Timothy Gerber Reprinted with permission:

Wisconsin Magazine of History, Spring 2002

Thomas E. Malloy – Businessman, Racing Enthusiast and Board Member

Over Five Decades ofEngineering Excellence

Racing EnginesVintage/Historic Engines

Street Rod EnginesDyno Testing & Track Support

Design & Engineering

14612 Raymer St., Van Nuys, CA 91405818.785.6740 • Fax 818.785.4710

edpink.com engshop@edpink.com © 2010 Ed Pink Racing Engines

The Harry Miller Club is pleased to share the racing background of Tom Malloy, one of our dedicated Board

Members, who resides in southern California. Tom Malloy was introduced to racing at a young age by his

Dad – Emmett J. Malloy – who built and owned Carroll Speedway in Gardena, California. Tom watched greats like Rex Mays, Troy Ruttman, Jimmy Reese and Bill Vukovich drive his Dad’s race cars.

Tom started his own business, Trench Shoring Company in 1973. Tom rents, manufactures, and sells all types of safety devices for trenches, including trench crossing plates. In 1981 Tom’s company became involved in the racing world by sponsoring driver John Mahler in an Indy Car at Riverside Int’l Raceway.

In 1986 and 1987 the Trench Shoring Company sponsored a car Rocky Moran drove at the LBGP. In 1988 they sponsored an A.J. Foyt March 86-C for the Indy 500, with driver Rocky Moran who qualified 28th and finished 16th.

In October 1992 Tom completed a three-day Skip Barber Driving course at Sears Point, California – and as they say – the rest is history. Tom soon began collecting race cars, and has shown them and raced them all over the United States, England, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In the United States Tom has raced at Lime Rock, Connecticut; Watkins Glen, New York; Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin; London, New Hampshire; Daytona, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Salt Lake City (Tooele), Utah; Seattle (Kent), Washington; Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nevada; and Phoenix, Arizona. With his emphasis in California he has raced at Laguna Seca, Thunder Hill, Willow Springs, Coronado, Buttonwillow, Streets of Long Angeles, Temecula, Sonoma, and Fontana.

“Though I race primarily on road courses,” stated Tom, “open wheel champ and Indy roadsters are my first love. They were the type I was always around with my Dad.”

New Ownership of Ed Pink Racing Engines

In 2008, Legendary race engine builder, Ed Pink announced the sale of Ed Pink Racing Engines (EPRE) to successful businessman, vintage race car collector and racer Tom Malloy, who also owns Trench Shoring Company.

“It’s funny how things happen,” said Tom. “I became acquainted with Ed’s operation as EPRE was re-building a big block engine for my Can-Am car. I noticed their attention to details and their ability to do all the work necessary in house. That impressed me.”

“I knew of Ed’s interest in selling the business and became more interested as the rebuild went along. Some months later we completed the deal,” Tom continued. “I am thrilled about the sale and Ed wanting to stay on. EPRE has a spectacular

history, which now I get to share in.”Founded in 1958, EPRE has enjoyed success in nearly every

form of motorsports over the past 50 years. “I have enormous respect for Tom, both personally and

professional,” said Pink. “Our common goal is to ensure the future of the company, our employees and our customers. I feel confident that this transfer of ownership accomplishes this objective.”

With a reputation for producing only the highest quality racing engines, EPRE will continue to operate according to the exacting standards established by its founder. General Manager, Frank Honsowetz, who joined the company in 2001, after a 27-year career with Nissan North America will continue day-to-day operational oversight under the new ownership.

EPRE moved to its current Van Nuys, California location in 1965 and employs a 13-member staff, with an average 17 years of service. While Pink plans to continue as an active employee for the foreseeable future, he is quick to share the credit for his success with his employees.

Winter Issue 2013

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50 Years of California Racing Larry Crane, past editor of AUTO Aficionado and avid vintage

racer, is organizing a car show and fund-raiser called, 50 Years of California Racing. The gathering will be held at the Peter Strauss (Harry Miller) Ranch in Malibu on April 13, 2013.

The ranch was originally built by Harry Miller, and later sold to actor Peter Strauss. Strauss updated some of the buildings on the property and then donated the land to the National Park Service.

The 50 Years of California Racing event will include a vintage car display and a catered breakfast. Proceeds from the car show will be used to help maintain and restore the ranch. Crane’s intention is to not only put a spotlight on some wonderful cars, but to also bring attention to the Miller Ranch. He would like the community

to learn more about Harry Miller’s prominence in vintage auto racing and to create more interest in maintaining the Miller ranch.

The ranch is located at the intersection of Mulholland Highway and Troutdale Road. Many local Miller Club members are participating in the event. Individual car owners will be interviewed and asked to describe the history of their car. The video production will then be available for sale, to further help with the fundraising effort and to create more interest in maintaining the historic Miller ranch.

If you are interested in obtaining more details about this unique car show, you may contact Larry Crane at:casavetturaproductions@gmail.com

Written by Lenore Heinzelmann

1912 Millers at Milwaukee Event

The Miller Club is grateful to all of the sponsors and member donors who provide financial support to the club. These donations help maintain the high level of activity that we are able to provide

during our weekend event. Please consider one of the following sponsorship opportunities for 2013.

We Need Your Support

Sponsorship OpportunitiesAssociate Sponsorship Benefits: $2,000

Friends of The Harry A. Miller Club: $100Executive Sponsorship Benefits: $5,000

Title Sponsorship Benefits: See Dana Mecum

•Full Page Ad in Miller Event Program•Full Page Ad in 3 Miller Club Newsletters•Link on Miller Website

•Full Page Ad in Miller Event Program •Full Page Ad in Miller Club Newsletter•Link on Miller Website

•One-Half Page Ad in Miller Event Program•One-Half Page Ad in 3 Miller Club Newsletters•Link on Miller Website

•Name listed in Miller Event and Banquet Programs •Name listed in one Miller Club Newsletter

The 18th Annual

Amelia Island Concours d’EleganceMarch 8-10, 2013

Featuring the Race Cars of Harry Miller

For Advance Tickets & Event Information, visit:www.ameliaconcours.orgPhoto by Dave Wendt

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia IslandThe Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE DUE NOW!New member and first year renewal membership fees are $40 per year. Long-term members may renew at the previous rate of $25. Please use the enclosed envelope to return your renewal checks. Thanks for your support!

Harry A. Miller Club News

Winter Issue 2013

The Harry A. Miller Club P.O. Box 541 • Germantown • WI • 53022Tel (262) 388-5221 • harrymillerclub.com

About The Harry A. Miller Club

Millers at Milwaukee – Vintage Indy Car Event July 12-13, 2013

Harry Miller is quite simply the greatest

creative figure in the history of American auto racing. He created the great school of American thoroughbred engine design, which was faithfully followed by those

who sought to outdo him. Miller was the first U.S. designer who viewed the racing car as an art object. Miller had a passion for metalwork and machinery that soared above and beyond all other designers.*From The Miller Dynasty, By Mark Dees, The Hippodrome Publishing Co. 1994

David V. Uihlein, Sr., founder of the Harry Miller Club, sought to bring recognition to Harry Miller and his vast accomplishments, while sharing his great race car and engine designs with younger generations. Miller based cars and engines dominated

championship competition in this country during the 1920’s, winning 38 Indianapolis 500 races!

To Join the Harry A. Miller ClubNew members may complete the

membership application found on the Harry Miller Club website: harrymillerclub.com, or use the membership envelope enclosed with this newsletter. The fee for new members, or members renewing for the first time is $40.

Annual membership renewal fees for all other members is $25. (The Club made a decision in 2011 to not increase the rate for long-term members.) Renewals are due the first of the year, unless you routinely make your payment in July at the Miller event. Please use the enclosed envelope to make your renewal payment, and indicate if you would like to receive a Millers at Milwaukee entry application for 2013.

President: Dana Mecum Office, 262- 275-5050Directors: Brian Brunkhorst Lenore Heinzelmann Tom Malloy Bill Warner Tedd ZamjahnAssociate Directors: Dan Davis Bob McConnell

Address: Harry A. Miller Club P.O. Box 541 Germantown, WI 53022 262-388-5221

E-mail: harrymillerclub@sbcglobal.net

Har r y A . Mi l ler C lub Board of Directors

This newsletter welcomes contributions, photos, and suggestions. We hope to feature stories about members’ car restorations or other news pertinent to vintage auto collectors. All items submitted for the newsletter shall be considered an expressed warranty by the author that said material is in no way an infringement upon the rights of others.

The Harry Miller Club News is published three times per year, and is printed for the auto racing enthusiast interested in open wheel history. The next deadline for submission is April 22, 2013.8

Entry Fees and Requirements:*$300 for the first car entered – This fee includes 2 pit passes, and admission for 2 people to both the Thursday evening welcome gathering and Friday banquet.

*Each additional car entered is an additional $200 fee – This fee includes 2 additional pit passes.

*Additional welcome dinner tickets can be purchased for $25 each.

*Additional banquet tickets can be purchased for $50 each.

*Each entrant must be an active member of the Harry Miller Club – with the current membership fee paid for 2013.

A new regulation has been established for all drivers and passengers for 2013. A certified safety helmet must be worn by all drivers and passengers during the Miller event.

We are encouraging all drivers and passengers to wear a seat belt. This will be discussed at the Drivers’ Meeting this July, with the expectation that this will become mandatory for the July 2014 event.

Parking FeesThe Wisconsin State Fair Park has informed our club that beginning this year, all vehicles entering the fairgrounds/Milwaukee Mile will be charged a $5 parking fee each day. This fee will be collected at Gate 5, located off of 84th Street. If you plan to come and go during the day, you may ask for a parking ticket that shows you have already paid once for the day.

This fee includes all entrants, spectators and vendors. The Miller Club will continue to collect the spectator fees at the track, with members paying $20 and non-members paying $25 for the weekend event. Children under 16 years of age are $5.

VendorsVendors must register in advance, and will be charged $25 for the weekend pass, including vending space. Vendors will be charged a $5 parking fee at Gate 5, the same rate as spectators and event entrants.