by Harold Peters of Vancouver, WA
Harry Miller was the greatest creative figure in the history of the American racing car. Through photos, videos, drawings, and stories, today’s presentation details his life and exploits.
Born in Wisconsin in 1875, Miller moved to LA in 1894 and built racing carburetors before expanding into engines and cars. His creations were designed for the oval track and raced on boards, bricks, dirt, and salt. Marine engines raced in the Gold Cup, Harmsworth, and world speed attempts. Most of the land and water speed records were held at one time by Miller engines.
Miller was the originator, in the United States, of the racing car as an art object. He produced the world’s first enclosed streamlined race car in the Teens. He gave the world front-wheel-drive as a practical reality in the Twenties. He created tractable four-wheel drive racing cars in the early Thirties.