NOTE: As mention in his American Hot Rod Foundation biography, Jim was the grandson of Eddie Miller Sr. (famous American Race Car driver & Stu Hilborn's neighbor) . . . and the son of Eddie Miller Jr. whose (Pontiac 6-powered) Lakester has been featured many times here on the H.A.M.B.: page 18 & 19 of the August 1950 issue of HOT ROD Magazine Eddie Miller Jr's Lakester at Bonneville The beautifully restored Eddie Miller Jr. Lakester at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
I didn't know Jim personally . . . but we had exchanged emails several times over the years. Jim was always the consummate gentleman . . . and a wealth of knowledge when it came to the history of Hot Rodding / Dry Lakes racing. NOTE: Jim has indirectly contributed to many of the threads that I have posted here on the HAMB . . . as I have "borrowed" literally dozens of the historical photos that he had posted on AHRF's social media site (i.e., Facebook).
I bumped into Jim many times over the years but never knew who he was. I jokingly asked him once, "since we always seem to be at the same events all the time, just where will I be next week?". We became good friends after that. He will be deeply missed by me and many others. R I P, my dear friends, you will definitely be missed!
I visited with him many times over the years. He was a genuinely nice man. Condolences to his family and friends. RIP Jim.
Farewell to another great hot rod pioneer! RIP. Some pictures of the lakester when I saw it at the gas up in buellton a number of years ago.
I've always been fascinated by the Eddie Miller car, the ingenuity in its construction was amazing. There was a great article about it and the Miller family in Rodder's Journal some years ago.
So sorry to read this. Jim was a great guy and am***ed a lot of dry lakes and Bonneville Memorabilia. There was never a time at El Mirage or Bonneville that we did not great each other without a smile. I will miss my friend.
From the May 5th 2026 post: Don @Rockerhead Montgomery, Jim Miller, Alex Xydias, & Ed Iskenderian Don @Rockerhead Montgomery, Jim Miller, & Ed Iskenderian L to R: David Steele (AHRF Executive Director), Steve Memishian (AHRF Founder), Greg Sharp, Isky, Alex Xydias, @Chopper Ken Gross, Don @Rockerhead Montgomery, Steve Moal, & Jim Miller (AHRF Curator, Historian and Archivist)
As the Curator and Archivist, it was Jim Miller's responsibility to create "COLLECTIONS" of the historical images that have been "donated" to the AHRF by over 250 different "CONTRIBUTORS" . . . I'd estimate that today the AHRF archive contains well over 15,000 images . . . over 500 of which were contributed by Jim from his personal archives. I thought it fitting to share some of Jim's "H.A.M.B. friendly" images . . . first up: Willett Brown 1940 - ©AHRF/Jim Miller Collection Willet Brown, Tommy Lee’s C.F.O. at Don Lee Broadcasting in Los Angeles, brought his 1935 Indy Miller Ford to Harper Dry Lake on November 17 for the last S.C.T.A. meet of the 1940 season. Running as a guest entry, the car recorded speeds of 106.73 mph and 112.92 mph. Nice Ford Cabover! This picture is from a story used in the May 1941 issue of Mechanix Illustrated Magazine.
Stu Hilborn 1940 - ©AHRF/Jim Miller Collection New kid on the block Stuart Hilborn ran this Model-A roadster during the 1940 S.C.T.A. season as a member of the Centuries. The car was fitted with a Ford Flathead V8 and ran 107.91 mph in June, 108.96 mph in July, 104.90 mph in August and 117.95 mph in September. A few years later he would become famous for his Fuel Injection systems for racecars.
Clint Seccomb 1941 - ©AHRF/Jim Miller Collection Clint Seccombe Junior is seen in his Cadillac V-16 powered Roadster during the 1940 S. C. T. A. racing season. He attended all five races held that year, starting in May at Harper when he was timed at 107 mph. On June 30, all sorts of trouble started when Clint was timed at 125.52 and went on to establish a new Roadster Cl*** Record of 124.47, way over Vic Edelbrock’s top speed set in May at 119.44 mph and recorded with Otto Crocker’s new timing system. In November, Clint again ran a fast 125.34 mph against hot dog Vic’s roadster at 119.04. The result was Clint’s roadster was basically legislated out of business because the Cad engine was bigger than the Ford Flattie, and a new Unlimited cl*** was established in 1941. Picture from a story in the May 1941 issue of Mechanix Illustrated.
Betty and a Merc 1943 - ©AHRF/Jim Miller Collection Anyone for an almost new Mercury Sedan Coupe that already had some minor custom work and the addition of flipper hubcaps? This special Car and Girl beauty shot features my Aunt Betty all of 17 years old. Note the Black A sticker in the front window issued by the Office of Price Administration in California on December 1, 1942 that said you could only use four gallons of gas a week in your car. This fuel rationing program ended August 15, 1945. If you were a little luckier you could have had a Green B sticker that got you eight gallons a week. If you were a “Professional" worker you got a Red C Sticker but had to have one of seventeen important jobs. And let's not forget the M (Motorcycle), T (Truckers) and X stickers (unlimited gas for high mileage jobs and some elites).
Picadilly Drive In Culver City 1945 - ©AHRF/Jim Miller Collection Late 1945 or early 1946 shot of the Piccadilly Drive in In Culver City, California. It was located on the corner of Washington Place and Sepulveda Boulevard and was the gathering spot for area hot rodders. A block east was Karl Orr’s Speed Shop, and across the street, a little more east, was Sandy Belond's So Cal Muffler Company. A block South of Washington was Culver Boulevard and then Jefferson, both in L.A. County (that equals mostly no cops around). This is where the rodders would go for an impromptu race up to a mile long. A few times, the rodders even blocked off the streets for some serious racing and even made headlines one night when the cops raided and nabbed over 300 of them.
HIlborn Car Re Build January1, 1948 - ©AHRF/Jim Miller Collection While Stuart Hilborn was recuperating after he crashed his Streamliner in 1947, the S.C.T.A. decided to hold a car show in the Los Angeles Armory. Stu’s friends Eddie Miller Senior and Junior decided to rebuild his wrecked ride for the show with Senior doing the ch***is and Junior the bodywork. This shot shows the straightened ch***is of the car on January 1, 1948. Note the plates welded on the front axle to give it extra strength and how narrow the ch***is is compared to the 21 stud Ford block. Also note, the car was running a rear spring. The car was finished in time for the First Hot Rod Exposition held at the National Guard Armory on January 23-24, 1948.
Unknown Driver & Car '40s - ©AHRF/Jim Miller Collection Here’s a cool shot of an unknown So-Cal Track Roadster driver from the late ’40s showing off his Ford-4 flattie that might have only been running on three cylinders. Does anybody recognize him?
Bailon Motorama Custom 1952 - ©AHRF/Jim Miller Collection Joe Bailon built one of the most radical customs for its day, called "Miss Elegance". The car started life as a wrecked '41 Chevy coupe that Joe paid all of $50 for. It's seen at the Robert E. Petersen "Motorama" held at the Pan Pacific Auditorium back in 1952.
Bonneville 1958 - ©AHRF/Jim Miller Collection A typical Bonneville pit setup back in 1958. Car number 94 on the right is the Cl*** D Gas Roadster of Hildebrant Mfg. and Speed Equipment. It was powered by a 353” Chrysler and was after the ’56 record of 153.910 mph. The car ran 152.54 mph and had to settle for a fifth in cl***. Partially hidden is the Number 204 Cl*** D Compe***ion Coupe and Sedan that started life as a Bantam before it had a 343” Chrysler stuck in the cab and the driver moved forward. It ran as the Eelco Special and was after the ’55 Chrisman Brothers record of 190.839 mph. It ran 172.74 mph for a first in cl*** but was way off the record. On the left In the back is the Walker Shell Service D Roadster out of Santa Monica that ran as number 71 and was powered by a 331" Chrysler. It was after the ’57 record of 191.522 mph and only ran 155.44 mph and settled for a second in cl***.
The Jalopy Journal
