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Event Coverage The Miller Meet, 2023

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Fordors, Jul 7, 2023.

  1. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,943

    Fordors
    Member

    This year brought a change of venue for the Harry A. Miller Club annual event. It’s always held at the Milwaukee Mile but construction at the Wisconsin State Fair Park sent the event to Indianapolis Raceway Park. Traditionally held on Friday and Saturday this year it was changed to Thursday and Friday and I don’t know if it was the location or the different days but attendance of both cars and spectators was low. There may have been a race on the oval track scheduled for Saturday (?) that required the area be vacated by 7PM on Friday.
    Even so there were some great cars there, some previously seen and a few different ones making for a good day.

    This Durant had a straight eight under the hood, but unfortunately the hood was never open and I couldn’t find the owner. Durant’s were six cylinder cars and I think maybe this had a Locomobile eight since Billy Durant acquired that brand at some point. No engine shot but I thought the brake shoes were interesting. Factory original? Made for racing? I don’t know.
    IMG_9206.jpeg IMG_9205.jpeg


    Bob O’Connell from Ohio brought out a few cars this year, his Belanger Special is one of my favorites with the striking blue paint and real gold leaf. His Gilmore Red Lion Special is just peeking out there.
    IMG_9203.jpeg IMG_9202.jpeg
    IMG_9167.jpeg

    Next up are a couple of Miller-Fords, ten were built under the direction of Harry Miller for the 1935 Indy 500. The car without its body was serial number 3, many of the parts were stamped with that number and according to the gentleman I spoke with that car was driven by Ted Horn. I’ve read previously that Horn did not like the quartet of experimental Strombergs and switched to the Hexagon Engineering manifold and standard 97’s. The first picture shows an oil tank up high just behind the firewall and in the second photo there’s a brass gate valve. I’m thinking if the riding mechanic saw a drop in oil pressure he could open that valve and add oil to the crankcase. Or maybe not???
    IMG_9184.jpeg

    IMG_9183.jpeg IMG_9198.jpeg
    This next photo shows a Miller-Ford with its beautiful body work.
    IMG_9201.jpeg

    The Riverside Special was another car that I didn’t see the owner around, I think it was Chrysler flathead six powered. It’s a beautiful restoration and in particular I liked the olive drab frame contrasting with the perfect body work and paint job.
    IMG_9196.jpeg
    IMG_9197.jpeg
    More to come tomorrow.
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2023
  2. aircap
    Joined: Mar 10, 2011
    Posts: 1,791

    aircap
    Member

    What a great historic meet. I'd love to attend some time.
     
  3. nrgwizard
    Joined: Aug 18, 2006
    Posts: 2,904

    nrgwizard
    Member
    from Minn. uSA

    Thanks for the pics.
    Love these cars & the era.
    Marcus...
     
  4. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,107

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Great stuff, keep up the good work.
     
  5. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 9,426

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Last edited: Jul 7, 2023
    Phillips, 41 GMC K-18 and Fordors like this.
  6. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 9,426

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Larry, I thought Preston Tucker ran the building of the Indy Fords in 1935 .
     
  7. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 9,426

    Marty Strode
    Member

    I retracted that false information, that was told to me by an Oldtimer.
     
  8. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,943

    Fordors
    Member

    I believe Miller pitched the idea of a stock block car at Indy to Tucker. Tucker being a master salesman, as evidenced by the Tucker automobile dealings of selling radios and luggage for the car, stock in the company even before the design was finalized and even dealer franchises to those wanting to “get in early” it was Preston that pitched the race cars to Edsel and other top executives. Somehow they got Henry on board, but no doubt the Old Man had a fit when the cast exhaust headers cooked the lube out of the steering boxes and the cars failed to finish the race.
    Preston was the brains behind finance, Harry had the concepts and with Ford machinery and likely engineering help the ten cars were built in record time, I think it was something like four months!
     
    tractorguy likes this.
  9. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 9,426

    Marty Strode
    Member

    The real story below. They were built in 3 months.

    https://www.museumofamericanspeed.com/1935millerford.html
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2023
    Stan Back and catdad49 like this.
  10. stuart in mn
    Joined: Nov 22, 2007
    Posts: 2,536

    stuart in mn
    Member

  11. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,328

    loudbang
    Member

    Great camera/phone? work nice and chrisp.
     
  12. Always impressive.
     
  13. catdad49
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 6,705

    catdad49
    Member

    Love these Race cars!! Always a treat to see these old steeds, mechanical wonders and Beautiful works of Automotive Art. Thanks, look forward to seeing the rest.
     
  14. 2935ford
    Joined: Jan 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,844

    2935ford
    Member

    Now there's some fun goin round the track! :)
     
  15. Sure the one year I had open and was ready to go and they move it. I'll try again next year and back in Milwaukee.
     
  16. Thank you for the great pics.
    Yet another year of not going!
    And here Indy was only one half the distance for me compared to Milwaukee.
    Dumb me!
     
  17. HRBOB34
    Joined: Oct 1, 2009
    Posts: 413

    HRBOB34
    Member

    Awsome! Thanks for sharing!
    Some day, I would like to get there for that event!
     
  18. kabinenroller
    Joined: Jan 26, 2012
    Posts: 1,211

    kabinenroller
    Member

    @Fordors
    Thanks for the great pictures of the event. I did not make it to IRP this year but for sure I will be at the ‘Mile next July.
    Here is a video of the event I found last night:
     
  19. Phillips
    Joined: Oct 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,660

    Phillips
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You and me both scruffy, I can walk to the Mile but I’m always out of town on the Miller weekend.
     
    milwscruffy and tractorguy like this.
  20. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 10,059

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska
    1. Central Nebraska H.A.M.B.

    Looks like a fun event. Interesting cars. Might possibility the attendance be diminishing because of the age of the participants? I'm 78 and without my scooter doing venues like this would be a struggle. Find my self trailering to more events than driving.
     
  21. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,943

    Fordors
    Member

    I brought a Nikon DSLR, took a couple of pictures with it and found it easier to just use my iPhone 14. My wife prints some of her photos and prefers her Nikons.
    Thanks for the compliment.
     
  22. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 9,426

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Larry, do you wait for a dial tone before taking pictures. Great shots, thanks for taking us there!
     
    tractorguy likes this.
  23. tractorguy
    Joined: Jan 5, 2008
    Posts: 969

    tractorguy
    Member

     
  24. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,943

    Fordors
    Member

    Here’s another Bob O’Connell car, the Leader Card Special built by A.J.Watson and driven by Len Sutton. I have no idea how many Indy cars Bob has but I bet there are more back home in Ohio.
    IMG_9168.jpeg


    Lettered as the Bob Estes Special #38 there was no placard near this car and I couldn’t find any info online. Offy power, it was very well done and period correct.
    IMG_9171.jpeg
    IMG_9174.jpeg


    Here’s the Lobitz Catering Special, most likely home built with the exception of the body work. Primarily early Ford parts and it was banger powered. They are still out there, all we have to do is find them.
    IMG_9175.jpeg

    Keith traveled to the event from New Jersey. He showed a lot of stuff and fired up this 110 Offy Midget engine but I’ll be darned if I can get the video to load :mad:
    IMG_9173.jpeg


    Here’s a shot showing the attention to detail and machine work on this ‘50’s-‘60’s Indy roadster. The Wilwood caliper makes me wonder if it’s new construction or just a desire for different brakes than the Halibrands.
    IMG_9181.jpeg


    I’ve shown the Gilmore Special before but it’s one of my favorites so here it is again.
    IMG_9189.jpeg IMG_9187.jpeg


    I’m far from being a Miller expert but I believe this V16 is 122 cu.in. and it uses four separate cylinder blocks with a common crankcase. When a rules change mandated 91.5 cu. in. all the 91’s were supercharged.
    IMG_9192.jpeg


    The venerable flathead Ford as used in the Miller Fords had 9-1 compression from special Bohnalite (Ford’s aluminum casting supplier) heads, better cam timing and initially four carbs that were single throat like a Miller carb. Some of the cars were changed to two Strombergs as seen here.
    IMG_9182.jpeg

    Lastly there were a few cars that were not Indy cars but still notable. One was a car that was purportedly driven by Barney Oldfield to some early speed records.
    IMG_9193.jpeg IMG_9195.jpeg IMG_9209.png


    That’s all and I hope to make it to the Milwaukee Mile next year. Hopefully more cars, better photo opportunities and they will be able to use the club’s tents that lend themselves to better pictures. If you can, come out to see historic cars, the changes in technology and some great, approachable people willing to answer your questions.
     
    40 Olds, Rocket88NZ, catdad49 and 6 others like this.
  25. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,943

    Fordors
    Member

    I watched the video and was surprised by the cars that weren't seen on Friday, or maybe they were in trailers when I was there. Nice video, thanks for posting.
     
  26. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,943

    Fordors
    Member

    If there was a dial tone I probably wouldn't hear it Marty, too many years in noisy machine shops. :(
     
  27. tractorguy
    Joined: Jan 5, 2008
    Posts: 969

    tractorguy
    Member

    Thank you for everything. Really great photography of really great cars. It was always an easy and wonderful event for me as I am just 25min. West of the Milwaukee Mile. Really missed it this year, but hope to make it in 2024. Thanks again
     
  28. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,943

    Fordors
    Member

    No doubt a lot of these guys are older but I’ve seen plenty of 40 and 50 year olds showing and driving their cars, while I did not see it on the track the guy driving the 1928 Indy 500 winning Miller looked like he was in his 40’s. Unfortunately that car went in the trailer and I didn’t get any photos. And age isn’t always a detriment, there have been 70 and 80 year old drivers on the track at every Miller Meet I’ve attended. I spoke with the owner of the Huppmobile Comet last year, I was 73 then and he had a few years on me. Oh, and he drove the car on the track this year too.
     
    catdad49 likes this.

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