2007 Miller Meet

The 13th annual Millers at Milwaukee Vintage Indy Car Event hosted by the Harry A. Miller Club at the Milwaukee Mile brought smiles to the faces of vintage open wheel fans July 7-8. In the historic pit area at the venerable track over 30 cars were on display and many of those saw significant track time. Additionally, many other classic vehicles such as sprint cars and hot rods were on display in the paddock along with vendors selling items usually only seen at this unique event.

The biggest news of the weekend was club founder, David Uihlein at age 86, is stepping down as president. Uihlein was one of the pioneers in collecting classic race cars after World War II. Mr. Uihlein has gathered one of the most prestigious racing car collections in North America specializing in racing?s Golden Age.

Taking over as President of the Harry A. Miller Club is Dana Mecum. Mecum, CEO of Mecum Car Collector Auctions has a long history in collecting vintage race cars and has helped bringing in many unique cars to the Miller Meet. Mecum stated, ?It?s important we keep the vision that Dave started.?

The Harry A. Miller Club was formed by a handful of friends to celebrate the genius of Harry Artemus Miller, a Menomonie, WI native. Miller-built race cars and race engines dominated the Indianapolis 500 and board tracks across America in the 1920?s and 1930?s. Miller?s craftsmanship and ingenuity produced an amazing lineage of 39 Indianapolis 500-winning race cars.

The Miller Meet means Miller race cars and that is certainly what was on the track Saturday and Sunday at the Mile. Buck Boudeman brought his Miller ?Golden Submarine? made famous by the legendary Barney Oldfield. Longtime Miller Meet supporters, Bob McConnell brought his ?Halley?s Comet? Miller and Mitchell Rasansky brought his 1927 rear-driver Miller. Mr. Uihlein brought his collection of Millers including the Tommy Milton land speed car, the 1925 front-wheel driver and the 1931 Miller Indy winner.

There were many Indianapolis roadsters and upright championship dirt cars in attendance. Bill Boone brought his 1960 Meskowski Peter Schmidt Special roadster. Bob Boyce was in attendance with his 1961 coil spring Watson Leader Card Special. Richard Dittman had the Hinkle Kurtis 4000 upright once driven to victory at Milwaukee by the late great Jack McGrath. Duesenberg enthusiast Joe Freeman brought the hemi-powered Kurtis 500A which saw considerable track time. Herb Lederer brought his Offy-powered Jewell upright, which unfortunately detonated on the front straightaway during one of Saturdays? on track sessions. The aforementioned McConnell also brought his 1963 Watson roadster in its 1964 Leader Card-Diet Rite livery. Dale Mueller brought his Kurtis 3000 made famous by Chicago hot-rodder and Indy winner Pat Flaherty. Jack Bowzer had his former A.J. Foyt driven Wally Meskowski built Chevy powered dirt car at the track. Dave Thomas brought his 4-cam Ford powered Watson roadster that A.J. himself built several years ago.

Tom Mittler brought back the Wisconsin Special made famous by speed demon Sig Haugdale. It was good to see the old iron back at the track after a several year absence. Mittler also brought a 1930 Isotta Franschini, which had a fine patina. The Isotta was making its first appearance at the Miller Meet.

Other cars seen at the Miller Meet were Mike Bauman?s 1932 Hudson Martz Special. Chuck Davis III had the orange 1930 Duesenberg Indy racer on the track. Eldon Eby had his 1915 Cutting recreation that was made famous by Bob Burman. Dennis Holloway had his exquisite 1926 Bugatti Type 37 on hand. Herb Lederer after losing the engine in his Jewell Special showed the rational in bringing two cars by the amount of track his popular 1912 Mercer Racetabout received. Longtime Miller Meet supporters Steve Truchan, Lou Natenshon and Bud Taylor brought their fine cars and joined in the fun.

The Harry A. Miller Club wants to emphasize that there will be a Miller Meet in 2008. There had been rumors of the Meet?s demise but that is not true. With Mr. Mecum?s leadership the Club looks to build on the foundation that Mr. Uihlein started. For that we owe Mr. Uihlein our gratitude.

Steve Zautke

Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.

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