| Sammy Miller | |
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| Nationality | Northern Ireland |
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| Grand Prix motorcycle racing career | |
| Active years | 1955 - 1958 |
| Teams | Mondial, CZ, Ducati |
| Grands Prix | 14 |
| Championships | |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podium finishes | 6 |
| Career points | 47 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First Grand Prix | 1955 250cc Ulster Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1958 Isle of Man TT 250cc Lightweight TT |
Samuel Hamilton "Sammy" Miller, MBE (born November 11, 1933 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a championship winning motorcycle racer, in both road racing and trials. He was awarded an MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours.[1]
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Career
After attending his first race at the age of 16 in 1951, Miller followed a career involving both road, dirt/grass track racing and motorcycle trials. Miller became British Trials Champion 11 times and won the European Trials Championship twice. In his continuing career, Miller is a winner of over 1300 trials, nine gold medals and the International Six Days Trial, three victories at the North West 200, as well as coming 3rd in the 1957 250cc Grand Prix in championship.
Miller raced mainly for Ariel motorcycles, including both trials events and the Isle of Man TT races. When Ariel were absorbed by BSA in 1964, he formed a partnership with a Spanish firm, Bultaco, and went on to become the lead developer of modern two-stroke trials motorcycles. The bike he created was the Sherpa T. This was done in 12 days, realizing his success when he finally cleaned a section on the Sherpa that was uncleanable on his famous Ariel. In his later professional racing career, Miller was involved with Honda.
Miller is best known for the 500cc Ariel HT5 that he lightened considerably from standard ex-factory condition. The bike was famously known by its UK registration mark, GOV 132.[2] It is now an exhibit in the Sammy Miller Museum (see below).
Miller switched from Ariel to Bultaco at the 1965 Scottish Six Days Trial.[3] He rode in a Saturday trial on the Ariel and won, then the next day switched to the Bultaco, winning again.[citation needed]
He set up his own motorcycle parts business in 1964 in New Milton, Hampshire, and put a few of his old racing motorcycles in the corner, later to become the Sammy Miller Motorcycle museum. In 2007 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. His sold his parts business as Sammy Miller Products in 2007.
Today, Miller is still winning events.[citation needed]
Support for charity
Miller is a patron of the National Association for Bikers with a Disability.[4]
See also
References
- ^ "New Year Honours List 2009" (PDF). The UK Honours System. http://www.honours.gov.uk/media/12441/queens_list2009.pdf. Retrieved 31 December 2008. "Samuel Hamilton MILLER For services to Motorcycle Heritage."
- ^ TWN Club Zürich: Ariel HT5
- ^ TWN Club Zürich: Ariel HT5
- ^ NABD Patrons, accessed 27 May 2009
External links
- Sammy Miller career statistics at MotoGP.com
- Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum website
- Sammy Miller Products website
- Motorcycle Hall of Fame
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
