Answer to the last quiz – Nigel Burgett on the JCM in 1989 at the Scottish – I can’t recall which section this was that I took this pic but it wasn’t Laggan. – as usual Brett and Bob were in quickly, followed by Stan .
Quiz today another old one. Who is this?
Remember when these two UK Mags were our weekly read to catch up on News, and results.
This bit of history was posted by Tim Miller. ( Don’t think he is a relation to Sam)
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Sammy Miller was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. After attending his first race at the age of 16 in 1951, he followed a career involving both road, dirt/grass track racing and observed 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 1,300 trials, nine gold medals and the International Six Days Trial, as well as coming in 3rd in the 1957 250cc Grand Prix in championship.
In racing he rode a variety of machines including AJS 7R, Mondial and NSU. Miller has won three 250cc North West 200 events (1956-1958).
Miller rode mainly Ariel Motorcycles, including both trials events and the Isle of Man TT races. When Ariel was 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.
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. It is now an exhibit in the Sammy Miller Museum.
During the 1960s he won the Scott Trial six times, twice on an Ariel and four times on a Bultaco.
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.
As of 2004, the museum had a collection of hundreds of bikes. In 2007 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. He sold his parts business as Sammy Miller Products in 2007
Note! We were Sammy’s Canadian Importer when he had his Trials Accessories business.
Sammy still goes into work at his Museum every day, even though he is now over 90 years old – here he is showing a crowd of visitors one of Mike Hailwood’s bikes.
When he was just 17 yrs old – Sammy built his own villiers powered 197cc Trials bike then with a bag on his back – took the ferry from Belfast to Scotland rode his bike in the Scottish Six Day Trial ( 100 miles per day) finished with an award, then rode it back to Ireland. These days we see the word “Legend” overused a lot, but in Sammy’s case it is certainly well deserved.
Back in the 70’s we ran a Sammy Miller Trophy Trial in Alberta – I was lucky enough to win it once – The Photo engraved plaque was very special and supposed to be kept by the Calgary club – but I don’t know what ever happened to it – somebody must have it in their collection.
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